Krynica plays host to Central and Eastern Europe's economic elite

Over a thousand people, including the Prime Ministers of Poland, Ukraine, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Hungary, the heads of the central banks of Central and Eastern European countries, hundreds of businessmen, scientists and media representatives have travelled to the southern spa town of Krynica to participate in the country's Eleventh Economic Forum. "If Poland, as I believe, is a member of the European Union in 2004, it will promote further expansion by other countries when the time is right," said Prime Minister Leszek Miller. He continued, "After expansion - in accordance with our obligations to secure the outer boundaries of the EU - Poland should do its best to keep its borders closed only to criminals and illegal immigrants; they should remain open for other individuals." Issues to be raised for discussion at this year's Forum include: ethics in business and politics, the image of man in the 21st century, industrial changes in Central and Eastern Europe, society in the Internet era, the world after September 11 and the future economic impact of global corporations and governments. Discussion panels will be hosted by, among others, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, deputy chairperson of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Waldemar Pawlak, chairman of the Warsaw Commodity Exchange and US Ambassador to Poland, Christopher Hill. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 3) M.T.