1. The Role of RDAs in implementing the Structural Funds Polish Regional Development Agencies as institutions programming, implementing and managing the Structural Funds? Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies Andrzej Kidyba Lublin Development Foundation

2. www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies  EU Structural Funds - challenge of strategic importance to RDAs  Structural Funds Objective 1 (all Polish regions elligible for assistance)  Structural Funds a follow - up to pre-accession programmes  RDAs potential: –experience in pre-accession programmes realisation and management, –partner of regional authorities and groundbreaker in the process of regional development planning, –deep knowledge of the region and its needs.

3. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies  programming  implementation  information dissemination  management RDAs and Structural Funds

4. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies 1.Partnership building for sustainable regional development 2.Participation in the works of Regional Steering Committees 3. Human Resources 4. Ground breaker in the process of regional development planning 5. Experts base RDAs and Structural Funds programming

5. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies RDAs and Structural Funds Implementation  requirements: proper structures, methods and procedures  deep knowledge of potential, problems and needs of local market  RDAs „instruments kit”

6. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies  RDAs potential and experience in promotion and dissemination of information  easy access to different sources of information  presence in the region - eg. Local branches network (Local Development Agencies) RDAs as information centres

7. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies RDAs as Regional Financing Institution (RIF)  partner of regional authorities  link between support instruments across regional and central levels  experience in pre-accession funds management RDAs and Structural Funds management

8. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies Will Polish Regional Development Agencies be in a position to retain its present beneficiaries if they are granted right to manage these funds? How can be these dangers eliminated?

9. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies Which of the presented profiles of activity (programming, implementing, informing or managing) will allow exploitation to the full of the potential of Regional Development Agencies and bring considerable benefit to the region?

10. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies Do Polish Regional Development Agencies have enough absorption capacity not to let any single Euro from the Structural Funds pass under their very nose the moment they get access to them?

11. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies How should they prepare themselves to be able to implement or manage the Structural Funds successfully? What steps should they take to avoid the unenviable situation of some Polish Regional Develop- ment Agencies tackling the problem of lack of hard-and-fast rules governing the process of PHARE 2000 implementation?

12. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies Shall Polish regional authorities be in a position to support strongly Regional Development Agencies participating in the process of Structural Funds implementation ?

13. Lublin Development Foundation www.lfr.pl 2nd European Congres of CEEC Development Agencies How can Polish Regional Development Agencies apply in practice the experience they have amassed while implementing all the funds allocated to Poland up till now?