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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.POLAND

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EXPLORE THE STORIES BEHIND EU INVESTMENT

To revive investments and growth, the European Union supports people, ideas and visions across EuropeThe European Union is all about opportunities that deliver real benefits and make a difference at a local level. The promotion of growth, employment and well-being across Europe is one of its main priorities. By investing in people’s ideas and visions, the EU is removing obstacles and creating favourable conditions for development and modernisation across the continent. In support of the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of Europeans, the EU opens doors and empowers people to pursue their own innovative projects.

Europeans have already come up with original ideas for better education, modernised healthcare and greener transport infrastructure, to cite but a few examples, and the EU has provided the means to get tailored projects off the ground. Where valuable projects struggle to win investment due to the reluctance of investors to take risks, the EU steps in by backing loans or providing funding for projects that have the potential to succeed.

A perfect example of the EU support is the LIFE-funded project “Małopolska in healthy atmosphere”. Since 2016, 60 eco-advisors have

supported the residents of Małopolska to improve air quality in the region. During educational meetings the eco-advisors provide residents with practical advice on how to increase the energy efficiency of their houses and, as a result, take care of their health and the environment. But eco-advisors not only encourage a positive change, they make it happen by helping residents apply for grants that cover the costs of replacing old smoking furnaces.

EU funding does not only offer people financial support for their projects. Project beneficiaries can also access hands-on coaching and expertise to ensure their projects provide real added value for the people and communities around them. Results are visible thanks to knowledge-sharing and research facilities, energy efficient buildings or smart mobility solutions, which, in turn, lead to a more sustainable future for Europe’s cities and regions.

Whether it is by introducing broadband internet in local schools, facilitating affordable housing, modernising railway travel, or building a modern hospital, EU funds provide new

opportunities both for people and the regions. EU-funded projects are behind the creation of hundreds of jobs as well as the transformation of poorer regions into innovation hubs. Apart from contributing to regional and national development, these projects translate into thousands of individual success stories.

Only some of these stories feature in this brochure. But look around in your community and you will see that behind European investments there is a wealth of people’s stories to discover.

SITS

MLEKPOL

TORQWAY

TORUN HOSPITAL EXTENSION

STREFOWA

PRZEWOZY REGIONALNE ROLLING STOCK

MODERNISATIONBROADBAND NETWORK FOR WIELKOPOLSKA

POZNAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MALOPOLSKAAIR QUALITY

PLAN

CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNISATION OF RZESZOW AIRPORT

Poland’s Małopolska region fights smog

MALOPOLSKA AIR QUALITY PLAN KRAKOW, MALOPOLSKA

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Poles breathe some of the most polluted air in the EU. For many years, the worst air quality readings have been recorded in the Małopolska region, whose capital Kraków attracts tourists from around the world, but is one of the most polluted cities in Europe. The EU-funded “Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” scheme shows residents how they can take action to clean up the air.

Smog in Małopolska is not only caused by pollution from factories and cars. Homes are often heated by burning low-quality coal in outdated furnaces, leading to a large amount of carcinogenic emissions. People also burn plastic and rubbish in domestic stoves, which causes the most harm, especially to their own health and that of their neighbours.

Many people are not aware that the way they heat their homes has an impact on their health. However, this is changing. Thanks to funding from the EU’s LIFE programme, regional authorities have launched the “Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” project. Its aim is to raise communities’, local authorities’ and businesses’

awareness of cleaner, more efficient ways of heating buildings, thus saving energy and money and, above all, protecting health.

“As the name suggests, for us the most important things are the quality of life of residents, as well as a clean, healthy and safe environment. We want future generations to enjoy not only a clean Małopolska, but also a good quality of life in this beautiful region,” says Tomasz Pietrusiak from the Marshal’s Office (Małopolska’s regional government).

In winter, there are plenty of posters in Kraków warning residents about the effects of burning plastic in stoves. “No matter how persuasive they might be, anonymous information campaigns don’t do enough to raise awareness,” says Marcin Badura, from Libertów, near Kraków. On most winter mornings when Marcin travels to work, he sees Kraków shrouded in smog. “Direct contact is needed to increase people’s awareness. For example, at meetings where residents can find out more, including how they can have an impact on the quality of air that they breathe. They also need to know what sort of funding is available to replace their out-of-date stoves,” he adds.

