Poland inaugurates European programs for 2021-2027

Poland has obtained approval for all cohesion policy programs in the new programming period 2021-2027. Thus, a long and demanding process of preparations and negotiations conducted by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and all ministries and local governments responsible for individual programs has come to an end.

This is the key money that we will allocate to the development of the country, e.g. for digital transformation, education, culture, social innovation, entrepreneurship, health care system, energy efficiency, climate, transport, tourism and post-Covid-19 reconstruction or mitigating the effects of the Ukrainian crisis. Negotiations of the Partnership Agreement between the European Commission and the Polish government officially ended on June 30, 2022.

Preparations for the 2021-2027 programming period are complete. Polish development needs are not the only factor influencing the way the funds are invested. EU priorities such as research, innovation, digitalisation, climate and environment, as well as regulations issued at EU level are also relevant.

EU funds at the national and regional level

As in the years 2014-2020, also in the new perspective for the years 2021-2027, funds from the cohesion policy will go to programs implemented at the national and regional levels. 44 percent will receive regional programs managed by marshals of regions. This is the highest level of decentralization of funds since Poland’s accession to the European Union and proof of how the role of local governments in shaping the cohesion policy and co-responsibility for its implementation is gradually growing.

As the head of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy noted, one of the important negotiation issues was the inclusion of funds from the cohesion policy also for the Just Transition Fund. Thanks to the good approach of the Commission in this matter, we have been successful and increased the scope of co-financing from this fund for Poland. It will cover not only the Śląskie, Dolnośląskie and Wielkopolskie regioons, but also the Łódzkie and Małopolskie regions. This is nearly EUR 4 billion to mitigate the negative effects of the energy transformation in regions where the economy is based on the mining industry.

In the case of funds from the cohesion policy in the 2021-2027 perspective, we focus on the continuation of the currently functioning system. It is proven and effective. There are 8 national programs in preparation. Six of them will be managed by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy. The food aid program will be managed by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, while the fisheries program will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. As before, regional programs will be managed by local governments in regions.

Cohesion policy means huge investments. EU programs will support a whole range of key areas. More than 50% of public investments in Poland are financed from European funds. We allocate EU support to effectively and in accordance with EU and Polish regulations implement the most needed investments for Poland – roads, railways, support for entrepreneurship, education, environmental protection, energy.

To implement the Partnership Agreement, we need national and regional programmes. They define priority areas of support and set specific actions.

Distribution of funds

Apart from national and regional programmes, Poland will also implement several international Interreg programs under the cohesion policy. Most of them are already open. Cooperation with Russia and Belarus under Interreg will not be continued. On the eastern border, we focus on a bilateral program with Ukraine. Interreg funds (a total of approx. EUR 1.8 billion for programs with the participation of Poland) are allocated to:

• environmental protection,
• cross-border mobility,
• culture and tourism, education,
• health protection,
• research and development,
• competitiveness of enterprises,
• disaster prevention.

We will also support international cooperation of institutions and citizens in various fields, and in the Poland-Ukraine program, additional services dealing with border protection.

National programs for 2021-2027

• European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FEnIKS) – EUR 24.2 billion,
• European Funds for the Modern Economy (FENG) – EUR 7.9 billion,
• European Funds for Eastern Poland (FEPW) – EUR 2.65 billion,
• European Funds for Digital Development (FERC) – approx. EUR 2 billion,
• European Funds for Social Development (FERS) – EUR 4 billion,
• Technical Aid for European Funds (PTFE) – EUR 550 million,
• European Funds for Fisheries (PFER) – EUR 512 million,
• European Funds for Food Aid (FEPŻ) – EUR 525 million.

Apart from EU programmes, it is also possible to use European funds in programs managed at the regional level:

• European funds for Śląskie 2021-2027 – EUR 5.14 billion,
• European Funds for the Lodz Region 2021-2027 – EUR 2.74 billion,
• European Funds for Małopolska 2021-2027 – EUR 2.69 billion,
• European funds for Lubelskie 2021-2027 – EUR 2.43 billion,
• European Funds for Podkarpacie 2021-2027 – EUR 2.27 billion,
• European Funds for Dolnośląskie 2021-2027 – EUR 2.31 billion,
• European Funds for Wielkopolska 2021-2027 – EUR 2.15 billion,
• European funds for Mazovia 2021-2027 – EUR 2.1 billion,
• European funds for Kujawy and Pomerania 2021-2027 – EUR 1.84 billion,
• European funds for Warmia and Mazury 2021-2027 – EUR 1.79 billion,
• European funds for Pomerania 2021-2027 – EUR 1.75 billion,
• European funds for Western Pomerania 2021-2027 – 1.69 billion.
• European funds for Świętokrzyskie 2021-2027 – EUR 1.46 billion,
• European funds for Podlasie 2021-2027 – EUR 1.3 billion,
• European funds for Opolskie 2021-2027 – EUR 0.97 billion,
• European funds for Lubuskie 2021-2027 – EUR 0.91 billion.

Interreg programs with the participation of Poland:

• Interreg Poland-Slovakia – nearly EUR 130 million,
• Interreg Poland-Czech Republic – EUR 178.87 million,
• Interreg South Baltic – EUR 83.8 million,
• Interreg Poland-Saxony – EUR 60.3 million,
• Interreg Poland-Ukraine – over EUR 187 million,
• Interreg Poland-Mecklenburg-Vorpommern/Brandenburg – EUR 124.5 million,
• Interreg Lithuania-Poland – EUR 45.7 million,
• Interreg Brandenburg-Poland – EUR 88.3 million,
• Interreg Baltic Sea Region – EUR 251 million,
• Interreg Central Europe – EUR 224.6 million,
• Interreg Europe – EUR 379.5 million.

In the new financial perspective, the basic form of support will be a grant. It is a non-refundable form applicable to projects that do not generate income.

We will also continue repayable support, including loans, sureties and guarantees. It is an aid for entrepreneurs in income-generating projects. It will cover the areas of innovation, energy and selected types of projects in the field of environment and transport.

Source: Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy