PL
Issues Related to the Public Consultation Process
Public consultations are a way to engage citizens in the decision-making process. It is a procedure aimed at exchanging opinions between decision-makers and stakeholders, aimed at helping to adopt a rational, best possible decision. It is coordinated and based on established rules. Consultations should not only be a form of participation but also provide information to the public and groups affected by a given decision about its meaning and possible consequences. They should be conducted in good faith, documented, transparent, and above all, responsive, meaning that social partners should receive feedback from decision-makers on how their participation in the decision influenced its final form. At the same time, public consultations do not deprive decision-makers of the right to make final decisions or release them from responsibility for them..
Activities aimed at engaging citizens and civic organizations in public life, in public policy-making processes, and in decision-making processes affecting a district, municipality, city, or the entire country.
Types of supported activities:
- involving citizens (residents) in various forms of consultations and influencing the authorities’ decisions on matters concerning them (e.g. space development, budget planning); using available instruments and techniques of participatory democracy (e.g. public consultations, referenda) and deliberative democracy (e.g. deliberative poll, citizen jury)
- shaping public policies at the local or national level (e.g. social, cultural, educational, climate policy); creating a forum for public debate – presenting and learning opinions and agreeing positions
- activities aimed at providing access to public information, improving the exchange of information and opinions between citizens and public authorities/administration; obtaining and sharing information on the activities of representatives elected in general elections, enabling citizens to track and review the activities of the authorities and consciously participate in elections
- creating or activating the functioning of auxiliary units of local government and institutions of civil dialogue (e.g. village councils, housing estate councils, district councils, public benefit councils, consultative councils)
A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a procedure conducted for specific types of documents developed or adopted by public administration bodies or other entities performing public functions. It is a procedure aimed at assessing the environmental impacts that may result from the implementation of plans or programs prepared by public administration bodies, prior to their adoption or approval. SEA is conducted in accordance with the Act on the Provision of Information on the Environment and its Protection, Public Participation in Environmental Protection, and Environmental Assessments (Journal of Laws 2008, No. 199, item 1227).
This is a structured document containing opinions, suggestions, and recommendations gathered during the analysis, consultation, or meeting process regarding a specific issue, project, document, or undertaking. This table serves as a clear summary of all submitted comments and conclusions, along with information about their source, substantive scope, and any actions taken in response.
The set of stages and formal activities leading to the creation, review, approval, and implementation of a legal act or other official normative document. This includes, among other things, drafting the document, public consultations, analyses and amendments, approval procedures in the relevant bodies (e.g., parliament, government), and the publication of the document, which results in its entry into force.
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