There is a total of PLN 200 billion for local government investments from the National Plan of Reconstruction and European Funds-said on Friday in Ustrzyki Dolne (Podkarpackie Voivodeship) the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, which took part in the 1st Local Local Government Congress.
In the inaugural speech, the minister emphasized that European funds for investments are “always too little”.
“And although I know that there is always a feeling that more investment measures are needed and I know that more is needed, we are now at such a moment when there is a lot of these funds. In any case, more than it was and I think that maybe more than it will be,” said Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
She reminded that the current government after unlocking KPO moved PLN 23 billion to local government investments. “These investments are already pending. In Podkarpackie, the value of these investments is PLN 1.6 billion, which means 41,000 signed contracts,” she added.
The minister pointed out that in connection with the great interest of local governments thermomodernization of schools, the pool of funds was increased. Just like for entrepreneurs who suffered during the pandemic.
She assured that there would also be more money for water and sewage investments. “We are looking for funds in other KPO investments, which, if it succeeds, can be redirected to it. I hope that it will succeed, because this is something that is in municipalities, especially in urban-rural or rural communes, very much needed and underfined for years”-said Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
The minister reminded that under the KPO significant funds will be allocated to the security and defense fund, in total it will be PLN 25 billion. She also noted that this money would be able to form, among others Roads that will also be used by the army. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz assured that municipalities will also be able to use the money with FBIO.
“It will be funds not only for roads, but also for double use infrastructure, e.g. you will be able to renovate the shelter, which is located under the school, so to some extent also the school itself” – explained the minister.
In Ustrzyki Dolne, the head of the MFIPR also talked about the future EU budget, which, in her opinion, is “a great unknown”. “We are in a world where we wake up in completely different circumstances than we fall asleep and it is very difficult to understand and predict how this fund will look like,” she argued. She added that there is a very strong tendency in the EC for the money to be spent centrally. She assured that Poland would “fight” for that when spending the EU money, the role of local governments would be as before.
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz reminded that the ministry is ongoing on the Act on the local government 2.0. She added that this is a law that will regulate relations between cities, metropolises and municipalities that surround them.
“It is a matter of access to public services, who pays for these services and how to do it so that the municipalities feel that they have access to these public services, and at the same time the cities have instruments to jointly and fairly and fairly this share in the services together with the municipalities,” said the head of the MFIPR.
She announced that this law will be widely consulted with local governments and is to be ready next year.
The organizer of the First Local Local Government Congress was the Polish MP 2050-TD Bartosz Romowicz. In an interview with PAP, he announced that it would be a cyclical event, which is to serve primarily to exchange information between local government officials and ministers and directors of state institutions.
“The first edition is devoted to environmental protection, the next ones will concern, among others, transport and education. The turnout shows that such events are needed,” he added.
Over 90 local government officials came to Ustrzyki Dolne, who represented municipalities and poviats from all over Podkarpacie. (PAP)
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