European Commission
EU regional and urban development

Promoting green infrastructure and low-carbon solutions: Poland receives €27.4 million of EU funding

  • 17 December 2014
Promoting green infrastructure and low-carbon solutions: Poland receives €27.4 million of EU funding

The European Commission has adopted the 2014-2020 Operational Programme "Infrastructure and Environment", worth more than €32 billion with €27.4 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund. The Programme envisages a set of concrete measures to support the further shift of Poland towards a more competitive and low-carbon economy that makes efficient use of natural resources, favour low power consumption and advocate a significant reduction of

The European Commission has adopted the 2014-2020 Operational Programme "Infrastructure and Environment", worth more than €32 billion with €27.4 million coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund.

The Programme envisages a set of concrete measures to support the further shift of Poland towards a more competitive and low-carbon economy that makes efficient use of natural resources, favour low power consumption and advocate a significant reduction of CO2 emissions. Important investments in more sustainable transport and energy networks, the environmental protection, climate adaptation and mitigation techniques as well as health and culture will not only nurture a more pro-business environment. They are also expected to significantly improve the living conditions of the 38 million Polish citizens.

Welcoming the adoption European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said:    "These are crucial investments for the outlasting competitiveness of Poland and Europe as a whole. This Programme shows how Regional Policy can both contribute to reduce the ecological footprint and strengthen the country’s economy at the same time. It demonstrates that competitive advantages can be built on a more sustainable and greener basis, where both carbon emissions and financial costs are simultaneously reduced. By building clean transport infrastructure and focusing on energy efficient solutions, Polish regions will become even more accessible and more attractive for businesses".

The programme defines a number of ambitious goals to be achieved by the end of the programming period, in particular:

  • Increase in the share of renewable energy in gross final consumption to 15%;
  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emission by 20.6% compared to 1990 levels;
  • 6500 kilometres of new, extended or modernised wastewater network;
  • 100% of Natura 2000 sites covered by management plans;
  • 120 new or modernised wastewater treatment plants;
  • Decrease of travel time by road and rail between the main Polish cities to 3,7 hours;
  • Construction and modernisation of 591 kilometres of gas pipelines
  • 522 kilometres of reconstructed or upgraded railway;
  • 167 new or modernised items of railway rolling stock;
  • 86 kilometres of new or improved metro and tram lines.

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