European FundsSee changes in progress

www.pois.gov.pl

Learn more about the eff ects of projects realized under the Infrastructure and Environment Programme on

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Cultural g

ate of the East

A pearl of B

aroque

Fulfi lle

d dreams

Mysteries of lig

ht

Campus on the W

arta river

Access to the world

of fi nance

Minim

ally in

vasive surgery

Every minute counts

Childbirth w

ith dignity

Tundra in

the centre of Europe

Waste under control

Quiet, com

fortable road

To the city centre by tram

Warm

er and more econom

ical

Expanding network

Draw the page back and pull it over the back cover

Eff ective studyingBiałystok, Gdańsk, Łódź, Katowice, Kraków, Poznań, Rzeszów, Szczecin, Toruń, Warszawa, Zielona Góra

Protected species of animals and plants endangered with extinctioncapercaillie, bison, brown bear, Baltic mammals, Aesculapian snake, Mountain apollo, marsch gladiolus (Gladiolus palustris), taxus baccata, national parks ecosystems, reclamation of forests and lakes, protection of seashores and dunes

Modern airportsGdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Poznań, Rzeszów, Warszawa, Wrocław

Eco-friendly public transport Łódź, Kraków, Poznań, Szczecin, Trójmiasto, Warszawa, Wrocław, Katowice, Toruń and Bydgoszcz

New sections of motorways and express roads A1, A2, A4, S3, S5, S7, S8, S17, S69

Interesting cultural objectsBiałystok, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kielce, Lublin, Olsztyn, Opole, Warszawa, Wrocław

Renovated monuments and digitalisation of art collections Old Town in Toruń, Kazimierz Dolny, Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, Jagiellonian Digital Library, Filmoteka Narodowa (National Film Archive)

Bett er access to healthcare clinics, hospitals, emergency departments, ambulances, airbases of the Medical Air Rescue

Higher energy securitypipelines, gas storing facilities, electrical grids, wind farms and biogas plants

Construction of sanitary sewers for waste water and waste water treatment Białystok, Lublin, Mikołów, Nowy Sącz, Poznań, Sochaczew, Tarnowskie Góry, Warszawa and Zabrze

Improved waste treatment systemsBiałystok, Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Chełm, Gdańsk, Gorzów Wlkp., Łomża, Konin, Kraków, Poznań, Siedliska k/Ełku, Szczecin and Toruń

Publisher: Ministry of Regional Development Managing Authority for the Infrastructure and Environment Programme 00-926 Warszawa, Wspólna 2/4

Production: Smartlink Sp. z o.o., www.smartlink.plGraphic design: Piotr KozielczykPhotographs: Radosław Jóźwiak, Maciej Zakrzewski, archives of the benefi ciaries and MRD

ISBN 978-83-7610-373-0October 2012

Selected results of theInfrastructure and Environment Programme

BIG CHANGES IN POLAND Restored monuments, new cultural institutions, modern universities, modernised hospitals, faster and safer roads - all these elements contribute to a bett er quality of life in Poland. We do not notice some of the changes. Clear water, energy and bett er environment – we all take it for granted. Yet rarely do we realize that all this comes with a price and is an eff ect of long-term investments. Such moderni-sation would be impossible to achieve without the European Funds.

Poland received the largest fi nancial support under the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme. Over 1 700 investments co-fi nanced from the Programme’s budget, whose total value amounts to PLN 181 billion, are carried out all over the country. Learning about the results of some of these investments could positively surprise you. Projects described in this publication can serve not only as an example of what can be achieved with European Funds, but also they can be an inspiration for carrying out important projects in the future.

The opera house is equipped with organs with 4 118 organ pipes.

Project:

Construction of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Centre of Culture in Białystok, stage II, shell and core

Benefi ciary:

Podlaskie Voivodeship

Project value:

PLN 180.2 million

EU funding:

PLN 100.62 million

culture2

CULTURAL GATE OF THE EASTThe building of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Centre of Culture constitutes a unique mix of glass, stone, concrete and steel. The simple body of the building which is located in the middle of a green city park is decorated with a monumental front colonnade. The latest technical solutions allow to host all types of stage performances and concerts, organise interdisciplinary festivals and to host exhibitions and congresses.

– It is the fi rst institution of this kind in north-eastern Poland. It will be a "cultural gate of the East", where artists from Poland and neighbouring countries will present their work – says Wiesław Cywoniuk from the Offi ce of the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. This extraordinary cultural institution was opened in September 2012.

