2009-09-10 12:43

19th Economic Forum in Krynica inaugurated

The difficult global economic situation is caused not only by financial reasons but also by high prices of raw materials which raise production prices, deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak said on opening the 19th Economic Forum in Krynica, southern Poland, on Wednesday.

The forum is expected to bring together 900 participants in 140 panel discussions and over 2,000 guests on September 9 to 12.

The inaugural session titled "European Solidarity. 20 Years After the Revolution" focused on Europe's unity in the face of the crisis. In attendance were, among others, former Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Irish Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche and former Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

In his address to forum participants former President Aleksander Kwasniewski referred to the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II and the role of European integration after the war. "The past is cruel, and scars, even if they are less painful, remain the eternal element of European and world history (...) but Europe has managed to draw very constructive conclusions," he said.

"The European Union is a magnificent history of the political project which has given Europe peace and security for over 50 years," Kwasniewski added.

Jose Maria Aznar expressed support for EU enlargement but stressed that "Europe has its borders." "Ukraine and perhaps Georgia are not this border but Europe has its borders based on a system of values," Aznar said.

"Greater solidarity of member states is needed for EU to be a serious player on the international arena," European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said.

"Europe should build common energy policy and jointly negotiate with third countries," he said.

Participants in the forum represent close to 60 countries from Europe, Asia and America. Poland's government represented by deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, Treasury Minister Aleksander Grad, deputy Finance Minister Ludwik Kotecki, chief adviser of Poland's prime minister Michal Boni, former President Lech Walesa.

Also in attendance will be outstanding academics, including economy Nobel prize winner from Columbia University Edmund Phelps and professor of Oxford University Norman Davies. ID

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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