Europe After the Pandemic: Solidarity, Liberty, Community? - The Economic Forum 2020, Karpacz, 8th – 10th September 2020
For almost 30 years, the Economic Forum has been a great meeting venue for politicians and business people. Recent months have shown that even the most advanced remote communication tools will not replace direct interpersonal relations. This is why the debates were planned in a traditional formula, and only some of them will be streamed online.
The Forum
will discuss political, social and economic challenges facing Central and
Eastern Europe.
- We will
ponder on how Europe will build its identity, solidarity and freedom post-COVID-19.
These are fundamental questions, especially as they will be asked almost
exactly 40 years after the birth of the “Solidarity” movement in Poland. Today,
people most affected by the pandemic demand solidarity. This is the time when
the message of Poland’s “Solidarity” should be recalled. If we do not do so,
who will do it for us? - Zygmunt Berdychowski, Chairman of the Economic Forum
Programme Council says.
Another topic
related to the pandemic is the revaluation of concepts that were previously
treated as dogmas. - Chancellor Angela Merkel has just stated that if there are
attempts to take over important German companies, her government will prevent this
from happening. This announcement is the best symbol of the changes brought by
the pandemic - continues Berdychowski.
For years,
the Economic Forum has been a place where the leading representatives of the
world of politics and business are sharing their opinions. It will be no
different this time. Invitations were accepted by 3 deputy prime ministers and
13 ministers from Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia, parliamentarians and
representatives of various political parties. Presidents of the largest private
and state-owned companies will attend as well.
Over the 3-day
conference, 4 plenary sessions, 200 discussion panels and many national and
regional presentations are planned. As in previous years, the awards of the
Economic Forum will be presented in the following categories: Man of the Year,
Company of the Year, New Culture of New Europe and NGO of Central and Eastern
Europe.
The organizers
expect about 1,700 guests from Poland and abroad.
In the middle
of August, the organizers decided to change the location of the conference. The
Economic Forum 2020 will take place at Gołębiewski Hotel in Karpacz from 8th to
10th September.
