The parliamentary inspection at the CPK headquarters also touched on EU fund applications that were not submitted for the construction of high-speed lines as part of the overall project. This development drew concern because funds set aside for the design of the Warsaw-Łódź corridor appear contingent on the project’s continuation, according to Marcin Horała in a conversation with wPolityce.pl [Source: wPolityce].
CPK’s rail program includes nearly 2,000 kilometers of new lines that were slated for completion by the end of 2034. Preparatory work has already begun on more than 1,300 kilometers. The CPK Railway Program is composed of twelve lines, including ten spokes that connect various Polish regions to Warsaw and the hub. Following a change in government leadership, the fate of the CPK was placed under a new arrangement, and no EU funding applications have been submitted for the Warsaw–Łódź high-speed rail segment since then [Source: wPolityce].
There were four EU fund applications in question, two submitted and two not submitted, covering the design of the CPK railway junction and the construction of the Warsaw–Łódź section, Horała explained during the interview with the wPolityce.pl portal. A PiS MP attended the parliamentary visit to the company’s headquarters, a session that was later blocked [Source: wPolityce].
The testimony from Lasek’s spokesman is not entirely consistent. The first version suggested these were immature applications, implying a risk that funds would not be awarded. Critics questioned the logic of not attempting to secure funding, noting that submitting an application that ultimately fails to receive money carries no penalty. Horała stressed there is no penalty for trying [Source: wPolityce].
READ ALSO: ONLY WITH US. Which documents did PiS MPs want to see from the CPK? Puda: Maybe we’ll come to the headquarters again to see them [Source: wPolityce].
Should Tusk return EU money?
Horała noted that an application with minor defects is returned with a list of missing items. This process allows improvement and a fresh attempt that could secure a “sure thing” funding outcome. In contrast, an interview with GW saw Maciej Lasek revise his earlier statement, saying that applications had not been submitted while awaiting a political decision on the project as a whole. This raised the presumption that the high-speed line to Warsaw–Łódź could be blocked [Source: wPolityce].
From Horała’s perspective, the issue is not only about the project’s viability but also about the government’s obligations. Some funds were already allocated for high-speed rail construction and international commitments accompany those allocations. This situation raises concerns that EU funds already obtained might need to be repaid, potentially affecting a TEN-T core network railway line. Failing to fulfill these international duties could pose problems for Poland with the European Commission and fellow member states. Access to relevant documents was sought to clarify the matter [Source: wPolityce].
READ ALSO: PiS MPs entered the CPK. What happened there? This move is described as unprecedented and may prompt an official report, according to Horała [Source: wPolityce].
— PiS MPs exert control over CPK. Jabłoński highlighted the extent of disinformation and the public’s exposure to misleading statements from Lasek, a claim that drew sharp reactions [Source: wPolityce].
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