Red Tape Hot Box on blood out of a stone
Well, they are still waiting to be claimed in the European Commission's bank accounts. The next question that comes to mind is who or what is to blame for that? That's simple - the money's hidden behind red tape, of course!
Entrepreneurs of small- and medium-sized enterprises are waiting for the €360 million (zł.1.67 billion) planned to finance investments in the sector. This money will be redistributed to those that have lined up for it at the Polish Entrepreneurial Progress Agency (PARP). However, this agency is waiting for the amendments to a bill without which the economy minister can't sign the document allowing for the distribution of these funds. Understandably, entrepreneurs are beginning to feel anxious about the whole affair.
Many firms have spent countless hours preparing for projects that hinge on these funds. Meanwhile, investments are delayed indefinitely amidst uncertainty as to when the funds will finally come online. According to the deputy economy minister, the act concerning PARP is already in the Senate awaiting amendment. After this, the economy minister will definitely sign it, meaning that interested firms will be able to send in their projects to PARP at the beginning of July. Let's hope this will happen, because July is already the third in a series of dates assigned by this agency for submitting proposals and projects. What's more, Brussels had already agreed to accept projects starting from the beginning of this year - so the fund redistribution is not just two months but six months late. What is alarming is that some of the funds that were assigned for redistribution will be lost not only because of bureaucratic sluggishness, but also by the fact that the procedures themselves are ridiculously complicated. Firms find it difficult to comprehend all the applications and appendixes, and some are even deterred from trying at all. It is said that already 30 percent of entrepreneurs have declared that they won't seek any of the funds.
Moreover, it seems that some firms won't get any funds even if they have prepared good projects. One example concerns transportation firms that counted on getting funds for new trucks. It seems that in 'Old Europe,' due to high transport costs, transportation workers used to go on strike a bit too often, blocking highways and other main roads with their vehicles. Thus, the EU doesn't want to see development and expansions here, and so won't be giving them funds. Another sector likely to miss out on EU cash are the confectioners and bakers. Here the problem lies in ill-stated law. Again, it will have to be amended, and I'm certain it will. But there is nothing to cry about, because so far nobody has got anything out from the EU's coffers yet, so it seems that we're all in the same boat.
Entrepreneurs of small- and medium-sized enterprises are waiting for the €360 million (zł.1.67 billion) planned to finance investments in the sector. This money will be redistributed to those that have lined up for it at the Polish Entrepreneurial Progress Agency (PARP). However, this agency is waiting for the amendments to a bill without which the economy minister can't sign the document allowing for the distribution of these funds. Understandably, entrepreneurs are beginning to feel anxious about the whole affair.
Many firms have spent countless hours preparing for projects that hinge on these funds. Meanwhile, investments are delayed indefinitely amidst uncertainty as to when the funds will finally come online. According to the deputy economy minister, the act concerning PARP is already in the Senate awaiting amendment. After this, the economy minister will definitely sign it, meaning that interested firms will be able to send in their projects to PARP at the beginning of July. Let's hope this will happen, because July is already the third in a series of dates assigned by this agency for submitting proposals and projects. What's more, Brussels had already agreed to accept projects starting from the beginning of this year - so the fund redistribution is not just two months but six months late. What is alarming is that some of the funds that were assigned for redistribution will be lost not only because of bureaucratic sluggishness, but also by the fact that the procedures themselves are ridiculously complicated. Firms find it difficult to comprehend all the applications and appendixes, and some are even deterred from trying at all. It is said that already 30 percent of entrepreneurs have declared that they won't seek any of the funds.
Moreover, it seems that some firms won't get any funds even if they have prepared good projects. One example concerns transportation firms that counted on getting funds for new trucks. It seems that in 'Old Europe,' due to high transport costs, transportation workers used to go on strike a bit too often, blocking highways and other main roads with their vehicles. Thus, the EU doesn't want to see development and expansions here, and so won't be giving them funds. Another sector likely to miss out on EU cash are the confectioners and bakers. Here the problem lies in ill-stated law. Again, it will have to be amended, and I'm certain it will. But there is nothing to cry about, because so far nobody has got anything out from the EU's coffers yet, so it seems that we're all in the same boat.
