Operational Programmes in 2007-2013

Priorities of Operational Programmes in 2007-2013

The National Cohesion Strategy will be implemented with the help of operational programmes, which are outlined in the discussed document.

Programmes implemented at regional level will mainly help to accomplish horizontal objectives 5 and 6 , but they will also contribute to the implementation of the four horizontal objectives. Among programmes implemented at regional level are 16 Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs) and the Programmes of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective (ETC OP), financed for the ERDF.

Complementarity principle
Operational programmes have been constructed so as to mutually complement activities undertaken. Complementarity takes place between national level operational programmes and regional operational programmes and at the level of operational programmes.

Let us look how this principle is being applied. Major areas of intervention under the Infrastructure and Environment OP will be complementary mainly to regional and local investment projects in the area of transport, the environment, energy, culture and health under ROPs, as well as transport investments and in the social infrastructure under the Eastern Poland Development OP. In parallel with the activities undertaken under the Innovative Economy OP as regards the support for entrepreneurship and e-administration, projects co-financed under the Human Capital OP will be implemented. At the same time activities targeted at the development of the information society under the IE OP will be complemented with the activities in this area undertaken under the IaE OP, while in the area of support to entrepreneurship of regional significance - with the ROPs. Activities in the human capital area undertaken at national level under the HC OP will be complementary with measures taken to adapt to the regional labour market situation under the regional component of the HC OP. The activities in the area of technical assistance in all programmes will be consistent with the Technical Assistance OP, and will complement and extend the programme.

Operational Programme - Infrastructure and Environment (IaE OP)

Financed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund.

Considering the scale of needs both as regards transport, the environment and other types of infrastructure, 41.9% of the total of the Structural Funds have been earmarked for this programme under the NSFR.

The IaE OP supports key investment aimed to sustain and improve the condition of the environment. Environmental issues connected with balanced development will also have a major importance due to two streams of investment in the energy sector:

Necessary investment in the diversification of traditional energy sources to be achieved using market mechanisms.
Investing in renewable energy, reducing demand for energy and otherwise environment-friendly projects. Investment of key supra-regional importance concerning the social infrastructure (health care, culture, higher education) will be complementary to these areas.

The expected values of indicators of expenditure on the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy goals will be reached by concentrating the Community funding on the activities for the conformity of the national transport system with the European system, mainly the development of the transport infrastructure of transnational outreach with respect to the principles of balanced development.

IaE OP contains 17 prioritites:

Water and sewage management
Waste management and the protection of earth
Resource management and counteracting environmental risks
Initiatives aimed at adjusting enterprises to the requirements of environment protection
Environment protection and the promotion of ecological habits
TEN-T road and air transport network
Environment-friendly transport
Transport safety and national transport networks
Road infrastructure in Eastern Poland
Environment-friendly energy infrastructure
Energy security
Culture and cultural heritage
Health security and improving the efficiency of the healthcare system
Infrastructure of higher education
Technical assistance - European Regional Development Fund
Technical assistance - Cohesion Fund
Competitiveness of regions

Operational Programme - Human Capital (HC OP)

Financed from the European Social Fund (ESF).

In view of the scale of social problems, 14.6% of the structural measures will be allocated to the implementation of projects co-financed by the European Social Fund. A substantial part of these funds under the programme will focus on the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy goals.

The programme will concentrate on support for the following areas: employment, education, social inclusion, the development of the adaptability of workers and enterprises as well as issues connected with the development of the human resources in rural areas, building an efficient and effective public administration at all levels, implementing the good governance principle and health promotion in labour resources.

The overall goal of the programme is to enable the full use of the human resources potential through increased employment and adaptability of enterprises and employees, raising the level of education of society, reducing areas of social exclusion and supporting the development of the state administrative structures.

The combination of all areas supported by the ESF and the concentration of resources on one programme consisting of two components: central and regional, results from the need to ensure a consistent system for the ESF implementation in Poland. The establishment of a single Managing Authority will facilitate the monitoring of the programme implementation, while at the same time providing for an immediate response should any problems in its implementation arise.

HC OP contains 5 priorities implemented at the central level:

Employment and social integration
Development of human resources and the adaptive potential of enterprises
High quality of the education system
Higher education
Good governance

HC OP contains 6 priorities implemented at the regional level:

Prevention, promotion and improvement of health condition of working age population
Labour market open for all and the promotion of social integration
Regional economic staff
Development of education and competence in regions
Partnership for rural areas development
Technical assistance

Operational Programme - Innovative Economy (IE OP)

Financed from the EFRD.

12.4% of the total of the Structural Funds will be allocated to the IE OP.

