Krakow is entering a phase of crucial infrastructure changes. The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection has issued the long-awaited decision for a new runway at Balice Airport, paving the way for the expansion of the port. Simultaneously, the environmental decision for the first premetro line was issued by the President of Oświęcim, which resulted from the exclusion of the Mayor of Krakow from the proceedings.

Decision for Balice Airport

RDOŚ issued a permit for the construction of a new runway, ending the years-long investment paralysis of the largest regional airport.

Dispute over metro funding

The Mayor of Krakow declares 10 billion PLN from the government for the metro, while ministries deny this information as premature.

PKO BP technical problems

A nationwide failure of the transaction systems of Poland's largest bank caused a payment paralysis for millions of customers.

Donald Tusk's support

The Prime Minister defended the Mayor of Krakow in the face of growing calls for a referendum on his recall.

Krakow is currently experiencing a culmination of key administrative decisions that will define the city's development for the coming decades. The most important event is the issuance of a positive decision by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection for the construction of a new runway at Krakow Airport. This investment had been blocked for years due to resident protests and procedural errors by previous airport authorities. The current decision enables the continuation of design work on a 2,800-meter route, which is essential for maintaining the operational continuity of the port, which is the largest regional airport in Poland. Simultaneously, an environmental decision for Krakow's premetro has seen the light of day. This project, however, is causing significant controversy between the local government and the central government. President Aleksander Miszalski announced obtaining 10 billion zloty in declared government support for building the metro, which was quickly countered by ministry representatives as unconfirmed information. The dispute concerns not only the amounts but the very nature of the investment – the city is leaning towards a full heavy metro system, while the issued environmental decision formally pertains to the premetro variant. The plan to build a metro in Krakow has been a subject of public debate since the 1960s, and in 2014, residents voted in favor of this investment in a local referendum.In the political sphere, the situation of President Miszalski is becoming complicated. The opposition and some local groups criticize him for alleged manipulation regarding government financial promises. Donald Tusk has publicly supported the Mayor of Krakow, suggesting that attempts to recall him are politically motivated by PiS and the Confederation. In the background of these events, Balice Airport is grappling with current operational challenges, despite the successes related to obtaining the runway decision. Public attention has also been drawn to problems in the banking sector. Poland's largest bank, PKO BP, struggled with a massive failure of its IKO and iPKO systems, which deprived customers of access to payments and transfers. Although the fault has been fixed, ATM users must contend with new cash withdrawal limits. RDOŚ remains a key authority in the investment process, and its recent moves in Krakow are setting a new direction for local transport and tourism. „To wielki dzień dla krakowskiego lotniska. Mamy decyzję środowiskową na drogę startową, na którą czekaliśmy całe lata.” (This is a great day for Krakow airport. We have the environmental decision for the runway, which we have been waiting for for many years.) — Aleksander Miszalski

Mentioned People

  • Aleksander Miszalski — Mayor of Krakow, involved in infrastructure projects and fending off opposition attacks.
  • Donald Tusk — Prime Minister of Poland, who gave support to the Mayor of Krakow in the local conflict.