Public consultations on the Social and Climate Plan (known as KPO2) are coming to an end. This plan is intended as the basis for disbursing funds from the European Union’s new financial instrument—the Social Climate Fund. The Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy announces that these funds will be allocated, among other things, to combating so-called transport poverty, mitigating the impacts of the upcoming ETS2, and modernizing the railway system, which poses a significant challenge.
“In July, the European Commission will present member states with the draft budget for the next financial framework, and we will see what financial possibilities it will offer. It is not yet decided what portion of the budget will be dedicated to transport. However, I encourage everyone to participate in the public consultations. In the work carried out by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, my department prepared a draft of the Social and Climate Plan, which also includes the transport sector,” said Jarosław Orliński, Director of the Infrastructure Programs Department at the Ministry.
What Is the Social and Climate Plan (PSK)?
The Social and Climate Plan is a document detailing how the money from the Social Climate Fund (SFC) will be spent. The SFC is a new financial instrument aimed at helping households, small businesses, and transport users in difficult situations to mitigate energy poverty. Poland will be the largest beneficiary of the Social Climate Fund. The PSK budget for 2026–2032 will amount to PLN 65 billion, which includes the EU contribution and a required national co-financing of 25% of the allocated funds.
Before Poland can access these funds, it must submit the PSK to the European Commission. The draft document was prepared by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy in cooperation with local governments, economic and social partners, civil society organizations, and other ministries involved in its implementation.
Fighting Energy Poverty with PSK
The PSK aims to be a new tool in combating energy poverty in Poland. More than one-third of the funds, according to the Ministry, will go directly to supporting people who, due to limited income, cannot secure adequate heating, lighting, or electricity for devices. This is referred to as the “protection component.”
“There is also a transport component, which will be implemented at both national and regional levels, involving 16 regional offices. Within the transport sector, we have preliminarily allocated EUR 2.4 billion to be dedicated to transport after 2026,” explained the Ministry representative.
The funds will primarily be used to purchase railway and bus rolling stock as a means to combat transport poverty. This is expected to improve the situation related to the implementation of ETS2—a carbon emissions trading system starting in 2027, covering CO2 emissions from the transport sector.
Additional Transport Projects
“These projects will also include, among others, bicycle paths, which will be realized at the regional component level. There may also be projects related to railway stations or very important projects ensuring resources for regional rail transport,” Jarosław Orliński added.
The PSK will enable financing for investments in the construction and reconstruction of stops and railway stations, including parking lots near stops and stations, bus transport infrastructure, improvements to access infrastructure at transport hubs (construction, renovation, repairs of sidewalks, pedestrian and cyclist paths, road crossings, footbridges, elevators, stairs, and park-and-ride facilities), development of demand-responsive transport, and bicycle transport infrastructure (bike lanes, bike stations at transport hubs, and development of shared public bikes).
Context: Poland’s EU Funds and TEN-T Network
“We are becoming a wealthier country in the European Union. This means that, within cohesion policy, unfortunately, there will be fewer funds available. However, it is important to remember that there are various other centrally managed EU funds. For example, within the current financial perspective, there is the ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ instrument dedicated to transport. Also, these types of instruments will continue to be implemented by the European Commission,” explained the Infrastructure Programs Department director.
“We will, of course, have to apply in pan-European competitions as before. Also, the so-called TEN-T trans-European transport network will continue to be implemented,” he added.
Modernizing the Rail Sector
Work on the TEN-T road sector is at an advanced stage and nearing completion, but many challenges remain in the rail sector.
“Above all, we are thinking about modernizing the railways—introducing the European digital management system, so-called ETCS or ERTMS, on the railway network. This is a huge challenge we are working on. There are also so-called dual-use projects, which are important in terms of our allied commitments,” listed Jarosław Orliński.
“We need to prepare for significant pressure regarding dual-use infrastructure within the trans-European transport network but also within projects related to cohesion policy,” he concluded.
