Analysis of the efficient use of European Union funds by communities belonging to the Olkusz District in the period of 2007–2013

Abstract

In the period of 2007–2013 local governments faced the possibility of taking advantage of the European Union funds. For the first time Poland actively participated in preparing this financial perspective and at the same time Poland was this perspective beneficiary during the whole period of this perspective duration. Sixteen operational programs were prepared by the local governments themselves, what was a big challenge for them. The aim of the paper is to present the fact that local governments have started working and functioning in an efficient way benefiting from the European Union funds. For this reason, the communities belonging to the Olkusz District in the Małopolska Province were surveyed. The surveyed communities mainly applied for the following programs: MRPO-Malopolska Regional Operating Program, PROW-Evolution Program for Rural Area and POKL – Operating Program for Social Capital. Of course, it resulted from the regional needs that were considered by the local governments’ authorities as the priority. The mentioned programs were embedded in the local environment, what influenced the programs application efficiency. The most important premise providing the EU programs usage efficiency was the fact that the local government units used only their own financial means without additional charges (credit rates). It can be stated that Polish communities followed the 3E principle: economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Let us hope that in the future such economic behavior will become a standard in Polish public finance and not an exception.