PROGRAMME LOAN WATER SECTOR POLAND

Financing of eligible projects in the water sector in Poland.

The programme loan (PL) aims at addressing the investment needs of small and medium-sized water utilities in Poland. To date, three operators have already been identified as potential final beneficiaries (FB) of the PL, which are: (1) Aquanet, (2) Bytom, (3) Wroclaw. FB provide integrated water services (IWS) activities in Poland and are fully owned by the municipalities. The underlying investment programmes of the FB are based on Master Plans agreed by the operators with the local service regulators. The investment requirements, including mainly water treatment, distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, are aimed at the upkeep of efficient and sustainable water and wastewater services, increased resilience and compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC and the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, as embodied in the national legislation.

The operation is in line with EU and EIB policy objectives of environmental protection and climate action, and will generate positive externalities in the form of environmental and health benefits. These benefits would not be realised to the same extent without public intervention. EIB's involvement has a strong impact on mobilising other sources of funding (such as EU funds) and signalling that each project is sound and worth supporting, thereby facilitating the full financing and implementation of the projects. Further, the financing conditions offered by the Bank (long maturity, length of disbursement period and number of tranches) are rarely available in the loan market. Long-term adequate financing is essential for promoters in this sector, which need to balance between the affordability of the tariffs and the intensive capital requirements of the infrastructure they operate.

The sub-operations under the PL are expected to have net positive environmental and social impacts, considering their focus on compliance with, amongst others, the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. Where and if applicable, the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2014/52/EU amending the EIA Directive 2011/92/EU, the Habitats and Birds Directives (92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, respectively) will be respected and the Bank will publish the full text of, and the non-technical summaries.

The Bank will require the final beneficiaries to ensure that contracts for implementation of the project will be tendered in accordance with the applicable EU procurement legislation, (Directive 2014/23/EU / 2014/24/EU / 2014/25/EU as well as Directive 92/13/EEC or Directive 89/665/EEC) as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the EU, as and where required.