Yachts, saunas and solariums. Tusk: 100 percent PiS bears responsibility for problems with KPO

Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on Tuesday before the government meeting that 100 percent PiS is responsible for the last problems around the payment of funds from KPO. He announced that the Minister of Funds would make an explanation at the government meeting, after which he would inform about decisions and consequences.

The prime minister referred to doubts around the subsidy for diversification of activities for enterprises from the HoReCa sectors (hospitality, gastronomy) that suffered as a result of a pandemic. According to media reports, companies received subsidies from KPO, including for company yachts.

On Tuesday, Donald Tusk announced that in the second part of the government's meeting, the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz would ask for clarification of the confusion around the national housing plan (KPO). – After explanations, I will inform you about the decisions and consequences of the whole situation – he added.

Advertisement

As he said, we are talking about actions that the government took “with determination and in great hurry”, and which were to enable European funds in Poland. He noted that PiS blocked money from KPO, and Poland wasted a lot of time in this matter. He also pointed out that the government is still doing everything to ensure that “billions from Europe stay in Poland and not return to Brussels.”

– 100 percent PiS and his idiotic, aggressive and anti -European policy and time theft are responsible for the problems related to the spending of European money. They not only stole the money, but also stole the priceless time – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He added that in no way can this explain inaction, sloppiness or bad will to officials responsible for the distribution of these funds.

The prime minister also expressed the hope that in a few dozen hours the matter could be considered clarified, and its consequences will be publicly presented.

At the end of last week, users of Platforma X began to post examples of companies from the HoReCa industry (hotel industry, gastronomy), which received subsidies from KPO, including for company yachts, saunas, solariums, furniture replacement or the purchase of a virtual shooting range. The media also began to describe the matter. In the following days on KPO funds for the industry on social networks and in the media they spoke, among others Politicians – both the opposition and the ruling coalition.

On Friday, Prime Minister Tusk emphasized that he would not accept “any waste of funds from KPO”, indicating that he would expect quick decisions including collecting funds where there was obviously abuse.

On the same day, Deputy Minister of Funds Jan Szyszko announced the initiation of Entrepreneurship Development (PARP) by the Polish Agency for Enterprise (PARP), which supervises the spending of this money, additional controls that will check “every zloty” issued as part of the investment for the HoReca industry. The duties of PARP president Krzysztof Gulda assured that the initial results of the inspection are to be presented at the latest by the end of September this year. He informed that in the event of evidence of irregularities, it was possible to terminate the contract with the beneficiary and the return of EU funds.

The Minister of Funds Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also assured on Friday that repair was taken two weeks ago. In addition to the appeal at the end of July, the head of PARP Katarzyna Duber-Stachurska, the minister pointed to inspections carried out in institutions that were responsible for the selection of beneficiaries, including at the Rzeszów Regional Development Agency. She added that the controversial program is less than 0.5 percent. the entire KPO and applies to small and medium -sized entrepreneurs who suffered during the Covid pandemic.

Checking activities in connection with media reports regarding irregularities in granting a subsidy from KPO also initiated the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw last week. PiS MP Janusz Kowalski, in turn, announced that the case would also be reported to the Central Anti -Corruption Bureau.

Recruitment under the name “Investments in the diversification of the activities of the HoReCa sector” was addressed to micro, small or medium-sized entrepreneurs operating in the hotel, gastronomy, catering, tourism and culture affected by Covid-19 pandemic in Poland. Support was intended for investments, training or consulting, i.e., e.g. to cover the costs of purchasing machines and equipment necessary to introduce new products/services, construction works, investments related to green transformation and the use of digital technologies, as well as the introduction of development services and improving employee qualifications (e.g. training in new skills or retraining employees).

The first recruitment as part of KPO support for the Horeca industry started in May 2024 and was originally to last until June 5 last year, but was extended. The second started on July 18 last year. And he was also extended many times. Ultimately, it lasted until the end of October 2024. In the summer of 2024, PARP softened the principles that companies had to meet in order to be able to receive support. Until the end of July 2024, the entrepreneur had, among others The obligation to show a decrease in turnover in 2020–2021 of at least 30 percent. year -on -year. Then this threshold was reduced to 20 percent.

The amount of co -financing was from 50 thousand. up to 540 thousand PLN (up to 90 percent) of eligible costs, which could amount to a maximum of 600 thousand. zloty. Support was provided in the form of reimbursement of expenses from the KPO subsidy part. At least 70 percent all project outlays had to be allocated to investment activities; For training or consulting it could have been a maximum of 30 percent.

According to PARP data, 3005 contracts with entrepreneurs (each contract with a different company) were signed as part of Horec support from KPO funds. As at the end of July, entrepreneurs were paid PLN 110 million from the total support amount PLN 1.24 billion.

As the Ministry of Funds pointed out, the launch of KPO funds was delayed by two years. KPO was adopted by the Council of the European Union in June 2022 during the rule of Mateusz Morawiecki, and on December 8, 2023, the first KPO revision ended. The first application for the payment of funds from the KPO was submitted after the change of government, on December 15, 2023, funds from this application (approx. PLN 27 billion) received in Poland in mid -April 2024.

The national plan for reconstruction and increased immunity (KPO) is to strengthen the Polish economy; It consists of 57 investments and 54 reforms. It provides for Poland EUR 59.8 billion from EU funds, including EUR 25.27 billion in the form of subsidies and EUR 34.54 billion in the form of preferential loans. Poland has received PLN 67 billion so far. Another tranche of money is to affect in autumn. (PAP)

bpk/ malk/ js/