Regional rendezvous
This week the small Polish resort of Krynica Zdrój will become a focal point for politicians, businesspeople and experts from the CEE region as it hosts the annual Economic Forum, a four-day event which Western publications like Le Soir and Le Monde have called the "Davos of the East." This year's Forum will include around 150 debates organized in 11 thematic blocks, which include business and management, international politics and security, the energy industry, the EU and its neighbors and macroeconomics, to name a few. The main theme of this year's Forum is "Europe - crisis, change or chance?"
"On many calendars, the first week of September has 'Krynica' written on it. This is where guests from over 60 countries - including EU commissioners, government and parliamentary delegations, businesspeople and experts - meet," said Artur Negri, the Forum's spokesperson. Around 3,000 guests, including nearly 400 journalists, are expected to attend the event.
"The debates touch on all topics, including the most difficult ones. Everyone takes part in the discussions, including those with very critical views. Therefore, the Forum provides a chance to solve even the most complicated problems," said Zygmunt Berdychowski, the head of the Forum's program council.
This year's guests will include former Czech president Vaclav Havel, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Güenter Verheugen, Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget Dalia Grybauskaite and Nobel Laureate in economics Reinhard Selten.
The sixth edition of the annual New Europe. Report on Transformation will be presented during the Forum. "It's a one-of-a-kind publication, which describes the political and economic situation as well as challenges awaiting the 28 countries of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, along with theformer Soviet republics," Negri said. The project coordinator is professor Dariusz Rosati, a former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs and current eurodeputy. Authors of texts in the report include scientists and experts from notable research and academic centers in Poland and Russia.
During the event the program council will also present Economic Forum Awards to individuals, companies and institutions from the CEE region for their achievements over the previous year. The prizes are awarded in four categories: Man of Central and Eastern Europe, New Culture of New Europe, NGO of Central and Eastern Europe and Company of Central and Eastern Europe.
Two smaller events will take place alongside the Economic Forum. The Forum of Regions, held in Muszyna, will see the exchange of experiences of regional and local-government leaders from the CEE region, while the Economic Forum of Young Leaders, taking place in Nowy Sŕcz, will host young social, economic and political leaders from the EU, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Over 200 representatives are expected to take part in the latter forum.
