When will the decision on the payment of funds under the KPO for Poland be made? There is a possible date
Poland has not yet received money from the KPO. However, the decision on the first tranche may be made as early as next week.
According to RMF24 unofficially, the European Commission is to decide on the transfer of funds under the National Reconstruction Plan to Poland on the last day of February – we read. This is the first tranche of almost EUR 7 billion (close to PLN 30 billion).
Earlier, the radio station informed about a possible visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Poland. Radio informants suggested that he would stop in the country to meet Donald Tusk on his way to Kiev (where he was traveling due to the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine).
“The money from KPO should arrive no later than April”
This information was then confirmed by the Polish Press Agency on February 20. The journalists referred to the EC spokesman, Eric Mamer. In addition to von der Leyen and Tusk, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is also expected to participate in the meeting. RMF FM reported on Monday that the meeting of the President of the European Commission and the head of the Polish government may help meet the original deadline for the assessment of the first tranche by the European Commission.
In mid-December, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, spoke about the April deadline, when the first funds from the KPO were to be distributed to Poland. – At the end of March, no later than in April, the money from the KPO should reach Poland – she assured in an interview with Polsat News.
It was previously indicated that the deadline by the end of February would not be met due to the lack of agreement between Warsaw and Brussels. It was recommended to complete the so-called milestones. The idea is to reform the disciplinary system of judges (i.e. liquidate the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court and replace it with another body), as well as clarify the scope of disciplinary liability of judges.
What is KPO?
KPO is a program that is intended to support the reconstruction of the development potential of a given country’s economy, lost as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, to strengthen competitiveness and raise the standard of living of society – explains the Polish Development Fund Group.
Under the KPO, we will receive EUR 59.8 billion (PLN 268 billion), including EUR 25.27 billion (PLN 113.28 billion) in the form of grants and EUR 34.54 billion (PLN 154.81 billion) in the form of preferential loans. In line with EU goals, we will allocate a significant part of the budget to climate goals (46.60%) and digital transformation (21.36%), the government informed.