The 4th Energy Forum has ended in Budapest.
The Forum was held under the banner of "the opportunities for regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe in new political and economic realities". Among nearly 80 panellists were the representatives of governments, parliaments, energy companies and scientific institutions from the CEE region and also Western Europe and the USA. The Forum was attended by nearly 300 guests from almost 40 countries from Europe, the USA and Canada.
Zygmunt Berdychowski, the Chairman of the Programme Council of the Forum, said that the Budapest event supplements the Economic Forum in Krynica in the area of energy. He admitted that a greater scale of the event should not be expected due to this reason. "Yet, thanks to the number and the rank of guests this year, the event in Budapest is one of the most important events related to energy in this part of Europe "- he emphasized. He added that the presence of the representatives of governments from the United States, Hungary, Poland, Macedonia, and the Czech Republic "builds prestige of this event ".
In his opinion the level of this year's debate was higher than last year. According to Zygmunt Berdychowski, Central Europe is more confident about its arguments as regards energy security, and it is more resolute in convincing of them also other European Union states.
The organizers of the 4th Energy Forum were the Eastern Institute and Energy Constellation Institute, and the event was held under the auspices of the President of Hungary Laszlo Solyom. The participants in the Hungarian Forum discussed about the possibilities of cooperation in the field of energy in Central and Eastern Europe in new political and economic realities connected, among other things, with the economic crisis.
Opening the Forum, Zygmunt Berdychowski said: - The gas crisis, which occurred in January 2009, made us even more aware of the necessity to cooperate in the energy sector in Central and Eastern Europe. Is the region better prepared to tackle similar situations ten months after the beginning of the crisis? - asked the panellists the chairman of the Programme Council of the Forum. Europe slowly recovers from the economic crisis; we can expect many changes in the energy sector in the coming years. Janos Csak, the Chairman of Constelation Energy Institute, the co-organizer of the Forum, stressed that regular energy supply can be guaranteed by developing production from renewable sources and liberalizing the energy market.
Richard Morningstar, an American energy expert and a special envoy of Eurasian Energy, warned the participants in the Forum that subsequent gas crises are likely to repeat in the future if Ukraine's policy would not change. Ukraine plays a key role as a transit country for raw materials from Russia to Europe, and its ineffective and leaky transfer system contributes to escalation of gas conflicts between Russia and Europe. According to Morningstar, in connection with a new makeup of the European Commission and new White House administration, the region's countries wait for new policy lines not only in the field of energy security, but also in connection with the development of a policy aimed at counteracting climate changes and supporting the renewable energy sector.
Alexandr Babakov, the Deputy Speaker of Russian Duma, explained that Russia, the same as Europe, is concerned with regular supply of energy resources. He blamed Ukraine for gas conflicts. In his view, a lack of political stability in Ukraine may trigger repeated gas blackmails. Babakov proposed to introduce international control on the Ukrainian transfer system.
The issue of the growing dependence of the European countries on external fuel imports was also mentioned by Viktor Orban, a former head of Hungarian government, currently a member of Hungarian parliament. - This issue is serious despite forecasted decline in the demand for energy in Europe by 2010. Soon 70 percent of the demand for raw materials will be covered from exports, as opposed to approximately 50 percent now - stated Viktor Orban.
The participants in the forum noticed that the use of nuclear energy does not only solve the issue of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, but it also allows becoming even partly independent from external sources. - It is important because nothing has changed for many years as regards the independence of Europe in terms of energy - said Mirek Topolanek, a former prime minister of the Czech Republic.
The participants in the Forum agreed that investments in the energy sector require long-term financial outlays. The energy sector and especially renewable sources are perspective investments. Still investors are afraid of political risks. According to the guests of the Forum, it is not worth to invest in the countries with insufficient political stability, where regulations change along with the role of regulators in the energy market, where prices and limits for CO2 emissions are not determined. Energy market experts pointed to the fact that there are many alternatives, as regards direct foreign investments. In their opinion there are many options to invest capital, while Central and Eastern Europe has recently demonstrated that it has not been absolutely reliable for investments in the energy sector.
Paweł Piszczek, tel. 22 5831120, 691 664 276 or e-mail: p.piszczek@isw.org.pl
XIX Economic Forum in Krynica
9 – 12 September 2009
Between 9th and 12th September XIX Economic Forum took place in Krynica. It was the biggest Forum in its 17-year history. According to the organizers, the idea of the meeting, which turned out to be enormously successful, proves that multilateral discussions among the representatives of the world of politics, economy, culture and science are an indispensable element in social development. Opinions are created and the most crucial decisions taken under the influence of not only politicians, ministers or owners of companies, but also intellectuals, artists, scientists, journalists, etc. The continuing development of the Forum, the increasing numbers of guests and events held during the Forum provide the best answers to the question about measurable effects of the meetings organized so far.
