A common priority for us is a more innovative Poland. We are interested in all proposals from Poland – said EU Commissioners during the speech inaugurating the EU’s financial perspectives for 2021-2027 in Poland.
“This is proof of European solidarity.”
The EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said in Warsaw during a speech inaugurating the EU’s financial perspectives for 2021-2027 in Poland that “a new chapter is opening, which we are building together in Poland, we are building to Europe, because only together can we face the risks and dangers we experience.
Today is the formal approval of the new round of European cohesion programmes. This is the amount of 76 billion euros of European investments in Poland. People are the target, Poles are the target. On average there are about 2,000. euros per person, but it really means more than just financial support. This is proof of European solidarity. This is proof of the added value that Europe brings to Polish citizens
Ferreira said, adding that it is also an act of acknowledgment that “we are all connected, that we are all standing together. She noted that “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”
We don’t want any of these links to be weak. We want them to be strong. It reminds us that despite so many challenges, the collective success of Europe and the individual success of Member States depends on our ability to stay together as a community. That is why today we celebrate this joint effort. The adoption of the program is another cornerstone, so important for Poland in the context of common goals and Poland’s future, which can be a leader and an inspiration to others.
noted the EU Commissioner.
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Poland as an example of success
She pointed out that Poland is an example of “excellent success”. According to her, the economic and social level has certainly improved since Poland’s accession to the EU, but Poland still faces many challenges. She pointed out the differences between regions, voivodeships and individual communities.
We must keep working to create jobs and opportunities all over Poland. First of all remove these bottlenecks here, push the necessary reforms to create a good climate for investors and make sure that the whole society benefits from these changes
said Ferreira.
She stressed that we all need to prepare every region for the future, so that no place, no citizen is left behind.
These are our common goals for Poland, for the Commission. And this is what we managed to create and include in the partnership agreement between Poland and the Commission, and today we have a further step, because these goals are translated into specific actions under the cohesion programs
said Ferreira.
She explained that these programs are a team of investments in each region of Poland.
First of all, a common priority for Poland and for all of us, namely a more innovative Poland. The program will allocate EUR 13 billion for innovation, research and building the competences of workers and their businesses. It will be an investment in more than 1,000 companies, joint activities of companies, universities and research institutions. We want to offer added value here. We are interested in all proposals from Poland. We want to execute them
– assured the EU Commissioner.
Social and economic development
The Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, who was present at the inauguration, stressed that from the very beginning of Poland’s presence in the EU, cohesion policy has been a tool for modernizing the country and investing in Polish citizens.
It has contributed to extraordinary social and economic development
he assessed.
He added that between 2004 and 2020, Poland was the second country in the EU in terms of GDP growth, and in the last 10 years, Poland’s unemployment rate has fallen from 10 to 2 percent, currently it is 3 percent (according to the EU methodology – PAP) which – in his opinion – shows how EU funds have contributed to the development of Poland.
Commissioner Schmit pointed out that the European funds are currently intended to mitigate the consequences of the crisis caused by the pandemic three years ago, to protect citizens’ health and jobs.
Poland has made good use of these funds, especially instruments to support businesses and protect jobs. We are talking about 11 billion euros that have been used to finance the work
he stressed.
He noted that a new perspective is beginning, which will mean a stronger Europe at national and regional level. He recalled that the money will be invested in people, in infrastructure, in counteracting the effects of climate change on the economy and society.
The Commissioner also expressed his appreciation to the Poles for taking in thousands of Ukrainian refugees, especially children.
wkt/PAP
Source: wPolityce