We publish an excerpt from the European Commission’s communiqué from April 19th, 2010.
Poland, The Czech Republic and Slovakia will share extra EUR 1 billion from Structural Funds in 2011-2013. Poland will receive an extra EUR 633 million, the Czech Republic EUR 237 million and Slovakia EUR 138 million in structural funds. The top-up is a direct consequence of stronger economic growth than forecast in these countries. The Interinstitutional Agreement on the 2007-2013 financial framework between Parliament, Council and Commission foresaw automatic adjustments for countries whose GDP had varied by more than 5% cumulatively over 2007-2009 compared to the forecasts when drawing up the framework. Economic growth in Poland during this period reached 10.8% more than expected in the EC prognosis. Slovakia and the Czech Republic experienced respectively a growth higher by 10.8 % and 7.5% than expected.

Commenting on this decision, Financial Programming and Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski said: "Congratulations to the countries concerned for having managed to beat so convincingly growth forecasts made in 2005, despite the difficult environment! The funds will help them continue to modernise their economies and prepare for the future." (Ministry of Regional Development)