Coronavirus response: €71 million to support the health sector and SMEs in western Poland

The Commission has approved the modification of the Zachodnjopomorskie “Western Poland” Operational Programme that is redirecting €71 million to help the region fight the coronavirus outbreak. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, stated: “Like many other regions in Europe, thanks to the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, Zachodniopomorskie will now have more resources focused to support its health sector and the economic recovery. This will have a direct positive impact on local hospitals, businesses and citizens.” Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region will receive around €35 million in grants. Another €11.3 million will support care institutions, emergency services and the purchase of personal protective equipment and disinfection material, while €18 million have been allocated to providing necessary medical equipment, including 40 respirators and 55,000 Sars-Cov-2 tests. An Infectious Specialist Clinic in Szczecin will be constructed and equipped. West Pomeranian researchers will receive funding to develop solutions to combat the effects of the coronavirus. In addition, the co-financing rate is temporarily increased to 100%. The modifications are possible thanks to the exceptional flexibility under the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+) which allow Member States to use Cohesion policy funding to support the most affected sectors by the pandemic. Further information is available on the CRII open data dashboard.