Competitiveness ‘a condition’ for EU’s global position, says Polish president
PR dla Zagranicy
John Beauchamp
14.05.2012 13:23
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Competitiveness ‘a condition’ for EU’s global position, says Polish president. Katowice correspondent Jarosław Juszkiewicz reports from the European Economic Congress.
“A growth in competitiveness of the European economy is a condition to keeping the EU’s position in the global arena,” President Bronislaw Komorowski said while opening the 4th European Economic Congress in Katowice, Monday morning.
Former head of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (left) and President Bronisław Komorowski at the opening of the European Economic Congress in Katowice, 14.05.2012 Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
The European Economic Congress in Katowice is being attended by many European movers and shakers, spearheaded by Jerzy Buzek, former president of the European Parliament and head of the event’s programme board.
Other guests include Janusz Lewandowski, the European Commissioner responsible for the budget, as well as Poland’s Deputy PM and economy minister, Waldemar Pawlak.
In his keynote speech, Pawlak raised five key points as to how the EU’s economies should respond to pressure to be more competitive, including solidarity, effectivity, as well as transparency and accessible regulations.
Poland’s deputy PM also voiced the idea of a “new euro”, a European clearing currency which would be based on national currencies.
Buzek’s ‘European energy community’
One of the main topics of the Congress’ agenda includes energy and energy security.
Speaking to thenews.pl in Katowice, Jerzy Buzek said that “we cannot imagine any growth without [the] supply of energy.”
Apart from promoting the “European energy community”, Jerzy Buzek raised hopes of a single market that would allow for “the joint purchasing of gas and oil [from] outside the EU”, and [...] to be united as the EU and to be able to negotiate in such a way [that reflects this].”
The European Economic Congress lasts until Wednesday. (jb)