Relation of the Sectoral Operational Programme Improvement of the

of the Competitiveness of Enterprises to other Operational

Programmes

For attainment of the objective as defined in the SOP-ICE also measures under other Operational Programmes will be of importance. One of them is human resources

development in enterprises, as the staff’s ability to adapt to the changing economic environment is becoming a crucial factor for the strength of Poland's economy. To improve enterprises competitiveness it is necessary to ensure highly qualified staff, including management staff. A lack of skills and qualifications, both on the management and employees levels, may be one of the obstacles to innovation transfer in companies. For this reason the SOP – Development of Human Resources comprises measures aimed at increasing absorption of modern solutions by companies. They are oriented towards employers, employees and associations of employers and employees.

The measures under the Priority 2 of the SOP - Development of Human Resources, - "Development of a knowledge-based society", complement the measures under the SOP–ICE. This Priority aims at reducing the rural-urban disparities in education, ensuring equal access to learning facilities, improving the quality of education, promoting e-learning and distance learning, adapting qualifications and skill levels to the needs of the labour market, improving the system of continuous education, supporting trainings adapting SMEs to the needs of the modern economy, developing new forms of employment, and facilitating transfer of knowledge as well as university- enterprise co-operation. In particular, the third measure under this Priority, "Development of personnel for the modern economy " is of direct relevance for the SOP–ICE, as it concentrates on the following activities:

- continuous vocational training (support for improving skills and qualifications of managerial staff and employees of enterprises). This activity is closely related to the measure 2.1 of SOP–ICE, which concentrates on improvement of competitiveness of SMEs trough advice by facilitating their access to specialized advisory assistance including personnel qualifications;

- transfer of knowledge and strengthening of university-enterprise co-operation (advanced technology courses, internships, higher education, trainings, post- graduate education of employees (all categories of employees – management, researchers, technicians, workers)) offered in R&D institutions and universities. This activity relates directly to the measure 1.4 of the SOP–ICE, focused on strengthening of the co-operation between R&D sphere and the economy, as well as the measure 1.3 of the SOP–ICE where establishment of science and technology parks and technology incubators is considered;

- facilitation of introduction of new forms of employment and new forms of work organisation (including temporary employment, job rotation, distant working, adjusting the work organisation and forms of employment to the technological changes, with special regard to work conditions improvement). This area is related to the measure 2.1 of the SOP–ICE.

Support in the area of human resources is also envisaged under the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP). It comprises amongst others development of competencies linked to the regional labour market needs and lifelong learning opportunities, support for entrepreneurship/start-ups, Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) and transfer of knowledge. The support will cover also creating equal opportunities through scholarships and vocational re-orientation for people leaving agriculture and for the workforce affected by the restructuring processes.

The Integrated Regional Development Operational Programme contains also other measures, with objectives close to the objectives of measures presented in the SOP- ICE.

The measure "Regional Innovation Strategies and transfer of knowledge" is related to the majority of measures under the Priority 1 of the SOP-ICE. The IROP financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and is related to setting up of transfer of innovation networks, development of information and communication system, as well as information and training activities supporting of innovative approaches. The aim of this measure is to support knowledge transfer from R&D sphere to enterprises (through internships for university graduates in enterprises, employment of R&D staff in enterprises, and scholarship for the best university graduates). This measure is related to the SOP–ICE measures especially under the Priority 1, as pilot project arising form Regional Innovation Strategies may be co-financed from the SOP-ICE funds if it meets project selection criteria for a certain measure under the SOP-ICE. Another measure “Revitalisation of degraded urban, post-industrial and post-military sites”, which is also related to the measure 1.3 of the SOP–ICE, is aimed at stimulation of town’s or urban quarter’s revitalisation, including waste and waste water management, providing that the infrastructure meets current legal requirements, local roads infrastructure, comprehensive development of land for new construction projects and enterprise incubators.

