European Economic Congress begins in Katowice
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
16.05.2011 13:25
The European Economic Congress began in the Silesian capital of Katowice, Monday with the opening ceremony was attended by Prime Ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia and over 6,000 delegates from all over Europe.
The three day event is devoted to the competitive economy of Europe, internal market in the EU as well as problems of Central and Eastern Europe.
Opening the congress the president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (pictured) underlined that it is vital that the EU as a whole outlays more than the current 1.8 percent on research and development and investment to modernize the economy.
“If we could spend 3 percent, like the leading countries of the world, we could create some four million work places. During the three days of debates we will be talking about the competitiveness of the European economy,” Buzek told the delegates.
Jerzy Buzek touched on the debate currently raging within the bloc on the EU budget after 2013 and the extent to which it should be cut or increased.
“The [scale of the] budget will decide whether the EU will continue to encourage development and create new workplaces,” he said.The head of the European parliament also said that another key debate at the congress is to energy policy.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said this morning that the process of EU enlargement must continue and closing its doors to other states at the pretext of the economic crisis is not a solution.
Donald Tusk underlined that nationalism threatens the interests of a common Europe
“All those who at the times of crisis refer to such notions as nationalism and protectionism do not understand the what European idea is all about,” he said.
Poland hopes to finalise accession negotiations with Croatia during its EU presidency which begins on 1 July.
The three day congress in Katowice is the largest business event in this part of Europe. (pg/ab)