“Małopolska in a healthy atmosphere” takes the same approach through its 60 eco-advisers, who organise information sessions, school activities and events. They also visit residents

at home to discuss how to live in a more eco-friendly, healthier way and advise on how to get funding to buy the latest heating appliances or to access renewable energy. “We help them submit their applications,” says Mateusz Nowak, an eco-adviser from Szczucin, a town of 4,000 people, 120 kilometres from Kraków. Mateusz has only been providing advice to residents for a year but can already see that their knowledge and awareness of the issue has improved.

Krystyna Sikora, from Kraków’s Bronowice district, is also satisfied with the programme’s initial results. “In my neighbourhood everyone uses gas heating and there has been a significant improvement in the air quality. There really is a difference – we can breathe better,” she says.

POZNAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POZNAN

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Affordable flats in PoznańHow do people get to own their own home if they do not want or cannot afford a mortgage? The Poznań Housing Association (PTBS) aims to provide an answer by building 1,300 affordable flats in the capital of Poland’s Wielkopolska region by 2021. The launch of its “From renting to ownership” scheme has been made possible by a loan under the EU’s Investment Plan for Europe.

“From renting to ownership” is aimed at Poznań residents who are not eligible for council housing due to their income being too high and who, at the same time, have a low credit rating, or those who do not wish to take a bank loan to purchase a flat on the open market. Under the scheme, buyers can initially make a payment of just 30 % of the value of the property and then gradually pay the remaining amount in monthly rent.

The aim is essentially to encourage young people to stay in Poznań. There are nearly 120,000 students studying in 26 higher education institutions in the city. Once they graduate, they very often decide to move elsewhere.

Poznań wants to tackle the problem, i.a. through “From renting to ownership”, a program made possible thanks to the Juncker Plan.

“This scheme is a really cool alternative for young people who are looking for a place for themselves and their family, but can’t afford to buy a flat at the market price and a mortgage for several decades,” explains Paulina Ciemińska, who already rents a flat from PTBS under its Flats for Graduates scheme.

Paulina now wants to make use of “From renting to ownership” and has applied for a 60 m2 three-room flat. “I am happy with my rental terms and conditions and preferential rates which I have been paying for my flat thanks to PTBS and the local authorities,” she says, when asked for her reasons for applying for a flat under the new PTBS project. For Paulina it is not only the price that is important, but also the location in a green area, not far from a lake. “I like the location of the new invest-ment very much,” she adds.

The local authorities have a particular interest in keeping graduates in Poznań and reversing the trend of residents moving to neighbouring municipalities, where property prices are lower. Indeed, high property prices in Poznań are one of the main reasons for people leaving, as this

prevents them from settling down and starting a family.

Thanks to the PTBS investment, applicants will be able to purchase their own flat at an affordable price in areas that are well-equipped with useful facilities. Aside from the flats, PTBS will use the EU funds to build a crèche, a day nursery, a pensioners’ club, as well as commercial and business premises. “I am confident that we will all enjoy living here,” Paulina concludes.

TORUN

Torqway: relaxation and healthy exercise in oneTorqway, a small company based in Toruń, Poland, produces arm-powered vehicles. It has sold 80 prototypes in Poland, the USA, Japan and the United Kingdom, and is now working on new models and preparing for mass production. EU grants under the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation have contributed to Torqway’s expansion.

Not keen on cycling or walking, Stanisław and Rita Pokorny were looking for new kinds of outdoor leisure activity. A friend recommended Torqway, a one-person arm-powered vehicle on a low platform with two large and two small wheels.

Although the description might make it sound complicated, Torqway is extremely easy to use. Rita and Stanisław admit that they only needed a few minutes of practice to get fully accustomed to it. Both agree that it is “relaxation and healthy exercise in one.”

“This vehicle is designed for people with restricted movement and senior citizens,” explains Torqway CEO Beata Paszke-Sobolewska who is responsible for marketing the product. The company supports the concept of

active ageing, which is gaining in popularity worldwide and promotes physical exercise among the elderly. Models for children and sportspeople are also being developed.

What are the benefits of using Torqway? Primarily intended for outdoor leisure, it supports the development of the muscles in the upper body and improves motor coordination. It can also be used for workout and rehabilitation, including by people who have suffered from mild lung conditions.

The vehicle was invented by Beata’s husband, Andrzej Sobolewski, a Toruń-based engineer with 30 years of experience. It has been patented in Europe and 11 countries elsewhere in the world. Torqway was awarded the title of “Best Invention of Europe”, at the Invention and New Product Exposition in Pittsburgh, USA.

