EU Cohesion Policy support for problem areas identified in the NSRD 2030: spatial differentiation and policy directions

The Cohesion Policy (CP) is the European Union’s largest financial instrument supporting regional development policy, with Poland being its largest beneficiary. This article presents the directions and intensity of CP support according to the location of fund implementation in areas classified as problematic in the National Strategy for Regional Development 2030 (NSRD 2030). The analysis is based on data from the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy (MFiPR) concerning the implementation of projects at the municipal level under the 2014-2020 financial perspective. The results show that problematic areas received financial support comparable to that of other municipalities; however, the assistance was more strongly targeted at projects related to, among others, energy and labour market activation. Significant disparities in the level of support between eastern and western parts of the country were identified, which may result from greater allocations for regional programmes and the additional operational programme dedicated to Eastern Poland.