Obszary problemowe w polityce regionalnej UE – Program Operacyjny Rozwój Polski Wschodniej 2007-2013

The basic mission of the EU structural policy is to increase the level of internal cohesion within the whole organization. An interest in the policy of regional development results from differences in the social and economic development of European Union regions. The initial period of regional policy functioning was associated with supporting the development of individual regions of the Community. However, the activities were focused on simple subventions. Since1975, the year when the European Fund of Regional Development was launched, the activities developed into a planned framework of structural support. Structural funds in Poland serve as a means of reducing the development disparity compared with other EU countries and – in regional terms – narrowing the gaps between regions within Poland. Guided by the above premises, the Polish Government put forward a proposal to draft a programme for the development of eastern voivodeships (provinces). Operational Programme for the Development of Eastern Poland is one of instruments ofthe regional policy. It is intended to enhance the rate of social and economic development of selected voivodeships, that is: Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-mazurskie. The assumed targets will make it possible to give the voivodeships equal developmental opportunities. The programme is an additional element of support provided by structural funds and it will strengthen other programmes for Eastern Poland.