As an element of building up of an information society under the IROP, the measure "Information Society Infrastructure" will be implemented (as a complementary measure to the measure 1.5 of the SOP–ICE). It is aimed at stimulating the development of voivodships through an extension of regional and local infrastructure of an information society, in order to develop communication and e-services (i.e. e- government, e-security, e-health and e-education), as well as eliminating disparities in the access to and use of the Internet and other IT instruments between regions in Poland and in the EU, also in the intra-regional configuration. Projects implemented under this measure will relate to the following areas:

- regional and local projects of an extension of information infrastructure networks, implemented in partnership with private undertakings of national and regional nature (i.e. broadband access to the Internet),

- dissemination of an information society technologies in the work of public institutions (R&D units, health care, education) and their application to the work of public institutions,

- use of an information society technologies for the work of self-government administration and other public institutions,

- provision of Internet access in public places (Public Access Internet Points), - regional and local government IT projects taking into account interoperability

between systems and information, together with privacy and security issues, - designing regional e-strategies.

The objective of the IROP "Micro-enterprises" measure, which is related to measures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of the SOP–ICE, is improvement of entrepreneurship through

support for increasing the number of new enterprises (excluding advanced technologies start-ups that are supported under the SOP-ICE). The assistance in the form of investment grants and advice will be given for establishment and further development of micro-enterprises operating outside the traditional sectors of business activity.

The measure “Entrepreneurship promotion” is the ESF measure financed under IROP, and is connected to the measure 2.1 of the SOP–ICE. This measure is aimed at providing support to groups and individuals in the field of advisory services for people intending to start their own business activity and dissemination of good practices and methods of business development.

Under the measure "Environment protection infrastructure" municipal projects will be co-financed in the area of surface waters protection, ambient air, management of environmental protection, gaining energy sources and waste management. These projects will be complementary to the measure 2.4 under the SOP–ICE, under which the projects will be implemented only by enterprises which do not fulfil tasks commissioned by public institutions, including self-governments and other entities, especially commercial law entities being depended on the latter, in respect of consumers and competition protection regulations. Under the SOP–ICE, no support will be granted to entities submitting investment projects providing services of general economic interest, which are specified in „Services of general economic interest in Europe” (Information on the services of general economic interest in Europe, OJL C 17/4 of 19th January 2001).

The objective of the measure 1.3 "Regional social infrastructure" is to strengthen the third level of educational institutions, performing a key role in the processes of creating competitive standing of regional economies. Such a strengthening will be effected inter alia through construction, development and modernisation of conference facilities and equipment, libraries, laboratories and other facilities serving for the purpose of scientific and research activities, sport facilities and campuses. The measure “Local social infrastructure”, related to the above measures, is aimed at development of local social infrastructure. Both these measures are related to the SOP–ICE measures 1.3 and 1.4.

5.4. Relation of the Sectoral Operational Programme - Improvement

of the Competitiveness of Enterprises to national programmes

From the perspective of the SOP-ICE, four other programmes implemented until 2006 are worth mentioning, as their objectives are the most convergent with the objectives of the SOP - Improvement of the Competitiveness of Enterprises:

- “Governmental policy guidelines for small and medium-sized enterprises for the years 2003 - 2006 ”,

- "Improvement of innovation of the economy in Poland till 2006",

- "e-Poland – Action Plan for the development of an information society in Poland in 2001-2006".

- “The Second Ecological Policy of the State for 2003-2006, with perspective for 2002-2010”.

The first of the above programmes - “Governmental policy guidelines for small and medium-sized enterprises for the years 2003 - 2006 ” has been described in section 3.3, together with “Development-oriented measures action plan for 2003-2004”, remaining in line with the policy on SMEs and with governmental economic strategy – Entrepreneurship-Development-Work”.

