The goal of European Cohesion Policy is to diminish discrepancies between regions of the European Union. Is it the most important instrument of financial solidarity from part of the Member States. For the implementation of the CohesionPolicy between 2007-2013 there has been granted 347 billion EUR. Its three objectives - Convergence, Regional competitiveness and employment and European Territorial Copperation are supported from three funds - Structural Funds: European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, as well as Cohesion Fund.
Poland implements two objectives - Convergence and European Territorial Cooperation (cross-border, cross-national and international cooperation between EU members).
The amount of European input in the implementation of National Strategic Reference Framework between 2007-2013 is 67.3 billion EUR which makes Poland the biggest beneficiary of the European Funds. Over 66.5 billion EUR is implemented under the Convergence objective, over 557.7 mln EUR has been granted for the European Territorial Cooperation. In addition, over 173.3 mln EUR has been granted for the cross-border cooperation programmes (with usage of the European Neigbourhood and Partnership Instrument).
Under the Convergence objective 67% of financial means will come from the Structural Funds (52% from the European Regional Development Fund, 15% from European Social Fund) and 33% from the Cohesion Fund.
Operational programmes available in Poland are the biggest not only for the years 2007- 2013 but also in EU history. Structural funds are the basic instrument of the EU’s structural policy.
Check if your company can apply for European funds
In the years 2007-2013, entrepreneurs can obtain support under the following Operational Programmes (OP):
5 national Operational Programmes; 16 Regional Operational Programmes; European Territorial Co-operation Programmes.
Programme
Billion EUR
Infrastructure and Environment OP
27.9
16 Regional OP
16.6
Human Capital OP
9.7
Innovative Economy OP
8.3
Development of Eastern Poland OP
2.3
Technical Assistance OP
0.5
European Territorial Co-operation OP
0.7
National Reserve
1.3
Total amount
67.3
European funds in other Visegrad Group Countries
Slovakia
August 17th 2007 the European Commision has accepted the National Strategic Reference Framemowrk of the Slovak Republic, which had reported 11 Operational Programmes. In the current Financial Perspective Slovakia implements three Cohesion Policy objectives - Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and European Territorial Cooperation. The Convergence Objective covers the whole territory of Slovakia (in case of priorities co-financed from the CF) and the whole territory of Slovakia except for Bratislava region in case of priorities co-financed from the Structural Funds. The Bratislava Region implements the Regional competitiveness and employment objective. The European Territorial Cooperation is not included in the National Strategic Reference Framework. Slovakia, for the period 2007-2013 has been granted 11 360 619 950 EUR, with the European Territorial Cooperation Programmes - 11.587 billion EUR (7.689 from the Structural Funds and 3.898 from the Cohesion Fund).
The majority of Slovakian Operational Programmes are included in the Convergence Objective and are co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund - Regional Operational Programme, OP Informatisation of Society, OP Competitiveness and Economic Growth and OP Health. Two Operational Programmes are financed from the ERDF and CF - OP Transport and OP Environment. Three Operational Programmes, which are common for the Convergence and Regional Competitiveness and Growth Objectives, cover the whole territory of Slovakia (including Bratislava region) - OP Research and Development (ERDF), Employment and social inclusion (ESF) and OP Education (ESF). The implementation of the OP under the Convergence Objective is also supported from the OP Technical assistance. OP Bratislava region is co-financed from the ERDF and implemented by the Slovak Ministry of Construction and Regional Development. It aims at improvement of regional infrastructure, creation of economy based on knowledge and improvement of life quality in the Bratislava region.
The biggest OP in Slovakia are: OP Transport (3 206 904 595 EUR; for the construction of roads there has been granted 1.7 billion EUR), OP Environment (1 800 000 000 EUR) and Regional OP which covers 7 Slovak kraje (1 445 000 000 EUR).
Operational Programme |
Fund |
Co-financing (community contribution - EUR) |
Regional |
ERDF |
1 445 000 000 |
Environment |
ERDFCF |
1 800 000 000 |
Transport |
ERDFCF |
3 206 904 595 |
Informatisation of society |
ERDF |
993 095 405 |
Research and Development |
ERDF |
1 209 415 373 |
Competitiveness and Economic Growth |
ERDF |
772 000 000 |
Health |
ERDF |
250 000 000 |
Technical assistance |
ERDF |
97 601 421 |
Bratislava Region |
ERDF |
87 000 000 |
Employment and social inclusion |
ESF |
881 801 578 |
Education |
ESF |
617 801 578 |
In total: |
|
11 360 619 950 |
Hungary
The Operational Programmes for the years 2007-2013 have been presented in the National Strategic Reference Framework - New Hungary Development Plan 2007-2013 (the document was accepted by the European Commission May 7th 2007). The main objective is the expansion of employment and the establishment of the conditions of sustained economic growth. The territory of Hungary falls under three objectives of the Cohesion Policy - Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment and European Territorial Competitiveness.
The amount of community contribution in the implementation of Hungarian National Strategic Reference Framework between 2007-2013 is 25.3 billion EUR. Hungary reported 15 Operational Programmes - 8 countrywide and 7 regional. The programmes in the European Territorial Cooperation do not belong to the National Strategic Reference Framework.
