Brussels, 06/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - During her visit to Krynica, where she spoke to the economic and political elite of Central and Eastern Europe at an Economic Forum (the equivalent to the famous Davos Forum), Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner signed, on 6 September, five operational programmes (OP) for Polish regions for 2007-2013 covering the voivodeships of Pomerania (Pomporskie), Silesia (Slaskie), Lower Silesia (Dolnoslaskie), Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie) and Lesser Poland (Malopolskie). These programmes come to a total of €6.7 billion, i.e. about 10% of the total amount invested in Poland under European Cohesion policy 2007-2013.
In a press release, the Commission points out that Poland has presented 21 operational programmes to the Commission: one related to the European Social Fund (ESF) while the 20 others will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or Cohesion Fund. Five of the programmes are national and 16 regional for each of the 16 Polish regions. The government and the regional authorities are currently finalising their discussions on the remaining OPs, which should be approved by the end of October. The Commission also stresses that the whole of Poland is covered by Objective 1 (convergence - growth and employment) for the period 2007-2013. The priorities defined in the individual regional programmes are in line with those established in the Polish strategic reference framework, approved by the Commission in May this year (see EUROPE 9423). (gb)