The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a loan of EUR 200 million to co-finance the construction of a 57 km section of the A1 motorway (Maciejow-Sosnica-Gorzyczki), a 51.3 km section of the A4 motorway (Zgorzelec-Krzyzowa) and the rehabilitation of an 8 km section of the A6 motorway (Klucz-Kijewo).

This is the second tranche of the EIB loan to finance this motorway upgrading programme: the Bank previously provided for this purpose a loan of EUR 300 million. Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) is the EIB loan borrower and the National Road Fund is the promoter of this project, which will help to implement the ambitious National Road Programme of Poland.

Mrs Marta Gajęcka, EIB Vice-President responsible for lending in central and eastern Europe, including Poland, commented: “EIB funds will help to eliminate bottlenecks on the main motorway network on Poland’s borders with other EU Member States by providing additional capacity and improving the quality and safety of the existing infrastructure. This will strengthen the economic competitiveness of Poland and increase the quality of life of Polish citizens.”

Background:

The mission of the EIB, the European Union’s bank, is to contribute towards the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States by financing sound investment.

The Polish transport sector is the major beneficiary of EIB loans in the country. Since 1990 EIB co-financing of transport projects has reached some EUR 10 billion, including the current loan, or some 43% of EIB lending commitments in Poland over this period. The Bank has so far financially supported various projects related to the construction of new sections of the A1, A2, A4 and A6 motorways and major national roads along Pan-European Corridors II, III and VI.