Subsidies struggle

Last week the Sejm rejected one of the Senate's amendments to the bill on regional development. The deputies decided that voivodes would be able to veto certain projects applying for EU or state subsidies, if they noticed any irregularities. What constitutes said irregularities, however, has not been specified.

The decision angered opposition deputies, who say the provision infringes upon local governments' independence - since voivodes are unelected government appointees - and leaves room for abuses.

In the EU's 2007-2013 budget, as much as EUR 16 (zł.61) billion has been earmarked for the regional development operational programs. Overall, Poland will get EUR 67 (zł.256) billion in structural funds, and additional funding for fishing and agriculture.

"This is an amount comparable with the aid from the Marshall Plan, but that was for 15 European countries and Turkey. We have to seize this opportunity," said Andrzej Malinowski, president of the Confederation of Polish Employers.