Creating favourable conditions for innovation improvement, as a crucial factor conducive to Poland's economy improvement, has been reflected in the strategic governmental documents indicating the measures to be launched prior to Poland's accession to the EU and to be continued until 2006. One of the main programmes in this area is "Improvement of innovation of Poland's economy until 2006", adopted by the Council of Ministers on 11th July 2000. The programme focuses upon measures both in the organisational and institutional sphere and technology transfer. They are oriented towards development of mechanisms and structures conducive to innovation activities, development of innovative attitudes and improvement of efficiency of implementation of modern solutions in the economy. They include amongst others support to emergence of innovative enterprises, development of innovation infrastructure: industrial parks, technology parks, regional technology transfer centres, education in the area of innovative entrepreneurship and promotion of information technologies.

Based on the example of the e-Europe initiative of the EU-15, a strategic document was drafted and adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2001, "e-Poland – Action Plan for an information society development in Poland in 2001-2006". The document presents six major goals and a number of detailed objectives, as well as defines measures to be launched for their implementation. These objectives include:

Objective 1: Development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure

Objective 2: Universal, cheaper, faster and secure Internet Objective 3: Investing in people and skills

Objective 4: Stimulating a better utilisation of IT Objective 5: ICT in rural areas

Objective 6: Development of digital radio and television

Another example of measures for building up of the basis for an e-economy is the long-term programme for 2003-2006 "Establishing mechanisms and structures for e- economy development in Poland". Under the programme the following activities will be developed and implemented: a platform for trade support, comprising databases on products, services and economic entities, a database of electronic documents in trade, solutions regarding on-line trade offers and purchases, especially enabling electronic transactions and settlements.

In parallel to the four horizontal governmental programmes aimed at SMEs sector support, improvement of innovation of the economy and development of an

information society, restructuring programmes discussed in chapter 3.2 will be implemented.

Adopted in 1997, the Constitution of the Republic of Poland states, that the Republic of Poland provides for the protection of the environment, pursuing the principle of sustainable development (Article 5), and it proclaims also, that the protection of the environment is the obligation, inter alia, of the state authorities, who, throughout their policy, should provide for ecological safety for the sake of both the contemporary and the future generations (Article 74). Hence, this new Constitutional order calls for the New Ecological Policy including sectoral strategies and action plans, harmonised with this new order.

Despite the positive effects which were obtained as a result of implementing the first National Ecological Policy, the indicators of the natural resource utilisation and the condition of the environment in Poland, either per capita or related to the GDP or to the surface of endangered areas, still continue to be perceivably worse, than those in highly developed states of Western Europe. On the other hand, Poland is characterised by considerable large forest areas, owing to not excessively intensive agriculture and forestry, and it still has considerable large raw material resources and rich biodiversity. In this light, formulation of New Ecological Policy that recognises this differentiation and current social and economic conditions, has created an opportunity to achieve two following goals:

- further improvement in the state of the natural environment and positive indicators in the scope of rational management of natural resources (low energy, material and water consumption indicators versus the national revenue), reached inter alia, by means of adoption and implementation of the European Union standards in the field of environmental protection; and,

- higher economic and social benefits, than those in numerous highly developed states, due to competent management of biodiversity and natural resources (inter alia, by development of environmentally sound tourism, and by better utilisation of biologically clean soil, thus potentially contributing to the growth in agricultural revenue).

The major objective of New Ecological Policy is to provide for ecological safety of the Polish society in 21st century, and to create the basis for elaboration and implementation of the national sustainable development strategy. The membership in the European Union brings about important support to achieving major objective of this new national policy, which assumes 3 stages to reach the set goals. The first stage, the implementation of short-term objectives, took place within the period of application for the European Union membership (2000-2002, according to the assumptions adopted by the Council of Ministers to finish preparations for membership in 2002); the second stage, the implementation of medium-term objectives within initial period of the European Union membership, assumes the transition periods and the implementation of approximation programmes (2003- 2010); and the third, long-term stage will be implemented in the framework of the „Strategy for Poland’s Sustainable Development by 2025”, that is under preparation by the Council of Ministers on the basis of the Parliamentary Resolution of 2nd March 1999. The time-limits for completion of the first stage and for commencing the second stage may require some updates to be made in the future, depending upon real

progress in the integration process, as related not only to Poland’s activities, but also to those of the European Union.

