Less regulation needed

In this period of economic crisis the government cannot rescue every sector, but what it can do is create less regulation for businesses. That's why guest panelists at the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland's CEO Forum last week debated how much regulation is too much when a business is already under economic strain.

Maciej Witucki, president of incumbent telecom TP, argued that the government should focus less on regulation during economically difficult times and allow businesses to get themselves out of the crisis. He said there were huge investment opportunities in Poland at the moment, but there were also too many regulations in place.

The problem lies with bureaucracy, filing papers, filling out forms and adhering to a number of regulations that deter foreign businesses -  from investing in Poland.

"In normal times, I find that these regulations only make matters more difficult. And in times of crisis, this is criminal," Witucki said. He urged the government to only regulate the areas that absolutely need regulating, and to, "leave it to us businesspeople to get out of the crisis."

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Economy Adam Szejnfeld offered reassurances, saying that solutions had been devised which, if accepted by Parliament, would be the first positive improvements in terms of business regulation in a long time. "It will mean a 40-year breakthrough for Poland," he said.

"We've peeled back government [regulation] to the minimum. It's still there, but very slight," he said. According to Szejnfeld, the most important element was to improve citizens' trust in the government. However, the new regulations will remain just ideas until President Lech Kaczyński signs them into law, he said.