Podkarpacie lost millions in an important project because it declared a “LGBT-free zone”

“Socio-economic development of the Carpathians, the promotion and protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the Carpathians, regional cooperation, capacity building and knowledge exchange” – including. These were the assumptions of the project, which was planned to be implemented in the coming years by the district of Podkarpackie district. In cooperation with neighboring countries, and not only, the project “The Carpathian Route – the discovery, promotion and protection of the cultural and natural wealth of the Carpathians” was created.

Work on it has been going on for years. Marshall County Subcarpathian Voivodeship Władysław Ortyl (PiS) In 2018 In Rzeszow, he spoke with Harald Egger, Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) office in Vienna, about the project.

As described by activist Bart Staszewski“You were supposed to be the project leader”, Podkarpackie Province, and institutions such as from the Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Slovakia. However, one provincial government decision canceled funding for the project – and governors knew of the potential for losing money and took insufficient measures to prevent this, according to documents published by Staszewski.

Podkarpackie against “LGBT Ideology”

As he describes, in June 2019, the District Parliament adopted a resolution securing the implementation of the project. Partnership agreements have already been concluded and funds secured for the private contribution. 1.7 million euros – or about 8 million zlotys – was provided by Norwegian fund donors (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein).

However, a month before this, sejmik made a different decision – “On adopting the Podkarpackie Voivodeship Seymik position expressing opposition to the promotion and affirmation of the so-called ideology LGBT“One of the decisions that were defined as“ LGBT free zones ”was adopted by some local governments. The decisions have been criticized by human rights activists, organizations or the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen.

Over time, problems began for these local governments – European Union funding for “LGBTQ areas” was withheld. As it happened with the province. Podkarpackie and via the “Carpathian Trail”.

Podkarpackie has lost millions

Staszewski published documents stating that in July 2020 the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) informed the Polish authorities that a “LGBT-free zone” may violate rules for granting money from Norwegian funds. In another letter from the FMO in September last year, it was reported that the Polish side’s arguments – that the decisions did not discriminate against anyone – were not accepted and that the donors “had no alternative” to recognize decisions regarding “LGBT ideology” in violating Norwegian fundraising regulations.

FMO informed that due to the decision by Podkarpacie sejmik, neither the provinces as the project leader nor the other beneficiaries will receive the funding. This means that the region lost 1.7 million euros – about 8 million Polish zlotys – in the project. We have sent a request for comment to the county government and are awaiting a response.