Polish village required many changes in connection with the accession of Poland to European Union in 2004. The financial help for the agriculture in our country, financed by countries from the Union, is being realized since the beginning of 50’s XX. The support for the agricultural sector during the pre-accessible period was mainly based on Sapard and Phare programmes. They created the necessary bases for making use of the means from structural funds. In 2004–2006 it was planned to finish the financing of pre-accessible instruments as well as the realization of accession help for agriculture. The activities connected with it were mainly possible due to Sapard and Phare programmes, direct payment, Plan of Development of Urban Areas, Sector Operational Programme, „The Restructurisation and Modernization of Food Sector and Development of Urban Areas”. The main direction of these activities was the support for changes and adjustments in agricultural and food sector and the balanced development of urban areas. The accession of Poland to European Union creates the possibility of hastening changes of Polish village that should lead to the improvement of life conditions and the quality of economic activities on urban areas. The aim of this paper is to introduce European Union chosen help programmes in the aspect of activities leading to cultural, social and economic development of Polish village. This article analyses European Union chosen help programmes such as Sapard, Phare, Plan of Development of Urban Areas in 2004–2006 and Sector Operational Programme „The Restructurisation and Modernization of Food Sector and Development of Urban Areas” in 2004–2006.

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