The flow of money from the structural funds is expected to begin in late March or early April, according to Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, the minister responsible for funds and regional policy. The first payment claim reached 6.9 billion euros, she noted, marking a significant milestone in the funding cycle.
A green light has been given to complete the self-evaluation phase for the Structural Funds. Technically this means submitting a set of documents that will be reviewed by the European Commission. After the commission processes these documents, permission will be granted to submit financing applications. The expected timeline adds up to about two to three months for processing, followed by roughly another month and a half for final approvals. The minister stressed that this permission is a crucial step in unlocking further financing.
This clarification came during a Saturday appearance on TVN 24, in response to questions about EU structural funds. She highlighted that the authorization followed extensive meetings with the European Commission and prior visits by Polish government representatives to Brussels. Poland has already completed the self-evaluation and has waited for a long time as it enters the fourth year of the current financial framework.
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also noted that Poland has received an advance for structural projects that are already prepared and contracted. The ability to file applications for project refinancing is essential to moving these initiatives forward.
The minister explained that she had requested the first payment in mid-December. The typical process spans about three months, so if the plan holds, funds should begin arriving in late March or early April. The request totaled 6.9 billion euros.
In addition to fund flow questions, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz addressed the National Reconstruction Plan. She described how the European Commission expects a detailed plan outlining steps to meet rule of law requirements tied to the reconstruction program. The plan, developed by the Ministry of Justice, has been submitted, though some legal issues remain. There are also non-legal matters requiring attention, such as reviewing immunity provisions and expanding judicial self-government so court presidents can be appointed. These are controlled by ministerial decisions and regulations and are expected to be implemented.
The minister stressed that the European Commission recognizes progress in several areas. The commission has noted declarations that there is no chilling effect on judges, no political interference affecting judicial independence, and that many measures are being carried out through regulations and ongoing laws that proceed to the end of the legislative process without political obstacles preventing a signature for political reasons alone. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz added that there are topics that should not be publicly discussed in formal conversations between the two sides.
If there is political will across all areas, and that will is consistently applied by the democratically elected majority, it is expected that the Commission will respond with a positive decision.
Discussions with the European Commission also touched on governance and the rule of law framework. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar met with EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders during a visit to Warsaw. Bodnar highlighted the obligations arising from the rule of law framework and noted that one element of the recovery plan will be the separation of the offices of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General. The Ministry of Justice also introduced principles for amending the law on the Public Prosecution Service and published a draft amendment to the law on the National Council for the Judiciary, which includes changes to how judges members are elected.
This ongoing dialogue reflects the broader effort to align Poland’s institutions with EU expectations and to secure continued access to European funding.
There is broad recognition that the process depends on both concrete actions and political consensus. The EC is watching developments closely and weighing how the rule of law framework is applied across the executive and judiciary. The outcomes in Brussels will influence future disbursement decisions and the pace at which projects move through the cycle.
Overall, authorities are proceeding with cautious optimism. The focus remains on fulfilling procedural requirements, advancing governance reforms, and ensuring that approved projects can be financed efficiently once the Commission grants final permissions. The overarching goal is to maintain stable access to the structural funds while upholding the standards expected by EU partners and by the public readers in Poland, across neighboring regions, and in North America where stakeholders follow EU policy developments closely.