The biggest OP is Transport (6 027 275 303 EUR).
Operational Programme |
Fund |
Co-financing (community contribution - EUR) |
ERDF |
2 858 823 730 | |
Transport |
ERDF, CF |
6 027 275 303 |
Social Renewal |
ESF |
3 482 518 044 |
PO Social Infrastructure |
ERDF |
1 948 922 941 |
Environment and Energy |
ERDF, CF |
4 178 846 341 |
West Pannon |
ERDF |
463 752 893 |
Central Transdanubia |
ERDF |
507 919 836 |
South Transdanubia |
ERDF |
705 136 988 |
South Great Plain |
ERDF |
748 714 608 |
North Great Plain |
ERDF |
975 070 186 |
North Hungary |
ERDF |
903 723 589 |
Central Hungary |
ERDF |
1 467 196 353 |
State Reform |
ERDF |
146 570 507 |
Electronic Public Administration |
ERDF |
358 445 113 |
Implementation |
ERDF |
315 132 937 |
In total: |
25 088 049 369 (*with ETC programmes - 25.3 billion EUR) |
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic received 26.7 billion EUR for the period 2007-2013 (25.9 billlion EUR for the Convergence Objective, 0.4 billion EUR for the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective and 0.4 billion EUR for ETC programmes which do not constitute part od the National Strategic Reference Framework. The Convergence objective is implemented in the Central Bohemia, Central Moravia and regions of Nothwest, Southeast, Southwest, Northeast Czechia, the Regional Competitiveness and Employment in Prague Region. The main objectives of the National Strategic Reference Framework are competitive Czech economy, open, flexible and cohesive society, attractive environment and balanced territory development.
The implementation of Czech National Strategic Reference Framework is based on 17 Operational Programmes - 14 financed from the European Regional Development Fund (2 of them also from Cohesion Fund) and 3 from European Social Fund.
NSRF Financial Table | ||
Operational Programme |
Fund |
Total (EUR) |
Convergence Objective |
Community Contribution | |
ERDF and CF | ||
OP Enterprise and Innovations |
ERDF |
3 041 312 546 |
OP Research and Development for Innovations |
ERDF |
2 070 680 884 |
OP Environment |
ERDF, CF |
4 917 867 098 |
OP Transport |
ERDF, CF |
5 774 081 203 |
Integrated OP |
ERDF |
1 553 010 664 |
Regional Operational Programmes |
4 659 031 986 | |
Central Bohemia |
ERDF |
559 083 839 |
Southwest |
ERDF |
619 651 254 |
Northwest |
ERDF |
745 911 021 |
Southwest |
ERDF |
704 445 636 |
Northeast |
ERDF |
656 457 606 |
Moravia-Silesia |
ERDF |
716 093 217 |
Central Moravia |
ERDF |
657 389 413 |
OP Technical Assistance |
ERDF |
243 835 110 |
ESF | ||
OP Human Resources and Employment |
ESF |
1 811 845 772 |
OP Education for Competitiveness |
ESF |
1 811 845 772 |
Total Convergence Objective |
25 883 511 035 | |
Of which: Regional Convergence |
17 064 488 596 | |
Total ERDF |
13 440 797 052 | |
Total ESF |
3 623 691 544 | |
Cohesion Fund |
8 819 022 439 | |
Competitiveness/Employment Objective |
Community Contribution | |
ERDF | ||
OP Prague Competitiveness |
ERDF |
234 936 005 |
Integrated OP |
ERDF |
29 379 498 |
OP Technical Assistance |
ERDF |
3 948 062 |
ESF | ||
OP Prague Adaptability |
ESF |
108 385 242 |
OP Human Resources and Employment |
ESF |
25 575 633 |
OP Education for Competitiveness |
ESF |
16 869 009 |
Total Competitiveness Objective |
419 093 449 | |
Total ERDF |
268 263 565 | |
Total ESF |
150 829 884 | |
Total NSRF |
26 302 604 484 |
Define:
Project’s objective; Expected effect and benefits to be derived from the project; Starting and closing date of project implementation as well as duration of the particular stages of the project; Project’s implementation path; Persons involved in the project; Project costs; Actions necessary in order to start project implementation; Limitations and threats to project implementation; Analysis of sources of financing; Analysis of requirements to be met by the beneficiary and the project (whether it is eligible for the co-financing or not); Analysis of criteria of the technical and financial analysis of the project.Remember:
The financing authority will not assign any funds until it is presented with a coherent, logical and complete project; Development of a project requires considerable expenditure of time and money; Not all projects will be granted support (failure to meet the criteria or comply with the procedures); The project must be addressed to a clearly specified group of beneficiaries and respond to documented needs; The project must be in line with the beneficiary’s statutory objectives and individual strategy; The project should contain a detailed timetable of actions, a cost estimate, as well as a system of promotion, monitoring and evaluation; The project costs must be fairly calculated based on the actual costs incurred with account being taken of any unexpected circumstances.
Important:
A beneficiary should ensure sustainability of project results for a minimum period of 5 years or, in the case of SMEs, minimum 3 years following project completion.
It is also possible to combine various forms of regional aid provided that its total value does not exceed the maximum permissible aid intensity on a given investment project.