The new regulations will help create products and services that are convenient for everyone - including the elderly or people with disabilities. Companies can rely on financial support and the acquisition of new customers.

The Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, presented information on the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in Poland at a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

The EU Council formally approved the revision of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP). It provides, among others, for the creation of a Security and Defence Fund (SDF) of PLN 25 billion. The fund will finance the construction of civil protection infrastructure, e.g. shelters, the expansion of the defence industry and the construction and repair of dual-use infrastructure, i.e. roads, tracks. SDF money will also be used to invest in cyber security.

We have already signed more than 774,600 agreements for more than PLN 117 billion for investments in, among other things, thermal modernisation of buildings, road safety, new nursery places, broadband internet, modernisation of railway crossings and the support for SMEs in agriculture. This represents 44.5 per cent of the overall programme for Poland. This is the balance sheet of 1.5 years of investing money from the National Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (NRP) in the Polish economy.

The European Commission approved the establishment of two new instruments - the Critical Technology Support Fund and the Digital and Green Transition Fund.

A balanced development is the shared goal of the European cohesion policy and the strategy under development by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy. The core of cohesion is to balance the level of development between regions in the EU. The medium-term national development strategy 2035 is a kind of roadmap for the effective implementation of this policy in Poland, also with the support of EU funds. The Development Policy Coordinating Committee will meet today to issue its opinion on its draft.

The establishment of the Security and Defence Fund or the strengthening of the State Labour Inspection are among the major changes in the recently completed revision of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP). The European Commission has accepted the proposals of changes presented by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.

We have agreed the establishment of the Security and Defence Fund (SDF) under the NRP with the European Commission. This means a green light for strategic investment with the total worth of PLN 25 billion that will strengthen Poland's civil infrastructure, defence industry and cyber security.

Climate change, digital transformation, geopolitical tensions - these are just some of the challenges facing OECD regions today. The answer is to be found in the modern regional policy, based on local potential and well integrated with the national development strategies. During the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee meeting, Poland which chaired the meeting, presented key conclusions for the future regional policy in a joint Chair's Statement developed with OECD countries.

Economic, social and territorial cohesion is one of the EU's key priorities. To be effective, the coordination of European Union policies should take into account the territorial dimension. Cohesion policy should remain open to all regions to make full use of their potential and strengths. These are just some of the provisions of the Joint Declaration. The document was approved by EU ministers for cohesion policy, territorial affairs and urban policy at the informal meeting in Warsaw. Poland was represented by the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz and the Deputy Minister, Jan Szyszko.