We know very well what the root cause of this difficult situation is. This program was prepared in 2021 to support entrepreneurs after the pandemic, especially the hospitality and tourism sectors. The previous government set it up. The spokesperson warns that funds were unlocked only recently, and lack of time could have worsened the situation. He promises further details during an upcoming press conference.
Government Spokesperson on “Root Cause” of KOPO Misconduct
Adam Szłapka told after the cabinet meeting that Minister of Funds and Social Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz, “provided very detailed information” regarding KOPO grants. “Of course all matters will be thoroughly inspected. Roughly by mid‑September the results of all checks should be out,” he said in the context of support for the HoReCa sector.
“We know very well what the root cause of this difficult situation is. This program was prepared in 2021. It was meant to help entrepreneurs post‑pandemic, especially the hotel and tourism sector, prepared by the previous government. The biggest problem is that we have little time for this program. If the funds had not been unlocked in December 2023, we would be in a completely different situation today,” the spokesperson added. He added that on Tuesday he would provide more comprehensive information at a conference with Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz.
The KOPO Scandal
On Tuesday after noon a cabinet meeting commenced, during which government members listened to explanations from MFiPR director Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz. In recent days, the media has raised doubts about irregularities in disbursing KOPO funds. Reports claim that money earmarked for the development of the hotel‑restaurant‑gastronomy sector was allocated by some companies for yachts, saunas, or coffee machines.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that all doubts would be clarified. The Polish Tourism Chamber urges an honest debate and avoidance of hate regarding KOPO money for the tourism sector. Regarding changes to the criteria in the HoReCa program, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska‑Nałęcz explained on X that the threshold for turnover decline was lowered from 30% to 20% in the second stage of recruitment to achieve the required project ratio recorded in KOPO. “First, we opened the contest for the most affected, and then – when the quota was not exhausted – for the less affected. Normal procedure,” she said.
Crisis Staff
Following media reports about irregularities in awarding KOPO subsidies, the Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office launched investigations on 8 August. The European Prosecutor’s Office also received information. Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy – Jan Szyszko informed that the crisis staff appointed in the ministry conducts audits both at the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development and at five institutions responsible for selecting entrepreneurs for funding under KOPO. By the end of July the president of PARP, Katarzyna Duber‑Stachurska, was dismissed.
