Transparency in the functioning of public institutions is a cornerstone of modern democracy. In the era of digital transformation, citizens expect not only access to information about how the state operates, but also the ability to actively participate in decision-making processes and to oversee how public funds are spent. The concept of open government responds to these expectations by combining transparency, civic participation, and innovation in public governance.
As a member of the European Union and a signatory to numerous international commitments on transparency, Poland has taken a number of steps in recent years to open up public data and increase administrative transparency. At the same time, there are still areas where progress remains insufficient, and practice falls short of the standards observed in the world’s most advanced democracies.
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of openness in Poland, identifying both achievements and challenges across key areas—from access to public information, through open data practices of public institutions, to the transparency of court rulings and public finances.
Read the full analysis to explore the current state of open government in Poland
About the Author
Robert Kowalski – External Expert at the Institute of Public Finance, entrepreneur with experience in economics and policymaking. He is currently the founder of Gyfted, a startup focused on recruitment and talent assessment, and SEO Savages, a company specializing in programmatic marketing. Previously, he worked in sales at OpenGov – the fastest-growing govtech startup in the United States, which completed a $2 billion exit in 2024.
