POLISH REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES PL

The project consists of a programme loan to support Polish Region-owned entities, mainly acting as regional promotional institutions, for their strategic investments in the field of sustainable urban development in the EIB Cohesion Priority regions of Silesia, Pomerania, Wielkopolska and Western Pomerania.

The proposed operation would address a significant investment gap in the area of urban development and modernisation across the four cohesion regions in Poland. Urban residents may experience a wide range of benefits in terms of improved urban environmental quality, public services and amenities as well as increased attractiveness of the public transport modes. Businesses may enjoy an increased business confidence outlook stemming from improvements in the urban environment and infrastructure.

This Programme Loan comprises four multi-scheme suboperations (one per region), each being a Framework Loan. The schemes financed in the four regions are expected to have a positive impact on climate change mitigation including reduced energy usage of existing buildings to be refurbished and redeveloped. Sustainable mobility schemes will support the competitiveness of alternative modes to the car and may also have a positive impact on climate change (mitigation). Some of the schemes may eventually fall under Annex I or Annex II (screened in) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2014/52/EU (amending 2011/92/EU) and the Bank will require that the affected schemes be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions. The Bank generally will also require that schemes are implemented according to the provisions of other relevant EU Directives, including but not limited to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (2001/42/EC), Habitats (92/43/EEC) and Birds (2009/147/EC) Directives as transposed into national law. For schemes triggering art. 4.7 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Bank will require compliance with the WFD. Environmental and efficiency improvements in public buildings will be required to comply with the provisions of the EU Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings 2010/31/EU.

Some schemes may be subject to public procurement procedures and regulations and others may not be. Should the EU Public Procurement Directives apply to the project, it will be ensured that the procurement of the related works, goods and services is compliant with the applicable EU Directives. Should the EU Public Procurement Directives not apply, it will be ensured that the procurement of goods and services follow suitable procedures satisfying the criteria of economy and efficiency. Finally, should a project be developed under a concession or a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, it will be ensured that the procurement of the concession/PPP by the relevant public contracting authority is compliant with applicable EU regulations.