Studia i Prace WNEiZ US

The tendency of strengthening the role of cities in the EU Cohesion Policy is clear in the current programming period 2014–2020. The document: National Urban Policy 2023, which indicates the importance and the role of cities in generating economic growth and creating jobs has been adopted in Poland. The aim of this article is to identify problems andconditions for the development of smart cities in Poland. Research have been based on literature studies and analysis of the national and the EU urban policy documents. Problems of the functioning of cities include, among others, a phenomenon of towns’ spillover, depopulation of city centers, increasing traffic congestion and environment pollution, an instability of an economic environment in the global economy, Europe’s aging population. The strategic objective of the National Urban Policy 2023 is to strengthen the ability of cities and urban areas to sustainable development and job creation, as well as improvement of residents’ quality of life. Conclusions from analysis of these documents clearly show that the development of cities in the twenty-first century should be subordinated to the concept of smart cities.