The year 2014 starts a new budget perspective of the European Union for the period 2014 - 2020. Poland will be one of the most significant beneficiaries of the EU funds. Six national programmes and sixteen regional programmes will be implemented as part of the EU cohesion policy. In order to use these funds fully the Polish administration has to take effective measures for the structural policy implementation.
NIK President Krzysztof Kwiatkowski on starting audit and experts’ panel
EU funds
In its audit the Supreme Audit Office will check preparation of the following:
- draft partnership agreement setting out terms of using structural funds for Poland for 2014-2020;
- national and regional operational programmes;
- Polish law acts critical for the use of funds;
- system of procedures and institutions responsible for proper use of funds;
- administration to implement new solutions arising from the EU regulations (e.g. monitoring execution of the programme objectives, as well as the administration’s readiness to submit annual expenditure reports and to exchange information by electronic means).
The audit started with an experts panel. Representatives of NIK, of the general government sector and the world of science, as well as Parliament members and representatives of non-governmental organisations discussed the key issues and challenges concerning the implementation of the cohesion policy for 2014 - 2020.
The greatest threat of potential delays would be if the European Commission did not approve the partnership agreement within a time enabling the kick-off of programmes and projects in 2014. The European Commission prepared its own standpoint for negotiations with Poland. It may prolong the process and create the need to change both the draft agreement and the draft programmes.
Delays may also appear at the stage of approving the national and regional operational programmes by the European Commission. The previous NIK audits (from the period 2007-2013) show that it took very long, sometimes even one year, to agree upon the wording of documents.
Other issues are related to establishing the systems of management and audit of the use of EU funds. As for some programmes, it was not yet decided which entities would act as intermediate and implementing bodies. It is the first time when the duties of certifying institutions in case of regional programmes will be entrusted to Marshall Offices. There is a risk that they do not have required organisational and personnel potential.
Other possible delays concern in the area of preparing and approving internal procedures of institutions involved in the management and audit system. These may result in delayed implementation of the programmes. Without any internal procedures in place the Minister of Infrastructure and Development may not issue a designation confirming the compliance with conditions ensuring proper implementation of the operational programme. Such confirmation is critical to start the programmes’ implementation.
Development of territorial contracts, that is agreements between the central government and local governments of individual provinces, may also be problematic. There is a risk that the documents will not be agreed upon and signed in time.
And finally, for Poland to effectively implement the EU funds, it has to adjust its domestic law to the new EU regulations. The structural policy implementation system requires drafting a range of legal acts which - if not adopted in time - may cause delayed selection and implementation of projects in 2014.
