Polish voivodeships in international relations

Dr hab. Maciej Perkowski, prof. UwB - Kierownik Zakładu Prawa Międzynarodowego Publicznego na Wydziale Prawa Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku; radny Sejmiku Województwa PodlaskiegoToday’s Polish voivodeships are formally European Union regions. It is a quite vast category, however, it is in the Polish voivodeships’ interest to strengthen within it. Legal conditions are conducive to the international activity of Polish voivodeships in Europe but, in this age of globalization it is certainly worth looking beyond that. As of now in international relations Polish voivodeships conclude international agreements, are members of international regional associations, possess foreign representatives, and are represented in selected bodies of certain European intergovernmental organizations. Despite such extensive activity, the prospect of their obtaining legal personality under international law is certainly far off. Currently, in international relations, they rather play the role of a beneficiary. Nevertheless, it is worth analyzing their activity and status from the perspective of international law, as the circle of legal persons under it is continually expanding.Uniwersytet w Białymstok