5.5. Cohesion of the Sectoral Operational Programme -

Improvement of the Competitiveness of Enterprises with the

Community policies

The measures envisaged in the priorities of the SOP-ICE are compatible with the EU policies in the area of environment protection, sustainable development, equal opportunities of women and men, an information society, employment support, competition policy and public procurement procedures. Each project applying for implementation will be verified for its compliance with the above policies.

5.5.1. Environmental protection

The SOP-ICE takes account of the EU environment protection policy. The measures in the area of enhancement of the competitiveness of enterprises are aimed at, amongst others, reduction of energy- and material intensity of production and waste production, thus contributing to a reduction of the adverse effects and to improvement of the environment. These objectives are to be attained amongst others through a support of the implementation of environmental management systems, programmes of cleaner production in enterprises and recycling systems, as well as the use of Best Available Techniques.

The Framework Strategic Evaluation of the SOP-ICE impact on the environment is presented in Annex 2.

Implementation of the SOP-ICE shall be conducted pursuant to the requirements of the EU, and especially in compliance with Art. 1 and 12 of the Council Regulation 1260/1999, which states that implementing the objectives of the Community should contribute to i.a. protection and improvement of the environment and that operations financed by the Funds or receiving assistance from the EIB or other financial instruments offered by the EU shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty, with instruments adopted under it and with Community policies and measures, including the regulations on environmental protection. In particular all operations undertaken under the CSF will comply with all obligations resulting from the Habitats and Wild Birds Directive No 79/409/EEC on wild bird protection (OJL 103 of 25th April 1979), the Directive 92/43/EC on the protection of wildlife habitats and wild fauna and flora (OJL 206 of 22nd July 1992), and Directives: No 85/337/EEC of 27th June 1985 on evaluation of impact of particular public and private undertakings on the natural environment (OJL 175 of 5th July 1985) and No 97/11/EC of 3rd March 1997, amending the Directive 85/337/EEC on evaluation of impact of particular public and private undertakings on the natural environment (OJL 73 of 14th March 1997).

Additionally all measures implemented within the SOP-ICE must conform to the Polish legislation on environment, i.e. the Environmental Protection Act, which is in compliance with the EU requirements. Priority will be given to investments that shall help Poland to meet commitments regarding implementation of the EU legislation on the environmental protection.

5.5.2. Sustainable development

Sustainable development means the right for satisfying the development aspirations of the present generation, without restricting the rights of future generations to satisfy their development needs. The main principles of sustainable development were defined in the Rio Declaration on environment and development adopted at the Sustainable Development Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The sustainable development strategy plays a vital role in the EU policy. It was reflected in the long- term objectives of the European sustainable development strategy formulated in Göteborg, the outcome of the process of integration of sectoral policies with the ecological and sustainable development issues and the medium-term objectives arising from the Sixth Environmental Programme of the EU started in Cardiff. These documents, along with the Polish document "Poland 2025 – a long-term sustainable

development strategy" – establish the main actions framework of the Sectoral

Operational Programme aimed at sustainable development of the economy, while maintaining the decoupling principle, i.e. a separation of this development from the pressure of the environment. Possibilities and challenges for the sustainable development resulting from technological progress were also defined during the UN Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002. The SOP- ICE takes into account the activities indicated during this summit - exchange of best practice, co-operation between R&D institutions and enterprises, promotion of cleaner production, development of alternative energy sources - all of which aimed at improving the effectiveness and competitiveness of industry, increase of productivity and quality, as well as strengthening of the management of the economy, compatible with the needs of the environment.

These activities constitute also an introduction to implementation of programmes on sustainable consumption patterns and production models, recommended during the UN Summit in Johannesburg and compatible with a strategy worked out in Poland and adopted by the Council of Ministries in 2003, “A Strategy for Changing the Production and Consumption Patterns”.

5.5.3. The equal opportunity policy