Broadband Internet in Eastern Poland - The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection notified to the European Commission the Internet development project in the eastern Voivodeships. The total value of the project will be about 300 million euros

The project involves the construction of networks providing broadband Internet access for most residents of the following Voivodeships: Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie and Świętokrzyskie. These are covered by the Voivodship Operational Programme Development of Eastern Poland.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection notified to the European Commission the Internet development project in the eastern Voivodeships. The total value of the project will be about 300 million euros

UOKiK notified the project on 29 July 2011. Its total value amounts to approximately EUR 300 million, of which 255 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund. Other costs will be financed by local governments of the voivodeships.

During the notification procedure, the European Commission by way of decision will determine whether the implementation of such a large undertaking from the public funds shall not distort competition in the market of broadband Internet access and will not negatively affect trade between Member States of the European Union.

It should be remembered that:

• providing support to undertakings from public funds is only possible after approval by the European Commission - the exception is de minimis aid and aid granted under the block exemption;
• prior to notification, the planned aid will receive an opinion by the President of UOKiK - but such an opinion will not be binding, only advisory - to raise awareness of the authorities, who plan to provide support, whether it constitutes state aid, whether it is subject to notification, and whether there is a chance that the European Commission will approve of granting the aid. Opinion itself is not passed the EC, because it is made exclusively for Polish aid-providing bodies;
• the President of UOKiK will be responsible for reporting (notification) of the aid program or aid project to the European Commission, and then participation in the proceedings before the Commission;
• the Commission has two months to issue a decision confirming the compliance of the planned aid with the Community legislation. This deadline may be extended if during the procedure the European Commission asks for additional information and clarification. The next two month-period will be counted from the moment it receives the response;
• the decision may be appealed against to the Court of Justice.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. +48 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
faks +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl