Division on cohesion plan

The Ministry of Regional Development has presented its National Cohesion Strategy (NSS) for 2007-2013, which defines the priorities, implementation systems and use of EU funds designated for Poland within the bloc's budget for 2007-2013. The document, which is now a preliminary project subject to consultancy, will soon be presented to the Cabinet.

Poland will receive EUR 59.6 (zł.231) billion out of the EUR 308 (zł.1,194) billion the EU plans to spend on cohesion policy for the years 2007-2013, making the country the biggest beneficiary of EU funds over this period. "Every fifth euro will reach Poland. This is a great challenge as the EU will look at the cohesion policy in view of Poland," claims the Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Jerzy Kwieciński.

The largest chunk of Poland's funds for 2007-2013, i.e. EUR 21.27 (zł.82.43) billion, will be spent on infrastructure. About 26.5 percent will reach the production sector and almost 15 percent will be invested in human resources. The latter is proving controversial as the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG), which represents business in the consultancy process over the project, claims that the support for human resources is too high.

"We propose reducing the funds within the Operational Program for Human Resources from the EUR 8.1 [zł.31.4] billion to EUR 5.5 [zł.21.3] billion and spending the EUR 2.6 [zł.10.1] billion on direct investment support for companies as part of the Innovative Economy Program," said the head of KIG, Andrzej Arendarski.

Although Kwieciński agrees that there might be problems with the efficient use of the funds for HR, he said that limiting them could be criticized by the European Commission and especially by the Directorate General of Employment. "Poland's biggest problem is not unemployment, but the 52 percent employment rate, which is the lowest in the EU," says Kwieciński, claiming that the NSS will create conditions for boosting the employment rate and improving the standard of living among Poles.