Energy efficiency in Poland improves in 2023, driven by industry and lower energy intensity

According to a new report from the Statistical Office in Rzeszów, Poland’s energy efficiency improved by 1.5% in 2023 compared to the previous year. This continues a longer-term trend, with the annual cumulative improvement in energy efficiency averaging 1.1% between 2013 and 2023. During this period, primary energy intensity of GDP fell by 31.8%, and final energy intensity decreased by 23.8%, underscoring sustained progress in decoupling energy use from economic growth.

The most significant gains were recorded in the industrial sector, where energy efficiency increased at a rate of 2.6% annually. The ODEX index—an economy-wide indicator of energy efficiency with a baseline year of 2000—fell from 76.0 to 68.1 between 2013 and 2023, reflecting a 10.5% improvement overall.

While primary energy consumption in Poland declined only marginally over the decade, from 93.4 Mtoe in 2013 to 93.3 Mtoe in 2023, final energy consumption rose from 63.5 to 70.0 Mtoe. This divergence reflects a shift toward more efficient energy use in economic output and increased consumption driven by household growth and lifestyle changes.

In the household sector, energy use per square metre declined from 22.1 kgoe/m² in 2013 to 18.7 kgoe/m² in 2023. Heating remained the dominant form of energy use, accounting for over 60% of consumption, though this share has gradually declined. Natural gas and solid fossil fuels continued to be the main energy sources, with heat and electricity also playing significant roles.

Industry showed both reductions and increases across energy carriers. Between 2013 and 2023, the use of manufactured gases and solid fuels fell by 38.2% and 34.8% respectively, while consumption of liquid fuels, heat, natural gas, renewables, and non-renewable waste increased. The food, chemical, and mineral sectors were the largest energy consumers within manufacturing, jointly accounting for over half of industrial energy use.

Transport remains the least improved sector in terms of energy efficiency, with only a 0.4% annual increase over the decade. Nevertheless, it accounted for the largest growth in final energy consumption, with an increase of 8.0 Mtoe.

Energy savings—particularly in industry and households—offset much of the growth in consumption from economic activity. Of the 6.3 Mtoe increase in final energy use across the economy, savings amounted to 7.7 Mtoe, indicating that without efficiency measures, energy consumption would have been substantially higher.

Despite some sectoral differences, the data shows that energy efficiency has continued to play a critical role in shaping Poland’s energy landscape over the past decade, especially in reducing energy intensity and curbing demand in key economic areas.

Source: Statistics Poland

Polish labour market shows signs of stabilisation, but hiring conditions still cautious

The Job Offer Barometer for May 2025, compiled by the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów and the Office for Investment and Economic Cycles, indicates that the number of online job advertisements remained effectively unchanged compared to April. The index recorded a slight decline from 257.9 points in April to 257.8 in May, and remains just below the 258.2 level observed in May 2024. Since the slowdown at the end of 2023, employer activity in advertising new vacancies has shown limited movement.

While overall hiring remains cautious, conditions vary across occupational groups. Demand for manual workers and jobs in the construction sector continues to grow, maintaining a positive trend. The labour market also appears stable in education, healthcare, and tourism. There has been a gradual recovery in science and engineering-related professions, particularly in IT roles, with May marking the sixth consecutive monthly increase in job postings in these fields. However, the total number of vacancies in these professions remains relatively low due to sharp declines in previous years.

In contrast, demand has stagnated in the social sciences and legal fields, where the number of job postings has seen little movement over the past 18 months. May also brought more declines than gains in this category. Notable increases were observed in real estate, marketing, and corporate purchasing, while the largest declines occurred in job advertisements for graphic designers, call centre roles, and HR specialists. Real estate job offers, after a short rebound, have returned to levels seen over the past two years, while marketing roles have seen four consecutive months of modest growth.

Across Poland’s regions, more provinces recorded increases in job advertisements than declines. Podlaskie, Lubelskie, and Świętokrzyskie posted the highest month-on-month increases in vacancies, while Lubusz, Pomeranian, and Silesian provinces saw the largest drops.

Among service occupations, job postings in education, shipping, and healthcare continued to rise. Demand in the education sector remains stable, despite some fluctuations, and interest in tourism-related positions has slowly increased. On the other hand, job advertisements in media and logistics (excluding freight forwarding) declined, continuing a downward trend.

