Complementarity between programs and projects within the Regional Policy. Case of Łódzkie Voivodship

Abstract

Effectiveness of implemented under the EU cohesion policy measures has become a significant issue. The relevance of the topic is undeniable, given the ongoing discussion of the results of public interventions conducted at the EU level and the resulting concept of an integrated approach to study the effects of actions undertaken within the cohesion policy. Based on various studies conducted to date, the authors argue that the effectiveness of the funds targeted to Polish regions could be greater if more care was focused on complementarity among the undertaken actions. The paper concentrates on issues related to complementarity between programs and projects implemented under EU Cohesion Policy in regional level Poland. Case study of one of Polish region - namely, Łodzkie - shows that adopted methods and tool, which should provide complementarity do not work in a proper way. The results suggest the existence of severe restrictions when it comes to assessing the actual intensity of complementarity and the resulting synergy effects. As both the analyses of documentation and the comments of participants during in-depth interviews indicate that the complementarity of projects is misunderstood or deliberately distorted (so that the highest score during the application stage can be obtained), it can be stated that the scale of complementarity is far from satisfactory. Conducted research enabled the authors to elaborate conclusions and recommendation on what solutions should be taken into account in aim to improve implementation of complementarity concept in the next financial perspective for years 2014-2020. ; samorząd województwa łódzkiego ; Tomasz Kupiec