Citizens Demand Greater Transparency in Public Spending

Transparency in public finances was intended to be a cornerstone of a democratic state and a tool for rebuilding citizens’ trust. The Central Contract Registry (CRU) was meant to allow every citizen to monitor public spending; however, its implementation has been delayed and is burdened with many limitations. Instead of full transparency, the Polish people are left with only the appearance of it. According to research by the Public Finance Institute, over 80% of contracts entered into by public institutions will remain outside the registry, raising serious doubts about the actual transparency of state finances.

Transparency in Public Finances as a Foundation of Democracy

Effective management of public finances requires transparency. The state budget should be fully open to public scrutiny, and citizens should have access to detailed information about public sector expenditures. The introduction of electronic contract registers in many EU countries has significantly improved the transparency of public finances, as evidenced in Slovakia, where their implementation reduced public procurement costs by nearly 30% in the first year.

CRU in Poland – Delays and Lack of Transparency

Originally, the CRU was set to launch in July 2022, but its implementation has been postponed to January 1, 2026. Although the Civic Coalition promised its immediate introduction before the elections, after a year in power, there are no specifics regarding the system’s framework or progress in its execution. Unlike the National e-Invoicing System (KSeF), the CRU does not have a dedicated website or regular updates, sparking questions about the real intentions of the government.

Hiding Contracts by Raising the Value Threshold

One of the most controversial aspects of the CRU is the Finance Ministry’s decision to raise the contract disclosure threshold from 500 PLN to 10,000 PLN net. This means that the majority of contracts in local governments and state institutions will remain outside the registry. Analyses by the Public Finance Institute show that in medium-sized cities, as many as 84% of contracts do not exceed the new threshold. It also becomes possible to divide contracts into smaller amounts to evade registration.

Society Demands Transparency

Research conducted by the Public Finance Institute indicates that Poles expect transparency. 97% of respondents believe that invoices and contracts should be public, and 86% oppose raising the threshold to 10,000 PLN. Additionally, 94% of those surveyed claim that the CRU would improve the image of public administration. The lack of transparency in this area undermines citizens’ trust in state institutions.

Is Poland Moving Towards Transparency or Just an Illusion?

Citizens have the right to know how their money is being spent. The CRU could become an effective tool for social control; however, the current decisions by those in power seem to limit data accessibility. Does the government genuinely want transparency, or is it merely protecting political arrangements from social oversight? The answer to this question could be crucial for the future of public finances in Poland.

Source: Public Finance Institute