Poland prepares special law to aid victims of fraud in Clean Air programme

The Polish government is set to adopt a draft law this summer that would create a dedicated legal framework for homeowners harmed by dishonest contractors under the "Clean Air" (Czyste Powietrze) renovation scheme. Vice‑minister for Climate and Environment Krzysztof Bolesta said the bill, already approved by the Council of Ministers' Standing Committee, should be signed by the government during the vacation period and could enter force by year‑end.

The legislation will allow affected homeowners to report misconduct to police or prosecutors, initiate criminal proceedings and then apply to regional environmental funds for a suspension of any enforcement actions, such as repayment of subsidies. If approved, the funds will pursue repayment directly from the responsible contractors; should the contractors be unable to pay, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management will cover the loss. The draft estimates that potentially fraudulent contracts total about 200 million PLN (up to 280 million PLN including interest).