In science and engineering fields, IT roles led growth again in May, particularly in programming and system administration. This marks the seventh straight month of increases in programmer job offers. Despite stronger recovery in system administration—due to smaller previous losses—both areas are experiencing renewed employer interest. Research and development postings, however, have remained steady without significant change. A similar trend was observed in e-commerce. Conversely, declines were noted in health and safety, environmental protection, and engineering, despite relatively high activity in these sectors compared to past years.

The overall registered unemployment rate (excluding seasonal employment) remained at 5.1% for the sixth consecutive month in April, highlighting continued market stability. Although employer activity is slowly improving, particularly in select sectors, the pace of recovery remains measured, and hiring decisions appear to be shaped by broader economic caution.

Source: BIEC

Poland: Did the May Interest Rate Cut Translate into Apartment Sales?

Following the interest rate cut in May, which improved mortgage availability, the residential market saw a moderate uptick in buyer activity. While the reduction in rates helped restore some confidence among individual buyers—particularly first-time homeowners—developers noted a slight increase in inquiries and reservations, though not a dramatic surge. Many companies reported improved interest, but the impact on actual apartment sales varied depending on location, pricing, and project readiness. Overall, the rate cut supported market stability and encouraged movement, but it did not lead to a significant spike in transactions.

Agnieszka Majkusiak, Sales Director at Atal, observed more active buyer behavior following the rate cut, partly due to diminishing expectations around government subsidy programs. While Atal’s sales promotions have helped boost interest, she pointed out that despite improved creditworthiness, bank offers remain relatively unattractive—especially variable-rate loans, which have become more expensive.

Barbara Marona, Sales Office Manager at Matexi Polska in Krakow, highlighted the importance of the WIBOR index, which has been steadily declining since Q1 2025. This, in turn, has contributed to higher creditworthiness and increased interest in flats, with more enquiries and reservations observed recently.

Wojciech Wilhelm Zhang-Czabanowski, President of the Management Board at Waryński S.A. Holding Group, reported a moderate improvement in creditworthiness, estimating an increase of 5–8%. This has allowed many buyers to raise their purchasing threshold, though the impact is less significant than in previous interest rate reduction cycles.

Marcin Malka, President of the Management Board at Real Management S.A., emphasized that any interest rate cut positively affects financing and customer sentiment. For their projects, lower rates signal greater affordability, which helps encourage purchases.

Joanna Chojecka, Sales and Marketing Director for Warsaw and Wrocław at Robyg Group, called the rate cut an important market signal that helped restore a sense of stability. She noted a noticeable increase in customer activity and creditworthiness, with renewed interest from both individuals and investors. Robyg is cautiously optimistic, acknowledging that broader recovery depends on continued monetary stability.

Andrzej Gutowski, Sales Director at Ronson Development, described the rate cut’s impact as moderate. While there has been more customer engagement and traffic in sales offices, he stressed that only a rise in actual contract signings will confirm a genuine market rebound.

Damian Tomasik, President of the Management Board at Alter Investment, also characterized the response as cautious. While the cost of financing has improved slightly, purchasing decisions remain measured, and developers are only slowly returning to land acquisition plans.

Mariusz Gajżewski, Head of Sales, Marketing and Communication at BPI Real Estate Poland, observed no significant change, explaining that most of their clients purchase without mortgage financing.

Michał Witkowski, Sales Director at Lokum Deweloper, added that while banks initially raised margins after the cut—limiting its impact—there are early signs of rising creditworthiness and increased buyer interest. He believes that only further cuts combined with more favorable bank policies will lead to noticeable sales growth.

Finally, Renata Mc Cabe–Kudla, Country Manager at Grupo Lar Polska, mentioned that a new product launch is attracting strong interest, suggesting that while financing conditions are important, well-positioned projects can draw demand regardless of macroeconomic shifts.

