Poland to receive euro 177 mln annually for environmental protection from EU

The European Union (EU) plans to give Poland euro 177 million annually for environmental protection as a part of the ISPA program, which is to be launched this year. The same amount will be devoted to highway and railway infrastructure development. By last February gminas and cities were supposed to submit utilization proposals for EU funds. In 2001, 381 were registered, the largest number, 47 projects, came from Slask, which requested euro 1 billion. Money from ISPA will cover 8% of what Poland has spent on environmental protection so far. In 1999 Poland allocated zl. 9 billion for this purpose, only 5% of which came from the state budget. The World Bank estimates that to adjust to EU standards Poland must spend zl. 90 billion-zl. 180 billion mainly for waste water plants. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 21) E.B.