Absorption of Structural Funds in Poland within the Context of Information Society Development on Rural Areas

The paper describes the results of analysis for the applications of the European Union financial instruments in the execution of actions performed within sectoral operational programmes aimed at the development of the information society, with the specific inclusion of rural areas. The effectiveness of activities in the area of development of the information society is determined by the IT level indicators such as: computer hardware availability, Internet access, IT skills of citizens, access to public services provided electronically, etc. Following Poland's accession to the European Union there has already been some progress in the development of the information society which is seen in: the growth in the number of rural households having computer equipment (up by 21%) and the increase in the households with Internet access (by 14%). Structural funds like the ERDF, the ESF, and the EAGGF have significantly contributed; however, the level of their absorption is unsatisfactory. The majority of projects approved for the years 2004-2007 were low-budget ones, poorly innovative and having a local appeal. Beneficiaries of such projects were focused on satisfying their primary needs relating to the purchase of hardware and software. For elimination the 'digital divide' between urban and rural areas more financial and organisation efforts are needed in the field of IT education towards rural area inhabitants, which would be prepared to use actively the possibilities that the information society brings about.