The European Fund for the Development of Polish Villages is a non-governmental organisation which has been actively supporting the socio-economic development of local communities in rural areas and helping to change the image of the Polish countryside for over 30 years. The activity of the EFRWP Foundation is focused on the support for investments in technical infrastructure, development of local enterprises and implementation of a number of educational and social initiatives and projects aimed at residents of rural areas.

The Foundation started operating in 1990 as a result of an agreement between the Polish Government and the European Economic Community. The activity of the Foundation was financed by the sale of food aids granted to Poland in 1989-1990 by the EEC and other Western countries. In the first year of existence of the Foundation, its activity was supervised directly by the European Commission. Professional management and investment of the initial capital resulted in a new agreement signed between the European Commission and the Polish government in 1997. In the agreement, the Commission confirmed that its acceptance of certain activities and decisions taken by the Foundation was no longer necessary. This way, the Foundation gained full independence and autonomy. Currently, most of the activities carried out by EFRWP are financed from its own funds.

The Foundation started operating in 1990 as a result of an agreement between the Polish Government and the European Economic Community. The activity of the Foundation was financed by the sale of food aids granted to Poland in 1989-1990 by the EEC and other Western countries. In the first year of existence of the Foundation, its activity was supervised directly by the European Commission. Professional management and investment of the initial capital resulted in a new agreement signed between the European Commission and the Polish government in 1997. In the agreement, the Commission confirmed that its acceptance of certain activities and decisions taken by the Foundation was no longer necessary. This way, the Foundation gained full independence and autonomy. Currently, most of the activities carried out by EFRWP are financed from its own funds.

During 30 years of its activity, the EFRWP Foundation has donated more than PLN 1.5 billion for the development of Polish countryside. Over 9500 subsidies and nearly 16,000 preferential loans have been provided to communes, schools, NGOs, agrarians and entrepreneurs. 70,000 students, more than 3200 teachers and nearly 800 NGOs and informal action groups from rural areas have participated in educational and social programmes implemented by EFRWP.

In 2015, the Foundation created the Centre for International Cooperation in Grodno near Międzyzdroje (Voivodeship of Zachodniopomorskie), where it conducts part of its statutory activity. The Centre in Grodno is a place of implementation of projects devoted to the environment, science, education, culture, as well as a venue for conferences. One of them is the cycle “Energy, Environment and Agriculture”, as part of which issues related to renewable energy sources and climate protection are discussed for example by experts and representatives of the Polish government and its agencies.

More information is available on the website www.efrwp.pl   Agro Promotion is a company specialising in the promotion of the agri-food industry and organisation of events. It helps companies gain new business contacts and establish beneficial cooperation in foreign markets. Agro Promotion actively supports all initiatives aimed at developing the agri-food industry and promoting business in rural areas.