The Impact of Final Allocation of Eu Structural Funds in the Central Bohemian Region in the Czech Republic

Position Paper

THE IMPACT OF FINAL ALLOCATION OF EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN THE CENTRAL BOHEMIAN REGION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Basic profile of the region 4

The issue 6

Authors’ views on our selected topic 7

Critical views 7

Complimentary views 9

Conclusion and Opinion 10

References: 14

Introduction

The purpose of this position paper is to describe and analyze the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), specifically concentrated on the Central Bohemian Region in the Czech Republic. European Union and its funds are here to serve different purposes. In the case of the structural funds, its aim is to promote city and rural development, decrease inequalities within the less developed regions, decrease unemployment, promote better highways and transportation, promote tourism and over all create a better standard of social and environmental living among citizens in the region. The global target of the Regional Operational Program for Central Bohemian Region (ROP CB) is to create an environment for dynamic growth of the region’s GDP and ensure a high quality of life of inhabitants of towns and of the countryside by increasing the attraction of the region for living, doing business, investment and tourism. Over the period of 2007 – 2012, a total of 1553 projects were submitted for application, out of which the Committee of the Regional Council approved 704 for financing (Regional Operational Programme for Central Bohemia 2007 – 2013 brochure). Unfortunately, many projects, especially in the priority axis 3 - Integrated Territorial Development were rejected. A total of 885 projects in the field of education and city centers were submitted for approval out of which only 383 were approved for financing. We see a great gap in this specific area. In Figure 1 bellow is displayed a scheme of the priority axes and intervention areas ROP CB.

Figure 1: Priority axis and intervention areas ROP NUTS 2 Central Bohemia....