Poland: EIB continues to support the extension of motorway network and finances the upgrading of municipal infrastructure in Lublin (south-east Poland)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing two loans in Poland:       

• EUR 225 million to co-finance the extension of the A1 motorway
• PLN 500 million (approx. EUR 125 million) to support smaller infrastructure projects undertaken by the City of Lublin in the road, public transport, education and culture sectors

EIB President Philippe Maystadt, who signed the two loans prior to the opening of the EIB Regional Forum in Warsaw, commented: “The projects signed today are in line with the EIB’s priority of helping to strengthen Poland’s competitiveness and accelerate the country’s economic development. The new motorway will extend the crucial TEN axis, improving connections between Gdansk and Silesia. In addition, EIB funds will serve to improve the quality of life in Lublin, a major city in south-east Poland”.

The loan of EUR 225 million will finance the construction of the Stryków-Tuszyn motorway section, which is the first 40 km stretch of the 180 km section of A1 motorway between Stryków (on the junction with the A2 Berlin-Warsaw highway) and Pyrzowice (close to Katowice) and the junction of the A4 highway connecting the important industrial areas of Silesia with Germany and Ukraine. The project comprises a combination of new-build sections and upgrades of existing road. The A1 motorway is part of the priority trans-European network linking the Baltic Sea port of Gdansk with Brno/Bratislava-Vienna along the south trans-European corridor (E75).

The loan of PLN 500 million will support ten sub-projects focused on upgrading municipal roads, improving public transport and renovating cultural heritage in line with the priorities of the City of Lublin’s multi-year investment plan for the period 2009-2015. The project aims to improve the pavement and design of existing roads and constructing new city bypasses. EIB funds will help in the area of public transport to modernise the city trolleybus fleet and restore important cultural heritage artefacts to support the development of tourism in the city.

Background:

The mission of the EIB, the European Union’s bank, is to contribute to the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the EU Member States by financing sound investment. Since Poland joined the EU, EIB loan commitments in the country have reached some EUR 21 billion. In the current year alone, new EIB lending activity in Poland is expected to amount to some EUR 5.3 billion.

The rehabilitation and extension of trans-European infrastructure, notably transport corridors, is crucial for the successful development of Poland within the EU single market. Investment in infrastructure is important for removing bottlenecks and barriers to the efficient movement of people and goods, enhancing safety and safeguarding the environment. In this regard the Bank co-finances the upgrading and extension of the Polish transport network, including projects implemented and operated in public-private partnerships (PPPs). The EIB is co-financing sections of the A1, A2, A4 and A6 motorways and major national roads along Pan-European Corridors II, III and VI in Poland.

The EIB has developed good cooperation with Polish municipalities, utility companies and regions. It finances the upgrading of urban transport and environmental infrastructure in all major Polish cities and regions. Within the current year, the Bank has already provided over EUR 1 billion for the development and modernisation of urban infrastructure. This support has had a positive impact on the quality of life and competitiveness of Polish cities.