FINANCIAL EXPENSES OF EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN RURAL AREAS IN POLAND

The main aim of the paper is to compare and assess the structure and value of implemented projects co-financed by EU funds in perspective 2007-2013 in rural areas in comparison to the urban ones. The objectives of the study were to classify investment priorities assigned to each project into smaller number of homogenous groups and to identify the share of EU funded projects in the different types of areas. Desk research, review of literature and databases, statistical and descriptive methods were used. The material used was database of projects implemented in the period 2007-2016 co-financed by EU structural funds in the programming period 2007-2013 as of June 2018. Polish rural areas have had the highest share of funds (above 10 %) allocated on construction of transport infrastructure, developing energy infrastructure, social infrastructure; and projects enhancing nature, tourism and cultural development. The proportions between the allocation in urban and rural areas were uneven - in most cases much more funds were spent in the cities and towns, which is clearly connected with the polarization - diffusion model of Polish regional policy.