Polish industry to discuss “Clean Industrial Deal” assumptions in Brussels
On 1 October, Business & Science Poland (BSP) organized a debate in Brussels entitled “A Clean Industrial Deal: What's in it for industry? What's in it for climate?” The event was an opportunity to discuss the “Clean Industrial Deal” project announced by the European Commission, which aims to combine actions to achieve climate neutrality in the Union with a significant boost to the competitiveness of the European economy.
The event provided an opportunity to exchange views on the “Clean Industrial Deal” between various stakeholders, including European and Polish decision-makers, industry representatives, think tanks and organizations supporting innovation in industry. During the meeting, invited speakers, including Arkadiusz Plucinski, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU, Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of DG CLIMA, European Commission, Andrzej Szydlo, President of the Management Board of KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., Sonia Buchholtz, Director at the Energy Forum, and Magdalena Jablonska, President of the Foundation for Technological Entrepreneurship, discussed what should be included in the project to ensure a stable future for European industry, while contributing to a significant increase in the competitiveness of the European economy.
“We are pleased that Europe's leading decision-makers are committing to a more engaged partnership with the business community. We take these declarations seriously because such a dialogue is necessary to ensure legitimacy and to take account of the real conditions in the legislative process. The high turnout at our event demonstrates the strong interest in this conversation, and we are committed to continuing to support the dialogue so that the voice of the industry is heard loud and clear.” — said Bartek Czyczerski, CEO of Business & Science Poland.
During the Business & Science Poland event, he presented his position entitled. “Taking into account the real needs of the transforming economy is the key to the success of the Clean Industrial Deal” LINK (Polish) in which it presents the views of the members of the BSP on what steps should be taken to ensure that the proposals under preparation have a positive impact on the European economy, develop the prospects of European industry and, as a result, ensure the success of the decarbonisation of European industry. Among the key demands, the BSP highlights, among other things, the importance of maintaining technological neutrality, support for energy-intensive sectors, financial support, dialogue with industry and simplification of investment processes.
The conference opened Arkadiusz Plucinski, Deputy Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU, who stressed that the new political cycle offers the EU an opportunity to incorporate new policies and tools that will respond to the key challenges facing Europe. He also stressed that the EU still has a chance to choose a pro-growth path while achieving the green transition goals. However, achieving this balance will require a change in the approach of the EU institutions, i.e. increased attention to the real challenges and needs of different stakeholders, Member States and key industrial sectors, which are essential to ensure the EU's competitiveness.
Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of DG CLIMA at the European Commission, outlined the Commission's priorities for the coming years in the context of a clean transition and explained what the Clean Industrial Deal will focus on and how it fits into the agreed framework of the European Green Deal. Mr Vandenberghe stressed that over the next five years the Commission would focus more on implementing legislation already adopted than on agreeing new ones.
Andrzej Szydlo, representing the mining industry (KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.), pointed out that the Clean Industrial Deal should not only focus on ecological aspects, but also on economic aspects. He stressed that there is increasing pressure on industry to meet climate targets. While action is necessary, the EU must strike a balance so as not to harm key sectors such as mining, which are vital to Europe's economy. In addition, he stressed that the financing of the transition at European level should have a long-term perspective and be based more on private rather than public funds.
In the context of the announced Clean Industrial Deal, ForumEnergii, a Polish think tank specializing in the energy transformation of the industry, recently published a report entitled “New Industrial Deal 2024+. How to modernise Polish industry sensibly?” Representing a think tank Sonia Buchholtz stressed that the modernisation of the industrial sector is a complex process, involving thousands of minor processes. She stressed that the reduction of emissions from the industrial sector cannot be realized solely by following global trends, without a deeper reflection on the Polish reality and the importance of individual industrial sectors in the Polish economy. Sonia Buchholtz also stressed the importance of financial support, saying that”the future shape and distribution of climate-related funds are crucial. Eastern European countries, including Poland, are at a disadvantage compared to their Western counterparts. The way in which these funds will be allocated will have a significant impact on their effectiveness and perception in different regions”.
In the course of the debate, the topic of the development of innovation in the industrial sector was not missing. Magdalena Jablonska, President of the Foundation for Technological Entrepreneurship, presented ideas for increasing the competitiveness of Polish and European industry in relation to global competitors by investing in the development of innovative technological solutions supporting clean transformation. She also noted that”one of the main barriers to innovation in Central Europe is the lack of infrastructure to test new technologies. Ambitious startups need bets to prove their business models. Without the ability to demonstrate profitability, it is difficult to attract the financing needed for growth”.
The event ended with a musical concert organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union.
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