The Institute of Public Finance (IFP) project

#TAKdlaCRU

A project dedicated to the Central Register of Contracts (an indispensable tool in hands of citizens in a democratic state), which provides greater transparency and control over public spending.

Sign the petition

this is a moment when your voice can truly make a difference

[…] We can choose a path of real transparency, genuine civic participation, and the creation of credible, open public finances.

One of the key solutions to building public trust is already on the table — a full, open Central Register of Contracts.

dr Sławomir Dudek

Founder, President and Chief Economist of the Institute of Public Finance

Now is the time to take a step toward greater transparency and civic trust.

Work on the Central Register of Contracts is ongoing — let’s show that open public finances matter to us. Sign the petition. Your signature makes a difference.

I stand for transparency – I’m signing the petition

What is the Central Register of Contracts (CRU)?

The Central Register of Contracts (CRU) is a centralized database of contracts, and procurement documents. Its implementation in Poland will effectively and directly increase the transparency and openness of public spending and citizen control over public finances.

Unfortunately, the implementation of the CRU has encountered some delays and legislative changes. It was originally planned to be launched in July 2022, but the deadline was postponed to January 1, 2024. Currently, the obligation to publish information on each contract that is singed by public institution is planned to go into effect not sooner than on January 1, 2026.

We oppose the introduction of a PLN 10,000 threshold for contracts published in the Central Register of Contracts!

The Institute of Public Finance, together with 46 other signatories, is calling on the government not to raise the value threshold for public sector contracts that must be disclosed in the Central Register of Contracts.

Read the Appeal

Read the Press Release

The introduction of the Central Register of Contracts in Poland brings many benefits for both public administration, business and citizens. The most important are the following:

Access to public information

Citizens and non-governmental organizations have easier access to information about the activities of public institutions, which promotes their greater involvement in public life and gives them greater public control – preventing abuses.

Management efficiency

The central register of contracts enables better coordination and control of public spending, which contributes to more efficient management of funds and promotes better budget planning.

Reducing corruption

Public disclosure of contracts makes it more difficult to conclude an agreement on unfavourable terms and counteracts corruption, making purchasing processes more honest.

Improving competitiveness

Contract transparency can encourage more companies to participate in a bidding process, increasing competitiveness and potentially lowering procurement costs.

Standardization of procedures

The central register of contracts helps standardize government contracting processes, making them easier to compare and evaluate.

Promoting best practices

Public disclosure of contracts can lead to the identification and promotion of best practices in contracting and implementation by public institutions

1259

days have passed since the first attempt to introduce the CRU*

* CRU was originally scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2022

Examples of registers in other countries

Central Registers of Contracts have been operating successfully in many European countries for years, bringing tangible benefits to public financial management. In Slovakia, for example, the introduction of the registry has led to a significant reduction in financial mismanagement, resulting in a drop in public procurement costs by almost a third in just the first year of its operation.

Slovakia

implemented: 01.01.2011

see

Czech Republic

implemented: 01.06.2016

see

Portugal

implemented 01.01.2008

see

CRU under the microscope

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Central Register of Contracts (CRU)

The obligation to disclose information about paid contracts will apply to public sector entities, excluding state-owned companies and municipal companies. The legislator justifies this decision by the fact that these are commercial law entities. Prof. Marlena Sakowska-Baryła (University of Łódź) comments on this idea as follows:

[…] entities that are usually entrusted with large sums of money are exempted from the law, and, as practice shows, their spending often lacks transparency.

The Ministry of Finance proposes (update from February 2025) that the CRU will include data on:

contract number, if assigned,
contract date,
contract duration,
designation of parties,
general subject of the contract,
contract value,
contract status (e.g., active, completed, unfulfilled, under amendment, etc.),
information on EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) funds,
reason for updating the contract.

Unfortunately no, not all contracts will be included. The Ministry of Finance has proposed that contracts worth at least PLN 10,000 (excluding VAT) will be registered in the Central Register of Contracts. Previously, the threshold was PLN 500, ensuring greater transparency.

For example, if we apply a PLN 10,000 filter to the City of Oleśnica’s contract registry (over 35,000 residents), only about 16% of the contracts currently available will meet the new threshold (as of November 25, 2024).

Despite delays in implementing the Central Register of Contracts, many municipalities have taken the initiative to launch transparent and user-friendly local contract registers. They share data according to their discretion using dedicated websites or the Public Information Bulletin. Unfortunately, transparency of public sector contracts is not mandatory, so many local authorities do not share information about their spending.

The Institute of Public Finance decided to conduct a pilot study to create a ranking of contract registers in local government units. The study analyzed the existence and functionality of contract registers in all 66 cities with county rights. The analysis revealed that 27 cities (41% of all cities with county rights) do not maintain a contract registry.

The Ministry of Finance has prepared a gradual implementation plan for the Central Register of Contracts, with the start scheduled for January 1, 2026.

Initially, the register will include only large public sector institutions. From July 1, 2026, municipalities will also be required to use the register, and by January 1, 2027, smaller entities as defined by the law will be included.

The phased introduction of the CRU is a good idea because it will allow for testing the system and give other entities time to prepare for effective implementation.