Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – In order to absorb several billion euros from EU funds, all applications must be signed till the end of next year. There are such programmes, however, where applications are scarce. According to the Ministry of Economy, the fish sector companies filed only 37 applications, while the food sector companies filed applications for only 44 percent of the programme.
The Agency of Agriculture Restructuring and Modernisation, on the other hand, said that the percentage share of applications singed amounted to 47 and 95 percent of the programmes, respectively. However, the agency admitted that as far as the modernisation of the fleet is concerned, only 13 applications have been submitted for PLN 1.7m (EUR 428,400), 1.74 percent of all funds allocated to that purpose (PLN 97.5m). “In order not to lose those funds, we will shift them to other activities, including fish market founding or withdrawing ships”, Maciej Dlouhy, deputy CEO of the Polish Association of Fish Producers said.
Few companies are interested in getting funds to promote fish products in new markets – only 25 applications for PLN 2.6m, or 12 percent of all funds. Inland fishery projects amount to 17 percent of the programme. On the other hand, compensations for ship withdrawal amount to 78 percent and fish production industry – 81 percent. “In many cases, we need to adjust the absorption potentials and decide to allocate the funds in another way”, Jerzy Pilarczyk, the Minister of Economy admitted.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.252)Poland/Enterprises/Fishery