Four EU Cross-border Co-operation Operational Programmes concerning Poland and its neighbors the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania and Slovakia, as well as the South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme, were approved by the European Commission (EC) late last month. In all, the funding for these projects will reach nearly EUR 630 (zł.2,273) million.

The aid is to focus mainly on the development of economic and social cross-border activities and the development of transnational cooperation. The total funding approved for the cooperation program between Poland and the Czech Republic was EUR 219.5 (zł.794.2) million, while the Lithuanian-Polish border region will receive EUR 71.6 (zł.258.9) million in aid. The Slovak-Polish border region will gain EUR 157.4 (zł.569.2) million for development. Poland's border regions with "old Europe" will also get a lift. A program to foster development of the Polish-German border region between the German state of Saxony and the Dolnoœlšskie and Lubuskie voivodships was granted EUR 105 (zł.379) million. In this program, nearly three quarters of the affected region is in Poland.

The South Baltic program includes the maritime territories of Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden and aims to strengthen the development of the South Baltic region. The budget for this program is EUR 75.3 (zł.272.4) million. The Polish allocation comes to EUR 25 (zł.90.6) million.

Within these EU development programs, projects can be financed in such fields as communication and environmental protection, entrepreneurship and tourism development, education and and networking development. Projects can be submitted between January 14 and March 14, 2008. EU funding can finance up to 85 percent of an investment's value.