Poland is to receive nearly 20% of the EU’s € 308 billion structural funds for the period 2007-2013.
The European Commissioner for regional policy, Ms Danuta Hubner, set out where the money from the EU’s structural funds will go and showed that Poland will be the far biggest recipient (€ 59,7 billion), nearly a double amount going to Spain on the second place (€31,5 billion).
A breakdown of the structural fund programme shows how money is being targeted to other new EU members from the former communist block: Czech Republic € 23,7 billion, Hungary € 22,4 billion, Romania, expected to join the EU in 2007, € 17,3 billion and Slovakia €10,3 billion.
Other than Spain, Italy (€25,7 bn), Germany (€23,5 bn), Portugal (€19,2 bn) and Greece (€18,2 bn) are substantial receivers from the ‘old’ members states. The package reflects the deal struck during the EU summit last December.
Ms Hubner’s policy is focused on raising competitiveness in EU’s poorest regions and a total of 62% of all money should be earmarked for projects directly linked with the EU’s economic priorities of creating jobs and growth. According to the European Commissioner, this marks a shift from spending priorities in the 2000-2006 Programme, where nearly half the budget was spent on infrastructure projects. Although, new member states are not officially required to earmark money for core economic projects, she expects them to set high targets in this area.
Ms Hubner, a Pole, also pointed out that transport infrastructure projects can still play a key role. ‘This is not a one-size-fits-all approach’, she said. ‘There are poor countries where investors will simply not go unless there is a decent road’.
The EU budget, including regional funds, comes up for review in 2008. But Ms Hubner has said, she will resist proposals to axe EU regional programmes in rich countries in Western Europe (as British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown would like). But Ms. Hubner also said, that ‘Brussels’ and national governments need to explain better why money spent in poor regions, particularly in Eastern Europe, will bring benefits for everyone in the EU by opening new markets: ‘We are not talking about a policy for the poor’!
