Eastern regions of Poland number on greater EU support

– east voivodships of the country require peculiar support from the European Union– Judge Jacek Protas, MEP. The proximity of the war with Ukraine and the neighbouring country with Russia and Belarus causes the outflow of investment and capital, as well as threatening to depopulate on a larger scale than in another regions of the country. Support should concern not only safety but besides local economies and entrepreneurs. The delegation of the Committee on Regional improvement visited 3 provinces – Lublin, Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian, to measure their fresh situation and needs, as well as the anticipation of support in the long-term EU budget.

– We have proved to European politicians that regions bordering Russia and Belarus have lost a large deal in this war, at the closure of borders, at the introduction of an embargo, besides at wartime phobia, which causes migration problems and capital outflows. The European Commission is so planning to prepare a peculiar tool for these 3 regions: Warmian-Masurian, Podlaskie and Lublin Voivodeship, a package of solutions that will let our companies to be competitive on the Polish and European markets. – says Newseria Agency Jacek Protas, associate of the European Parliament of the civilian Coalition. – It will most likely be direct support for companies, but it will besides increase the level of state aid in these 3 regions, increase backing for local governments, which will carry out investments in the close future. In a minute we will be working on details, consultations are over, local governments have sent out a full scope of expectations and now we will work together with the European Commission on the details of this project.

A delegation of 7 members of the Regional improvement Committee (REGI) led by Andreya Novakov visited border regions to gather detailed information on current situation and needs in Lublin, Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian provinces. All to better plan future negotiations on the long-term budget of the European Union. During the three-day visit intensive meetings were held with representatives of national, regional and local authorities, border services, customs administration, entrepreneurs and academics. They gave a full image of the hard situation of the border regions of north-eastern Poland.

The post-delegation message states: "We request a strong and credible cohesion policy more than ever, capable of responding to the needs of all regions – especially those located at the external borders of the Union, which not only safeguard democratic values but defend the very essence of the European project."

– I believe that Europe should invest more in this region by allocating funds to the east border regions, due to the fact that that is where you feel the effects of the war. Polish farmers in the region suffer, Polish carriers also, so the Union should support them, not force them to bear the costs of war that they have not started – says Andrey Novakov, associate of the European Parliament of Bulgaria, associate of the Committee on Regional improvement in the EP. – What action should be taken to aid this region? First, more investment. I hope that they will encourage young people to stay here, creating more interesting and attractive jobs for them. And secondly, you gotta make this place more popular as it is simply a hidden pearl.

– Young people usually leave agrarian areas in search of a better life in cities or abroad. In this region, you face a double challenge due to the fact that young people besides leave due to the war. They're afraid to stay here, which is understandable, due to the fact that they don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow. It is so very crucial for me to present to the European institutions this reality again so that we can find the financial resources to support the economy and businesses here, due to the fact that they request the financial resources to keep their activities – believes Daniel Bud, associate of the European Parliament from Romania. – During discussions with the business sector, many people told us that they have moved their activities to a much safer place, which is very dangerous for your region..

In line with fresh announcements by Mr Peter Serafin, EU budget commissioner, a draft pact for the east regions of the EU is to be presented by the end of the year. It is intended to cover various solutions supporting regions from neighbouring countries to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania) to minimise the economical and social impact of this neighbourhood. The solutions would apply from 2027.

– We know that the full region is susceptible to social challenges, but I consider it a chance for it, due to the fact that after the end of the war it can service as a platform to support the reconstruction and reconstruction of Ukraine. This means more work for local transport companies, more jobs and income for local construction companies According to Andrey Novakov.

Eastern voivodships can presently benefit from, among others, the European Funds for east Poland programme for the period 2021–2027. Its nonsubjective is, among another things, to support the competitiveness and innovation of enterprises, but besides to advance socio-economic improvement through tourism. Its budget is about €3.1 billion, of which the EU contribution is €2.65 billion.

Although the delegation stressed the importance of developing the economy of the regions visited, there was besides much talk of safety issues.

– These regions are besides the borders of the European Union and what is happening here is very crucial for Europe as a whole. Firstly, we have the SAFE programme, which will bring 43 billion euro to Poland in the close future. From the beginning of next year, in the first quarter, these funds will be launched for the acquisition of weapons, equipment, support for ammunition factories or our weapons industry. We hope that any of these funds will besides be spent in our regions – Jacek Protas says. – Secondly, there is simply a programme worth EUR 150 billion from the European Union budget, of which 30 billion will go to Ukraine's support and 120 billion to the associate States. These measures will be specifically targeted at east and border regions. And finally, our program Shield East.

The Government's Shield East programme adopted last year is simply a key safety investment. It assumes the construction of fortifications and natural field obstacles, fortifications along the east and northern border of Poland – in key voivodships: Pomerania, Warmian-Masurian, Lublin, Podlaskie, Podkarpackie and Mazowieckie. The Polish Armed Forces are mainly liable for its improvement and construction, but besides for various ministries, voivodes and local governments. Depending on the needs, logistics centres, materials warehouses, shelters or drone detection and tracking systems utilizing radar, thermal imaging and listening devices will besides be built. The task worth PLN 10 billion is of global importance, as it aims to jointly defend the east flank of the European Union and NATO.

– At the request of parliamentarians from the Civic Coalition, the programme was entered as a strategical programme across the European Union. These investments, which have already begun, are located in 3 regions: Lublin, Podlaskie and Warmia-Masurian. These are, among another things, dual usage investments, i.e. dual usage items: investments in infrastructure, hospitals, wellness care and another projects that will service our citizens on a regular basis, and in the event of a war they will aid us defend and defend the population – explains Jacek Protas.