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uction of the Podlasie Opera ilharmonic – European Centre ure in Białystok, stage II, shelhehehehee lre

ciary:

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t value:

80.2 million

3

PLN 2.7 million was used to buy instruments for the musicians of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic.

Project:

Restoration of the Cistercian Abbey Complex with its surroundings in Krzeszów – stage II

Benefi ciary:

Roman Catholic Diocese of Legnica

Project value:

PLN 24.39 million

EU funding:

PLN 20.55 million

culture4

The Krzeszów Abbey is situated on the European Cistercian Trail. The Polish part of the trail includes around 50 sites related to this order.

50

A PEARL OF BAROQUEEstablished in the 13th century by Cistercians, the Krzeszów Abbey is a monument awarded his-torical monument status by the President of the Republic of Poland, a candidate site for the UN-ESCO World Heritage List. The maintenance and renovation works in the Minor Basilica, Piast Mausoleum and St. Joseph Church restored this place to its former splendour. Since March 2012, the visitors may admire renovated baroque mural polychrome, altars, chapels and paintings. In

the Abbot House, some rooms have been converted into exhibition rooms, which al-lowed the showpieces that had been collected for many years to be made avail-

able to people from outside the order. The audio guides purchased enable the visitors to tour around the abbey and learn about its history on their own.

– Compared to the previous year, the number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the abbey increased by as many as 30% – emphasises Roman Sakowski,

Director of the Aid Funds Management and Coordination Offi ce of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legnica.

FULFILLED DREAMSEstablished in 1945 the visual arts school in Częstochowa could not find a proper building for a very long time. In 1990, the school was moved to a primary school building which was fi nally extended and modernised. The modern construction with a side rotunda roofed by a skylight is no ordinary school.

– It is a place where students and teachers can work comfortably. The building serves as a cultural centre for artists from the city and the region . We would like to promote culture in its many forms by activating local community of cultural leaders and the local audience – says Anna Maciejewska, the school’s headmaster. We have different workshops here: ceramics, jewellery, graphics, painting and sculpture. The exhibition area is the a storey gallery where students can display their work. The lobby will host vernissages and the small patio – outdoor shows. First classes in the modernised building were conducted in September 2012.

5culture

The building serves as uld like to promote andr.

s,yt

n

Project value:

PLN 21.01 million

EU funding:

about PLN 17.61 million

Project:

Construction of a modern education and cultural centre at the Visual Arts School Complex in Częstochowa

Benefi ciary:

Jacek Malczewski Visual Arts School Complex in Częstochowa

There are 5.5 million students in Poland and out of this number 6.5 thousand students att end visual arts schools.

6 500

Project:

Development of the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń - establishment of the Centre of Quantum Optics - applications in natural and biomedical sciences

Benefi ciary:

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Project value:

PLN 26.29 million

EU funding:

PLN 21.88 million

higher education6

MYSTERIES OF LIGHTQuantum physics is one of the most dynamically developing sections of physics nowadays. Optical methods and lasers are used i.a. in medicine, energy sector or telecommunications. The knowledge about them is a must for graduates of natural sciences and technical faculties. Undergraduates and Ph.D. students use the laboratories of the Centre of Quantum Optics with their modern equipment to solve specifi c research problems. The experience they obtain is to help them effi ciently transfer the knowledge to the modern economy.

– New infrastructure also supports rese-arch conducted by scientists, i.e. on optical methods for medical diagnosis, energy conversion or development of molecular biology. Although the Centre was put into operation in May 2012, the eff ects of its work are already visible – says Professor Ireneusz Grabowski, the deputy project coordinator.

n

p y

Over 100 various research devices for over PLN 14 million were purchased for the laboratories and the computer modelling room.

3

Three doctoral students from Toruń managed to measure the shape of light, and more precisely a photon, which is the most elementary part of light.

Project:

Mechatronics, Biomechanics and Nanoengineering Centre of the Poznań University of Technology

Benefi ciary:

Poznań University of Technology

Project value:

PLN 66.26 million

EU funding:

PLN 45.46 million

higher education8

Air tightness of the Centre building is twice higher than required for passive buildings. The heat recovered from exhaust air signifi cantly reduces the costs of heating the facility.

CAMPUS ON THE WARTA RIVERMechatronics, biomechanics and nanoengineering are disciplines dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. Scientists are searching for technologies to increase the competitiveness of the Polish economy. The new facility provides comfortable conditions for education of over 4 000 students. They can use 8 modern lecture halls, 12 seminar rooms and classrooms and almost 100 laboratories.

