EN
The article presents an analysis of the Polish rural community's interest in assistance available from the European Union since the day of Poland's accession to EU structures. The analysis starts from an illustration of the first year of the direct payments campaign and the campaign's second edition in 2005. This part of the analysis dealing with the most popular assistance instrument is accompanied by a description of selected ventures available to the rural community that are implemented within the Plan for the Development of Rural Areas and the Sector Operation Programme 'Restructuring and Modernisation of the Food Sector and Development of Rural Areas'. Interest in EU assistance displayed in individual regions differs both in terms of the number of applicants and type of the offered support. The greater than average interest in EU assistance on the part of Polish farmers has a largely rational basis. Farmers know their needs and the programmes that can be helpful to them. The latest data indicate that Polish farmers want to fully utilize the chances offered to them.