After the accession to the EU, Poland will be eligible for benefiting from all the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund. In all Polish provinces (voivodships) the GDP per capita is below 75% of the European average (which is a decisive figure in considering a given region to be less developed). Poland also has the GDP per capita lower than 90% of the European average, which determined about the eligibility for sources from the Cohesion Fund.

Operational Programmes

Structural Funds will be implemented by means of operational programmes (and their complements)- documents (and their more detailed forms), presenting a strategy of utilization of the funds. As far as the content matter is concerned, the responsibility for each of the programmes at the national level will rest upon a given ministry. Financing of the programmes will proceed through the Ministry of Finance.

In Poland, one Integrated Programme (IRDOP), five Sectoral Programmes (SOPs) and one technical programme were designed.

Integrated Regional Development Operational Programme (IRDOP)
The programme is financed from ERDF and ESF. At the central level, IRDOP shall be managed by the Ministry of Economy and at the level of voivodships by Voivodship Marshalls. The programme is aimed at a wide regional development, which implies the activities rendering a given region an attractive place for working, living and investing, as well as effective utilization of the region's potential. It includes, for example, building roads, protection of the cultural heritage on the one hand, and trade reorientation of certain groups on the other.

Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resource Development  ( SOP HRD)
The programme is financed from ERDF and EFS and shall be managed by the Ministry of Economy. The main objective is the development of an open, knowledge-based society through provision of appropriate conditions facilitating human resources development and integration of different social groups with society by gaining education, undergoing training and performing work. In practice, it implies an increase of employment (thanks to vocational, continuous education, trainings and retrainings), development of entrepreneurship, adjustment of enterprises and their workers to changing conditions of the market and, finally, strengthening the policy of equal opportunities on labour market.

Sectoral Operational Programme Increase in Competitiveness of Enterprises (SPO ICE)
The programme is financed from ERDF and shall be managed by the Ministry of Economy. The overall objective is increasing the competitiveness of Polish economy within the conditions of the European market.

Sectoral Operational Programme -Transport (SOPT)
The programme is financed from ERDF and shall be managed by the Ministry of Infrastracture.  The main objective is to create a safe and effective transport system (roads, ring roads, railways, local railways, access to harbours, shipping).         

Sectoral Operational Programme Restructuring and Modernisation of the Food Sector and Rural Development
The programme is financed from EAGGF and shall be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The objective is to increase incomes in agriculture and in villages (also alternative sources of income), reducing unemployment, improving safety and quality of food, bringing production closer to consumer demands as well as village renewal as well as preservation and protection of village cultural heritage.

Sectoral Operational Programme - Fisheries (SOPF)
The programme is financed from FIFG and shall be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The overall objective is the Polish fisheries strategy  rational managment of live fish stock and improvment of the fisheries sector`s effectiveness resulting in enhacement of the competitive position of Polish fisheries and fish processing.

Operational Programme Technical Assistance (TAOP)
The programme is financed from the European Regional Development Fund and shall be managed by the Ministry of Economy. TAOP was prepared to provide technical support for Polish administration in appropriate and efficient implementation of the structural funds in Poland.

Author: Ewa Kolankiewicz