The European Commission approved the Partnership Agreement with Poland, which sets out the Polish investment strategy under the Cohesion Policy with a total value of €76.5 billion for 2021-2027. The partnership agreement will enable investments fostering economic, social and territorial cohesion in Polish regions and supporting the implementation of key EU priorities, such as the green and digital transformation.
One of the main objectives of the Agreement is to reduce energy dependence and protect the environment. The Cohesion Policy funds will support Poland's green transformation. €17.9 billion will be invested in renewable energy and the circular economy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while €20 billion will be allocated to decarbonization and development of the transport sector.
Financial assistance is also provided for the five regions most affected by the transition to a climate neutral economy. €3.85 billion will help restructure companies and implement their innovative pathways to a low-carbon economy.
Another premise of the Agreement is the digital transformation of the economy and society. The Agreement provides for support of the capacity of enterprises and institutions in the field of research and innovation and the development of digital solutions by enterprises and the public sector. It also includes assistance in completing the construction of broadband infrastructure.
Another key point of the agreement is building resilient and inclusive communities. A total of €12.9 billion will be disbursed from the European Social Fund Plus to support employment and social activities, with particular emphasis on the participation of women in the labor market and childcare services. The fund will also support the integration of people with disabilities and migrants into the labor market, as well as the improvement of citizens' skills, including digital skills.
€3 billion of this overall amount will be allocated to supporting social inclusion by improving the quality of and accessibility to social welfare and healthcare services. Moreover, around €62 million will support capacity building of social partners and civil society organizations.
Part of the money provided for in the contract will be allocated to local partnerships. More than €3.5 billion will be invested in increasing the involvement of local authorities in the implementation of cohesion policy.
The agreement also provides for support for the sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector, for which approximately €512 million will be allocated from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, which will facilitate their ecological transformation, protect biodiversity and restructure the fleet to adapt it to the available fishing opportunities and to increase the resilience of sectors.
Each Member State prepares a Partnership Agreement in cooperation with the Commission. It is a strategic document for programming investments from Cohesion Policy and EMFAF funds during the Multiannual Financial Framework. The agreement with Poland is the eleventh partnership agreement adopted for the financing period 2021-2027.