As part of the Integrated Territorial Investments in Greater Warsaw, local authorities have signed agreements for EU funding worth over PLN 550 million. This money will help i.a. provide additional places in nursery schools, bike paths, and P&R facilities.
“We concluded agreements concerning 79 projects with a co-funding amount of almost PLN 540 million. The projects will be implemented individually by communes, in commune partnerships, in partnership with Warsaw authorities and by thriving NGOs and private enterprises operating in the area of Greater Warsaw,” said Renata Kaznowska, Deputy Mayor of Warsaw. “All the activities revolve around one thing: the partnership arising from the covenant of 40 communes signed in February 2014 and common investment strategy.”
Investments of Warsaw and communes around the city are implemented, i.a., thanks to European funds worth over EUR 700 million from the 2014-2020 Mazowieckie Voivodeship Regional Operational Programme as part of the Integrated Territorial Investments instrument. This special pool of European money helps local governments of Greater Warsaw shape vital aspects of life, such as public transport, education, and economic development. These funds also enable closer cooperation between Warsaw and the agglomeration’s communes utilising their potential and assets to the fullest.
The capital city is expanding its cooperation with Greater Warsaw communes in spatial and substantive terms. On 1 January 2018 the Mazowieckie Voivodeship was divided into 2 NUTS2 statistical units. The first was the “Warsaw Capital” NUTS level consisting of more than 70 communes: Warsaw and 9 districts near Warsaw (Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Legionowo, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Otwock, Piaseczno, Pruszków, West Warsaw, and Wołomin). The internal diversity of Greater Warsaw does not constitute a barrier to the effective joint management of the area but should be regarded as its important asset. “The Strategic action plan for Greater Warsaw – Strategic guide 2.0” will serve as a roadmap for further joint metropolitan activities, identifying Greater Warsaw’s development needs. The leitmotif of the strategic guide is Greater Warsaw in balance.
Greater Warsaw –the benefits for the residents
Municipal transport
The metropolitan cooperation takes the form of the Integrated Ticket, i.e. a special package with which the holders of selected ZTM tickets can take suburban trains in Warsaw and 33 nearby communes. The Integrated Ticket is used by an increasing number of passengers – within the last couple of years there has been a 20% rise. Since 1 September the residents paying taxes in Greater Warsaw’s communes have been able to take advantage of cheaper urban transport tickets in Warsaw, and the holders of the Varsovian’s Card do not pay for trips to the 2nd zone.
Air protection
Air has no boundaries, so Greater Warsaw’s local government bodies are acting together to protect it by subsidising the replacement of coal stoves with more environmentally friendly sources of heat and the installation of equipment using renewable energy sources, e.g. heat pumps and solar systems. They are investing in modern Park & Ride facilities enabling Varsovians to leave their cars and use state-of-the-art urban transport. They are supporting the idea of low emissions by expanding the bike path network used by Greater Warsaw’s residents in the daily commute to work, school or university. Any reduction in the number of cars on the streets contributes to a decrease in pollution and an improved operation of public transport.
Education
Metropolitan cooperation means acquiring EU funds for educational projects, under which the young residents of Greater Warsaw can participate in compensatory educational classes and use modern educational aids. Another important aspect is the development of educational and occupational counselling in primary and lower-secondary schools and strengthening cooperation between schools and businesses.
Care for children under 3 years old
The metropolitan cooperation provides almost 1000 places in nursery schools for the youngest Greater Warsaw residents. With the EU-funded development of infrastructure for the youngest, more parents will be able to take advantage of this form of childcare and return to work seamlessly.
Public e-services
Here metropolitan cooperation means partnership projects for the creation of modern public e-services funded with EU funds. In the near future each resident or tourist visiting Greater Warsaw, with the help of mobile technologies, will be able to use urban transport, the cultural package and public administration services with more ease. The elderly will have an opportunity to use the modern care services support system.
