Poland's roads to ruin What started as a way to bring the country into the 21st century instead turned into lawsuits from companies across the EU claiming they are still owed money

• Published in: Sun-sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
• Main Authors: Lowe, Christian, Leszkowicz, Dagmara
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fort Lauderdale, Fla Tribune Publishing Company, LLC 15.11.2013
• Subjects: MSZANA, Poland

Five other firms have said they are still in dispute with the road agency over payment: Austria's Strabag, the Polish unit of Germany's Bilfinger, Ireland's SIAC Construction, a joint venture of Ireland's Sisk and Roadbridge called SRB, and Budimex, a Polish unit of Spain's Ferrovial. All but one said they had filed suits against the state road agency that were unresolved. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has defended his officials, and said Poland will not bow to foreign pressure. The problems relate to contracts awarded from 2008, when Lech Witecki, a former state auditor, was appointed as head of the road agency, known by its Polish acronym GDDKiA. Witecki was put in the job to get the best possible value, just as European Union spending on Polish roads was about to reach a peak. Roads were part of a $51.4 billion, seven-year EU infrastructure program for Poland -- the European Union's biggest-ever development program in a single member state. "In Germany or other European countries you say: 'I have a request for clarification.' Then you have a meeting and it is clarified for all tenderers," said [Frank Kehlenbach]. "In Poland ... they say: 'If you have a problem with the tender documents, do not submit the bid.' " The Transportation Ministry said companies that believe they have inadequate information can appeal to an independent adjudicating body, but it had no indications that any company had done that.