Polish government official Krzysztof Bolesta confirms “Clean Air” program improvements are coming after suspension delayed processing of 1.2 billion zł in applications.
Program Suspended Amid Delays
The “Clean Air” program was suspended in November 2024. It was said that the break would last four months and was needed to analyze irregularities, reform the program, and catch up on pending applications. Over a year has passed, and controls are still ongoing.
In January, the value of applications not processed on time reached 1.2 billion PLN. One may doubt whether the program will move beyond the control and settlement stage.
Progress Being Made, Improvements Promised
Polish government official Krzysztof Bolesta confirmed improvements are coming, saying: “It will. I meet weekly with the presidents of provincial environmental protection and water management funds; we then discuss progress in processing applications.”
According to data from the end of January, the total value of payment applications not taken for evaluation decreased from 1.2 billion to just under 1 billion PLN. This is the result of increased efforts, with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management transferring money to hire additional staff. In some provincial funds, as many as 100 people are now responsible for program management, compared to just two people in 2023 when program rules were most relaxed.
The newly hired staff still need to be trained and onboarded to evaluate applications faster. Bolesta stated that by the end of the first quarter, they will reduce the value of applications not taken for evaluation by at least half.