Source: dompress.pl
Photo: Bukowinska Warszawa Matexi Polska

Czech government adjusts quotas for foreign workers, prioritizing skilled labor

The Czech government has approved changes to quotas for foreign worker admissions at 11 embassies, effective from July. The revised quotas are intended to prioritize the recruitment of highly qualified professionals, particularly in fields such as information technology and science, while reducing the number of available slots for low-skilled labor.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the decision following a Cabinet meeting, stating that the goal is to reshape the structure of labor migration by increasing access for skilled workers and limiting the intake of low-skilled labor. “We are adjusting the government regulation on the number of work visa and employee card applications that can be submitted at selected embassies. This step is part of our broader effort to support the recruitment of highly qualified workers from abroad,” Fiala said.

The changes, prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, apply to long-term visa applications—those exceeding 90 days—for individuals participating in labor migration programs. These include highly qualified and qualified employees, key personnel, researchers, and digital nomads.

Under the revised quotas, the Czech Embassy in Delhi will be able to process 24 applications for IT specialists under the digital nomad program. These workers would enter on business visas and operate as self-employed professionals. Half of the quota is reserved for highly skilled professionals and researchers. Processing for these permits is expected to take no more than 45 days.

In China, where demand for employee cards has risen sharply—from 235 applications in 2022 to 1,315 last year—new annual quotas have been introduced. In Beijing, the quota is set at 760, with 400 spots allocated for highly qualified and scientific staff, and 360 for other applicants. In Shanghai, the annual cap will be 410, including 250 for specialists and 160 for general applicants.

In contrast, the number of visa places for low-skilled workers from Africa will be reduced. Embassies in Cairo, Lusaka, Pretoria, Rabat, and Addis Ababa will now have a residual quota of 120, while 420 places will remain allocated for African scientists and experts.

In Thailand, the annual quota in Bangkok will increase from 300 to 460, with 100 additional places for qualified workers and a residual quota of 220. According to the Interior Ministry, the number of applicants for Thai massage studies in the Czech Republic is currently six times higher than the existing quota, requiring a lottery-style registration process.

Additionally, new quotas of 60 highly skilled applicants each will be introduced through the Czech offices in Tokyo and Taipei. These quotas are not intended for Japanese or Taiwanese citizens, who already have unrestricted access to the Czech labor market, but rather for applicants from countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

The government’s adjustments reflect a broader policy shift towards attracting skilled labor to meet the evolving demands of the Czech economy, while placing tighter controls on low-skilled migration.

Source: CTK

Czech Republic’s population declines by 32,600 in first 1uarter of 2025

The population of the Czech Republic fell by approximately 32,600 in the first quarter of 2025, bringing the total number of inhabitants to 10,876,875, according to data released by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). The decline was attributed to both natural population loss—where deaths exceeded births—and a negative balance in foreign migration.

Between January and March, the country experienced 18,100 births, a 14% decrease compared to the same period last year. The ongoing decline in birth rates has now continued for four consecutive years. Of the children born, 8,400 were firstborns, around 7,000 were second-born, and approximately 2,700 were third or subsequent children. Nearly half (48.1%) of all births took place outside of marriage. The majority of mothers were born between 1993 and 1996.

At the same time, 30,600 deaths were recorded, marking a 3% increase year-on-year. Mortality was most prevalent among those aged 70 and above, with the highest number of deaths occurring in the 80–84 age group (5,300), followed by the 75–79 age group (5,200).

Marriage numbers also declined, with just under 3,000 couples marrying during the first quarter—12% fewer than in the same period last year. This marks the third consecutive year of decline in marriage figures. Most grooms were aged 30 to 34, while brides were typically aged 25 to 29. Meanwhile, 4,400 divorces were recorded, a slight year-on-year decrease of 2%. Most divorces involved couples who had been married for five, six, or two years, corresponding with marriage peaks in 2019, 2018, and 2022. Around 60% of divorces involved at least one minor child.

Foreign migration also contributed significantly to the population decline. Approximately 46,300 people emigrated from the Czech Republic in the first quarter, 6,100 fewer than in the same period last year. At the same time, 26,200 people immigrated—2,400 fewer than last year. In both emigration and immigration figures, Ukrainian citizens predominated, many of whom had previously been granted temporary protection due to the war in Ukraine.

According to the Czech Statistical Office, the decline in population linked to migration was largely due to the expiration of temporary stays and international protection status. A high number of those leaving the country had been granted temporary protection in previous years, and their departure contributed to the negative migration balance.

