OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME - DEVELOPMENT OF EASTERN POLAND, 2007 – 2013. DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF LUBLIN VOIVODESHIP AND THE INSTRUMENT OF REGIONAL CONVERGENCE

The entire European Union is made up of the elements characterized by, among others, different level of economic development. So far, a measure of the level of the development is Gross Domestic Product per capita. There are wide disparities in terms of the level of this indicator in different regions of the European Union. Is well known that the condition for the main purpose i.e. harmonious and sustainable development of the whole "body of European", is imbalances compensation in regional development, which should accelerate growth and foster economic development throughout the UE. Special development programs with an adequate pool of EU funds serve this purpose. Through these programs the poorest regions of the European Union can reduce development gap. An example of such a program is Operational Programme - Development of Eastern Poland 2007-2013, of which the action is covered by 5 voivodeships of Eastern Poland, including the Lubelskie Voivodeship. This article presents the Operational Programme - Development of Eastern Poland as development opportunities of the Lublin Voivodeship and instrument of regional convergence.