Polish EU-funded road tenders next year

Polish Minister of Transport Slawomir Nowak expects tenders to begin in mid-2013 for new Polish road projects co-financed by EU funds under the new budget perspective for 2012 to 2020, according to research company PMR.

In a statement, Mr Nowak said that the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate for National Roads & Motorways (GDDKiA) were working to prevent a stoppage occurring between the conclusion of projects subsidised from the EU budget for 2007 to 2013, and the start of new projects co-financed by the new EU funds.

The ministry said that disbursements of funds from the 2014 to 2020 EU budget would start in January 2014 at the earliest, provided that the relevant operational programmes were in place.

The Minister said he expected that more multi-billion infrastructural schemes implemented under the new EU perspective would be an engine for the Polish economy and would help it sail safely through the crisis.

Mr Nowak recently undertook an official visit to Spain, where the aim of the meeting was to discuss the future EU budget for the next financial framework.

With Spanish Minister of Development Ana Maria Pastor Julian, he signed a letter of intent, which lays a foundation for the conclusion of an agreement between Poland and Spain on future co-operation over transport and infrastructure.

The ministers discussed co-operation between Polish and Spanish road transport authorities, and activities aimed at developing the rail market in both countries. They also shared experience about amending construction law.