Euro and US Dollar lead extra-EU trade in 2024

In 2024, the euro remained the most widely used currency for exports from the European Union to countries outside the EU, accounting for 51.7% of all extra-EU export transactions. The US dollar followed with a 31.4% share, while currencies of EU countries not using the euro made up 3.0%. Other international currencies represented the remaining 13.4%.

Out of the 27 EU member states, 20 primarily used the euro for exports beyond the EU. Slovenia reported the highest euro usage at 91.1%, followed by Croatia at 82.8% and Lithuania at 75.0%.

Six EU countries relied more heavily on the US dollar for extra-EU exports. Cyprus (69.0%), Ireland (68.9%), and Greece (52.7%) were among those with the largest shares.

Some countries, particularly those outside the eurozone, showed a significant use of their national currencies. Sweden reported a 58.7% share of exports in its national currency, while Bulgaria and Denmark reported 25.1% and 24.0%, respectively.

For extra-EU imports, the US dollar was the leading invoicing currency, used in 51.1% of transactions. The euro was used in 39.7%, with non-euro EU currencies accounting for 1.6%, and other currencies 7.0%.

The US dollar was the dominant currency for extra-EU imports in 18 member states. Lithuania (65.5%), the Netherlands (63.8%), and Finland (63.5%) reported the highest usage.

In the remaining nine countries, the euro was the primary import currency, particularly in Slovenia (82.8%), Latvia (65.2%), and Slovakia (65.1%).

National currencies of non-eurozone EU countries were most notably used for imports in Czechia (23.9%) and Denmark (12.3%).

Source: Eurostat

Government adopts reforms on inactive bank accounts and insurance communication

On 10 June 2025, the Council of Ministers approved a new package of deregulatory measures designed to streamline the closure of inactive bank accounts and expand electronic communication options for individuals entering into insurance contracts. The changes were developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and are intended to improve administrative efficiency for both financial institutions and consumers.

Under the new regulations, banks and cooperative savings and credit unions (SKOK) will be able to access data from the PESEL register to confirm the death of account holders. This applies to personal bank accounts and SKOK membership accounts that have shown no activity for five years. If the account holder is deceased, the institution will be informed of the date of death, which will allow for more efficient initiation of inheritance procedures and reduce the risk of funds being accessed by unauthorized parties.

The measure is expected to simplify the process for heirs, who will be able to access information about funds in inactive accounts more quickly. Only after confirming the date of death can banks and SKOKs accept inheritance claims or carry out instructions left by the deceased. These changes are included in the draft amendment to the Banking Law and related legislation and are set to come into effect three months after publication in the Journal of Laws.

Separately, the Council also adopted changes related to compulsory insurance communication. Currently, policyholders can only opt for electronic communication when signing the insurance contract. Under the new provisions, insured individuals will be able to provide consent for electronic communication at any point during the contract term. This aims to offer greater flexibility and improve the overall user experience.

The changes apply to three categories of compulsory insurance: motor vehicle liability insurance, farmers’ liability insurance, and insurance for farm buildings against fire and other unforeseen events. If policyholders prefer electronic correspondence over traditional mail, they will be able to notify their insurance provider at any stage of the policy duration.

These amendments to the Act on Compulsory Insurance, the Insurance Guarantee Fund, and the Polish Office of Motor Insurers are scheduled to come into force 14 days after their official publication.

Octane Capital Partners and Peakside Capital acquire two urban logistics parks near Warsaw

Octane Capital Partners, in collaboration with Peakside Capital Advisors, has completed the acquisition of two urban logistics properties developed by Panattoni. The parks, located within the Warsaw metropolitan area, offer a combined total of approximately 24,000 square metres of warehouse and office space.

Both assets are operational and hold BREEAM certifications at ‘Excellent’ and ‘Very Good’ levels. The facilities are designed to accommodate the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises with flexible unit configurations.

The acquisition marks the first investment under a new joint venture between Octane and Peakside, which will focus on real estate, debt, and secured non-performing loans (NPLs) in the Polish market. For Peakside, the deal supports its ongoing strategy to expand its logistics portfolio with modern, urban warehouse assets.

The acquired properties include Panattoni Park Warsaw Janki IV, which comprises around 13,000 sqm of space. Located roughly 15 minutes from central Warsaw, it offers access to key transport routes, including the S8 expressway and the A2/S2 motorway junctions.