The following opinion about the Forum was expressed in an interview of Onet.pl with Zygmunt Berdychowski, the Chairman of the Programme Council of the Economic Forum:
„… these days abounded certainly with many important and interesting talks, since talks are in the first place the main content of the meetings in Krynica… Obviously the most important guest was the Head of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. An equally important person was surely the Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar. Other, very interesting, important and outstanding persons are today’s guests in the Economic Forum Edmund Phelps and Günter Verheugen. To put it in a nutshell, we had many guests, whom we regard as interesting, important … Today Krynica is the best example that the changes, experienced by us in recent years, have been almost revolutionary. Many new hotels were opened, a large number of new infrastructural investments appeared. It has become simply a different world. This world would not have been present, if we had not triggered off transformations jointly after 89 …”
XIX Economic Forum in numbers
- approximately 2000 participants, including more than 1100 foreign guests
- 5 plenary sessions
- more than 140 discussion panels and special events
- more than 900 panellists
- nearly 400 journalists from more than 150 media titles
- a comprehensive programme of cultural events – more than 30 concerts, meetings with authors, exhibitions, film presentations
Guests about the XIX Economic Forum
Jerzy Buzek, the Chairman of the European Parliament.
This forum has always been important, and now it has become even more significant, because we want to overcome the crisis as soon as possible. And here entrepreneurs, local self-government activists, politicians discuss specifically, how to lead the economy out of the crisis. A few years ago we discussed, how to achieve the economic growth at the level of 5-6 percent and we were successful. That is why I am convinced that thanks to this forum economic recovery will be possible even faster.
Source: Rzeczpospolita
A short account of 3-day Economic Forum in Krynica was given by Leopold Unger, a publicist of 'Le Soir' and 'Gazeta Wyborcza’ in an interview with Konrad Niklewicz, a journalist of 'Gazeta Wyborcza' and service wyborcza.biz:
„The Friday morning debate between very high ranking economists proved that Krynica is an excellent place for forming very fundamental questions. They were addressed mainly by American economists taking the floor, plus two very pragmatic European voices, which corrected substantially the theoretical, American economic principles and inspired a major question, which came to me: ...Is economics a science at all? ... completely nothing was consistent comparing Phelps with another known American economist. Two divergent points of view, as regards such fundamental issues as: the role of the United States, possibility to overcome the crisis, the US dollar’s role... etc. Regardless conclusions, since everyone can draw them individually, depending on the point of view, the quality of discussion was undoubtedly very high.“
Source: www.wyborcza.biz
19th Economic Forum - European solidarity. 20 years after revolution
Krynica, Poland, 9 – 12 September 2009,
19th Economic Forum will take place in a specific period – twenty years after the memorable 1989, when, after more than four decades, the communist system was collapsed. Then the desire for freedom and Solidarity in Poland have launched a process which has led to a complete rebuilding of Central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the region is facing today with a huge economic crisis, which makes a serious attempt to achievement of the past two decades. This is why the motto of this meeting will be “European solidarity. 20 years after revolution”.
The biggest Economic Forum
This year’s Forum, beginning already in one week, on the 9th of September in Krynica, will be the biggest so far. All in all, the programme of the Forum will include nearly 140 debates, which will be divided into 12 topical blocks, such as: macroeconomics, business and management, Energy Forum, new economy, international politics and security, the European Union and its neighbours, the state and reforms, Forum of Regions, society, education and culture, Forum of NGOs, investments, privatisation, economic development. This year, we have two new topical blocks: the Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations, and investments, privatisation, economic development.
The Economic Forum in Krynica has become an important spot on the political and economic map of the world and probably the only one where East meets West on such a large scale. It is attended by over 1800 guests from 60 countries of Europe, North America and Asia.. Each year the Economic Forum in Krynica brings together the key decision makers from the CEE region and well beyond : EU commissioners, heads of state and government, executives of the biggest companies not only from the region but well beyond it , bankers and local government officials. Each year the Forum is reported by the major domestic and world-wide media. Last year, nearly 400 journalists accounted for more than 150 editors.
Report on transformation: „Hard landing: Central & Eastern Europe facing the financial crisis”.
The first event during this year’s forum will be presentation of a Report on Transformation” entitled „ Hard landing: Central & Eastern Europe facing the financial crisis”. During the debate, PricewaterhouseCoopers will introduce its latest report about the consequences of the global financial crisis for our region. The report will unveil external and internal risks to development of the CEE economies, which a dozen or so months ago still enjoyed forecasts of continuing long-term growth. Does severe recession in the region of Central and Eastern Europe have only a transient character? Is the trend of rapid growth likely to return once the global crisis ends? The debate will be led by Prof. Witold Orłowski. It begins on 9 September at 1 p.m. in the Marble Hall of New Spa House.
Over 900 panelists in nearly 150 discussions panels and plenary sessions…
19th Economic Forum is largest Economic Forum we have organized in Krynica. This year’s programme includes nearly 140 discussion panels and plenary sessions that over 900 will participate in. They represent almost 60 countries from Europe, Asia and America.
