In his address, Deputy Foreign Minister Ignacy Niemczycki talked about the legitimisation of the European Union and the identity of today’s Europeans. He also discussed Poland’s presence in the EU and the priorities of the Polish European policy including economic growth and competitiveness. The secretary of state stressed that actions taken at the European level must support modernisation and competitiveness of Poland’s economy:

“The EU’s long-term competitiveness must be based on a strong single market. It is our greatest asset, and a key factor underlying economic growth, effectiveness, and competitiveness,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Ignacy Niemczycki. 

The event brought together administration, business, think tank, and academia representatives. The first panel, chaired by Bruegel’s Director Jeromin Zettelmeyer, was devoted to security and resilience in the face of geopolitical shifts. The panellists discussed the definition of strategic autonomy and how it can be achieved in the EU at a minimal cost and with highest possible support from its society. The panellists included: Piotr Buras, Head of ECFR Warsaw , Małgorzata Mroczkowska-Horne, Chief Executive Officer of the Polish Confederation Lewiatan, and Jarosław Pietras, visiting professor at the College of Europe.

The second panel was devoted to the evolution of Poland's competitive advantages over the next decade.  The participants also discussed the most important recommendations for Poland arising from the Draghi report. The panel was chaired by Heather Grabbe, Bruegel Senior Fellow, and the panellists were: Agnieszka Gajewska, Global Government & Public Sector Leader at PwC Poland, Maciej Sobolewski, Director of the Polish Economic Institute, and Kinga Stanisławska, founder of European Women in VC. 

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Established in 2005, Bruegel is a European independent think tank focusing on economic issues. It is based in Brussels. Poland has been involved in its operations since the beginning of its work. Its research focuses on economy and economic policy. In 2008–2011, Bruegel’s Board was chaired by Professor Leszek Balcerowicz. In its current term, Professor Monika Marcinkowska of the University of Łódź serves as an independent member of the Board.