Abstract

Years 2004-2006 were a period, in which one tried to construct a regional instrument for management and implementation of regional policy instruments. The central government in co-operation with particular voivodships prepared the first quasi-regional Integrated Regional Operational Programme for years 2004-2006. Under this document, part of competencies and decisions regarding the ways of EU funds expenditure were transferred to a voivodship level. This meant a bigger influence of regional authorities together with social and economic partners on projects selection. Including self-government administration in a management process was a first step and at the same time an important test prior to transferring wider competencies for subsequent programming period 2007-2013. The article presents results of intervention analysis with regard to Integrated Regional Operational Programme for years 2004-2006 in the Lubelskie Voivodship and evaluation of its implementation from the point of view of its influence on shaping development processes of the Lubelskie region. It also aims at summarizing material and social effects of the programme execution, which results will be used during a discussion on a shape of the cohesion policy in a new programming period after 2014 and in works on a new instrument of the national regional policy. The analysis was conducted based on few aspects: quantitative (number of projects), value (the amount of engaged means, indicators of target achievement), thematic (the material scope of executed projects), subjective (structure of beneficiaries) and spatial (distribution of support measures in compliance with NTS V). As a result of applying accepted algorithm, EUR 201 million (PLN 762 million) from European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund was allocated for execution of Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP) in the Lubelskie Voivodship. Despite relatively high share of IROP in the structure of aid funds in the voivodship (above 30%) its importance in global investment expenditures was relatively low. It is proved by the medium annual level of executed payments from structural funds under IROP in the amount of PLN 270.5 million and by the medium annual level of investment expenditures in the region in the said period, which is PLN 4.5 billion. Therefore structural funds under IROP for the Lubelskie Voivodship were only 6.1% of the general investment expenditures in the Lubelskie region. IROP 2004-2006 was able to meet only a small part of regional development needs. It’s important role should be perceived as supporting regional and local investment and not as the main „power” stimulating its development. Except for financial perspective, important educational and organizational functions should be stressed. Thanks to its implementation self-governments obtained new experiences and prepared appropriate structures for execution of operational programmes of the perspective 2007-2013.