Programming period 2004-2006

Cohesion Policy Instruments
Before the Czech Republic joined the European Union, the Czech Republic was involved in three pre-accession instruments - Phare, SAPARD and ISPA programmes. After accession to the EU these instruments were replaced by drawing from the standard EU funds, namely the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance, the Cohesion Fund and the Solidarity Fund. More on cohesion policy instruments at the time of accession to the EU see here.
 
Objectives and Operational Programmes
Cohesion policy in the programming period 2000-2006 was implemented with regard to three objectives:

1. Support for the development of lagging regions
2. Support for areas facing structural difficulties
3. Support for education and employment policy

These objectives were pursued in the Czech Republic during the shortened period of 2004-2006 in five operational programmes (Joint Regional Operational Programme, Operational Programme Infrastructure, Operational Programme Rural Development and Multifunctional Agriculture Operational Programme Human Resources Development Operational Programme Industry and Enterprise) and the Community Initiatives (Interreg III, Equal, Leader+, and Urban). More information on the objectives, operational programmes and Community Initiatives see here.

Horizontal priorities involve cross-cutting themes across all programmes and policies of the European Union. They indicate areas that must be taken into account by each project submitted for support from the structural funds. Although they do not have their own financial allocations, they are fulfilled through various programme measures. For the programming period 2000-2006 four horizontal priorities were set:

• Equal opportunities
• Environment
• Information society
• Balanced regional development

The document Community Support Framework (CSF) for the Czech Republic in 2004-2006 is the result of a long period of preparation and internal discussions between various government, non-governmental, national, regional and local partners in the Czech Republic (expressed in the National Development Plan), followed by intensive negotiations with the European Commission. The document represents the basic strategy for socio-economic development of the cohesion regions (except Prague) for the period 2004-2006. The Community Support Framework document is available for download here.

Prague region did not fulfil the criterion of GDP below 75% of EU-15 average, and therefore CSF was not eligible, along with the ability to draw financing from Objective 1. However, this region has a possibility to draw financing under Objectives 2 and 3 (see Single Programming Document for Objective 2 and Single Programming Document for Objective 3).
The Managing Authority of CSF was the Ministry for Regional Development. The aid implementation system of the Structural Funds had the role of an umbrella authority with the mission to ensure the overall coordination of the management of all operational programs. It ensured effective communication with the Managing Authorities of the individual operational programmes, including coordination in the development of manuals (guidelines) to carry out their functions and ensure the appropriate training. Currently this position is held under the Ministry for Regional Development by the National Coordination Authority.

The Czech Republic was extremely successful in the implementation of projects using financing of the European cohesion policy. In the programming period 2004-2006 there was 99.54% of EUR 1,692,594,657 spent. In total over 13 000 projects were implemented in various fields. Details of the results of the drawing can be found here.