Regionaal operationeel programma 2007-2013: "Podkarpackie" (en)

• 1. 

  Podkarpackie Regional Operational Programme, Convergence objective, co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

[ Figures and graphics available in PDF and WORD PROCESSED ]

• 2. 

  On 1st October 2007 , the European Commission approved the regional development programme in the Podkarpackie region in Poland for the period 2007-2013, entitled "the Operational Programme for the Podkarpackie voivodship". This programme involves Community support for Podkarpackie within the framework of "Convergence" objective. The total budget of the programme is around € 1.34 billion and the Community investment through the ERDF amounts to € 1.13 billion (approximately 1.6 % of the total EU funds invested in Poland under Cohesion policy 2007-2013).

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  The purpose and aim of the EU investment

The Podkarpackie Regional Operational Programme (ROP) is the region's first ever large-scale, coordinated, multi-annual and financially stable programme of development measures. Its strategic goal is to improve the region's competitiveness, social cohesion and accessibility and realise its unique economic and cultural potential and ensure a sustainable use of its environment.

Consequently, the Podkarpackie ROP will become the region's most important instrument for making structural changes happen. It will also be an important tool for the delivery of the revised Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon objectives allocation in the Programme is more than 42% of its total budget.

The Strategic Goal of the Programme is " To increase domestic and international economic competitiveness and to improve the accessibility of Podkarpackie region ".

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  The expected impact of the investment

According to a macroeconomic modelling projection the programme is expected to deliver additional GDP in Podkarpackie region of 2.7% and almost 8000 new jobs.

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  Priorities

The specific objectives of the programme are the following:

To create conditions for the development of knowledge-based entrepreneurship;

To improve the region's accessibility and investment attractiveness through projects in the field of transport and energy;

To create the conditions for the development of information society in the region;

To prevent environmental degradation, counter natural and technological threats and to promote efficient management of natural resources;

To create conditions for the development of social capital through investments in education, health protection, social welfare, sport and recreation;

To increase the share of tourism in the region's economy, to protect cultural heritage and to develop cultural institutions;

To diminish the intra-regional disparities.

The programme is structured according to the following priorities:

Priority 1: Competitive and Innovative Economy

The support under this priority is primarily concentrated to SME's. Only exceptionally (maximum of 10% of the total allocation) it would be possible to support large companies, in cases not exceeding the volume of 2 million EURO, when it is important for the regional economy. It is stipulated to support both existing and new enterprises by increasing the accessibility to external financing sources to SME's. Preference should be given to those companies, which are in line with the Regional Innovation Strategy of Podkarpackie voivodship, which would contribute to the development of regional cluster "Aviation Valley" and also to those increasing the innovative potential and knowledge transfer. Within the framework of this priority, it is also stipulated to provide an indirect business support through instruments like specialised loan funds, guarantee funds and other instruments of capital support. Finally, support will be given to institutions providing comprehensive counselling services tailored to meet local companies' needs. The existing networks of institutions of business-related environment in the region will be supported and new institutions providing advisory services to businesses might be also created.

Priority 2: Technical Infrastructure

The main aim of this priority is to improve the accessibility and investment attractiveness of the region. This should be achieved through the improvement of transport infrastructure. Thus, the key transport connections with the planned A4 highway as well as S19 and S74 expressways will be supported as well the roads improving access to border crossings; railway line No. 71 should be modernised too. Another important element will be the support of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. Given the importance of transport infrastructure for the economic development and intra-regional cohesion, projects are also envisaged to support the modernisations of voivodeship, county and district roads of regional and local significance as well as important ring roads in urbanised areas. The purchase of rolling stock for the regional public transport is stipulated as well.

Another area of support under this priority is the infrastructure in the field of energy generation and distribution. As regards renewable energy, the results of conducted analysis yielded that the region has a significant potential: as an example, it might be possible to build about 200 wind power stations of power up to 100 kW, about 30 wind power stations of power from 100 kW to 1 MW and about 6 wind power stations of power larger than 1 MW (including the wind farms).

Priority 3: Information Society

The telecommunication infrastructure in the region is so far not sufficiently developed. The main aim of this priority is to improve an access to information, not least in small towns and rural areas. Projects supported will be complementary to those supported under the OP Eastern Poland Development. Within the framework of this priority, regional and local broadband networks should be supported as well as electronic platforms in the field of e-health, e-education, e-services in public administration or GIS systems; public access to internet should be developed too.

Priority 4: Environment protection and risk prevention

The main aim of this priority is to prevent environmental degradation and to support the measure countering natural and technological risks. In the field of environmental protection, the construction and modernisation of sewage systems and waste water treatment plants is envisaged with reference to agglomerations lower than 15 000 equivalent inhabitant number and also project improving the water supply and waste management. Further, within the framework of this priority, the flood protection measures are envisaged. The rich natural heritage and relatively unspoilt natural environment in Podkarpackie requires actions aimed at the preservation and protection of landscape and biological diversity, the projects implemented under this priority will thus also contribute to the preservation of the diversity of species and the protection of habitats.

Priority 5: Public infrastructure

The main aim of the priority is to support the infrastructure in the field of education, health care, social, sports and recreation. In terms of education infrastructure, projects will support didactic and scientific-research facilities of universities, e.g. laboratories, libraries including the adaptation of the abovementioned facilities to the needs of disabled. In the field of health care and social services, besides modernisation of existing institutions, support is also aimed at the provision of medical apparatus for diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation. Projects in the field of infrastructure for the family and children will constitute an equally important element of the improved access to basic social services, e.g. support centres, adoption-care centres, care & education institutions, centres for homeless and social integration centres. Finally, sports and recreation infrastructure will be supported as well, since it constitute an important factor contributing to investment attractiveness and tourism development and also to retaining the qualified labour force in the region.

Priority 6: Tourism and culture

The region is rich in tourist and cultural assets, which can play an important role in promoting sustainable economic development. The projects under this priority would comprise both tourism infrastructure and cultural heritage. In the field of tourism, such projects will be promoted like tourist paths, ski lifts, inland harbours, tourist information points, spa facilities etc. The investments in tourism infrastructure will be accompanied by advertising campaigns and informational and promotional activities. In the field of culture, projects relating to the modernisation of cultural facilities, such as theatres, libraries, artistic clubs, museums, art galleries, cultural information centres are envisaged. The support will also be provided to projects in the field of the digital archiving of resources in libraries, museums with the purpose of the facilitating the availability of such resources to wider public.

Priority 7: Intra-regional cohesion

The main aim of this priority is to diminish the intra-regional disparities by supporting cities as growth poles, fostering the revitalisation of dilapidated areas and stimulating the investment attractiveness of economically marginalised areas. The main objective of the revitalization projects shall be social and economic revitalisation of areas and buildings with the aim to adapt those to new functions, such as economic, social, educational, cultural, tourist and housing. Economically marginalised areas shall be supported via number of projects aimed at complex land reclamation and development, to make those regions more attractive for potential investors and businesses.

Priority 8: Technical assistance.

This Priority Axis will support projects in the area of support for the Podkarpackie ROP management and implementation process, publicity and information and support for the process of project development and implementation.

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  Managing Authority: Council of the Podkarpackie voivodship

Contact: Mr Zygmunt Cholewi?ski, Marshal of the Podkarpackie voivodship

Marshal's Office of the Podkarpackie voivodship

ul. Grunwaldzka 15,

PL-35-959 Rzeszów

Tel.: +48178501780

Fax: +48178606702

E-mail: z.cholewinski@podkarpackie.pl

• 7. 

  Title: "Regional Operational Programme for the Podkarpackie voivodship", programme under the Convergence objective

Intervention type: Operational Programme

CCI No.: 2007PL161PO013

No. of decision: C/07/4560

Final approval date: 01/10/2007

• 8. 

  Breakdown of Finances by priority area (in euros)