POLAND SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMME

Programme loan aiming to finance social and affordable housing projects in different municipalities in Poland. The project will be financed within the scope of an investment platform to be set up by the European Investment Bank and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego.

The project concerns the financing of investments in social and affordable housing by municipal authorities and registered social and affordable housing providers throughout Poland. Social and affordable housing in Poland is defined by a combination of national legislation and local regulation according to income thresholds and this regulatory framework sets out a range of other eligibility criteria such as the criteria for prioritising applicants and the application and control processes entailed. The sub-projects under the programme loan will be projects not included in the Polish national subsidised programme and will be restricted to the following: • the construction or retrofitting of social housing units for rent as defined by Polish law and local regulation; • the construction or retrofitting of affordable housing units for rent as defined by Polish law and local regulation; • the construction of regulated affordable housing for rent-to-buy or equity-sharing subject to certain conditions; • any associated infrastructure such as roads, drainage, utilities and recreational amenities specifically designed to meet the needs of the housing units of the sub-project. The sub-projects under the programme loan will be co-financed by the European Investment Bank and by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego on a percentage to be agreed on a case-by-case basis.

Compliance with the relevant EU directives will be verified during appraisal: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and Birds Directive 2009/147/EC. The status of any environmental studies and public consultations related to the urban renewal, upgrading and construction investments will be reviewed during project appraisal. Energy efficiency requirements in line with the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings 2010/31/EU will also be further assessed during project appraisal. The proposed investments should lead to the physical rejuvenation of their locations and therefore result in a better living environment.

The Bank will require the promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project have been or will be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation: Directive 2014/24/EU where applicable, as well as 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.