One of the greatest financial benefits of Poland's accession to the European Union is the allocation of structural funds to our country within the regional (structural) policy implemented by the EU. Assuming current prices, transfers of funds to Poland due to the implementation of this policy might reach almost 13 billion euro in 2004-2006. Poland's relatively low level of regional development, as compared to other EU Member States, considered from the economic, social and spatial point of view determined Poland's position within the priority objectives of the EU regional policy. The main strategic objective of the regional policy in Poland was defined in the "National Development Plan for 2004-2006" as: "development of a competitive economy based on knowledge and entrepreneurship, capable of a long-term balanced development, providing increased employment, as well as social, economic and spatial cohesion with the European Union on the regional and national level".

One of the main barriers in the implementation of the regional policy in Poland and in the absorption of the EU assistance might be the beneficiaries' inability to obtain funds to co-finance and pre-finance projects subsidised by the EU. The Polish banking system might gain significance in this area since the sector may provide loans and support bond issuing. It may also provide comprehensive settlement and consulting services to the beneficiaries. Effective implementation of the regional policy within the National Development Plan for 2004-2006 can reduce the distance between the level of social and economic development in Poland and in the remaining countries of the European Community. Moreover, it may help to remove any disproportions in the development level within Poland.