ITI in Poland – the concept

Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) is an instrument contributing to the implementation of the development strategy for cities and their functional areas through integrated projects co-financed by the European Union within the financial perspective for 2014-2020. Integrated Territorial Investments are an element of the territorial dimension of the cohesion policy.

Integrated Territorial Investments enable implementing common projects combining measures funded from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. This instrument makes it possible to go beyond the rigid administrative borders of local government units, increasing the impact of EU projects. The goal is not necessarily limited to providing funds for projects, but it is to enable the development of a mechanism for territorial coordination for the programming and implementation of measures. Local government bodies willing to implement Integrated Territorial Investments are obligated to establish a partnership and prepare a joint development strategy. These include the major goals and projects intended for implementation. Local government bodies have also signed an agreement on the implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments with the Board of the Voivodeship, as projects under this formula will be funded by the Regional Operational Programme.

The idea of Integrated Territorial Investments is based on cooperation between local government bodies in order to take advantage of mutual assets and solve problems related to the city’s functional area. Thus, the funded projects cannot be separate, single-point investments but must be mutually connected. The final decision as to granting support under Integrated Territorial Investments will be made as part of negotiations with Voivodeship bodies after the final approval from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development.