EIB supports Poland in fight against Covid-19

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Polish Ministry of Finance have agreed today on a financial support program to cope with the consequences of Covid-19. The EU bank will lend €650 million to help the Polish government cover expenses and investments related to the ongoing pandemic.

The aim is to strengthen Poland’s emergency response system for the Covid-19 crisis as well as increase its mid and long-term pandemic preparedness. The EIB financing targets schemes in the health and civil protection sectors, which are under the greatest stress.

Healthcare projects can include the purchase and supply of medical and non-medical equipment, the reconfiguration of healthcare facilities and services, drug supply and production, as well as the co-financing of Covid-19 research. Civil protection programs might involve infrastructure and equipment, including for communication and awareness-raising campaigns, hygiene and disinfection measures, examinations, screening, quarantining and other official measures imposed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The EIB and the Ministry of Finance also agreed that the Bank would finance eligible expenditures in full rather than the standard maximum of 50 percent of project costs applied to most Bank-approved projects.

“The EIB funding agreed today with the Ministry of Finance means that Poland is better equipped to fight the pandemic and can invest more resources in upgrading its level of responsiveness in both healthcare and civil protection. Helping the country to be more resilient to pandemics is part of our mission to ensure balanced regional development and cohesion in Europe,” Prof Teresa Czerwińska, EIB Vice-President, who oversees operations in Poland, said.

(WBJ)