Poland is to receive 489 million Swiss franks in assistance funds from Switzerland as part of a program to level out differences in socio-economic development with countries of the 'Old EU'.
Slawek Szefs reports
Poland is one of the ten EU newcomer countries to benefit from the Swiss assistance program. The sum it will be granted is a hefty 49% of the total assigned for the purpose showing the importance Poland has been given by the Swiss authorities.
Director General of the Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation Martin Dahinden expressed hope the program will help to further strengthen ties between Poland and Switzerland: 'It's a continuation of a previous cooperation we have already started with Poland in the 19'Nineties. The cooperation between Poland and Switzerland has broad support in my country. We even had, as in many cases, a referendum on this and it got approved by the Swiss population.'
Propositions of projects to be financed from the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Program can be submitted by public institutions, local governments or ministries, NGOs as well as both private and state owned companies. Subsidies will vary from 60 to a full 100% of the estimated cost of the undertaking, depending on the strategic importance of the project and institutional guarantees for its financing.
Polish minister for regional development Elzbieta Bienkowska pledges this aspect shall be given careful consideration: 'It will be done on a competitive basis through a two stage system of chosing the best projects. First, the initial draft of a given project will have to be evaluated and if approved, it will undergo further scrutiny in a full version to get final acceptance.'
Janusz Mikula, also from the regional development ministry, adds that the funds can be be used for complex integrated programs with less developed peripheral areas, modernization of infrastructure, the private sector, export and health protection in mind: 'This program has its specifics. The Polish side draws considerably on the experience of implementing structural and cohesion funds. The ultimate shape of the whole system and its criteria is a derivative of Swiss and Polish experiences.'
It has been disclosed that at least 40% of the funds from the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Program will be earmarked for distribution among four most needy regions in the south and east of the country.
Projects can be submitted from October 1st through December 23rd.