– The idea behind the Centre is to concentrate teaching facilities and personnel in a single building to develop education at faculties considered to be a priority. By 2020 all facilities of the university are to be moved to the Warta Campus – says the project coordinator Irena Lisowska. Students can take a break from studying and relax on a balcony with a view on the Lake Malta or on a green terrace on the roof of the building. The Centre was opened in June 2012.

The surface available for a single student increased threefold despite the fact that the number of students rose only by half.

3x

ACCESS TO THE WORLD OF FINANCE The ability to find required information is essential when making prognoses about economic processes, analysing financial markets or when performing marketing research. This also involves knowing how to use different mathematical, statistical, econometric and IT tools. Recent renovation of the IT and Econometric Centre at the University of Łódź made it possible to hold lectures and seminars in rooms equipped with the latest computer equipment. Purchase of modern software enables to conduct distance learning.

– This project allowed us to expand our off er and to open new international programmes. With that, we contribute to the creation of the European Higher Education Area – stresses Anna Szperlik of the University of Łódź. The project was completed in September 2011.

9higher education

Project:

IT and Econometric Centre at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź

Benefi ciary:

University of Łódź

Project value:

PLN 25.84 million

EU funding:

about PLN 22 million

Project:

IT and Econometric Centre at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź

Benefi ciary:

University of Łódź

Project value:

Project:

Purchase of modern medical equipment for the Endovascular Surgery Centre

Benefi ciary:

Wrocław Medical University

Project value:

PLN 5.52 million

EU funding:

PLN 4.69 million

health

Angiograph is used for radiological imagining blood vessels. During the procedure which lasts approx. one hour around 20 X-ray photos are made.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERYVascular surgery very oft en allows to save a particular internal organ or the patient’s life. The projects fi nanced purchase of two angiograms which allow to detect narrowings, blockages, changes or anomalies in the anatomy of arteries and veins. Vascular angiography is used e.g. in treating aortic aneurysm and atheromatosis. It could be supplemented with administering drugs to the aff ected area or by closing the vessels.

– Aft er equipping the clinic with modern equipment it will be possible to the latest global techno-logies in the minimally invasive endovascular surgery – says Stanisław Lewiński vel Iwański from the European Projects Unit. The angiography equipment is also used to train students and specialist vascular surgeons from all over Poland. The project was completed in April 2011.

10

20

3

Angiography is widely used as the so-called golden standard, i.e. the best and the most eff ective medical procedure.

Project:

Construction, modernisation and equipping Medical Air Rescue airbases (stage I and II)

Benefi ciary:

Independent Public Health Service Establishment Medical Air Rescue

health12

Localisation of repaired airbases: Zielona Góra, Łódź, Sanok, Suwałki, Poznań, Szczecin, Białystok, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Kielce.

EVERY MINUTE COUNTSSuccess in saving human lives relies heavily on swift transport and high quality equipment. Modernisation of ten airbases of the Medical Air Rescue (MAR) and of the Technical Service Stations will allow the medical aviation teams to be on standby status within a shorter time span than it is the case presently. The bases have been equipped with modern technological solutions and with high quality equipment, e.g. take off and landing fi elds for Eurocopter EC 135 have had a new lighting systems installed, which allow to operate the teams 24/7.

– Our bases will be among one of the most modern bases in Europe. Their functionality was consulted with our staff so that all of their requirements were fulfi lled – explains Beata Strzałkowska, chief specialist in the Investments and Real Estate Management Department at the Medical Air Rescue. All investment projects will be completed by the end of 2013.

MAR

a new li

Project value:

PLN 78.67 million

EU funding:

PLN 58.04 million

CHILDBIRTH WITH DIGNITYContemporary gynaecology and obsterics high quality of service means providing future mothers with an access to specialist diagnostic and medical procedures. This should be accompanied by caring about their safety and comfort. Collegium Medcium, which operates within the Jagiellonian University, purchased modern medical equipment which allows to extend proper care over mother and her child during pregnancy and immediately aft er. In order to ensure comfort of future mothers, single air-conditioned delivery rooms have been equipped with multifunctional labour beds and delivery rooms for family labour have been prepared.

– Presently, we are one of the best equipped clinics in Poland. We accept female patients from neighbouring voivodeships and we provide medical care to prematurely born infants – explains professor Antoni Basta, head of the Gynaecology and Obsterics Division. All works were completed in May 2012.

health

Value of the project:

PLN 8.42 million

EU funding:

PLN 7.16 million

Project:

Modernisation of Gynaecology and Obsterics Division in the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum in Kraków – reconstruction of the existing delivery units and modernisation of the medical equipment

Benefi ciary:

Jagiellonian University – Collegium Medicum

13

e e s s

Monako, a computerised childbirth monitoring system, concurrently monitors several pregnant women and allows to react swift ly in case of danger.

