Poland's needs for structural funds takes Brussels by surprise

Poland has already received EUR 500 million to carry out various structural projects, while it will receive a further EUR 200 million for the modernization of agriculture and the fishing sectors by the end of the year. One of the conditions of transferring the money was the preparation of seven operational programs, which usually took 2-3 years in the "old" EU. Poland has already submitted the necessary documents to Brussels. "Progress is going outstandingly well," said Eric Mamer, spokesman of the European Commission. A very large number of projects were submitted by local governments, the total value of which exceed EUR 4.3 billion. This is a figure equal to the total funds designated by the EU for regional development until 2006. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) M.M.