The HICP index used by the European Central Bank is expected to hit 2.1 percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2020 also up from the previous expectations. The Commission said that private consumption is expected to strengthen in the second half of 2019 and in early 2020, as new fiscal transfers and tax cuts increase household disposable income.
Together with strong wage growth and favourable labour market trends, this is expected to support consumer confidence,” the EC stated on Wednesday. “Investment growth is set to remain strong in 2019, before slowing in 2020,” the EC said. Commenting on inflation in Poland, the EC pointed out that higher wage growth will have a strong influence on the cost of services. Energy prices will grow at a moderate rate this year but will increase in early 2020, after the removal of administrative controls on energy prices, the EC said.
Under a new programme, businesses and entrepreneurs can apply for loans to develop renewable energy sources. PLN 4 bn (EUR 936 mln) in funding is available
Government ministers presented new plans in the fight for better air quality and the development of renewable energy sources During a joint press conference held yesterday.
The maximum value of a single loan is PLN 300 mln (EUR 70 mln and will depend on the size of the investment. Applications for funding will continue to be until December 20, or until the allocation limit is reached. The two other CO2 reductionprogrammes are Poland Geotherm Plus and the pilot neighbourhood heating programme. Funding for smaller sources of energy production are expected to reach to 36.3 bln zloty by 2028.
Expectant mothers will be eligible for free medication under a new pro-family programme being prepared by the Polish government, the country’s health ministry has said
Under the programme, women will have access to free drugs to treat pregnancy-related conditions, according to the health ministry. It added that the aim was to ensure the health of expectant mothers and their children. Prescriptions for such free medication will be issued by general practitioners as well as gynecologists providing care as part of the public health system, according to the health ministry.
Some 380,000 women country-wide are expected to benefit from the programme every year. In May, the President signed a bill offering benefits to all families with children as part of the government’s extended “Family 500+” initiative.
A recent study still ranks Poland 23rd among 31 wealthy OECD and EU countries in terms of family-friendly policies although increased catch-up spending has now means that Poland spends 2.7 percent of its GDP on state benefits for families and children, one of the highest figures in EU.
UK doctor lost his job after refusing to identify a six-foot-tall bearded man as ‘madam’, tribunal hears
A British doctor lost his job in a government department after he refused to refer to “a six-foot-tall bearded man” as ‘madam’, a tribunal in Birmingham, England has heard.
Dr David Mackereth, 56, claims he was sacked as a disability benefits assessor by the Department of Work and Pensions over his beliefs. Dr Mackereth, who now works as an emergency doctor in Shropshire, claims his contract was terminated over his refusal to use transgendered pronouns. He told the court: “If you believe in gender fluidity, gender is no more than one’s own fantasy about oneself.” In a statement put before the court, Dr Mackereth said: “I appreciate that in the present political climate, some people, including some of those who believe they are transgender, may find my beliefs to be offensive. “However, in a free society, this is not a good enough reason to censor my beliefs and coerce me to act contrary to my conscience.
Gdańsk University of Technology and the National Meteorological Institute join forces to improve weather forecasting
A cooperation agreement was signed on Wednesday by the Gdańsk University of Technology and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management.
Professor Wilde, chancellor of the Gdańsk University of Technology and Mr Ligenza, director of the Institute agree on the mutual benefits of cooperation. which will allow the exchange of data and products derived from numerical weather forecast models. Researchers will also develop predictive models.
RGEN/AG
