A shared territorial strategy through 2030.
The Association of Warmia-Masuria Borderland Local Governments was founded in 2019 as a platform for cooperation between the municipalities, towns and counties located along the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast. It was entered into the National Court Register on 27 January 2020 under number 0000821984. We share a common territory — rich in nature, historically complex, economically demanding — and shared public responsibilities that cannot be carried out effectively alone.
Mission and vision
The borderland is an area that builds its security, attractiveness and development potential in a sustainable way — by caring for local resources, its unique environmental assets and cultural heritage, and by developing “clean” economic activity: advanced rehabilitation and health services, ecological food production, and recognisable tourism products.
We pursue a coherent transport area that gives residents good living conditions and access to high-quality public and social services, moving towards climate neutrality and energy self-sufficiency. We want the borderland to attract new residents, and for diverse forms of civic and economic activity to develop with respect for the needs of every generation.
Working in partnership
Partnership-based cooperation has become a fundamental principle of Poland's strategic documents on socio-economic development policy. Local governments must manage functional areas in an integrated way, so that investments serve the whole region rather than remaining scattered, individual initiatives.
Challenges and responses
Demographics: between 2015 and 2022 the borderland's population fell by 10%, the share of people aged 65+ is growing, and society is ageing.
Assets and problems: the strengths are the natural environment and cultural heritage; the challenges are peripherality, depopulation and the lack of specialist services.
Response: joint projects and initiatives addressing these regional needs — from roads and public transport, through technical infrastructure (water and sewage, renewable energy), to resilience and security (the East Shield), settlement attractiveness, and public services in education and health.
Territorial strategy 2024–2030
The Partnership adopted the borderland's first strategy on 29 September 2021, as part of the Advisory Support Centre Pilot. An updated version, setting development directions through 2030, was adopted in August 2024. Earlier steps included: the Diagnostic Report (30 March 2021), the Work Plan (16 December 2020), and participation in the “Advisory Support Centre Pilot” project, launched on 17 September 2020.
CuRI 2026–2027
In 2026–2027 the WMSP borderland is one of two areas in Poland covered by the European Commission and World Bank programme “Eastern Border Regions Catching-up Regions Initiative” (CuRI). Stage I (diagnosis) runs until August 2026; Stage II (support and knowledge exchange) until December 2027.
Membership — 24 units
As of 2026: 20 municipalities and towns plus 4 counties. The Association is growing — in 2026 the following joined: the Town of Bartoszyce, the Municipality of Bisztynek, the Municipality of Reszel and the Municipality of Pieniężno. The full list of members, together with an interactive map, is available on the Members page.
Legal basis
The rules governing the Association's organisation and operation — its objectives, membership, authorities and assets — are set out in its Statutes (consolidated text).