MRR issues update on EU funds

2009-06-12



The processing of applications and awarding of EU funds for investment projects is progressing at a satisfactory pace, suggesting that the government’s annual target of at least PLN 16.8bn (approx. €3.7m) to be poured into EU-funded projects this year could be met, latest data from the Ministry of Regional Development show.
Between 1 January and 7 June a total of 13,144 agreements were signed for investment grants worth a combined PLN 35.1bn (€7.7bn), including €26.6bn (€5.9bn) from EU funds (i.e. 9.1% of the total allocation from the 2007-2013 budget round). Regional development minister Elzbieta Bienkowska commented that the results were better than expected, and that by the end of the year the figure will reach €50bn (€11.2bn).
The number of “formally correct applications” submitted over this period is 66,100, and their total value exceeds PLN 141bn (€31.1bn). Funds actually invested this year to date amounted to PLN 3.6bn (€0.8bn).
Accelerated execution of EU-funded investments is one of the pillars of the government’s efforts to sustain economic growth in the face of the downturn. According to experts, if the government target is to be met, in 2009 as a whole agreements should be signed worth a total of PLN 70bn (€15.4bn).