PKPP promotes R&D
The country's largest employers organization, the Polish Confederation of Private Employers (PKPP) says the so-called Lisbon Strategy, which outlines Europe's blueprint for development, is vital for both the success of Poland and the region.
However, the group is critical of the way the initiative, which aims to encourage competitiveness, sustainable growth, employment, and research and development has been managed.
PKPP management board advisor, Janusz Kaczurba, said: "The goals of the Lisbon Strategy are dear to us, but it is a perfect example of how a good initiative can fall victim to bureaucracy."
The PKPP blames restrictions on the labor market, regulation barriers, extensive social and welfare programs and the lack of original, modern technologies for the problems that the realization of the strategy faces.
The need to increase spending on research and development was particularly underlined by the PKPP, as only 0.7 percent of Poland's GDP is spent on development and research in comparison to the EU average of 1.9 percent.
Kaczurba sees developing new technologies and innovation as vital to improving Poland's competitiveness. "We have to make sure that our economy's competitiveness is based on more solid foundations than low labor costs, such as modern products and innovative technology," he said. Kaczurba also thinks that structural and coherence funds should be to a larger extent spent on developing research and development programs in the new member states.
The PKPP criticizes the government's stand on the Lisbon Strategy as vague. The confederation would like to see Poland do more to present the advantages and benefits of EU enlargement for the Lisbon Strategy. PKPP sees developing all aspects of the Common Market as indispensable to the EU's economic growth. Particularly important, according to the confederation, are eliminating all restrictions on services and labor movement.
However, the group is critical of the way the initiative, which aims to encourage competitiveness, sustainable growth, employment, and research and development has been managed.
PKPP management board advisor, Janusz Kaczurba, said: "The goals of the Lisbon Strategy are dear to us, but it is a perfect example of how a good initiative can fall victim to bureaucracy."
The PKPP blames restrictions on the labor market, regulation barriers, extensive social and welfare programs and the lack of original, modern technologies for the problems that the realization of the strategy faces.
The need to increase spending on research and development was particularly underlined by the PKPP, as only 0.7 percent of Poland's GDP is spent on development and research in comparison to the EU average of 1.9 percent.
Kaczurba sees developing new technologies and innovation as vital to improving Poland's competitiveness. "We have to make sure that our economy's competitiveness is based on more solid foundations than low labor costs, such as modern products and innovative technology," he said. Kaczurba also thinks that structural and coherence funds should be to a larger extent spent on developing research and development programs in the new member states.
The PKPP criticizes the government's stand on the Lisbon Strategy as vague. The confederation would like to see Poland do more to present the advantages and benefits of EU enlargement for the Lisbon Strategy. PKPP sees developing all aspects of the Common Market as indispensable to the EU's economic growth. Particularly important, according to the confederation, are eliminating all restrictions on services and labor movement.
