The new Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Arkadiusz Marchewka, will take care of water management

December 13 this year. The new government of the Republic of Poland led by Donald Tusk was officially sworn in. MP Arkadiusz Marchewka makes his debut as Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister of Infrastructure. The 37-year-old representative of the Civic Coalition will handle maritime economy, water management and inland waterways. On social media, the new deputy minister announces a fight to rebuild and develop the departments under his authority.

Who is Arkadiusz Marchewka?

Born in Szczecin, Arkadiusz Marchewka in 2009. graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Economics at the West Pomeranian University of Technology, and a year later earned a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Szczecin. Six years later, he earned a doctorate in economics at the same university. The website of the Ministry of Infrastructure also states that he was a fellow of the Atlantic Council’s Millennium Leadership program.

Arkadiusz Marchewka has been elected twice as an alderman of Szczecin and three times as an MP of the 8th, 9th and 10th terms of the Sejm. He got his first stints in administration as an assistant to the deputy marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and later worked at Polskie Terminalne.

During his parliamentary career, the new deputy infrastructure minister has already served as vice-chairman of the Committee on Maritime Affairs and Inland Navigation and vice-chairman of the Committee on Digitization, Innovation and Emerging Technologies. He was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance.

Reorganization of ministries

The current infrastructure minister will coordinate departments that have not always been administratively linked. Recall that water management has been tossed between ministries like Black Peter in recent years. After years of functioning within the structures of the Ministry of Environment, in 2018. was integrated into the Ministry of Water Affairs and Inland Navigation (MoWiZW), which had been created just three years earlier and also dealt with fisheries.

In 2020. However, the controversial ministry was abolished and water management came under the authority of the Climate Minister. Other departments were incorporated into the Ministry of Infrastructure. Just a month after these changes, water management was also shifted to MI. At the same time, on November 13, 2020. The Government Ordinance on the Establishment of the Government Plenipotentiary for Water Management and Investment in Marine and Water Management was published in the Official Gazette.

What will the new deputy minister of infrastructure do?

Under the current legislation, Arkadiusz Marchewka, as Secretary of State, will be responsible for, among other things. for the maintenance, development and management of inland waterways. This task includes the preparation of study work and economic, legal and organizational concepts. Within the framework of water management, its responsibility will include evaluating the implementation of investment tasks of state bodies and inspecting the projects carried out.

In addition, the new deputy infrastructure minister will assume responsibility for flood risk management and drought mitigation, as well as preparing concepts for collective water supply and sewage disposal. According to the adopted 2020. Its regulations should also be tasked with leading efforts to establish the General Office of Maritime Investment.

The biggest challenges facing the deputy minister of infrastructure

Arkadiusz Marchewka does not have an easy task ahead of him. Inherited from the previous government, the deputy infrastructure minister is mainly given the widely controversial project to cross the Vistula Spit. Recall that the Supreme Audit Institution’s report published in November this year showed gross errors and far-reaching mismanagement in the process of planning and implementing the first phases of the project. In its final conclusions, the NIK called on the Minister of Infrastructure to evaluate the Multiannual Program “Construction of a Waterway Connecting the Vistula Lagoon to the Gulf of Gdansk” and strengthen management control mechanisms.

Another problem is the prolonged hydrological low in many regions of Poland. November 30 this year. The National Hydrological Service has issued another emergency warning in seven provinces. Compared to other European countries, Poland is a country with poor water resources, which is partly due to irrational water management. Challenges for the new cabinet also include. The poor condition of surface and coastal waters, or under-invested inland waterways. Also on the “candlestick” is the expansion of the Swinoujscie port, which is facing protests from the German side.

On the other hand, there is optimism that both the new Prime Minister of the Republic and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland. water, maritime and inland waterway management come from Pomerania. Perhaps personal sympathies will play a positive role in future decisions of the new government.