Life+ is a financial instrument of the European Union designed to co-finance environment protection projects. The EU officials earmarked more than EUR 2 billion to implement the EU tool. 39 Life+ projects were being implemented in Poland from 2010 to 2013,. All beneficiaries received - apart from the EU funds - a subsidy from the National Fund of Environmental Protection and Water Management (from Polish: NFOŚiGW).
The Minister provided proper conditions to use the allocated funds but he did not fully care about the coordination of the programme planning and implementation. Besides he did not have full knowledge of projects undertaken by Polish beneficiaries. He did not conduct any audits or controls in NFOŚiGW which he appointed the National Implementing Body. It was the case because the Ministry believed the Instrument was managed by the European Commission. However, considering that the national subsidy was comparable with the EU grant, Polish institutions should be interested in proper functioning of the Instrument implementation and proper execution of projects, including dissemination of good solutions and best practices.
Despite the fact that NFOŚiGW had full knowledge of the projects’ progress and potential difficulties in their implementation, it did not take any efforts to support beneficiaries. That was the case with the project for the protection of sand habitats on Błędowska Desert. Surprisingly, dumping site for chemical and medical waste was found in the course of works in that area. The municipality had no money for the waste disposal. The European Commission expected the issue to be solved as soon as possible and the National Fund did not react. Only during the NIK audit, more than a year after the problem was reported, the Fund started negotiations on financing the waste chemical analysis from the EC funds. Following the NIK audit the waste disposal was finally financed from funds provided by the Governor of Małopolska Province. Relevant works were done in February 2014.
As a result of the audit NIK addressed the following recommendations to the Environment Minister:
- to strengthen supervision over the implementation of Life+ programme in Poland
- to oblige the National Fund of Environmental Protection and Water Management to monitor - in order to support beneficiaries - the implementation of projects with regard to the entire undertaking.
By 30 June 2013, none of the national projects were completed. The use of funds allocated to Poland does not stand for the actual absorption of funds. The effects of the Life+ implementation may be evaluated only after the European Commission ratifies final reports of all projects adopted for implementation.
