The Environment and Spatial Planning Ministry will get EUR 50.5m of the sum to co-fund EU cohesion projects, other EU programmes and territorial cooperation.

It will receive EUR 18.4m more as part of earmarked funds, mainly due to an expected increase in revenue from emissions coupons, it has explained to the STA.

At the level of the general budget, it will get an additional EUR 2.8m, which will be spent on wages following last year's deal with public sector trade unions.

The goal of the ministry's first priority - climate change - is a transition to a low carbon circular economy.

As part of this, the Climate Change Fund will provide EUR 10m in subsidies for direct foreign and domestic investments. Another EUR 15m will be earmarked for sustainable wood construction and EUR 30m to replace old central heating furnaces with modern furnaces or heat pumps.

Another area to cut greenhouse gas emissions is transport, with financial incentives of EUR 4m to be available for investments into sustainable mobility.

EUR 10m will go to support public passenger transport through co-funding the purchase of electric and hydrogen vehicles.

Investments into cycling infrastructure is to amount to EUR 6.5m, and some money will be earmarked for the alternative fuels market.

In the segment of environmental protection, the priority will be to rehabilitate polluted areas, but some funds will also be spent on strengthening the ministry's inspection service.

Additional funds will be needed for emergency removal of waste packaging after a law enabling the state's intervention was recently passed; EUR 3.5m is planned for this purpose.

As for anti-flood measures, the ministry intends to strengthen its Water Agency, and as much as EUR 14.5m will go for the public water service and maintenance of water infrastructure.

Changes to the housing legislation are being planned to make housing more accessible to young people and young families.

In the area of cohesion policy, the priorities for 2019 will be improving infrastructure and access to quality drinking water, waste water purification, measures to improve the urban environment, revival of towns, rehabilitation of degraded land, cutting air pollution and noise reduction.

A number of measures are also planned in nature conservation, including to improve biodiversity and the quality of soil.