The second asset, Panattoni Park Warsaw City V, is located in Warsaw’s Targówek district on Chełmżyńska Street. It provides approximately 11,000 sqm of warehouse and office space with good transport accessibility and features designed for SME tenants.

Advisory support for the buyers was provided by DL Partners (legal), Arcadis (technical), CRIDO (tax and financial), and CBRE (commercial). Panattoni was advised by SKJB (legal) and Thedy & Partners (tax and financial).

Tourism in Slovakia sees continued growth in April 2025

In April 2025, tourism in Slovakia’s accommodation sector recorded notable growth, with nearly 419,000 guests staying in hotels and guesthouses. This represents a 9% increase compared to the same period last year and marks the strongest April performance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, overall visitor numbers remained 5% below the levels seen in April 2019, which was among the most successful months for Slovak tourism prior to the pandemic.

The number of nights spent in tourist accommodations rose by 13% year-on-year, exceeding one million. The average length of stay was 2.4 nights. Domestic visitors made up nearly two-thirds of all guests, increasing by almost 7% to 261,000. While this growth was significant, domestic tourism still fell short of its 2019 peak by around 4%.

Foreign visitors accounted for 158,000 guests, a year-on-year increase of over 13%. Despite this rebound, foreign tourism remained 7% below its record levels from April 2019. The return of international travelers signals a gradual recovery, though not yet a full return to pre-pandemic figures.

All eight regions of Slovakia recorded year-on-year increases in guest numbers, ranging from a modest 1.1% in Košický kraj to 13.7% in Žilinský kraj. Bratislavský kraj remained the top destination, hosting 119,000 guests, followed by Žilinský kraj with 81,000 and Prešovský kraj with 62,000. These three regions together accounted for more than 60% of all tourism-related stays in Slovakia.

Domestic visitors were most concentrated in Žilinský and Prešovský kraj, which together attracted 40% of Slovak guests. Foreign tourists were notably more prominent in Žilinský kraj, where their numbers rose by nearly 25% year-on-year. Bratislavský kraj hosted nearly half of all foreign guests in the country, underlining its continued importance as an international tourism hub.

Among all regions, only Žilinský kraj surpassed its record for April tourism, slightly exceeding guest numbers from 2019. This was largely due to the increased presence of foreign visitors, whose numbers in the region were 7% higher than six years ago. Other regions continued to lag behind their pre-pandemic peaks, with shortfalls ranging from 1% in Trnavský kraj to nearly 17% in Trenčiansky kraj.

The figures are based on data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, covering all registered accommodation establishments providing temporary lodging services.

CarbonTool expands into Ukraine, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Middle East, launches version 2.0

CarbonTool has announced its expansion into Ukraine, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Middle East, extending its reach in supporting decarbonization efforts in the real estate sector. The platform, which provides emissions tracking and sustainability reporting tools, will now serve projects across these new markets, with a continued focus on reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

According to CEO Răzvan Nica, the expansion builds on the collaboration between CarbonTool and BuildGreen and is aimed at strengthening the company’s presence in the EMEA region. He noted that CarbonTool has already been used in numerous certification projects and reflects over three decades of combined experience in sustainability consulting.

CarbonTool is designed for application across real estate asset types, including office, retail, industrial, and logistics, using automation and science-based methods to measure and reduce emissions. The expansion comes amid growing international pressure to align with evolving ESG standards, such as the revised LEED v5 framework, which places greater emphasis on carbon reduction.

In parallel with its geographic growth, CarbonTool is launching Version 2.0 of its platform. The update introduces several new features to enhance usability and reporting capabilities. These include an integrated ESG module for tracking progress across frameworks such as GRI and CSRD, enhanced data visualization with dual-format metrics, and tools for grouping emission sources by class. Additional updates support automatic data uploads, customized KPIs, regional indicators, and document traceability.

The platform’s redesign includes a new user interface, improved dashboards, regional language options, and streamlined reporting tools to support diverse user needs across its expanded footprint.

CarbonTool currently monitors more than 6.2 million tons of CO₂e and has contributed to the reduction of 1.2 million tons across over 900 projects in 27 countries. Its emissions database includes data from across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, providing location-specific accuracy for developers and ESG professionals.

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