21:43 21 February 2021
Time for Poland to prepare KPO shrinking
Along with the new budget, the European Union introduces the so-called The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) worth €672 billion. Poland is to receive €23.1 billion – hence the need to develop an effective National Reconstruction Plan (KPO). Zofia Wetmańska, an expert of the WiseEuropa think tank, points out that “access to RRF funds means doubling the total amount available for low-emission investments in Poland. These funds should push the government to accelerate its efforts to transform the economy into a climate. '
Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, secretary of state in the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, responsible for the preparation of the KPO, declared that "projects carried out within its framework are to produce lasting and long-term effects that will be consistent with the European Green Deal".
However, the overall situation as regards the KPO remains unclear. The plan has not yet been delivered, although it was originally announced that it was supposed to happen at the end of last year. Therefore, in early February, climate and environmental social organizations and businesses called on the prime minister to urgently show the plan and include them in the "transparent consultations", after which they expect a new "Marshall Plan", supporting climate reforms and digitization.
The analysis of the implementation process shows that the plan is inconsistent, lacks proper coordination and clearly defined goals. A frequent accusation is also insufficient transparency. The Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy selected projects from among those submitted by regions and other ministries.
The Ministry and some voivodeships have drawn up lists of submitted projects, but the complete list of all submitted projects remains confidential. Neither the project selection criteria nor the composition of the so-called working groups responsible for the selection.
However, we can talk about a light in the tunnel. On January 27, Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak officially announced that the KPO would be sent for public consultation within two weeks to allow local governments and other interested parties to set their own priorities.