Solving of the most complicated problems …
The Economic Forum in Krynica has been the most significant meeting place in the Central-Eastern Europe. Krynica has become an important spot on the political and economic map of the world and probably the only one, where East meets West on such a large scale. The debates of the Forum cover a variety issues, even most complex ones. Everyone contributes to the discussions, the harshest critics as well. Thus, the Forum offers an opportunity for solving the most complicated problems.
Mr. Zygmunt Berdychowski, The Chairman of the Economic Forum Programme Council explains the Forum’s philosophy in the following way:
‘ My most important experience – Solidarnosc- thought me one thing- one has to talk to people and their views and be open for their views and that is probably why the Forum came to life. Our goal is to gather on the Forum various people influencing Europe’s opinion. It is important to remember, that it is not only politicians but also intellectuals, artists, scientists, journalists, etc.- many different worlds we have to contain in Krynica.
19th Economic Forum is largest Economic Forum we have organized in Krynica. This year’s programme includes nearly 140 discussion panels and plenary sessions that over 900 will participate in. They represent almost 60 countries from Europe, Asia and America.
Investment Forum, 8-9 September 2009, Tarnów
Forum of Regions, 9-11 September 2009, Muszyna, Krynica Zdrój
The Economic Forum will be accompanied by the following events: Investments Forum in Tarnow, held under the auspices of Aleksander Grad, the Minister of State Treasury and Forum of Regions in Muszyna, held under the auspices of: Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the Minister of Regional Development and Wasyl Kujbida, the Minister of Regional Development and Construction of Ukraine.
THE POLISH CHOICE VS THE EUROPEAN PATH
A series of international debates devoted to the multidimensional success of Polish transformation entitled “The Polish Choice vs. The European Path” is organized by the Foundation Institute of Eastern Studies. The project is going to be implemented during the 19th Economic Forum in Krynica held from 9th to 12th September 2009.
The first debate opening the Project is entitled “European Solidarity. 20 years after the revolution” and is to be held during the plenary session of the Forum. The authors of the programme acknowledged that the 20th anniversary of the major transformations is the right time to deliberate over the course and consequences, from which we may, on the one hand, derive considerable benefits, and which, on the other hand, are not free from reflections and considerations of possible better scenario for the achievements of the past two decades. Nowadays, no one doubts that 1989 was an exceptional time in the history of Europe. After more than forty years, the communist system collapsed. The pursuit of freedom and the Polish Solidarity launched the process which contributed to the thorough reconstruction of Europe. After twenty years from those memorable events and in the light of the economic crisis, how do we imagine the Solidarity of the rich and the poor, those who grasp the opportunities of the civilization and economic growth with both hands and those who remain on the margin of the society?
Another debate within the framework of this project, entitled “1989 - the year of great changes” is organized in collaboration with the Hungarian International Centre of Democratic Transformation (ICDT). Apart from reviving the memory of the changes started 20 years ago, the purpose of the debate is to review the experiences and difficulties faced by the Eastern European states on the difficult path of transformation. The participants to the discussion will scrutinize the political and economic changes and the way in which the inhabitants of the states in question developed a new model of the civic society. The analysis may prove valuable for those states which encounter a similar situation to that of the Eastern European states at the end of 1980s. The moderator of the discussion will be Istvan Gyarmati, the Head of ICDT, and the debate will be attended by professor Geza Jeszenszky from Corvinus University of Budapest, Georg Milbrandt, member of the Parliament of Saxony and professor Thomas Schreiber from the Special Military School of St Cyr.
The canvass for the third debate within this Project will be a book by John O’Sullivan entitled “The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister: Three Who Changed the World”, which describes the way in which these three great leaders contributed to the collapse of the communism. John Paul II criticized the communism from the religious and philosophical point of view, starting from his visit to Poland in 1979 and his support for the “Solidarity” movement. Ronald Reagan conducted the campaign of military, economic and technical rivalry, which compelled the Soviet Union to advance the disarmament and attempt introduction of the reforms. The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher helped the Great Britain, which was sinking into recession, to boost the economy by introducing free market reforms, which revealed the bankruptcy of centrally planned economies and led to the global revolution of the democratic capitalism. The moderator of the discussion will be John O'Sullivan, the Executive Editor of the Radio Free Europe, United Kingdom, and the debate will be participated by Vladimir Bukovsky, Russian dissident, writer; Charles Crawford, the President of CGC Resolutions Ltd, United Kingdom and the Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, the Chairman of the Churche Concordate Commision.
The debates will be accompanied by special events, including a meeting with the Professor Norman Davis, devoted to his works „Rising '44” and „Europe at War 1939-1945: No Simple Victory”. The participants to the Forum will also enjoy the opportunity to see the film “Déjà vu of that 1989”, a documentary triptych describing the story behind the scenes of the Round Table sessions, directed by Jolanta Kessler- Chojecka. The guests will also have the chance to attend the evening of ballades on the subject of freedom entitled “What happened to our class...” performed by the quartet Proforma. The repertoire of the quartet comprises the songs once performed by Jacek Kaczmarski, Przemysław Gintrowski and the trio of Kaczmarski, Gintrowski and Łapiński.
The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.