The Government of the Republic of Poland has approved an amendment to the Civil Protection and Civil Protection Programme for 2025-2026. The changes are aimed at making the program more flexible and providing local governments with more freedom in adapting their activities to local needs and emerging threats. This change responds to the lessons learned from the initial implementation phase of the programme and reflects the growing challenges in the area of internal security.

The Council of Ministers has adopted changes to one of the key documents regulating public safety in Poland. The updated Civil Protection and Civil Protection Programme aims to increase financial flexibility and expand the scope of eligible projects. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the reform is aimed at accelerating investments and improving crisis response capabilities.

Previously, the number of vehicles and equipment specified in the program was treated as a rigid limit, which often hindered the effective spending of available funds. Under the new rules, these quantities will now be indicative targets rather than rigid limits. This means that if there are additional funds left in the budget, local governments will be able to purchase more equipment without the need to formally revise the entire program.

The amendment also allows for the reallocation of funds between different areas of the programme. In practice, this means that funds originally earmarked for construction projects can now be redirected to the purchase of equipment, training or other urgent needs. This flexibility should help local governments and services to respond more effectively to changing regional conditions and priorities.

The scope of activities funded under the programme has also been extended. In addition to traditional infrastructure projects – such as the construction and modernisation of shelters and logistics facilities – the government will now support initiatives to ensure the continuity of energy, fuel, water and food supplies, as well as the maintenance of communication networks. The new rules also provide for funding for specialised training, including for drone operators, and activities to protect cultural heritage and counter disinformation.

The updated programme identifies six main thematic areas:

1. construction and modernization of collective protection facilities (shelters, places of emergency shelter),
2. logistical security and ensuring the continuity of supply of basic goods,
3. maintenance and development of civil protection entities (m.in. PSP, OSP, WOPR, GOPR),
4. training, education and development of the training base,
5. development of alarming, warning and communication systems,
6. the creation of the Civil Protection Corps, i.e. a national personnel reserve intended for the implementation of civil defence tasks.

The programme will also include investments in so-called "dual-use" infrastructure – facilities that normally serve civilian purposes but can be reused for defence or rescue purposes in times of crisis. This approach reflects the government's broader strategy to strengthen the country's resilience and prepare for a wide range of potential threats, both natural and military.

Financing and the role of local governments

The updated rules also introduce stricter financial supervision. Projects worth more than PLN 50,000 will require approval by the relevant public administration bodies, which is aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing the misuse of public funds.

The total budget of the Civil Protection and Civil Protection Programme for 2025-2026 is PLN 34 billion – including PLN 16.7 billion in 2025 and PLN 17.2 billion in 2026. About PLN 5 billion of this amount will go directly to local governments. The Minister of Finance is also entitled to transfer funds between state budget activities to ensure smooth financing of key projects.

As part of the investment priorities, special emphasis was placed on the modernization and renovation of shelters - especially in the border regions covered by the "Shield East" program - and on the development of infrastructure supporting medical facilities, including the construction of evacuation landing strips at hospitals. The criteria for granting financial support are to be, m.in, having technical documentation and up-to-date inspections of the facilities.

To date, thousands of agreements have been signed with local governments and public institutions across the country. However, early implementation showed that the original estimates for equipment and supplies were lower than actual needs, prompting the decision to revise the program.

This amendment is not only a technical update, but also a signal of a broader change in Polish's approach to security and crisis management. The government emphasizes that the next stages of the program will focus not only on infrastructure and equipment, but also on developing skills, strengthening institutional cooperation and raising public awareness in the field of responding to crisis situations.

Photo: gov.pl

This article was prepared as part of the public task commissioned under the Government Programme for the Development of Civic Organizations 2018–2030: “Safe Poland of Tomorrow – strengthening the mission-driven activities of the Alioth Foundation.”