Strategie rozwoju powiatów oraz fundusze strukturalne UE jako instrumenty kreowania ładu przestrzennego

The article presents the results of the analysis of relation between strategies of development of poviats (NTS 4) and absorption of EU structural funds in 2004-2006. In theoretical part the authors described instruments which local self-governments can apply in order to create and form spatial order. The empirical part is based on the data from the Ministry of Regional Development (as of June 30, 2009) and on the results of a questionnaire survey carried out in poviats in 2008. It was concluded that the possibility and rules of applying for EU structural funds made the poviat authorities elaborate planning documents, including strategies or plans of development of poviats. It resulted in creating organisational order, which in the current programming period may lead to a more effective use of instruments creating spatial order, including EU funds.