Convergence objective, co-funded by ERDF
Programme description
On 4 September, the European Commission approved the Operational Programme for the Śląskie voivodship 2007-2013. This programme involves Community support for Śląskie within the framework of the "Convergence" objective. The total budget of the programme is EUR 2.02 billion and Community assistance through the ERDF amounts to EUR 1.71 billion (approximately 2.5 % of the total EU money invested in Poland under Cohesion policy 2007-2013).
1. The purpose and aim of the EU investment
The Śląskie Regional Operational Programme (ROP) is the region’s first-ever large-scale, coordinated, multi-annual and financially stable programme of development measures.
The Śląskie programme will become the region’s most important instrument for making structural change 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 40% of its total budget. The Strategic Goal of the Programme is: "The stimulation of rapid growth along with the strengthening of the social, economic and spatial cohesion of the region".
2. The expected impact of the investment
According to a macroeconomic modelling projection, the Regional Operational Programme for Śląskie is expected to deliver additional GDP of 2.91% and about 9 000 new jobs, of which 4 500 will be for women. Over 1 300 small and medium enterprises (SME) will be supported (including micro-enterprises), and over 400 will receive support in the framework of innovation.
3. Priority axes
Priority 1: Technical research and development (R&D), innovation and entrepreneurship
Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship centres, ensuring preparation of land for investment. Stimulating the development of a network of business environment institutions and instruments for external financing of entrepreneurship. Direct investment in small businesses to foster competitive micro-enterprises and SMEs, creating jobs. Strengthening the potential of technological centres and of research institutions providing innovation and technology transfer; stimulating and developing network and cooperation links between the R&D institutions and entrepreneurs; developing local and regional clusters.
Priority 2: Knowledge society
Providing fast, safe Internet access, as well as the development of electronic public services. Support for activities to create and reconstruct access networks. Creating public Internet access points. Developing public electronic services for the region's population (necessary for task performance within eGovernment); increasing the range of services provided with the use of modern communication and information technologies; creating management support systems for public administration.
Priority 3: Tourism
Investment in tourism infrastructure will contribute to the development of businesses offering a complete tourist service, including hotels, catering services and transport activities. This will stimulate the growth of new businesses and create new jobs. There will be support for actions to develop tourism-related infrastructure as well as tourist information systems and promotion.
Priority 4: Culture
Improving what the voivodship has to offer in cultural terms will contribute to improving its image both within the country and abroad. There will be support for projects improving the quality of cultural facilities, and consequently of the attractiveness of the region. There will be projects to restore historical buildings and convert vacant industrial buildings for cultural purposes.
Priority 5: Environment
Developing water and the sewage infrastructure. Support will also be given to waste management through the implementation of ecologically effective, comprehensive waste management systems. Improving air quality through investments in the energy efficiency of heating systems. Support for environmentally friendly, renewable energies. Improving collection and processing of information for developing environmental instruments. Activities to preserve, enrich and restore biodiversity; education and promotion of the need to safeguard this heritage.
Priority 6: Sustainable urban development
Silesia is the most urbanised region in Poland. The main objective of this priority is to increase the competitiveness of metropolitan centres by improving public space and transport, cultural, social, recreational and educational facilities, to enable the region to compete with others in Poland and Europe. Rehabilitating derelict areas in towns and cities will play a crucial role for urban development. There will be support for comprehensive projects to create and develop economic activity zones, particularly in former industrial areas.
Priority 7: Transport
Developing an effective, integrated, safer, environmentally-friendly, high-quality accessible transport system to increase numbers using public transport. Modernising and extending road systems to connect the regions's key road system with trans-European transport networks (TEN-T), national and international roads. There will also be projects related to traffic management systems.
Priority 8: Educational infrastructure
Development of higher education, educational and lifelong learning infrastructure. Strengthening the role of education at all levels, creation of the knowledge-based society and the competitive regional economy. Projects including higher education schools specialising in the fields of Regional Innovation Strategy will be prioritised.
Priority 9: Health and recreation
Improve the health of the region's inhabitants through investment in healthcare to boost the quality and availability of medical services, developing and modernizing inpatient and outpatient care infrastructure and equipment. Support for projects to set up or improve sports and recreational facilities accessible to all.
Priority 10: Technical assistance
Target processes related to the preparation, management, monitoring, appraisal, control and evaluation of the programme to increase administrative capacity in implementing funds; information and promotion.
4. Managing Authority
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical research and development (R and D), innovation aneeeentrentrepreneurship | 296.238.553,00 | 52.277.392,00 | 348.515.945,00 |
| Information society | 150.000.000,00 | 26.470.588,00 | 176.470.588,00 |
| Tourism | 110.420.000,00 | 19.485.882,00 | 129.905.882,00 |
| Culture | 53.274.150,00 | 9.401.321,00 | 62.675.471,00 |
| Environment | 180.678.600,00 | 31.884.459,00 | 212.563.059,00 |
| Sustainable urban development | 312.802.445,00 | 55.200.431,00 | 368.002.876,00 |
| Transport | 426.327.555,00 | 84.244.367,00 | 510.571.922,00 |
| Education infrastructure | 82.480.000,00 | 14.555.294,00 | 97.035.294,00 |
| Health and recreation | 57.759.000,00 | 10.192.765,00 | 67.951.765,00 |
| Technical assistance | 43.000.000,00 | 0,00 | 43.000.000,00 |
| Total | 1.712.980.303,00 | 303.712.499,00 | 2.016.692.802,00 |