The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) board of directors has proposed a new strategy for Poland. The bank's 2010-2013 Strategy for Poland outlines its priorities for the country, including the prevention of long-term damage from the global financial crisis.

“A key challenge will be to preserve financial stability in a period of slow economic activity and deteriorating credit quality, while also counteracting the adverse effects on the real economy stemming from financing constraints,” reads the bank's Strategy for Poland.

Strategic objectives include the encouragement of further investment in the energy sector (with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy) as well as support for the Polish government in the privatization of enterprises located in strategic sectors.

The bank will also offer higher-risk products for local businesses and support the regional expansion of Polish firms making cross-border investments.

“In the next three years, the EBRD will focus on selected sectors and areas which may need the support from EBRD. The bank will aim to support continued commercial bank lending, particularly to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, through long-term capital funding, and will be supporting further development of local currency capital markets and structured products,” Lucyna Stanczak, the EBRD's country director for Poland, said in a statement on the bank's website.

In 2009, the EBRD committed €441 million for investments in Poland and €300 million has been promised so far in 2010.

The bank has committed a total of €4.3 billion to 270 projects in Poland to date.