European Commission Approves EU Funding for Elbląg Port Development
The European Commission has granted approval for investments in the Port of Elbląg to be financed through EU funds. The decision allocates 200 million PLN (approximately 39 million EUR) from the regional program European Funds for Warmia and Mazury 2021-2027, as announced by regional Marshal Marcin Kuchciński and Elbląg Mayor Michał Missan.
Long-Awaited Decision
Marshal Kuchciński of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship confirmed the approval on Thursday, noting that the European Commission’s consent came after lengthy negotiations. “The negotiations took a long time. Sometimes things went better, sometimes worse, but we have 39 million euros for investments in the Elbląg port,” the marshal stated. He emphasized that this represents one of the most significant decisions for the region in recent years, with the EU funds required to be utilized by 2029.
Mayor Missan described the Commission’s decision as “sensational news,” adding that the European Commission has unfrozen funds for Elbląg, which will bring 200 million PLN from EU coffers for port development.
Completing the Vistula Spit Investment
Jacek Protas, former marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship and current Member of the European Parliament, highlighted that the EU funding will help complete the major investment project involving the Vistula Spit canal. “I expected this decision because I had spoken about it many times with Brussels officials, convincing them about it. We must finish what has been started,” Protas explained.
The MEP emphasized that the canal through the Vistula Spit alone is not enough. For the Port of Elbląg to become a gateway to the world, several conditions must be met: the waterway on the Elbląg River leading to the port must be deepened, port infrastructure must be built, and access roads must be constructed. He noted that smaller vessels will be able to enter the Port of Elbląg, thereby relieving congestion at the Port of Gdańsk.
Development Plans Already Underway
Even before the European Commission’s decision, Elbląg municipal authorities began work on port development in June. The mayor announced a competition for developing concepts for the construction and reconstruction of port terminals along the Elbląg River, including cost estimates.
According to Joanna Urbaniak, spokesperson for the Elbląg City Hall, the first stage involves preparing a program-spatial concept for building the T2 port terminal at Żytnia Street and expanding and reconstructing the port terminal at Radomska Street. Nine designers applied, with four meeting the requirements and being admitted to further work. The deadline for submitting competition entries is January 12, 2026, after which they will be evaluated by a competition court.
The competition aims to showcase creative ideas for port development and provide preliminary cost estimates for further design work and project implementation.
Current Port Operations
Port Director Arkadiusz Zgliński reported that cargo handling at the Elbląg port is currently at minimal levels due to EU trade sanctions and lack of port accessibility. The port is awaiting the deepening of the final section of the waterway on the Elbląg River, with work currently in progress.
Last year, cargo handling at the port totaled 12,500 tons, with similar figures expected this year. However, the port’s warehouses are full, storing phosphate fertilizers and animal feed meal. All these goods are currently transported by land routes.
The Vistula Spit Canal
The canal through the Vistula Spit, as part of a new waterway, was commissioned on September 17, 2022. Since then, the canal has been open for navigation, primarily used by recreational vessels. The new waterway connecting the Vistula Lagoon with the Gulf of Gdańsk is designed to strengthen Poland’s sovereignty and make it independent of Russian decisions. The investment is planned to strengthen the Port of Elbląg and ports along the Vistula Lagoon.
