The European Commission has approved the Polish government’s funding of the construction of the new headquarters of the Museum of Polish History in Warsaw with a sum of €258.7 million.
The project is well underway, and the first visitors are expected to visit the museum in the fall. The new museum building is being built on the premises of the Warsaw Citadel, next to the Museum of the Polish Army, the Katyn Museum, and the Museum of Independence.
The European Commission assessed the aid under Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows member states to provide state aid to support culture and the preservation of cultural heritage under certain conditions. The Commission deemed that the Polish aid was “necessary and appropriate for achieving its genuine cultural objective.” The aid will be in the form of a direct grant of up to approximately €258.7 million, corresponding to the total estimated cost of the project.
The new museum building will comprise six levels, two underground and four above ground, with a total area of 44,000 square meters. Construction began in 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The European Commission’s approval of the aid is a significant milestone for the project, which aims to provide visitors with an immersive and engaging experience of Polish history.