Final Report: Case Study Świętokrzyskie Region, Poland Work Package 9: Rural Development Ex post evaluation of Cohesion policy programmes 2000-2006 co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development (Objective 1 and 2) Core team: Herta Tödtling-Schönhofer (Project Director, metis) Erich Dallhammer (Project Leader, ÖIR) Isabel Naylon (metis) Bernd Schuh (ÖIR) metis GmbH (former ÖIR-Managementdienste GmbH) A-1220 Wien, Donau-City-Straße 6 Tel.: +43 1 997 15 70, Fax: +43 1 997 15 70-66 │ http://www.metis-vienna.eu National expert for Poland: Janusz Dabrowski Adresse ul. Witolinska 6/47 04-185 Warsaw, Poland E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +48602723229 Vienna, May 2009 Commissioned by: EURpean Commission, DG Regional Policy Final Report: Case Study Świętokrzyskie Region, Poland Work Package 9: Rural Development Ex post evaluation of Cohesion policy programmes 2000-2006 co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development (Objective 1 and 2) WP 9: Rural Development – Final Report Content 1 Profile of the Objective 1 Świętokrzyskie Region.............................................. 5 1.1 European and national context of the region........................................................................5 1.2 Population development and settlement patterns ................................................................7 1.3 Rural areas in Świętokrzyskie ..............................................................................................9 2 The role of EU Funds in rural development in the Świętokrzyskie Region ..................................................................................................................10 2.1 General framework of the ERDF and the other funds ........................................................10 2.1.1 Coordination with national / regional development strategies.................................10 2.2 The roles of the funds ........................................................................................................12 2.2.1 The role of the ERDF..............................................................................................13 2.2.2 The role of the ESF.................................................................................................15 2.2.3 The role of the EAGGF ...........................................................................................15 2.3 Thematic focus of the analysis...........................................................................................16 2.4 The role of the ERDF in helping rural areas facing economic challenges..........................17 2.5 The role of the ERDF in increasing accessibility ................................................................21 2.5.1 Transport infrastructure...........................................................................................21 2.5.2 Energy infrastructure ..............................................................................................24 2.5.3 Telecommunications infrastructure .........................................................................25 2.6 The role of the ERDF in increasing regional productivity, growth and quality of life...........25 2.6.1 Support for regional initiatives.................................................................................25 2.6.2 Environmental measures and land improvement....................................................27 2.6.3 Improving socio-economic viability and the quality of life........................................27 2.7 The role of the ERDF in increasing the use of regional resources and strengthening regional self-confidence .....................................................................................................29 3 Case study conclusions: The impact of ERDF interventions on rural development........................................................................................................31 4 Bibliography ........................................................................................................34 page 3 Tables, Figures and Maps Table 1. Population development in rural areas in Świętokrzyskie region 2000-2006................ 7 Table 2. Population of the region between 2000-2009............................................................... 8 Table 3. Registered migration from the region abroad 2005-2007............................................. 8 Table 4. List of operational programmes funded by the EU Structural Fund in the Świętorzyskie region in the 2004-06 period............................................................... 12 Table 5. ERDF expenditures according to project types in the Świętokrzyskie region 2004-06...................................................................................................................... 13 Table 6. Change in contribution to the regional GDP generation per sector in the years 1993-2000-2006 in percent ........................................................................................ 17 Table 7. Structure of private businesses by selected counties of the Świętokrzyskie region on 31 December 2006................................................................................................ 18 Table 8. Distribution of investment in projects in the Świętokrzyskie region according to the ERDF funded Operational Programmes..................................................................... 19 Table 9. ERDF funded projects to support business with growth potential .............................. 20 Table 10. Distribution of investment projects in rural areas funded by the IROP measure 3.4 in the Świętokrzyskie region....................................................................................... 20 Table 11. Paved public roads in the Świętokrzyskie region on 31.12.06.................................... 21 Table 12. Public roads managed by gmina /community local government on 31.12.06............. 22 Table 13. Railway lines operated in the Świętokrzyskie region on 31.12.06 .............................. 22 Table 14. Resources and number of projects implemented under the IROP Priorities 1 and 3 in Świętorzyskie ......................................................................................................... 23 Table 15. Resources and number of projects implemented under the IROP Sub-measure 1.1.1 in Świętorzyskie ................................................................................................ 24 Table 16. Basic data on gas line network on 31.12.06............................................................... 24 Table 17. Structure of educational levels in the Świętokrzyskie region and in Poland in 2002 in percentage of total population ................................................................................ 28 Figure 1. ERDF expenditures according to project types in the Świętokrzyskie region 2004-06...................................................................................................................... 14 Map 1. Map of Poland with Świętokrzyskie highlighted............................................................ 5 Map 2. Population density in Świętokrzyskie 2006................................................................... 7 Map 3. Map of the Świętokrzyskie region/voivodship............................................................... 9 page 4 WP 9: Rural Development – Final Report 1 Profile of the Objective 1 Świętokrzyskie Region 1.1 European and national context of the region The Świętokrzyskie region is one of the poorest regions in Poland and the EU. The region is situated in the central and southern part of Poland, between six regions (Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, Podkarpacke, Malopolskie, Slaskie and Lódzkie) and Poland's largest cities (Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice and Łódź). Map 1. Map of Poland with Świętokrzyskie highlighted Of all 16 Polish voivodships, Świętokrzyskie is one of the smallest ones (11,710 km2, 3.7% of the country's total area). According to recent data, the region has a population of 1.291,600 (3.37% of the total population of Poland). At 110 people per km2, population density is lower than Poland’s average of 122 per km2 (the EU average is 112.2 per km2). In terms of administrative structures, the region (voivodship) is divided into 14 counties (poviats), including the town of Kielce as the seat of self-government of the Swietokrzyskie region, and 102 communities (gmina), the lowest level of local government structures. According to the national typology of rural communities (all areas outside urban areas are classified as rural), 72 communities are defined as rural, 25 as urban-rural and five as urban. Just 45.5% of the population of the region live in urban municipalities with a clear dominance of Kielce (16.4% of the total population of the region) as a growth centre. The dominance of the rural population is further emphasized by the structure of settlements. page 5 Public administration management at regional (voivodship) level is carried out through: • The central government level - The Voivod as a representative of the government at regional level is responsible for managing units of governmental administration operating at regional level. During the implementation of the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP), the Voivod office acted as Intermediate body. • Regional self-government structures – The Marshal is head of regional local government, elected by regional counsellors elected in the regional elections. His or her tasks are focused on the overall management of regional