Among the things that have contributed to the company’s success, Beata highlights the fact that she would not have been able to finance the development of such an innovative idea herself. She says she owes the opportunity of pursuing this venture to the EU funds Torqway received.

TORQWAY MLEKPOL MRAGOWO

New powdered dairy product factory brings many benefitsThe Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Podlaskie regions have many things in common: natural beauty, a clean environment and now Mlekpol – Poland’s largest dairy company, based in Grajewo in Podlaskie and employing 2,500 people. Thanks to an EU-backed loan from the Investment Plan for Europe, the company’s newly constructed powdered dairy production plant in Mrągowo in Warmińsko-Mazurskie will help create additional 160 jobs.

Mlekpol’s expansion is creating new jobs, which is very important for Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie, where unemployment rates are among the highest in Poland. “We are planning to recruit more staff, and our company will seek new business partners, including in the area of packaging production,” CEO Edmund Borawski announces.

Financed under the Investment Plan for Europe, the powdered dairy production plant, one of the most modern in Poland, needs a workforce with various qualifications, including IT specialists and machine operators.

The project also takes environmental aspects into consideration. “We will use co-generation

in the form of heat and electricity generation in a single technological process. It is a good way to provide energy security for our facility and also protect the environment,” Borawski explains.

Mlekpol decided to go ahead with construction because of a substantial surplus of milk in Poland. Powdered milk has a longer shelf life and is much easier to export than fresh milk. The Mrągowo plant could come to the rescue of milk producers who are struggling with the issue of milk surplus since the modern facility offers an opportunity of increased purchase of the produced raw material.

It will also manufacture whey protein and baby food, products which have to meet particularly stringent quality standards.

By boosting the competitiveness of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Podlaskie regions, creating jobs for local people and guaranteeing farmers the purchase of their produced milk, this new development will benefit everyone. Moreover, everything will be done using innovative technologies in an environmentally friendly manner, and thanks to the EU funding available from the Juncker Plan.

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CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNISATION OF RZESZOW AIRPORT RZESZOW

Airport expansion stimulates development in PodkarpackieThe Podkarpackie region, where 90 % of aviation production in Poland comes from, is attracting the interest of domestic and foreign investors. Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, 14 kilometres from the centre of the regional capital Rzeszów, has played a big role in the area’s growth. Since 2010, 16 EU-financed investment projects have helped to transform the airport. The largest and most significant of these was the construction of a new passenger terminal.

The expansion of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport has fed directly into the development and competitiveness of the Podkarpackie region as a whole, and increased work and study opportunities for its residents. Much of this expansion was financed by the EU’s Cohesion Fund, which aims to reduce economic and social disparities between regions. “Thanks to the dynamic growth of the airport, many businesses and factories have opened nearby, creating hundreds of jobs for the residents of the voivodeship (region),” says airport CEO Michał Tabisz.

“The airport stimulates the development of the voivodeship. It improves the labour market, increases the competitiveness of local professionals due to innovative educational courses and

opens the proverbial window to the world for our residents,” explains Władysław Ortyl, Marshal (head of the regional government) of Podkarpackie.

Many local technical secondary schools and higher educational institutions offer prestigious aviation studies courses which combine classroom learning with internships in aviation companies. Aviation and astronautics studies are now the fourth most popular subject among students at Rzeszów Technical University. Graduates have no trouble finding employment, as the courses are tailored to regional needs.

This is thanks to the cooperation between the university and companies associated with the Aviation Valley – the region’s aviation business cluster. For instance, the university sets up economic councils consisting of industry representatives to assess which skills and qualifications are most sought after at a given time.

Finally, the development of the airport also means that Podkarpackie’s residents and visitors can take advantage of opportunites for fast and easy travel. The five-star rating awarded to the airport, and constantly rising passenger numbers show that they are satistfied!

Improved rail services in PolandRail travel is becoming ever more attractive in Poland. Passengers on Przewozy Regionalne, one of the country’s largest rail operators, will soon enjoy safer and more comfortable train journeys thanks to EU financing under the Investment Plan for Europe. Modernisation of rolling stock and acquisition of new carriages will also make services more accessible for passengers with disabilities.

Nearly 1,800 Przewozy Regionalne trains run in Poland every day, transporting more than 77 million passengers per year. These figures are now likely to rise thanks to the 200 million-Zloty (€47.5 million) EU loan from the Juncker Plan that the company was granted for modernisation of its rolling stock.

