139 towns in Poland will compete for PLN 1.424 billion from Swiss Funds for their projects.
"The project concerns specific medium-sized towns in Poland that face demographic and development challenges and need support to be able to move forward with the fastest possible development and benefit for their inhabitants" - said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy in Kraśnik.
Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz announcing the call for proposals at a press conference in Kraśnik
Kraśnik is one of 139 medium-sized towns in Poland that have a chance to receive development support from the Polish-Swiss Programme for Development of Towns. This is a programme financed from the second edition of the Swiss Funds for Poland and implemented in cooperation with the Association of Polish Cities (APC), with Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (MDFRP) acting as its operator.
The aim of the programme is to support towns that are at risk of losing their socio-economic functions. These are towns where, for example, as a result of the political transformation, large state-owned enterprises went bankrupt, challenges emerged related to the outflow of people to the largest cities, low fertility rates, or air pollution
"We encourage medium-sized towns to take advantage of this unique development and investment opportunity. Here, you know best where to invest funds to ensure the best possible quality of life in your towns" - said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, at a press conference in Kraśnik.
"Polish-Swiss Programme for Development of Towns with a Swiss contribution of over 278 million Swiss francs is the foundation of the new Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme aimed at reducing social and economic differences, promoting bilateral cooperation and strengthening knowledge exchange" - said the Swiss Ambassador to Poland, Fabrice Filliez.
Swiss Ambassador to Poland Fabrice Filliez at a press conference in Kraśnik
Comprehensive projects
Funds from the Polish-Swiss Programme for Development of Towns include:
- financing for micro, small and medium-sized companies;
- vocational education and training,
- financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises,
- support for migration management and promotion of integration efforts,
- energy efficiency and renewable energy,
- public transportation,
- water and sewage management,
- waste management,
- nature conservation and biodiversity,
- health and social protection,
- improvement of public safety and security,
- minorities and socially disadvantaged groups,
- civil society and transparency.
These are large projects, worth between PLN 44 and 80 million, which are part of the town's development strategy. It is important that the initiatives prepared are comprehensive - they are both infrastructural and social investments that will involve residents and civil society organizations.
What will the call for proposals look like?
Towns can even count on 100% funding. Ultimately, the amount of support in each case will be influenced by the provisions on state aid.
The project selection process is a two-stage process - first, applicants have 10 months (until December 16, 2024) to prepare Programme Component Outline, then 5 months for selected cities to prepare Complete Programme Component Proposal. Experts from the APC and Switzerland will help towns prepare and implement projects. Ultimately, a dozen or so towns can count on funding.
Full information about the call for proposals and documents are available at www.programszwajcarski.gov.pl
Swiss Ambassador to Poland Fabrice Filliez and Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz
Research-backed support
The Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) conducted research, created and then updated in 2019 a list of medium-sized towns that are at risk of losing their socio-economic functions.The results of the PAS analyzes were included in the National Strategy for Regional Development 2030. It was recognized that these towns require comprehensive support. In practice, this means that they will receive financing from various sources. One of such sources are the Swiss Funds for Poland, the vast majority of which will go to the development of medium-sized towns.
About the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme
The call for proposals launched under the Polish-Swiss Programme for Development of Towns is the first call under the second edition of the Swiss Funds for Poland (formally: the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme). This is money to reduce socio-economic differences in the EU.
Poland is the largest beneficiary of the second edition (1.3 billion Swiss francs were allocated to 13 countries).
Switzerland granted Poland 320.1 million Swiss francs for the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. The national contribution should also be added to this pool, giving a total of 375.458 million Swiss francs.
The breakdown of these funds is as follows:
- Polish-Swiss Programme for Development of Towns – 327.882 million Swiss francs (278.7 million Swiss contribution and 49.182 million Polish contribution);
- Research and Innovation Programme – 41.176 million Swiss francs (35 million Swiss contribution and 6.176 million Polish contribution);
- Technical Assistance (including the Preparatory Fund) - 6.4 million Swiss francs.
The implementation (eligibility of expenses) of the second edition of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme will end in December 2029.