The Local Action Plan and Strategy for Promoting Water Use for the Municipality of Braniewo, developed as part of the WaterMan project, has been adopted!

During the 17th session of the City Council in Braniewo, a resolution was passed on the Local Action Plan and Strategy for Promoting Water Use for the Municipality of Braniewo, developed as part of the WaterMan project, which crowns three years of work and joint efforts by the Polish team consisting of the Municipality of Braniewo, the Association of Municipalities of the Baltic Euroregion, and the Gdańsk University of Technology on the preparation of the above document and the implementation of support mechanisms in the local community. PKT 5 of the session included, among others:

Item 5 of the session included, among others:

Adoption of a resolution on the Local Action Plan and Strategy for Promoting Water Use for the Municipality of Braniewo, developed as part of the WaterMan project, including:

5.1. Presentation of the implementation of the WaterMan project.

5.2. Voting on a resolution on the Local Action Plan and Strategy for Promoting Water Use for the Municipality of Braniewo, developed as part of the WaterMan project.

The Local Action Plan and Strategy for Promoting Water Use for the Municipality of Braniewo will be an important tool in further planning and management of the city.

The above event is an excellent summary of the implementation of the three-year WaterMan program. It allowed us to look at water as a strategic resource of the city – in the context of development, safety, environmental protection, and quality of life of residents.

During the 17th session of the City Council in Braniewo, a resolution was passed regarding the Local Plan

Since January 1, 2023, the WaterMan project partners have been working together to find new ways to increase the resilience of local water supplies in the Baltic Sea region to climate change. The strategic goal was to add water recycling as a new element to local water management and introduce it into wider practice. The main result of the project is the “Water Recycling Toolkit.” It provides local authorities and water companies—which are key players in this field, and for most of them the topic is still new—with specific advice and tools to achieve this goal, taking into account the specific conditions of the Baltic Sea region.

The strategy has also resulted in a series of pilot projects in the city of Braniewo:

-Installation of a swimming pool water recovery system

-Construction of a rain garden – two sunken beds that collect rainwater from part of the parking lot by gravity, which will reduce the amount of water discharged into the sewage system and thus ensure water retention in the local landscape, planted with vegetation to improve the aesthetics of the area.

-Creation of a mathematical model of the Braniewo storm water drainage system with the possibility of applying climate scenarios to this model, which will enable the prediction of the effects of climate change and support potential adaptation measures. This is the so-called Extreme Weather Layer (EWL) model.

-and a wide range of educational and awareness-raising activities: trips, SferyLab training courses – experimental classes for representatives of local youth, and an inspirational and awareness-raising campaign.

This is an important step towards a resilient, conscious, and responsible city that manages water wisely—today and in the future.

Streets for the Youth project - day three - joint summaries and a look to the future

The last day of the SFY project partners' visit was a time for summarizing, exchanging experiences, and discussing how to develop cooperation in 2026.

The discussions focused on cooperation with Vital Cities and the tools used in local activities, what worked well, what needed to be adapted, and what support local governments will need in 2026.

At the same time, the young participants took part in a workshop on architecture and urban planning led by Zuzanna Kaczmarzyk, gaining knowledge about architecture and urban planning and a new perspective on public space in a broader social, cultural, and international context. The workshops helped them better understand that a city is not only buildings, but also relationships, residents' needs, and decisions that have a real impact on everyday life.

Three days of joint work, workshops, and meetings strengthened the cooperation between the partners and provided a solid foundation for further activities in 2026.

Streets for the Youth - study visit day 2 - workshops on how to conduct youth consultations

Erasmus+ Streets for the Youth Project - Living Cities and Streets for Young People - on the first day of the study visit to Poland, a conference entitled “CITIES OF THE FUTURE - URBAN PLANNING - OPEN DIALOGUE” was held.

The event brought together representatives of local governments, experts, and young people to look at how to create cities co-designed with young people.

The program included lectures on the role of public administration and architecture in shaping urban space and the participation of young people in urban planning. Good practices from the Vital Cities program were presented. This was followed by a walking workshop and testing of participatory tools in the urban space of Elbląg, where participants learned about tools for consulting with users (including the YET application), tested them in a selected area of the city, and discussed their potential applications in the local context.

Yesterday was an opportunity to exchange experiences, gain practical knowledge, and reflect together on how to effectively involve young people in the process of shaping urban space.

Streets for the Youth – study visit day 2 – workshops on how to conduct youth consultations

The Erasmus+ Streets for the Youth project – Living Cities and Streets for Youth – the second day of workshops with foreign delegations from France, Belgium, and Portugal was devoted to the topic “When and how to include youth consultations in planning processes?”

