The programme is a response to the opportunities and challenges brought by the membership in the European Union. Taking into consideration the guidelines of the National Strategic Reference Framework and the results of the conducted SWOT analysis the main aim of the programme has been formulated as: “ The improvement of Poland’s and its regions’ marketability (investment wise), through the development of technical infrastructure, preservation and improvement of environment, health, and also maintaining cultural identity and developing territorial cohesion.”

    This goal will be pursued  by developing six  areas of interest: Transport, Environment, Power, Culture, Health Preservation and Higher education infrastructure. Also developing six specific Programme objectives:

1. The development of infrastructure; Ensuring that the economic growth of Poland will not negatively affect the condition of natural environment.
2. Increasing the accessibility of the main economic centres in Poland by connecting them to a motorway network,  dual-carriageways and other means of transport alternative to road transport.
   

1. Ensuring Poland's long-term energetic safety by diversifying supplies, lowering energy consumption and the development of renewable sources of energy.
   
2. Making use of Poland's cultural potential and cultural heritage of world-wide and European significance in order to increase Poland's marketability.
   
3. Supporting the efforts to maintain proper employee health conditions.
   
4. Development of modern university centres, including those educating specialists in the modern technologies field.
   

The whole value of the financial aids engaged in the Infrastucture and Environment Operational Programme is of 36.385.320.77 Euros for the years 2007-2013. This sum includes EU contribution – EUR 27.9 billion and the national one – EUR 9.7 billion.