Government wants to end tender blockades. Appeal fee to increase

The Polish government intends to drastically increase the fee for appealing public infrastructure tenders, aiming to unblock strategic investments stalled by a growing number of challenges. The number of appeals to the National Appeal Chamber (KIO) has surged, reaching nearly 6,000 in 2025, up from under 4,000 two years prior.

The Public Procurement Office (UZP) proposes raising the appeal fee from the current 20,000 PLN to 150,000 PLN. This measure aims to reduce the number of unjustified appeals and accelerate project implementation. However, experts caution that such a substantial increase might impede smaller firms from asserting their rights.

The industry emphasizes that without streamlining procedures, Poland could face a bottleneck of investments and a sharp rise in project costs. The article also briefly mentions other international news, including potential 100% U.S. tariffs on French wines if France proceeds with its digital tax, a proposed UK ban on social media for individuals under 16 to enhance online safety, and Kazakhstan's significant investment in artificial intelligence through partnerships with Firebird and Nvidia.

Kazakhstan plans to build one of the region's largest computing centers, utilizing 100,000 advanced GPU processors, with the investment expected to generate $3 billion in annual export revenues and attract global tech firms. Additionally, VeloBank aims to solidify its position in the Polish banking sector following its acquisition of Citi Handlowy's retail banking operations.