This modernisation shall be reflected in higher levels of comfort. Przewozy Regionalne will be able to allocate parts of the EU loan to the purchase of brand new and completely refurbished trains.

“Improving the comfort of rail travel by modernising existing rolling stock is a step in the right direction,” says Piotr Figiel, who, due to his visual impairment, does not hold a driving licence and travels solely by public transport. “Modernising old trains will make a difference more quickly than replacing rolling stock.

In this case, the lower price is of considerable significance. It means that a higher number of carriages can be refurbished.” Piotr works for the charity “Nowe Spojrzenie” on preventing exclusion of blind and partially sighted people from transport, and also blogs on rail transport.

Przewozy Regionalne has already started modernising its rolling stock. A new generation of vehicles, such as the “Link” trains from PESA company in Bydgoszcz, will be equipped with air conditioning and seating for the disabled. The EU funding will give Przewozy Regionalne the opportunity to purchase additional new trains that will ease overcrowding by offering up to twice as much space as those they are replacing. Przewozy Regionalne is also the first regional rail operator in Poland whose trains have designated areas for children, where tables have high rims to prevent toys from falling on the floor and the windows are decorated with drawings of the sun and flowers.

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NATION WIDEPRZEWOZY REGIONALNE ROLLING STOCK MODERNISATION

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SITSFurniture maker creates jobs in GrudziądzWith over 11 % of its almost 100,000 population being out of job, the unemployment rate in Grudziądz is significantly above Poland’s average. Thanks to funds from the EU’s Investment Plan for Europe, furniture maker SITS will build a production facility in the city’s new industrial park, thus creating hundreds of new jobs.

The loan under the Investment Plan for Europe will give SITS a financial boost worth about 67 million Zlotys (€16 million). By funding construction of the company’s new plant, the loan will help to create jobs in Grudziądz, a city on the Vistula river, and the surrounding area. SITS is already hiring production, supplies and logistics workers and further jobs will be opened up during the building works. By 2019, about 540 people will have been taken on and there will be around 1,000 staff in the firm’s workforce by the end of 2020.

“The new investment in Grudziądz allows us to increase production capacity and productivity, and use the latest furniture production technology,” says Marek Dobrzeniecki, CEO of SITS, whose operations were previously focused on Brodnica, 60 kilometres from Grudziądz. “At the moment we are looking for staff not only in Grudziądz, but also in neighbouring areas. The new

investment also means safe and comfortable working conditions,” he adds.

SITS aims to ensure that its furniture is produced to high quality standards and in a way which protects the environment. The company has developed a programme entitled “Green by SITS”, which includes initiatives such as recycling 100 % of the waste it generates, using environmentally friendly material, of which at least 20 % is obtained from recycling, and prioritising energy efficiency.

The firm takes good care of its employees by adhering to the IWAY Standard which outlines minimum requirements for environmental protection and social and workplace conditions. This helps to ensure a high level of commitment from staff, which, combined with the EU-funded expansion, should soon be reflected by quality furniture from Grudziąc sold across Europe.

GRUDZIADZ

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TORUN HOSPITAL EXTENSION TORUN

A patient-centred hospital extensionThe Rydygier Regional Memorial Hospital in Toruń, Poland, will be transformed into a state-of-the-art medical complex by 2019. This would not have been possible without an EU loan under the Investment Plan for Europe. “We have waited for 40 years for this expansion,” says hospital press spokesperson Jaunsz Mielcarek, MD.

The Rydygier hospital is Toruń’s largest public hospital, admitting more than 75,000 patients a year. Thanks to the support from the Juncker Plan, it is being modernised and extended. By the end of 2019 it will have new wards and outpatient departments, 12 operating theatres and even a helipad.

This investment will be of particular benefit to the regional milk bank, the only one of its kind in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, of which Toruń is joint capital. During lactation, women can donate surplus breast milk so that it can be given to non-breastfed babies, once relevant tests are completed.

The milk bank has developed considerably since 2013 but lacks space. The EU-funded extension of the hospital will give it the chance to adapt additional rooms for carrying out tests which identify hazards and prevent them from

contaminating food so as to ensure the highest standards of food safety.

The extended hospital will be a friendly environment for mums and new-born babies. “The existing gynaecology ward will move to a brand new building. The maternity ward and neonatal unit will be completely refurbished,” explains Janusz Mielcarek.

