Projects co-financed from the Cohesion Fund in the OP Transport and OP Environment are exceptions to the general rule that the operational programmes of the Convergence objective are intended for all regions with the exception of the Capital City of Prague, as the Cohesion Fund is intended for the whole of the Czech Republic.
Multi-objective operational programmes also exist, and as they are financed from both resources earmarked for the Convergence objective and resources earmarked for the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective; therefore, the whole of the Czech Republic, including the Capital City of Prague, is eligible. The following are multi-objective operational programmes: OP Human Resources and Employment (active job market policy projects, modernisation of public administration and public services, and international cooperation); OP Education for Competitiveness (projects creating a systemic framework for lifelong learning); Integrated Operational Programme (modernisation of infrastructure for public administration and national support for tourism); and OP Technical Assistance.
€ 21.2 billion have been earmarked for thematic operational programmes (TOP) of the Convergence objective. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that an additional € 75.8 million from the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective have been allocated to TOP.
What projects can be financed from the thematic operational programmes?
For example: modernisation of railway corridors of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T); modernisation and increasing the capacity of sections of category D, R and other first class roads of the TEN-T network; measures to minimise the effects of already completed construction projects on the environment and public health; electrisation of other railway networks outside the TEN-T network; building by-passes and reducing traffic in populated areas outside the TEN-T network; development of the Prague metro; greater inclusion of railways and inland water transport in transport chains, etc.
These are projects co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, i.e. the investment (infrastructure) projects.
For example: waste-water treatment plants; water treatment plants; early flood warning systems; reconstruction of garbage incineration plants; building facilities for waste utilisation; rehabilitation of contaminated sites; infrastructure for the REACH programme; implementation of the Natura 2000 system, including monitoring of specially protected land; planting and renewal of hedgerows, alleys, and windbreaks; protection against water and wind erosion; ascertainment of the negative impacts of mining; creation of information materials about the environment; installation of renewable energy sources, e.g., solar energy systems, biomass tanks, heat pumps, waste heat recovery, etc.
These are projects co-financed from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, tj. investment (infrastructure) projects.
For example: support of new entrepreneurs; development of information and communication technology; construction and reconstruction of facilities for the production and distribution of electrical and thermal energy from renewable resources; protection of industrial property rights; reinforcement of the development and innovative capacities of enterprises; support of enterprise incubators; infrastructure for the development of human resources; preparation of business real estate and regional infrastructure projects; support of offers of quality advisory services; marketing readiness of small and medium enterprises with the objective of increasing their competitiveness on foreign markets; etc.
These are projects co-financed from the ERDF, i.e. investment (infrastructure) projects.
For example: renewal of research and development laboratories and modernisation of their equipment; construction, reconstruction and expansion of centres of excellence; construction, reconstruction and expansion of science and research (S&R) in the public sector, including tertiary education; improving public awareness about S&R; etc.
These are projects co-financed from the ERDF, i.e. investment (infrastructure) projects.
For example: other professional training supported by employers; implementation of flexible forms of work; employment intermediation; advisory services and programmes; retraining; support of beginning entrepreneurs; attendant measures to acquire and maintain employment; development of institutional employment services; training of entities active in the area of social inclusion; advisory services and programmes for socially excluded groups; support of efforts to eliminate barriers to equal access to education and employment; reinforcement of ethical standards and improvement of the efficiency of human resources management in the public sector, including training of public administration employees, politicians; etc.
These are projects co-financed from the European Social Fund (ESF), i.e. non-investment (non-infrastructure) projects.
For example: introduction of training methods, organisational forums and training activities, including the creation of modular training programmes with an emphasis on inter-disciplinary relationships for the development of key competencies; improvement of the conditions for using ICT for students and teachers even outside classes; support of offers of assistance services for students with special educational needs; development of the competencies of teachers; expansion of foreign language courses; creation and modernisation of combined and distance forms of learning; expansion of appreciation of enterprise and innovation; support of worker mobility between research and development facilities and the private sector; student, teacher and scientist residencies in the public and private sector; support of other learning; etc.
These are projects co-financed from the ESF, i.e. non-investment (non-infrastructure) projects.
For example: support of information society services, including electronic public administration - eGovernment, digitalisation of certain data sources; investment support connected to ensuring access to services allowing members of the most threatened socially excluded Roma localities to get back on the job market and into society; modernisation of equipment and increasing the level of technology of health care facilities; construction of employment services training centres and cooperating organisations; modernisation of crisis and accident management system; implementation of standards in tourist industry services; support of presentation of the Czech Republic as a travel destination; support of the creation and updating of land-use plans of municipalities; regeneration of residential buildings in problematic locations - ecological and energy efficient rehabilitation of residential buildings; repairs of structural or operational defects of buildings; etc.
These are projects co-financed from the ERDF, i.e. investment (infrastructure) projects.
Support of the management and implementation of EU funds in the Czech Republic, e.g., support of monitoring, evaluation, and publicity.
This overview of supported activities is only indicative. A detailed list is provided by each operational programme and the related implementation documentation, in which it is necessary to verify who is defined as a possible aid beneficiary with regard to the supported activity.
You may receive detailed information about the thematic operational programs from their managing authorities.