Poland prepares large-scale civil protection funding until 2031

Poland plans to allocate 102.4 billion zlotys, or about $26 billion, for protection of the population and civil defense during 2027-2031. Funds will go, among other things, to shelters, rescue infrastructure, backup energy supply, crisis stockpiles, and protected state communications.

The parameters of the new program were announced on October 6 by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk before a government meeting, reports PAP.

Approximately 30 billion zlotys of the total budget is to be transferred to the disposal of regions through voivodes. Local authorities will be able to submit proposals for specific investments - from building shelters and modernizing fire stations to developing telecommunications infrastructure.

Among the program's priorities are construction and modernization of protective structures, purchase of equipment for rescue services, creation of stockpiles for emergencies, ensuring continuous access to water and electricity.

Separate funding is provided for public warning systems, cybersecurity, information systems, and secure communications between government institutions and services.

The new program is to run from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2031. It will continue the program for 2025-2026, to which the Polish authorities allocated nearly 34 billion zlotys.

Back in June, the Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration estimated the preliminary budget for the next program at over 105 billion zlotys. In the version presented to the government, the amount is 102.4 billion zlotys.

According to government documents, Poland is to annually allocate at least 0.3% of GDP for tasks related to protection of the population and civil defense. Part of these funds will be financed within defense expenditures.

Tusk explained that local governments asked to make the program long-term so that they could implement large investment projects, not just emergency purchases of equipment after a threat arises.

At the time of announcing the program's parameters, the document was included in the agenda of the Council of Ministers' meeting on October 6 as a draft government resolution. Therefore, it concerns the planned funding volume for the program for 2027-2031.