For the team behind the project, the key focus is on patients, their comfort and convenience. “It is intended to be a hospital for people,” emphasises Simon Gregson, an architect responsible for the design of the extension. Piotr Całbecki, Marshal (head of government) of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region, is of a similar opinion. “The walls and the modern equipment, as well as millions of Zlotys invested are tools, extremely important, but they are just tools. The patient is at the heart of this project,” he says.

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Cutting food waste in Central EuropeEvery year, 88 million tonnes of food is wasted in the EU, which averages out at 173 kilogrammes per person. The STREFOWA project aims to cut food waste by organising activities across Central Europe – all with EU funding.

The STREFOWA project devises strategies for reducing food waste in Central Europe. It is carried out in eight cities across the region, including Warsaw and Wrocław. One of the project’s main aims is to demonstrate good food waste reduction practices, which is important because consumers are responsible for more than 50 % of wasted food. “We mostly waste cured meat products, bread, fruit and vegetables,” says Maria Kowalewska, director of education at the Federation of Polish Food Banks, one of the STREFOWA partner organisations.

According to Kowalewska, unnecessary food waste results in biodegradable materials and packaging being deposited in dumping sites, as well as the waste of water and energy used to produce the food. It is also an important social issue, as a substantial amount of wasted food is still edible and could be given to the needy. The STREFOWA project involves partners in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Poland and is financed under the EU’s INTERREG

Programme, which encourages inter-regional cooperation. The STREFOWA project includes a pilot scheme to collect food that needs to be kept in cold storage from shops and restaurants, which donate these products free of charge due to their short use-by dates.

STREFOWA also organises “Food Waste Hackathon” workshops where participants collaborate to create mobile apps that contain a comprehensive compendium of ways of managing food. As a result of activities such as this, more and more people have the chance to get involved in the fight against food waste.

STREFOWA CENTRAL EUROPE BROADBAND NETWORK FOR WIELKOPOLSKA POZNAN

Fast broadband access across WielkopolskaSome 71 % of Europeans use the internet on a daily basis and this is increasing year by year. At the same time, internet users want to access information more frequently and more quickly, no matter where they are. Largely financed from EU funds, the Wielkopolska Broadband Network project was created for the residents of the Polish region of Wielkopolska, who have so far had limited access to broadband internet.

More than half of Poles use the internet at home, work or school. Financed through the EU’s European Regional Development Fund, the Wielkopolska Broadband Network project reaches almost 3.3 million people and more than 250 public bodies. Residents of Wielkopolska thus have easier access to high-speed internet than ever before.

One place where the network can be accessed is at the services and economics school at Pleszew, a town of 18,000 people. A high-speed internet and Wi-Fi hot spot were launched there in partnership with a local telecommunications operator. As a result, wireless internet is accessi-ble throughout the school, making work easier for pupils and teachers alike. “Before, websites

would take a long time to load, especially when a number of people wanted to use them at the same time. It’s much better now,” IT teacher Izabela Mikstacka-Mikuła explains.

The pupils are happy, too, as they do not have to wait forever for files to be transferred. “At home it might take me up to a few hours to download materials to do school projects. Now I can access the internet at any time at school and download the files in 5 to 10 minutes,” says Weronika, a pupil at the school.

The Wielkopolska Broadband Network is Poland’s longest regional broadband network, reaching 73 % of the region’s households. Thanks to the investment, telecommunications operators provide fast internet services in places where they would not otherwise install fibre optic networks due to it not being cost-effective.

The whole region can now enjoy the benefits of high-speed broadband, which gives residents access to information and technology, offers opportunities for their personal development and improves their career prospects.

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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018

© European Union, 2018Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.The reuse policy of European Commission documents is regulated by Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39).

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Print ISBN 978-92-79-72374-2 doi: 10.2775/15675 NA-04-17-792-EN-CPDF ISBN 978-92-79-72373-5 doi: 10.2775/336646 NA-04-17-792-EN-N

WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION:

General information about the Investment Plan for Europe: ec.europa.eu/invest-eu

Representation of the European Commission in Poland:ul. Jasna 14/16a00-041 Warsaw POLAND

Tel. +48 22 556 89 89Email: ec-poland@ec.europa.eu Internet: ec.europa.eu/poland

Find a Europe Direct centre near you for information:europa.eu/european-union/contact_en