Untitled - Ministerstwo Rozwoju Regionalnego

time) of a new solution that has not been used in Poland for longer than 3 years 17 .
In this context, the use of EU funds and the establishment of the National Road
Fund was innovative at the time. New forms of financing companies and infrastructure
are currently being implemented. The research carried out by the
author for many years now indicates an existing information barrier concerning
availability of funding in the Polish market. In the area of infrastructural development,
the problem in particular refers to local authorities (municipalities and
districts - poviats). It certainly hinders implementation of many undertakings,
because very often entities involved do not have the information on new financial
solutions, innovative in the Polish market.
Funds offered by Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme are undoubtedly
a novelty in the Polish market. Under the programme, Switzerland has granted
to Poland non-refundable financial assistance of 489 million CHF for a five-year
commitment period and a ten-year period of spending, which started on 14th
June 2007 18 . Environment and Infrastructure with the total allocation of 127.5
million CHF is one of the four assistance areas. The programme also provides financial
assistance in the area of improving management, safety, efficiency and
reliability of local/regional transportation systems. Projects eligible for support
under that objective are the ones of a minimum value of 3 million CHF (projects
with investment elements - 10 million CHF) to be implemented in the following
areas 19 :
– development of documentation (feasibility studies) for big investment
transport projects;
– small and well targeted projects on railway infrastructure and rolling
stock;
– modernization of monitoring and control systems;
– passenger and ticketing services.
Financial products innovative in the Polish market and assistance programmes
concerning development of infrastructure projects are also offered by
international financial institutions. The analysis of the support to transport investments
indicates the dominant role of the European Investment Bank. The
JASPER initiative, under the auspices of EIB, supporting big infrastructure projects
can be an example here.
Financing infrastructure within public-private partnership can still be considered
innovative in Poland. This form, used in many countries, has not been
significantly present in Poland so far. The concession system of building motorways
has not contributed to reaching the expected results. The legislators responsible
for not adopting relevant legislation and political and social barriers
17 Detailed description of the priorities of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy
2007-2013. Ministry of Regional Development, Warszawa 4 th
of July 2008. http://www.mrr.gov.pl.
18 Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. http://www.programszwajcarski.gov.pl.
19 Ibidem.
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