„Residents of the Słubice municipality also use the public transport organised by Frankfurt (Oder) (line 983), and the line connects the two towns,” it was emphasised in the justification of the resolution, which the Słubice Town Council adopted on 18 June 2026.
The councillors voted through a grant of 300,000 złoty to co-fund the provision of public collective transport in the cross-border zone. The money is to go to the German town and cover part of the cost of maintaining bus line 983, which has connected Słubice with Frankfurt (Oder) for years.
Resolution No. XXVII/250/2026 of the Słubice Town Council of 18 June 2026 gives the green light to transferring the grant from the municipal budget. The funds come from the expenditure planned for the current year.
The legal basis is Article 10(3) of the Act on Municipal Self-Government. Since February 2022, this provision has allowed Polish municipalities to grant financial assistance to local government units in other countries. Previously, such action was far more restricted.
„The detailed conditions for granting the subsidy, together with its purpose and the rules for settling the funds, will be set out in an agreement concluded between the municipality of Słubice in Poland and the town of Frankfurt (Oder) in the Federal Republic of Germany,” the resolution reads. Implementation of the decision was entrusted to the Mayor of Słubice.
The 300,000 złoty is to cover part of the operating costs of line 983 in 2026. The justification of the resolution lists, among other things, the purchase of fuel, the cleaning of the buses serving the route, vehicle insurance and the purchase of necessary consumables.
The line runs between the centre of Słubice and the railway station in Frankfurt (Oder). It is one of the most important daily cross-border connections in the region. The bus is used by both German and Polish passengers, including students of Viadrina University, commuters, and residents running errands on the other side of the border.
The municipal authorities justify the decision above all by the needs of Słubice's residents. Line 983 is not solely a German connection; in practice it serves people on both sides of the Oder.
„Given that residents of the Słubice municipality also use the public transport organised by Frankfurt (Oder) (line 983), and that the line connects the two towns, it is justified to assist in carrying out this task,” the justification states.
Earlier, the municipality held public consultations on the future of the connection. Residents most often pointed to the need to increase the frequency of services, even to one bus every 30 minutes throughout the day. The funding decision therefore also has a practical dimension.
As of 7 July 2026, the agreement between Słubice and Frankfurt (Oder) had not yet been signed. It remains at the preparation stage, the Słubice Municipal Office said in response to a request for access to public information.
Only the Town Council's resolution was attached to the reply. The detailed provisions concerning the parties to the agreement, its period of validity, the financing rules and the scope of the operator's obligations are not yet available.
The adoption of the resolution means that line 983 will be able to operate in 2026 with financial support from the Polish municipality. The final shape of the cooperation and the way the grant is settled will, however, be determined by the agreement, which is still being negotiated.
Residents of both towns are waiting for specifics, both on the amount and the way the money will be spent and on any possible changes to the timetable. The earlier consultations showed clear expectations regarding the frequency of services.
