In his opening speech, Minister Puda pointed out that, in addition to funds from the state budget, we also invest the European funds, which we benefit from as a full member of the European Union.

Poland has proven that it can invest European funds effectively, for the benefit of our homeland and the EU as a whole. We are also a leader in the quality of their use. Quality is a component of many factors,

the minister said.

He added:

It is good, efficient administration, great projects, innovative ideas, but above all, extremely committed people who implement the projects, co-financed by the cohesion policy with enthusiasm.

The Minister pointed out that during the negotiations of the cohesion policy for 2021-2027, we managed to obtain more than EUR 76 billion for Poland, making our country the largest beneficiary of the cohesion policy in this perspective.

These funds will be earmarked for equal development opportunities between Poland and other EU member states as well as for the development of our country's regions,

he said.

The effort we have put into obtaining them should be of great benefit to all Poles, and investment co-financed by the EU funds should noticeably improve the quality of our daily life.

The head of the MFiPR further indicated that, as in previous perspectives, we will address the support to public administration entities in order to strengthen the capacity to provide innovative public services, including e-services. He stressed the importance of the European funds in strengthening the links between businesses and research, higher and vocational education and training organisations, which is essential for increasing the productivity and technological advancement of our economy.

We support local authorities. Local government units will have funds available in 16 regional programmes, but will also be beneficiaries of the support from national programmes. In the 2021-2027 perspective, the allocation for regional programmes is the highest so far and amounts to more than 44% of the total allocation for Poland under the cohesion policy funds, i.e. more than EUR 33.5 billion,

Minister Grzegorz Puda indicated.

This will allow our economy to enter a higher level of competitiveness and resilience to crises.

The debate also touched on the effective use of funding provided by EU funds.

Minister Puda recalled that the support from the cohesion policy will also be channelled to partners outside the public administration. In the national programme European Funds for Social Development (FERS) 2021-2027 and in the regional programmes, actions have been planned for strengthening social and civil dialogue and for specific target groups, which will be entrusted to partners for implementation, given their experience and social capacity.

Social and economic partners, civil society organisations will also receive support to enable them, among others, to improve their institutional capacity, as well as to improve and acquire new skills through technical assistance measures, Minister Puda said.

He pointed out that all citizens will be able to benefit from the systemic and individual support in the areas of education and skills development, the labour market and health and social services, including care for children and people with special needs.

The panel addressed the issue of European funding during the war in Ukraine. Funds to support refugees in Poland and funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

On the first day of the Congress, a debate on railway infrastructure in Poland was also held.

The discussion focused on the modernisation of railway lines in Poland - the balance of the National Railway Programme and the challenges posed by climate policy. The panellists discussed the development of the rail freight market and infrastructure opportunities, new rail lines - their alignment and construction options - creating a catalogue of needs.

The panel provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of the rail component of CPK for the development of railways in Poland and new intermodal models in transport.

For the past few years, we have seen a huge increase in railway modernisation expenditure in the market.

Together with other Central and Eastern European countries, Poland is currently the largest beneficiary of aid programmes for railway projects in the EU, said the Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Marcin Horała, who attended the panel.

In the opinion of the Deputy Minister of the MFiPR, railway investment in new high-speed railway lines in Poland is necessary and - contrary to popular opinion - profitable.

The implementation of the CPK railway programme, i.e. the construction of a high-speed railway network in Poland, is not a futuristic idea, but a natural way of development and meeting the needs of today's mobile society,

Marcin Horała emphasised.