During the 11th European Congress of Local Governments, we discussed the role of the Central Register of Contracts in building transparency in public finances, as well as good practices already implemented by some local governments.
The discussion emphasized that the contracts register is прежде wszystkim a tool for understanding what is happening within a municipality. It facilitates the work of local councillors and provides residents with real insight into how their community’s funds are spent.
“It is important that access is immediate—here and now. There is nothing wrong with the register being public. Publicly available tools like this make members of the community feel that they are genuinely co-creators of the place they live in and of public policies,” it was noted during the panel.
Participants highlighted that transparency builds trust. Public officials hold their positions temporarily, while the relationship between residents and authorities endures. Transparency strengthens this relationship and demonstrates that public funds are being spent responsibly.
“Access to knowledge and reliable sources of information builds trust between residents and authorities. We build this relationship by being transparent and open,” said Konrad Tkaczyk, a councillor of the Lesznowola municipality.
A key topic was also practical implementation. Experience from local governments shows that maintaining a register does not necessarily create excessive administrative burdens. What matters most is a well-organized process and a clear division of responsibilities.
“There is no issue with entering data into the register. I have never heard a department head or employee complain that the register creates work they cannot handle. We do not assign responsibility to just one person. Everyone knows what they need to do, everyone knows how many contracts they have concluded, and data entry is very efficient,” said Małgorzata Pachecka, Mayor of Michałowice.
The CRU also has an educational dimension. It enables comparisons of public spending, supports evidence-based discussions on the costs of public services, and fosters a habit of public interest in community finances.
During the discussion, attention was also drawn to the ongoing public consultations on the draft regulation of the Minister of Finance governing the functioning of the Central Register of Contracts (CRU).
“As the Institute of Public Finance, we have submitted our comments to the Ministry regarding how the CRU should be designed. We want the system to be simple and intuitive. I envision a platform that serves as a dialogue between citizens and all entities that spend public funds,” concluded Patrycja Satora, Vice-President of IFP.
An analysis of the experience of the Michałowice municipality (which has operated its own register since 2019), along with the accompanying discussion, demonstrated that transparency is an integral part of local governance. Contrary to common perceptions, a contracts register does not have to be a complex or difficult tool to implement.
