A dispute over the foundations of civilisation

Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered a speech entitled “War or Peace”, closing the 14th edition of the European Forum for New Ideas in Sopot.
“The dispute taking place also in Poland concerns whether a civilisation based on human rights, respect for the individual, personal freedoms, the rule of law and observance of international agreements will endure. The Polish nation gives hope that we are not on the losing side,” he said.

He recalled meeting a family from Olsztyn whose dream of having a child came true thanks to IVF.
“I had the good fortune to meet a family who dream of a Poland of free and respectful people - a Poland of opportunity and peace. That gives me enormous motivation,” underlined the Prime Minister.

Poland should be a country free from ideological prejudice - a place of mutual respect and faith in the future. The Prime Minister also commented on a Polish court’s decision to release from custody a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the attack on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
“I take great satisfaction that a Polish judge said: ‘If a Ukrainian is fighting Russia, he deserves praise, not arrest,’” he stressed, noting that the decision was entirely independent.

He also referred to an incident in which an unknown perpetrator attempted to set fire to the headquarters of Civic Platform in Warsaw.
“It is hardly surprising that there was an attempt to set fire to PO’s headquarters when the leader of the opposition gives a platform to Mr Bąkiewicz, who calls for pulling out weeds and burning the earth with napalm,” said the Prime Minister.

Despite attempts at provocation and acts of aggression, it is essential to remain calm and continue to work for the security and unity of Polish society.

The war in Ukraine is a struggle for Western values

The war beyond our eastern border is not only a territorial conflict; it is a clash over the very foundations of modern civilisation. “Every day, in every place on Earth, there is a dispute over the foundations of our civilisation. We will all lose if we push this out of our consciousness,” emphasised the head of government. According to analyses, Russia would have lost the war were it not for its alliance with Iran and North Korea and support from China. The dispute is therefore not just about borders, but about the values on which the Western world rests.

The Prime Minister said he would speak with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - visiting Washington today - and with European leaders.

Poland and Europe must act independently

The war in Ukraine has reminded Europe and the world of the fragility of the international order and of the need to rebuild defence and economic capabilities.
“One cannot outsource everything connected with industrial production. One cannot sacrifice one’s own security and one’s production and defence capacities in the name of beautiful ideas, such as climate protection,” recalled Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Europe must find balance and, with iron consistency, set its priorities: secure development, autonomy and sovereignty where necessary - nationally and at continental level. This is not about retreating behind national borders, but about restoring Europe’s ability to act on its own.
“Only when we open our eyes wide, reset our priorities and believe that matters such as deregulation, reindustrialisation, repolonisation and re-Europeanisation of industry, and stable energy prices are our common task, will we once again be able to set the terms,” he underlined.

Today, greatness means genuine sovereignty - not isolation, but the ability to act independently wherever possible.

Poland is growing in strength

Poland now has a chance to become one of the best places to live in Europe - full of opportunities for working people, entrepreneurs and the younger generation.
“We are on the right path for Poland - as others are already noticing - to become the best place on Earth. Our country is becoming the crown jewel of the entire Western community. We are, in truth, destined for greatness,” argued the Prime Minister.

Poland has repeatedly achieved what once seemed impossible and today has a real opportunity for the greatest successes in its history - both economic and social.
“Today I held in my hands The Sunday Times, with a bitter article asking how it is possible that Poland is catching up with the United Kingdom. What is happening that Poles are increasingly returning from the UK to Poland, while more and more Britons are considering whether life and work may be better here, in Poland,” said Donald Tusk.

In recent years the UK economy has grown by just 1%, while the Polish economy has grown by as much as 19%. Today Poland is the world’s twentieth-largest economy, with output already exceeding one trillion US dollars.

About the European Forum for New Ideas

The European Forum for New Ideas (EFNI) is one of the largest conferences in Central Europe. Organised since 2011 by the Lewiatan Confederation together with BusinessEurope and the city of Sopot, it is a platform for the exchange of ideas and dialogue on global trends, innovation and Europe’s future. It brings together leaders from across the business community as well as politics, academia and civil society. This year’s edition took place under the banner #CoBędzieJutro