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„The war is starting, or rather, cheap games.” Minister speaks out on the KPO issue
The debate is ongoing. At a certain point, it ceases to be about the truth. It is about undermining the KPO and its funding. More critically, it encompasses the entirety of the EU and our participation in it – this is how Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, characterized the stir around KPO grants. She further stated that „there isn’t a shred of evidence that any official or minister acted for personal gain.”
„In significant investment initiatives, there are invariably expert mistakes and, regrettably, deceit from those seeking funds unlawfully. Procedures for this have existed for years. We enforce them stringently,” wrote Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, on Monday via the X platform.
„A number of concerned citizens are voicing apprehensions regarding specific projects. They are utilizing data transparency for its intended purpose – social oversight. I am promptly informing you: where questions arise, we will investigate. If there are infractions, we will demand the return of funds,” the minister remarked.
Read also: The KPO scandal. The map revealed surprising subsidies. How they were decided >>>
„Mockery based on fragments of the investment description taken out of context”
Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz clarified that Poland has been executing investments from EU funds for 21 years and „according to the highest standards: competitions, regulations, expert opinions, and control bodies. The programs undergo open discussions with social partners. The same guidelines apply to the KPO.”
Nonetheless, she pointed out that a new feature has been introduced for these grants – a dedicated website with maps of investments and beneficiaries. „Because complete data transparency is a principle of any government that values its citizens,” she emphasized.
„And suddenly, amidst this normalcy, a conflict erupts, or rather, trivial tactics. Individual projects are extracted from HoReCa, followed by additional programs, and derided based on out-of-context snippets of investment descriptions. Online trials of individuals who have nothing proven – they merely received subsidies. Defamation,” wrote the head of the Ministry of Regional Funds. „And conspiracy theories. About 'secret easing of criteria,'” she added.
Addressing the alterations in the HoReCa program criteria, the minister clarified that the turnover decline threshold was reduced from 30% to 20% in the second phase of the application process to meet the required project number target specified in the National Operational Programme. „Initially, we opened the competition to the severely affected, and then – when the target was not reached – to those less affected. This is standard procedure,” she stated.
„This is a public investment initiative, not discretionary funds for any expenses. Thus, there are benchmarks. Initially, we opened the competition to the most impacted individuals. Then, when the target was not met, we included those less impacted. Again, standard procedure,” she noted.
„Ownership history is not and should not be a focus for those selecting projects”
The head of the Ministry of Funds also addressed suspicions regarding collaboration between officials granting subsidies and company proprietors in the sector.
„There is not a millimeter of evidence indicating that any official or minister acted in self-interest. There is zero, not even a hint, of corruption. There are data transparency, procedures, and controls: ministerial and EU,” wrote Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
„The objective of the program is to bolster Polish companies within a given industry, not specific owners. In this context, ownership history is neither a focus nor should it be for those selecting projects. Could there have been any illicit ownership manipulations prior to the competition? I don’t know – this is not within the domain of PARP or the ministry. That’s the role of the relevant authorities,” she concluded.
„This is about discrediting the KPO and its funds”
In her view, „from a certain point onward, it’s no longer about the truth.” „It’s about discrediting the KPO and its funds. Moreover, the entire EU and our affiliation with it,” she expressed.
„Data transparency is being weaponized to undermine public investment initiatives. Some are even beginning to insinuate that foreign troll farms are facilitating this 'fun.’ It wouldn’t surprise me at all,” added Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
As she pointed out, „this scandal is extremely detrimental to Poland. It erodes trust in investments from the funds, immobilizes officials, and traumatizes beneficiaries. An online 'lynching’ can only be viewed as an act against subsidy recipients or experts,” she remarked.
Read also: We reached out to companies that have applied for KPO funds. This is what
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