Poland's plan B
The last summit of the European Council will surely be remembered for its budgetary fiasco and a deepening conflict within the Union. But in spite of the apparent crisis, the European show must go on. To that end, the heads of state adopted the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs, on the basis of which until October 15 this year each EU country is to prepare its own program of reforms.
The idea to draft such programs was discussed in depth during the March European Council summit and was aimed at bringing the tenets of the unsuccessful Lisbon Strategy closer to the needs of particular countries.
According to the EU guidelines the program is to tackle reform of public finance, the labor market and social policy, as well as institutional and regulatory changes. "The main barrier for Poland's development today is the state itself - the public sector is inefficient and far too complex. Almost 50 percent of Poland's GDP passes thorough the central budget. Laws adopted by the government impose an additional burden on the economy, thus impeding the development of companies and increasing the cost of employment," says Jan Szomburg, president of the Gdańsk Institute for Market Economics.
The Polish Lisbon Strategy Forum (PLSF) has issued its recommendations as to what measures should be included in the new program in order to enable efficient reforms. When it comes to social policy, Irena Wóycicka of PLSF underlined the need for more social activation: "In Poland, only 50 percent of people of working age are professionally active - we have the highest unemployment of young people in the EU and the lowest retirement age. People are used to extending their hand for state money."
Other problems stressed by the forum include too complicated company establishment procedures and high additional costs for entrepreneurs. All the recommendations are going to be included in the form of a white paper and presented to the authors of the future program.
There is a risk that the plan may fall foul of the autumn elections - either being watered down or lost altogether.
The idea to draft such programs was discussed in depth during the March European Council summit and was aimed at bringing the tenets of the unsuccessful Lisbon Strategy closer to the needs of particular countries.
According to the EU guidelines the program is to tackle reform of public finance, the labor market and social policy, as well as institutional and regulatory changes. "The main barrier for Poland's development today is the state itself - the public sector is inefficient and far too complex. Almost 50 percent of Poland's GDP passes thorough the central budget. Laws adopted by the government impose an additional burden on the economy, thus impeding the development of companies and increasing the cost of employment," says Jan Szomburg, president of the Gdańsk Institute for Market Economics.
The Polish Lisbon Strategy Forum (PLSF) has issued its recommendations as to what measures should be included in the new program in order to enable efficient reforms. When it comes to social policy, Irena Wóycicka of PLSF underlined the need for more social activation: "In Poland, only 50 percent of people of working age are professionally active - we have the highest unemployment of young people in the EU and the lowest retirement age. People are used to extending their hand for state money."
Other problems stressed by the forum include too complicated company establishment procedures and high additional costs for entrepreneurs. All the recommendations are going to be included in the form of a white paper and presented to the authors of the future program.
There is a risk that the plan may fall foul of the autumn elections - either being watered down or lost altogether.
