Poland passes law to protect Clean Air program beneficiaries

The Polish Sejm has passed a bill designed to protect individuals participating in the ‘Clean Air’ (Czyste Powietrze) program who are facing demands to repay subsidies due to the fraudulent actions of contractors. The legislation aims to mitigate the impact of abuses, such as forgery and misinformation, which became more prevalent following the introduction of pre-financing options in July 2022.

Key provisions of the law include the ability to suspend debt repayment during criminal proceedings related to crimes committed against the beneficiary. If a contractor is found legally responsible for a crime that resulted in the failure to fulfill the subsidy agreement, the beneficiary's liability to repay the funds will be waived to the appropriate extent. Additionally, the law allows for the debt to be written off, deferred, or paid in installments for those in difficult life situations.

Provincial funds for environmental protection and water management will also gain the authority to pursue recovery of funds directly from unreliable contractors. The Ombudsman has called for urgent interim protections while the bill, which has moved to the Senate, awaits final presidential approval to prevent further financial hardship for vulnerable citizens.