Poland has spent only 2% of EU grants for IT infrastructure so far

2010-04-01

According to the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), since 2007 Poland has used only 2% of the EU’s funds for the construction of local and regional broadband networks. Of €1bn that Poland can obtain from the EU in 2007-2013 for telecommunications infrastructure, only €18m has been already contracted, as the UKE reports. In order to obtain funds the agreements should be signed by 2013, and invoices settled by 2015. Many local authorities, however, are in a difficult financial situation and they cannot find the money to pay their own contribution, which is a requirement for receiving the EU subsidies.
As a result the UKE has decided to establish an advisory centre, which will advise local governments and entrepreneurs in the implementation of telecommunications investments, financed from the EU programs. The project has already been approved by the evaluation committee of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the UKE has already received PLN 80m (€20.8m) of EU financing for the advisory programme.