The Karkonosze National Park implements fi ve projects related to the protection of the most valuable ecosystems and species found in the park. These are:

• the project of comprehensive protection of forest ecosystems,

• the three stages of protection of the park's most valuable ecosystems,

• the project of The Living Gene Bank Jagniątków for the protection of most precious species of fl ora, such as Campanula bohemica, Saxifraga nivalis and Woodsia alpina.

environment14

In the Karkonosze National Park, there are 117.6 kilometres of tourist trails, which gives an average of 2.1 kilometre per a square kilometre – the highest ratio among all Polish national parks.

TUNDRA IN THE CENTRE OF EUROPEOwing to its diversifi ed land relief (lakes and postglacial cirques, steep and rocky slopes, peat bogs) and climate diversity, the Karkonosze National Park is called an “island of Arctic-Alpine tundra” in the heart of Europe. Numerous rare plant and animal species are found there. However, it is hard to fi nd in Karkonosze an area that has not been aff ected by humans. Therefore, eff orts are underway in the Park area aimed at protecting the most valuable ecosystems, improving the condition of Natura 2000 sites and conserving genetic resources of endangered fauna and fl ora species.

– The ongoing work will contribute to preserving and reconstructing natural ecosystems. Our goal is also to educate the visitors in terms of nature protection – says Michał Makowski from the Karkonosze National Park. The protective measures, co-fi nanced from European Funds, will be completed in 2014.

Total value of projects:

PLN 22.06 million

Total EU funding:

PLN 18.71 million

bohemica, Saxifraga oodsia alpina. and recons

goal is alsonature protthe Karkonmeasures, will be com

ojects:

million

g:

illion

Footbridges facilitate the crossing of streams and make it possible to protect valuable plant species (e.g. Campanula bohemica) from extinction.

Project:

Construction of a municipal waste disposal plant with a landfi ll site in Siedliska near Ełk

Benefi ciary:

Waste Management Company „Eko-MAZURY” Sp. z o.o.

Project value:

PLN 97.78 million

EU funding:

PLN 41.93 million

environment

WASTE UNDER CONTROLTo date, the only method of waste disposal in the eastern part of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship has been landfi lling. The plant built near Ełk as part of the project has one of the most modern in Europe, fully automated and multifunctional installation for sorting municipal waste. Every day, approximately 105 tonnes of mixed municipal waste delivered from 12 communities is processed here. The plant is conveniently located, which allows transport costs to be reduced.

– The project has reduced landfi lling of biodegradable waste and made it possible to eliminate untreated waste with energy value that could be recycled from landfi ll sites – explains Edward Palczewski, President of the Management Board of Eko-MAZURY. The plant has been operating since December 2011.

16

The project covered over 158 000 inhabitants living in an area of 3 000 km².

f

QUIET, COMFORTABLE ROADThe currently modernised Armii Krajowej Route is very important to local and transit traffi c. The road crosses Warsaw as a part of the trans-European transport network TEN-T that links Wrocław with the eastern state border in Budzisko.

– New road solutions will improve the comfort of travel by road and streamline traffi c on the route – said Magdalena Jaworska, Deputy General Director of General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. The road's redevelopment was divided into two stages. In June 2012, the fi rst 7.1 km long stretch was completed. There are acoustic half-tunnels that reduce noise in areas with high residential buildings, the fi rst such project in Poland. The second stage of works (to be completed by the end of 2015) envisages modernising 4.6 km of the road. The Grot--Rowecki bridge will have two transit lanes and three local traffi c lanes in either direction.

17transport

Project:

Redevelopment of S8 expressway on the stretch between Powązkowska junction and Marki junction (Piłsudskiego Str.)

Benefi ciary:

General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways

,at

The road is enclosed by acoustic screens: vertical (height: 4-8 m), top-folded (height: 5-8 m) and half-tunnels (height: 9.72 m).

Project value:

PLN 2.21 billion

EU funding:

PLN 1.7 billion

Project:

Gdańsk Municipal Transport Project – stage III A

Benefi ciary:

Gdańsk Municipal Commune

Project value:

PLN 671.20 million

EU funding:

PLN 305.21 million

transport18

TO THE CITY CENTRE BY TRAM Eff ective and modern public transport makes city life easier. It is also benefi cial for the environment as less traffi c equals less fumes and pollution.