It is assumed that the highest values of performance indicators of the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy goals will be reached under this programme. The focus of the IE OP is to increase the number of innovations by increasing R&D outlays , the development of cooperation between the B&R sphere and businesses, as well as dynamising the entrepreneurship potential. The investment should be responsive to the needs of the Community market.

The programme supports innovativeness at least at national level. Innovativeness at local or regional levels will be supported and promoted through Regional Operational Programmes.

The main goal of the innovative economy Operational Programme is the development of the Polish economy based on innovative enterprises. The Programme's detailed objectives include: increasing the innovativeness of enterprises, enhancing the competitiveness of Polish science, creating sustainable and better jobs and increasing the use of ICT in the economy.

IE OP contains 8 prioritites:

Research and development of new technologies
R&D infrastructure
Capital for innovation
Investments in innovative undertakings
Diffusion of innovations
Polish economy on the international market
Information society establishment and development
Technical assistance

Download file:
Innovative Economy Operational Programme 2007-2013

Operational Programme - Development of Eastern Poland (EPD OP)

Financed from the ERDF.

The reason for the development of this programme was that additional funding was awarded from the European Regional Development Fund for the five most disadvantaged regions: Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie. These voivodeships are characterised by the low living standards of their residents, a low dynamic of their economic development, poorly developed and inadequate transport infrastructure and insufficient growth factors.

The outreach of the EPD OP covers the areas of intervention of other programmes but it differs in that its scope is restricted to selected areas which, because of the scale of activities and the expected long-term results, may have a special impact on the development processes. The EPD OP will support important investment and projects which create a basis to initiate the processes of sustainable development in the Eastern Poland voivodeships, e.g. stimulating the development of a competitive, knowledge-based economy, the development of selected metropolitan functions of Voivodeship capitals, as well as improved accessibility and quality of transport connections with Eastern Poland voivodeships.

3.4% of the Structural Funds awarded is planned to be allocated for this programme.

EPD OP contains 4 prioritites:

Modern economy
- University infrastructure
- Information society infrastructure
- Support for innovation
- Promotion and co-operation
Voivodship development centres
- Municipal public transport systems
- Congress and fair travel infrastructure
Transport infrastructure
- Road infrastructure
- Bicycle routes
Technical assistance
- Support for the programme implementation process
- Information and promotion activities

Regional Operational Programmes
Nearly one fourth of the budget (24.9%) is planned to be allocated for the investment into the development of regions.

The justification for the preparation of the 16 ROPs is the decentralisation of the programming of regional development, an increased effectiveness of the provision development activities by the public administration, the strengthening of the civic and self-government dimension as well as the effective use of the structural measures for the period 2004-2006 by regions under the IOP RD.

The objectives of the ROPs are on the one hand set by voivodeships in compliance with regional development strategies, while on the other hand they are also inscribed in such NSFR goals as enhanced competitiveness of individual regions and the promotion of balanced development.

All ROPs have a similar structure, but their contents and financial resources will be specified at regional level. The need to harmonise the list of activities implemented under regional programmes results from a number of premises, of which the most important is to ensure the consistency between the regional approach and goals and priorities of the national and European strategies, as well as taking into account activities concerning state aid for the SMEs sector (uniform criteria for the granting of aid will be laid down at national level).

Maximum 3% of ERDF allocations per each of the 16 ROPs may be used for housing projects which meet the requirements laid down in the relevant regulations. These activities will be complementary to ROP projects regarding urban areas threatened with degradation and social exclusion. Such solutions, despite being planned and implemented at regional level, will be form a component of activities connected with the improvement of the housing situation contained in the state policy with regard to housing.

Programmes of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective
Under this Objective the funds have been allocated in the following manner:
1. Cross-border cooperation programmes (78.6% of total allocations, EUR 438.5 million)

Poland-Germany (Zachodniopomorskie-Mecklenbur) - 8.9% of total allocations (EUR 50 million)
Poland-Germany (Lubuskie Voivodeship-Brandenburg) - 8/9% of total allocations (EUR 50.1 million)
Poland-Germany (Lubuskie and DolnośląskieVoivodeship - Saxony) - 12.6% of total allocations (EUR 70.1 million)
Poland-Czech Republic - 20.8% of total allocations (EUR 115.8 million)
Poland-Slovakia - 15.4% of total allocations (EUR 86 million)
Poland-Lithuania - 7.5% of total allocations (EUR 41.7 million)
Southern Baltic - 4.5% of total allocations (EUR 25 million)

2. Central-Eastern Area - 12.8% of total allocations (EUR 71.5 million)
EUR 173.3 million will be transferred for the activities implemented under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument; it is envisaged that two programmes of transborder cooperation with the participation of Poland will be implemented: