Polish experience, Integrated Regional Operational Programme POLAND Polish experience, Integrated Regional Operational Programme Rafał Nowak Department for Implementation of Regional Development Programmes 26 November 2007, Brussels

IROP objective To contribute to long-term economic development, economic, social and territorial cohesion and integration with the European Union, by means of: Establishing conditions for improvement of competitiveness of Polish regions Counteracting marginalisation of specified areas

IROP budget European Regional Development Fund: 2 530 mln € European Social Fund: 438 mln € State budget: 346 mln € Territorial self-government units: 769 mln € Main beneficiaries Territorial self-government units, education, health care and culture institutions, people who want to increase their professional qualifications, pupils, students, micro-enterprises

Main areas of intervention Road infrastructure Environmental infrastructure Educational infrastructure Health care infrastructure Infrastructure of tourism and culture Information society infrastructure Trainings and courses, i.a. vocational reorientation Job intermediation and vocational information Support programmes for future micro-enterpreneurs Investments in micro-enterprises

IROP information and promotion system 60 institutions involved During meetings with representatives of the regional institutions a consensus was achieved. Duties of specific institutions were defined in a general and minimalistic way. Division of competencies specified in the Promotion Plan for the IROP – part of the Programme Complement

IROP information and promotion system Managing Authority: Informational and promotional activities on the national level Supervision and monitoring – through surveys, reports and regular meetings faciliating exchange of good practices

IROP information and promotion system 16 Marshall Offices: coordination of information and promotion activities on the regional level; main contact points for potential beneficiaries and other target groups 28 implementing institutions: dissemination of info about opportunities and procedures regarding specific IROP measures 16 Voivodship Offices: dissemination of information about financial and monitoring procedures related to implementation of IROP projects

TA – financial hardships at the beginning No financial resources available under Technical Assistance from the previous perspective After negotiations with the European Commission the initial TA allocation was increased in order to make the resources available to all 60 institutions

Achievements Great interest in the programme: over 24 000 formally correct applications; over 10 000 agreements granting structural funding Coherent guidelines on promotion of the community source of funding Trainings (until 30 June 2007): Over 24 000 beneficiaries Over 5766 employees implementing IROP

Information and promotion activities related to IROP (30 June 2007) Actions  Conferences 288 Participants 19 888 Other (fairs, events etc.) 318 Publishing Titles of bulletines 113 Total issue of the bullletines 276 399 Titles of brochures and leaflets 112 Total issue of brochures and leaflets 189 148 Other publications (including posters) 286 Total issue of other publications 12 656 939 Trainings For employees involved in implementation 732 Participants 5766 For beneficiaries 24 600 Other activities Visitors in information points 132 368 Visitors on websites 24 207 949 Promotional materials 218 765

Drawbacks Linguistic challenges realated to „euro-jargon”: structural funds, (integrated) operational programme, final beneficiary, ultimate beneficiary… Information points Website

Points for further discussion How much outsourcing? Do the structural funds influence social values and attitudes? Can not only ESF but also ERDF be used to promote leadership, activity, protection of the environment, etc.?

Contact details: Rafał Nowak Rafal.Nowak@mrr.gov.pl www.zporr.gov.pl www.mrr.gov.pl