Press release

• 31

  MAY
  2010

  The European Economic Congress 2010 opened
  Media contact:
  
  

  Marta Stach
  Contacts in English and Polish only
  Imago Public Relations
  ul. Dworska 1
  40-584 Katowice
  m.stach@imagopr.pl
  http://www.imagopr.pl
  tel.: +48 32 608 29 85
  mobile: +48 609 808 119
  fax: +48 (32) 205 13 66
  

  
  

  The European Economic Congress 2010 has begun. The largest business event in Central and Eastern Europe was officially opened by the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, the Acting President of Poland; and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. Opening speeches were also delivered by Minister and Member of the Council of Ministers Michał Boni; EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn; EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget Janusz Lewandowski; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Waldemar Pawlak; Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski; and President of Poland in 1990-1995 Lech Wałęsa.

  Participants‘ statements

  Marshal Bronisław Komorowski: Katowice is a good place to speak about things essential for economy. The congress is an important event with a freshness value. I am convinced that it will be held successfully in the years to come. We would like Poland to be the best place for investments in Europe. I have just visited former Katowice Steelworks (presently ArcelorMittal Poland, an editorial note). It is a place where you can see new technologies introduced, and where you can see that building is accompanied with the view of business and employees and the region as well. (...) it must be very comforting that until recently Poland was the only “green island” in the time of the crisis. In the first quarter of 2010, Poland exceeded a 3% economic growth. Thus, it is better than expected. Compared to the first quarter of 2009, in the first quarter 2010 export grew by 24%. The credit goes not only to the present government, but also to those who were once courageous enough to change and to modernize Poland. This is also a bonus for bold reforms of the 1990s. Today, Poland stands out positively from other countries. The only thing is how to make use of this situation. Modernization and development are challenges ahead of Poland, just like the privatization of economy. In addition, we need actions related with the public finance reform; we need to increase the flow of academic achievements to business. It is important to build work ethics too. The actions taken by the government will be crucial. And all the institutions of Poland may support or weaken the government’s determination in the future.
  
  Jerzy Buzek: The reason for postponing the Congress date was significant and possibly one of the most serious ones. We are able to organize ourselves as a country and this is appreciated. The way Poland went through the recent hard moments is exemplary. Institutions work; procedures operate. People’s opinion depends also on the category of wealth. And the wealth comes from economy. We are still experiencing the crisis; some countries are short of resources. We need reforms all the more. Our flight ahead will be important. We need to have proper supervision over the financial market and the possibility to assess risk; but also we need to have reliable statistics. It will be necessary to unblock the regions of Europe which have enormous potential for development. The new EU members are considered to become its drive forward. They are greedy for success. The Polish Presidency for which we have to properly prepare will be essential. Also, the EU budget set for the next years will be important. And the European energy community and the flow of funds and knowledge will be important. For Poland, the Eastern partnership and collaboration in the Baltic Sean area will be crucial.
  
  Lech Wałęsa: The way I was able to forecast in politics, Jan Kulczyk was able to forecast in business all the more. I think we in this generation should do more and do it differently. What we are doing now is that we continue to race. This was a good idea but years ago. Back then, we believed in God and were afraid of our neighbours. Now we questioned God and we are not afraid of our neighbours any more. Just consider new solutions; think whether besides racing we need new ideas to develop. Now, it would be good to back not the best as they will manage. Now we need to back programmes directed at the average and at the weak. The reason is to give equal opportunities in Europe. Frequently, we can hear that we need to build a better future on certain values. But when we look closer, we will see that everyone has different values now. A united Europe has to take into account the location of a country; it has to support it.
  
  Waldemar Pawlak: It is a great honour to speak here, where the heart of the Poland’s economy is beating. Also here, in Silesia, there is industry which determines whether we are safe in terms of energy. The message of the Polish Presidency in EU will be the Eastern partnership. The potential which is formed by nine new EU member states needs to be used properly. If Poland is to become a strong representative of the region, this will strengthen its position. Now, the focus should be on transparency and clarity and not on controlling. Competitiveness and development of economy will benefit when transparency on the market is cared for. Moreover, it is important to have proper regulations and to award those who stimulate economy.
  
  Janusz Lewandowski: The term “crisis” comes from Greek.  It is not by accident maybe. In the 1990s, this was an Old Continent but full of optimism. Today, Europe is not like that. The European Union was built for a good weather. And today it must learn how to manage in the crisis. The crisis produces protectionist and egoistic responses. Currently, we need to eliminate defects which were exposed by the crisis. We have the action to rescue Greece in place. In the future, we will need preventive actions. It might be not well-received as it will include such programmes as the inspection into the finance of individual states. Our generation, the generation of the Solidarity movement, should work for a good scenario for Europe.
  
  Johannes Hahn: We need to again discuss the situation in which Europe has found itself in the time of the crisis. We need to think how Europe will look in the future against other players such as India, China or Russia. We need to talk about methods of how to step onto the path of growth and not to focus on the stability aspect only. The Polish economy looks very good compared to economies of other EU member states. This is also because Poland is the largest beneficiary of structural funds. However, there are areas where we have to intensify our actions, for example infrastructural investments.
  
  You can find more information on the European Economic Congress 2010 and a detailed conference agenda on www.eec2010.eu
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