Marek Wójcik of the Union of Polish Cities believes that local governments, erstwhile buying a rolling stock for evacuation, will gotta “comfort water and fire”. On the 1 hand, electrical buses are environmentally friendly and low-floor, which guarantees adequate availability. On the another hand, they must service to guarantee security, but in times of crisis there may be a problem with access to energy, which will prevent long journeys.
The expert besides draws attention to the issue of low-floor buses, which although they are comfortable on a regular basis, may have a problem riding rough, bumpy roads in hard terrain. Therefore, local governments will gotta look for “intermediate solutions” to reconcile the regular usage of vehicles with their evacuation function in the crisis.
Wójcik emphasizes that the civilian Protection and Defence Programme assumes that investments should be utilized twice. “It is not like we will build a shelter that will stand empty. specified a facility will be able to be used, for example as a parking lot. Similarly, in the case of buses for evacuations which will be utilized for collective transport on a regular basis", he explains.
Despite these issues, an expert advises local governments not to wait with purchases if they have the means. The money will be distributed by the voivodship according to a strict algorithm that takes into account the number of inhabitants, the degree of urbanisation and the location of municipalities.
The main challenge this year, according to Wójcik, will be the efficient usage of planned funds. The programme consists of 3 components: training, acquisition of equipment and infrastructure. Construction of infrastructure requires time and permits, so this year the local authorities will focus on purchasing equipment.
It is besides crucial erstwhile local governments will receive funds. Wójcik fears that the deadline will be met by 15 July, as the Minister of Finance has 60 days to transfer funds after the adoption of the programme by the Council of Ministers. The expert besides stresses that local governments will gotta pay VAT, which “no 1 will pay us back, is simply a form of own contribution”.
The civilian Protection and Defence Programme for the years 2025-2026 was created by the civilian Protection and Defence Act. The government adopted it at its gathering on 27 May, following the affirmative opinion of the Government civilian Protection squad of 25 April.
According to government data, the civilian Defence and civilian Protection Programme aims to increase emergency preparedness and to build and modernise the essential infrastructure. The programme plans to usage PLN 1.3 billion for training, PLN 1.2 billion for the acquisition of equipment and PLN 1.1 billion for the construction of infrastructure.
The expert points out that within the framework of the programme, local governments will gotta safe 15% of the funds to carry out civilian protection and civilian protection tasks. The remaining 85% of funds will be distributed by the voivodship according to an algorithm that takes into account the number of inhabitants, the degree of urbanisation and the location of municipalities.
Wójcik stresses that the civilian Protection and Defence Programme is an crucial step towards expanding safety in Poland. "It is not that we have only PLN 34 billion for civilian protection and defence. This is just the beginning, and our goal is to increase safety in the country," he says.
According to the expert, the civilian Protection and Defence Programme should be implemented in close cooperation with local governments, NGOs and another entities that can support the implementation of the programme. "It is not that only the government can increase safety in the country. This requires broad cooperation and engagement of all actors" - emphasised Wójcik.
The programme besides plans to supply training for those liable for civilian protection and defence. These training will aim to increase the cognition and skills of those liable for civilian protection and defence.
The expert points out that the civilian Protection and Defence Programme should be implemented effectively and effectively. "It is not that we have only PLN 34 billion for civilian protection and defence. This is just the beginning, and our goal is to increase safety in the country," he says.
According to government data, the civilian Defence and civilian Protection Programme aims to increase emergency preparedness and to build and modernise the essential infrastructure. The programme plans to usage PLN 1.3 billion for training, PLN 1.2 billion for the acquisition of equipment and PLN 1.1 billion for the construction of infrastructure.
Wójcik stresses that the civilian Protection and Defence Programme is an crucial step towards expanding safety in Poland. "It is not that we have only PLN 34 billion for civilian protection and defence. This is just the beginning, and our goal is to increase safety in the country," he says.
According to the expert, the civilian Protection and Defence Programme should be implemented in close cooperation with local governments, NGOs and another entities that can support the implementation of the programme. "It is not that only the government can increase safety in the country. This requires broad cooperation and engagement of all actors" - emphasised Wójcik.
The civilian Protection and Defence Programme for the years 2025-2026 is an crucial step towards expanding safety in Poland. The expert points out that the programme should be implemented in an effective and effective way, as well as in close cooperation with local governments, NGOs and another actors.
