Funds from the National Recovery Plan for Polish agriculture
After nearly three years, Poland has finally gained access to EU funds. The European Commission on Thursday formally unblocked 137 billion euros for Poland in National Housing Plan and cohesion policy funds. This paves the way for the payment of 6.3 billion EUR to Poland under the National Recovery Plan.
The 6.3 billion EUR is 10.5 % of Poland's National Reconstruction Plan funds. Of this amount, 2.69 billion EUR are grants and 3.63 billion EUR are loans.
The Commission believes that Poland has met the horizontal conditions related to the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This will allow Poland to access 76.5 billion EUR in funding for the 2021-2027 period under cohesion policy programs, programs relating to the Common Agricultural Policy and fisheries, and internal affairs funding programs - EC Spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker said in Brussels.
In the next step, the decision to transfer the funds to Poland will have to be approved by the member states within the Council.
There will be 1.4 billion EUR for farmers from the KPO
Poland has achieved its first 38 milestones and targets (from the National Recovery Plan) undertaking important reforms. One of the main measures in the Polish plan is investment in the agricultural sector to help farmers and fishermen modernize their production and enter new markets, - said Valdis Dombrovskis, EC Vice President.
The Commission reports that the 6.3 billion EUR includes 1.4 billion EUR for farmers to increase the competitiveness of their production. In addition, the first payment also includes funding for childcare support, improving air quality and increasing the resilience and competitiveness of the economy.
National Recovery Plan 2021-2026 for agriculture
Funds under the National Recovery Plan are to be allocated to support the process of shortening the food chain, implementation of innovative technologies in the area of agriculture 4.0, environmental and climate protection investments and organic farming.
According to the proposal of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, most money is to be allocated to activities related to shortening the supply chain in the agri-food sector.
The draft of National Recovery Plan in the field of agriculture thus includes proposals for measures aimed at:
- reconstruction of logistics and storage centers (local or regional);
- reconstruction or construction of new processing plants;
- construction of wholesalers;
- implementation of investments in organic farming;
- strengthening research potential (strengthening research institutes);
- investments in wastewater and water management;
- increase access to broadband Internet;
- strengthening the water retention system;
- support is also to be given to precision agriculture.
Source: MRiRW, Rzeczpospolita, PAP.