The Partnership Agreement is the most important document defining how Poland will invest the European Funds for 2021-2027. It involves EUR 76 billion from the EU cohesion policy (EUR 72.2 billion) and the Just Transition Fund (EUR 3.8 billion). The draft Partnership Agreement was prepared by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. During the consultations, Minister Tadeusz Kościński and Vice-Ministers Waldemar Buda, Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak and Jacek Żalek met with local government officials, entrepreneurs, social and economic partners, representatives of non-governmental organisations and inhabitants of all 16 voivodships.

At the July summit of the European Council, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki negotiated the largest budget ever for Poland. These are funds which, together with national resources, will make it possible to rebuild the economy after the pandemic and to invest in the further development of the regions

- says Tadeusz Kościński, Minister of Finance, Funds and Regional Policy.

The consultations were open to all interested parties. A total of around 4100 people participated in the on-line meetings, which took place in each voivodship. During the broadcast, it was possible to ask questions via chat. Until 22 February, comments to the assumptions presented in the Partnership Agreement could be submitted via the form available on the portal Fundueuropejskie.gov.pl. A total of 5013 such submissions were received.

The submitted comments will be analysed by experts from the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. Then, following adoption of the final version of the Partnership Agreement and draft national programmes by the government and draft regional programmes by the voivodship boards, formal negotiations of the programmes and the Partnership Agreement with the European Commission will take place.

Money available under the cohesion policy will be earmarked for investments in innovation, entrepreneurship, digitisation, infrastructure, environmental protection, energy, education and social affairs.

The Partnership Agreement is our business plan for investing EU funds. This money, together with national resources, will support Poland's most important development needs. For years we have been among the EU leaders in effective investment of these funds

adds Minister Tadeusz Kościński.

Polish development needs are not the only factor influencing the way in which these funds are invested. EU priorities such as research, innovation, digitalisation, climate and environment are also important, as are regulations issued at EU level. These indicate that 30% of the European Union budget should support the Union's climate action – and cohesion policy must also contribute to this.

In turn, funds from the Just Transition Fund will be directed at mitigating the effects of the transition to a climate-neutral economy. The following voivodships will benefit from it: Śląskie, Małopolskie, Dolnośląskie, Wielkopolskie, Lubelskie and Łódzkie.

As in 2014-2020, also in the newly commencing perspective 2021-2027, about 60 % of cohesion policy funds will go to programmes implemented at the national level. The remaining 40 % will go to regional programmes, managed by voivodship marshals.

The individual voivodships will receive between EUR 736 million and EUR 2.3 billion for regional programmes. Money for regional programmes is divided according to an algorithm based on objective criteria, including population and GDP per capita.

Money for regional programmes is divided according to an algorithm based on statistical data, including population and GDP per capita. 75% of the funds have already been distributed, and 25% were allocated to a programme reserve to be distributed at a later stage of programming during the programme contract negotiations.

In the pool from the reserve there is EUR 7.1 billion to be divided among all the voivodships in the framework of arrangements of the programme contract. Key projects for the government and provincial governments, submitted by marshals to programme contracts, can count on additional funds. On 2 March, the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy started talks with voivodship marshals concerning programme contracts. The meetings will last until May.