Strategic Choices of EU cohesion policy post 2020 in light of the European Commission programming documents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the conceptualization of European cohesion policy in the next programming period of the European Union and in the European financial perspective 2020+. Special attention has been paid to documents of European Commission, which is the leading institution in the dialogue of various stakeholders on this subject. It has been also described the unique significance of European cohesion policy for the socio-economic development of Poland (after the accession in 2004 and in the coming years). Against this background the most important assumptions of Poland's negotiating position has been determined as well as the necessary changes in the regional policy model in Poland.Strategic Choices of EU cohesion policy post 2020 in light of the European Commission programming documents. The aim of this study is to evaluate the conceptualization of European cohesion policy in the next programming period of the European Union and in the European financial perspective 2020+. Special attention has been paid to documents of European Commission, which is the leading institution in the dialogue of various stakeholders on this subject. It has been also described the unique significance of European cohesion policy for the socio-economic development of Poland (after the accession in 2004 and in the coming years). Against this background the most important assumptions of Poland's negotiating position has been determined as well as the necessary changes in the regional policy model in Poland.

In this paper experiences and manifestations of territorialisation of European cohesion policy, with special concentration on Poland, who is the biggest benefi ciary of that EU policy, were presented. Regional level is having strongest impact on success of territorialisation of public policies, but general conditions are shaped by central level, and also local level role is increasing, including cities and urban policy. Later an analysis of possibilities and conditions of EU cohesion policy territorialisation was elaborated, evaluating favourable and unfavourable factors. Conclusions are rather pessimistic, because there are many restrictions and preliminary preconditions of effi cient and eff ective decentralisation of EU structural intervention.