– The Gdańsk Municipal Commune is determined to develop environmentally-friendly municipal transport, namely the tram network – said Anna Kozub-Lewna from the

Developmental Programme Division. The most important stretches of the tram network were modernised. New tracks improved the fl ow of trams and allowed

reducing travel time. Modern cars that were purchased ensure a safe and comfortable journey. In addition, a new tram line was built that connects the dynamically developing southern quarter with the city centre. The project was completed in May 2012.

Each of the 35 trams purchased using the subsidy was named aft er a patron selected from among distinguished Gdańsk citizens (www.zkm.pl/patroni).

WARMER AND MORE ECONOMICALDue to the construction materials and technologies used, it is frequently the case that educational establishments fail to meet the norms and regulations on energy effi ciency. Thanks to the subsidy, we performed thermomodernisation work at Lower Secondary Schools No 1 and 2 and the Special School and Care Centre No 1 in Lublin. It allowed to reduce demand for heat and thus reduce the maintenance cost of the facilities.

– Modernised central heating, a solar system in place and replaced windows were indirectly conducive to reducing the emission of pollutants that are generated in the energy generation process – said Bernadeta Krzysztofi k, Director of the European Funds Division at the Lublin

Town Hall. The project was completed in December 2010.

19energy sector

Project:

Thermomodernisation of education public utility buildings in Lublin

Benefi ciary:

Lublin Commune

Project value:

PLN 15.74 million

EU funding:

PLN 6.84 million

Thermomodernisation can reduce buildings’ annual demand for heat by up to 60%.

EXPANDING NETWORK Energy security of a country depends on the natural gas transmission network. Approximately 1 000 km of new gas pipelines will be built in north-western and central Poland and in Lower Silesia by the end of 2014. The project will be co-fi nanced from the EU funds. The new network will support the already existing one which will increase the capacity of the whole transmission system. It will be also possible to supply fuel to areas in which so far no gas infrastructure has been constructed. These investments will also allow to connect the LNG terminal in Świnoujście to the national transmission network.

– The 2011 investments which were co-fi nanced from the Infrastructure and Envi-ronment Programme together with the possibility to use the virtual reverse made it technically possible to import to Poland annually over 30% of gas coming from new sources – says Rafał Witt mann, Director of the Develop-ment and Investment Department in GAZ-SYSTEM SA.

Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM SA. will construct 7 pipeline sections, which will be co-fi nanced by the Infrastructure and Environment Programme:

• Szczecin-Gdańsk

• Szczecin-Lwówek

• Rembelszczyzna-Gustorzyn

• Gustorzyn-Odolanów

• Jeleniów-Dziwiszów

• Polkowice-Żary

• Włocławek-Gdynia

Total value of projects:

over PLN 3.5 billion

EU funding:

over PLN 774.1 million

energy sector20

e

GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. has already put into use over 120 km of new pipeline section whose construction was co-fi nanced from the Infrastructure and Environment Programme.

Managing Authorityfor the Infrastructure and Environment Programme

Ministry of Regional DevelopmentDepartment for Coordination of Infrastructural Programmestel. +48 22 461 39 30Department for Support of Infrastructural Programmestel. +48 22 461 39 36

Central Information Pointof the Infrastructure and Environment Programme

tel. +48 22 461 35 14 e-mail: pois@mrr.gov.pl www.mrr.gov.plwww.pois.gov.pl

Culture

Ministry of Culture and National HeritageDepartment of European Funds tel. +48 22 421 03 02www.poiis.mkidn.gov.pl

Higher education

National Centre for Research and Developmenttel. +48 22 24 42 858www.ncbir.pl/fundusze-europejskie/

Health

Ministry of HealthEuropean Funds Department tel. +48 22 530 03 60www.zdrowie.gov.pl

Environment

Ministry of the EnvironmentEuropean Funds Departmenttel. +48 22 579 28 23www.mos.gov.pl/pois

Transport

Ministry of Transport, Construction and Maritime Economy Department of EU Funds tel. +48 22 630 12 07 www.pois.mi.gov.pl

Energy

Ministry of EconomyEuropean Funds Department tel. +48 22 693 45 50, +48 22 693 49 50www.mg.gov.pl/Fundusze+UE/POIS

Learn more

This publication was fi nanced from the European Regional Development Fund and from the state budget under technical assistance of the Infrastructure and Environment Programme.

For the development of infrastructure and environment

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