Due to the EU enlargement into new member states, disproportions grew at both regional and country levels, predominantly in the economic and social fields. Therefore, to meet the new challenges, the regional policy, the cohesion policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy for the years 2007-2013 have been subjected to a number of reforms. In order to ensure better coordination of aid granted within individual funds it was assumed, amongst others, that the Cohesion Fund should be integrated with the programming of structural aid. Moreover, it was decided that the resources regarding the financing of agriculture, rural development and fisheries would be excluded from the structural funds. According to the reform, the European Agricultural Fund for the Development of Rural Areas will replace the hitherto Guidance Section and special units within the Guarantee Section of the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund. At the same time the existing Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance will be replaced by the European Fisheries Fund.
The structural funds of the European Union are the financial instruments by means of which the policy for the support of multi-dimensional development, enhancement of economic and social cohesion, reducing differences of regional development standards and restructuring and modernizing the economies of those member states whose development level is below the average development level in the European Union is implemented.
In the 2007 – 2013 programming perspective Poland may take advantage of the support within the framework of the following structural funds:
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The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), financing undertakings in the regions with the development level substantially lagging behind the average development level in the EU, as well as in the regions with major restructuring activities in the industry and employment. The funds are addressed particularly to financing investment in infrastructure and environmental protection, development of small and medium enterprises, creation of new jobs through investment in manufacturing, research and development activities.
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The European Social Fund (ESF) established predominantly to finance activities counteracting unemployment in the EU member states, particularly assistance to employees threatened with long-term unemployment and young people entering the labor market.
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The Cohesion Fund, its key objective is to enhance social and economic cohesion of the Community through financing projects forming a coherent unit, as regards environmental protection and transport infrastructure.
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The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the objective of the Fund is to promote sustainable development of rural areas across the whole Community in a manner which is complementary to market instruments.
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The European Fisheries Fund (EFF), whose main objective is rational management of the live stock of waters and improvement in the efficiency of the fisheries sector as well as increasing the competitiveness of fishing and fish processing industry.
Depending on the responsibility for the preparation and utilization of structural aid it can be pursued within the framework of:
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national programs, prepared by a member state in agreement with the European Commission and executed by a country itself / on its own,
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Community initiatives, regarding the key issues for the Union as a whole, prepared and implemented directly by the Commission, following agreement with the member states.
Finally agreed overall pool of funds for Poland for the years 2007-2013 amounts to EUR 67.28 billion.
The priority strategic document being the point of reference for other governmental strategies and programs is the National Development Strategy. At the same time, the document forms the basis for the National Cohesion Strategy – one of the basic strategic documents for Poland for 2007-2013 – the National Strategic Plan for Rural Areas and Strategy for the Development of Fisheries, as well as resultant operational programs.
The National Cohesion Strategy (NCS) is a document specifying the priorities and areas for using, and the system of implementing EU funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund.
The NCS will be implemented with the support of Operational Programs managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Regional Operational Programs managed by Local Government of individual provinces:
