Convergence objective, co-funded by ERDF
Programme description
The European Commission approved on 10 October 2007 a regional development programme in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region in Poland for the period 2007-2013, entitled the Operational Programme for the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship. This programme involves Community support for Kujawsko-Pomorskie within the framework of the "Convergence" objective. The total budget of the programme is € 1.11 billion and the Community investment through the ERDF amounts to € 951 million (approximately 1.4 % of the total EU funds invested in Poland under Cohesion policy 2007-2013).
1. The purpose and aim of the EU investment
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie 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 increase the competitiveness of the voivodeship and the social, economic and spatial coherence of its area, respecting the rules of sustainable development.
2. The expected impact of the investment
Consequently, the Kujawsko-Pomorskie ROP will become the region’s most important instrument for making the structural changes happen. According to a macroeconomic modeling projection the programme is expected to deliver an additional GDP/capita growth, that will reach a level of 55% of EU27 and over 8 000 new jobs in the target year 2013. It will be also an important tool for the delivery of the revised Lisbon Strategy. The Lisbon objectives allocation in the programme is almost 40% of its total budget.
3. Priority axes
The specific objectives of the programme are the following:
1. To improve the attractiveness of Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship;
2. To increase the competitiveness of the region's economy;
3. To advance the standard and quality of living of inhabitants.
The programme is structured according to the following priorities:
Priority 1: Development of technical infrastructure
The objective of the priority is an improvement of the technical infrastructure in the region, especially in the area of transport (road, rail and air transport) in order to provide better access to the region from outside, improve the internal cohesion and transport safety. The support refers to the measures aimed at construction and reconstruction of the road infrastructure, especially integration of the regional traffic system to the national road structure and to the European transport networks. Reconstruction of traffic systems in the region should be supported by projects aimed at an increase of the share of the public transport within the overall traffic in the metropolitan cities. In order to increase the role of railway passenger transport in the process of integration of rural areas into the regional and sub-regional centres of the voivodeship as well as the traffic between these centres (especially between Bydgoszcz and Toruń), support will be given to the development of a new rail structure and modernization of existing railways. Increasing the intensity of the integration of the region to the European surrounding and the anticipated increase of tourism justifies the planned development of technical infrastructure of the regional airport in Bydgoszcz as a main element of the traffic network of the Bydgoszcz-Toruń agglomeration.
Priority 2: Maintenance and rational utilization of environment
Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship is characterized by a significant bio-diversity of the environment, 32,4% of its area is legally protected. Environmental values significantly affect the quality of life and determine the region’s attractiveness for tourists and investors. The objective of the priority is the improvement of the environmental status of the region, its protection and effective utilization of natural resources in order to improve the living conditions of inhabitants and create favorable conditions for the development of the economy in conformity with the principles of sustainable development. Support within this priority takes into account implementation of investments co-financed from the resources of the Cohesion Fund within the Operational Programme "Infrastructure and Environment", including water and sewage management in Toruń, ecological safety of the water dam in Włocławek, increase of flood safety of the river Wisła (Vistula River) on the section from Toruń to Kwidzyń. Financial support will be given to projects concerning development and modernization of transfer networks and facilities in water treatment plants, especially those using the power output of wastes (gases) for utility purposes, provided they are economically profitable. It is expected that the environment will benefit from a more intensive use of the region’s sources of renewable energy as a result of implementing energy conservation projects.
Priority 3: Development of social infrastructure
One of the main determinants of the region’s attractiveness for both business activities and residential location is a rich offer of social services, which requires investments in social infrastructure. The objectives of this priority is the improvement of the quality and availability of social services due to investments in social infrastructure (education, health, social care, culture), also for disabled people, and the protection and conservation of cultural heritage.
Priority 4: Development of the infrastructure of information society
A substantial part of the regional programme is devoted to the implementation of the objectives of the revised Lisbon Strategy. Projects concerning the development of information society will be supported in line with the Regional Innovation Strategy for Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship, until 2015. The main objectives of the priority is the improvement of access to broadband computer network and hence access to world information resources, internet services, multimedia services and enhanced use of information and communication technologies in public services and economy.
Priority 5: Increase of competitiveness of companies
The objective of this priority is to increase the competitiveness of companies of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship, develop their economic and innovative potential, growth of business activity and increase of employment. Projects supported under this priority will be in line with the Development Strategy for Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship for the years 2007 – 2020 and the Regional Innovation Strategy until 2015 referring to the revised Lisbon Strategy. They will be also in line with the Community horizontal instruments like the 7th Framework Programme, Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, and lifelong learning.
Priority 6: Support for the development of tourism
Having in mind the valuable environmental resources as well as all substantial values of the cultural heritage (especially in Toruń), Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship is a region with considerable tourism potential, that is weakly exposed and used for regional development. The priority will support projects aimed at a more efficient utilization of natural and cultural heritage resources, on extension and diversification of the tourist options and improvement of the quality of tourist services.
Priority 7: Support for changes in the cities and areas requiring renovation
The objective of the priority is the economic and social revival as well as infrastructural, architectural and urban renewal of devastated parts of cities, post-industrial and post-military grounds and objects. The priority foresees support for revitalization of such grounds (areas, buildings) aimed at increase the standard of everyday life of inhabitants, while protecting their cultural and historical values. The support will cover modernization of infrastructural development and renovation of objects, including renovation of the common parts of multi-family buildings, technical installations and other measures resulting in energy savings.
Priority 8: Technical assistance
The main objective of the priority is to ensure the efficient implementation of the Regional Operational Programme, including the correct preparation of projects in order to achieve the objectives stated in the ROP. Furthermore, the support for monitoring, control and publicity will be provided to assure the effective use of Structural Funds.
4. Managing Authority
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development of technical infrastructure | 238.701.959,00 | 42.123.875,00 | 280.825.834,00 |
| Maintenance and rational utilization of environment | 117.924.474,00 | 20.810.202,00 | 138.734.676,00 |
| Development of social infrastructure | 123.630.496,00 | 21.817.147,00 | 145.447.643,00 |
| Development of the infrastructure of information society | 57.060.229,00 | 10.069.452,00 | 67.129.681,00 |
| Increase of competitiveness of companies | 252.016.012,00 | 44.473.414,00 | 296.489.426,00 |
| Support for the development of tourism | 47.550.191,00 | 8.391.210,00 | 55.941.401,00 |
| Support for changes in the cities and areas requiring renovation | 85.590.344,00 | 15.104.178,00 | 100.694.522,00 |
| Technical assistance | 28.530.115,00 | 5.034.726,00 | 33.564.841,00 |
| Total | 951.003.820,00 | 167.824.204,00 | 1.118.828.024,00 |