Abstract:

This paper addresses the idea and principle of subsidiarity, which undoubtedly may be called one of the modern foundations of European democracies. They have been and still are playing an important role in shaping the European social, political and legal thought. Currently, next to classical aspects of the principle of subsidiarity (making up the so-called vertical subsidiarity), another aspect, horizontal subsidiarity, is being observed. This horizontal dimension of subsidiarity, playing an increasingly important role in the functioning of contemporary democratic societies, is an implication of the principle of civil society in connection with the principle of public dialogue. This paper characterises how the principle of horizontal subsidiarity is understood now on the ground of Polish regulations and presents an example of implementation in the local government practice of a project corresponding to its characteristics.