This time, we had the opportunity to work in the industrial spaces of the City Culture Institute in Gdańsk, where we discussed how to conduct youth consultations in a realistic, rather than just formal, manner and how to effectively involve young people in the planning and design of public spaces.
The first part of the day focused on when and how to involve young people in planning processes.
The Vital Cities team presented practical approaches to consultation, and participants learned about good practices from Poland, Portugal, France, and Belgium. We then worked in workshops, applying a 9-step method to a selected case of public space and discussing possible solutions.
Representatives of institutions, local governments, and organizations then participated in meetings devoted to urban consultations, engaging young people in projects, and cooperation with the education sector.

At the same time, young participants took part in a co-creation workshop entitled “City of Tomorrow.” The young people worked in groups on their visions of future urban spaces, sharing ideas, needs, and challenges they see in the cities where they live. The results of this work were then presented in the form of posters, sketches, and simple digital visualizations, which helped translate the ideas into concrete concepts. The workshop ended with a joint reflection, during which participants and facilitators considered what the presented ideas teach us about effectively engaging Generation Z and how to better design participatory processes with young people in mind.

APC ERB in OPOS 11.12.2025

Another milestone in strengthening national and inter-municipal cooperation is behind us.
For years, STG Euroregion Bałtyk has been working to ensure that local governments belonging to the Association can benefit from the best solutions, experiences, and project results. It is this work that has led STG ERB to establish cooperation with one of the strongest umbrella organizations in Poland – OPOS, which brings together over 900 local government units.
At 11.12.2025 at the Poznań City Hall, representatives of the Association – Vice-President Tomasz Sielicki and Director Marcin Żuchowski – participated in the meeting of the Board of Signatories of the National Agreement of Local Government Organizations (OPOS).

This is an important and symbolic moment for us. Already active in the Baltic Euroregion and the Federation of Euroregions of the Republic of Poland, we are joining another agreement that transcends divisions. OPOS has adopted a resolution to start cooperation with us as a Cooperating Partner.

The meeting agenda included key topics for local government units:

1. OPOS in the Joint Commission of the Government and Local Government

Discussion of the most significant legislative activities in government–local government relations from the perspective of Co-Chair Mieczysław Kieca.
Revenues of local government units based on the “new” Act on the Revenues of Local Government Units.
Summary of OPOS’s work organization within the Joint Commission of the Government and Local Government (KWRiST).
Regulation of the Council of Ministers on determining nationwide organizations of local government units authorized to appoint representatives to the KWRiST – perspectives and expectations.

2. Adoption of OPOS positions and appeals (based on the presented drafts):

On the need to amend regulations regarding the remuneration of local government employees and pre-retirement protection.
On the principles for allocating funds from the Forest Fund for the maintenance of road infrastructure.
On the need for changes to the population registration system.
On the necessity to amend regulations concerning the protection of agricultural and forest land.
Appeal regarding the proposed amendments to the “Warm Apartment” Priority Programme.

3. AOB:

Discussion of recommended procedures for responding to a cyberattack on local government units.
Discussion of procedures for the mayor/village head/president of a city in situations of threat.
Term limits for executive bodies in municipalities – perspectives, expectations, and possible OPOS actions.
Reflection on the current implementation of the “Clean Air” programme – consideration of potential OPOS actions in this matter.

The National Agreement of Local Government Organizations (OPOS) represents local governments of municipalities, counties, and provinces, works to promote their interests, and ensures that the voice of local communities is heard in the creation of laws and public policies. It is a place for dialogue, cooperation, and joint action.

This decision opens the way for us to exchange even more experiences, create coalitions, and take actions that will truly strengthen cooperation between local governments throughout Poland. It is an honor—and a commitment to continue working for our communities.

54th General Meeting of STG ERB Members

Today, the 54th General Meeting of STG ERB Members was held at our Association's headquarters – an important meeting of our member municipalities.

This event is not just a formality, but a concrete opportunity for cooperation, consultation, and planning activities for the entire region. Our goal was to summarize the past year, discuss current projects, and set out a strategy for the coming months. Together, we make decisions that translate into real benefits for our cities and municipalities—better cross-border cooperation, local development, and community action.

Today's event was also attended by young volunteers who are becoming increasingly involved in activities for the benefit of the region. Their presence shows that cooperation has a strong foundation and a bright future.

We invite more young people to join and get involved in the initiatives of STG Euroregion Baltic!

We would like to thank all delegates and partners for their presence, commitment, and constructive discussions. We believe that together we can achieve more!