Where East meets West
Zygmunt Berdychowski: Actually, it is difficult to talk of one particular idea behind an event that today groups 1,700 guests and which simultaneously takes place in Krynica Zdrój, Tarnów, Nowy Sącz and Muszyna. It is the result of a long process of evolution and the work of a large number of people.
The first meeting that we organized in 1992 brought together a mere 120 participants. So we have come a long way and, during this time, we never really had one particular plan or goal that we aimed to achieve. Instead, we were constantly aware of the necessity to improve so that the Forum in Krynica could be more and more attractive each year.
The existing formula is certainly not the final one. Every year we have a richer offer for all who - whether for business or political reasons - are interested in, and want to talk about, what is going on in Central and Eastern Europe. We would like all who are undergoing either an economic or a political transformation at the moment to have the opportunity to talk to those who have already had democracy and a market economy for some time now.
It's the 18th edition of the Forum this year. What would you describe as the event's greatest success so far?
If I were to point at one thing in which we have succeeded, I would certainly say it's the very fact that we exist. There is no similar event in this part of Europe that could survive as long as 18 years, given the level of emotion characteristic of countries that undergo this kind of transformation. In this regard, we are undoubtedly a unique phenomenon.
Some people have called the Economic Forum in Krynica a second Davos. How do you feel about this?
The comparison is not justified, for a number of reasons. Davos is 20 years older than we are, which is the equivalent of several epochs when it comes to the organization of such events, or the organizers' experience and knowledge. Trust and recognizability are another thing. The whole world knows that the organizers of the World Economic Forum in Davos are a reliable firm. That we are a reliable firm is known mostly to politicians of Eastern and Central Europe. Finally, the two events' budgets are incomparable.
We don't want or need to be a second Davos and I am convinced that there is no room for another event of this type anyway. We want to be more useful and more pragmatic. We want to be the hosts of dialogue between the former Eastern Bloc and the West.
What does the organization of such a significant economic event in Poland say about the country's role in the region? Is it a means for Poland to build its position as a regional political and economic leader?
Certainly, it's an event that can be used, by [Polish officials], for the realization of Poland's raison d'État. It's obvious that in an era of progressing integration and consolidation, Poland's place is in the EU. That, however, does not exclude usefulness of engaging in regional initiatives.
There are many ways to achieve the country's primary political and economic goals. One of them is to build regional alliances and partnerships, be it with the Baltic states, the Visegrad countries or the Weimar Triangle countries. The Polish government and the Polish president have a whole range of instruments at their disposal and I am convinced that the Economic Forum in Krynica has already become one of them.
What is this year's forum's main focus?
It's the question of Central Europe's role in European politics. The question of whether it's a partner or merely a bystander. That is a central issue in the face of the recent developments in EU-Russian relations. To what extent are our suggestions and propositions being seriously taken into consideration and to what extent are we only a passive observer?
The question is also justified because of the fact that Central Europe is growing. Europe's center of gravity is moving eastward in many ways. It's this part of Europe that is today developing most dynamically. It's this part of Europe that is providing the cheapest labor force. It's due to this part of Europe that countries such as Great Britain, Ireland and France are still enjoying economic growth. Were it not for the immigrants from the EU's new member states, that growth would probably already be gone. In this sense, it's an enormously important issue.
Will the ongoing Russian-Georgian conflict dominate the event?
Certainly that will be one of the major topics of this year's discussions. It couldn't be otherwise in a situation when Russians will constitute the majority of the Forum's guests from abroad and Russia is EU's second most important partner after the US.
Besides, a special EU summit devoted to the issue has just taken place. For many different reasons, such significant developments for mutual relations as those that took place in August will affect discussions during the forum.
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18th Economic Forum
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| September 10 - Wednesday | |
| 3:00 pm | Plenary session |
| 4:15 - 8:20 pm | Discussion panels |
| 8:30 pm | Awards presentation ceremony of the 18th Economic Forum |
| 9:30 pm | Accompanying events |
| September 11 - Thursday | |
| 9:15 am | Plenary session |
| 10:30 am-5:20 pm | Discussion panels |
| 5:30 pm | Plenary session |
| 7:00 pm | Accompanying and recreational events |
| September 12 - Friday | |
| 9:15 am | Plenary session |
| 10:30 am-5:00 pm | Discussion panels |
| 5:00 pm | Accompanying and recreational events |
| September 13 - Saturday | |
| 9:00 am-12:00pm | Recreational events |
Discussion panels
The 18th Forum's program will include more than 130 debates divided into the following thematic fields:
• Business and Management
• Macroeconomics
• New Economy
• Science and Culture
• Fuels and Energy
• International Affairs and Security
• EU and its Neighbours
• Regional Policy vs. Globalisation
• Regions
• Society
• State and Reforms
Apart from debates, the Forum's agenda will provide some accompanying events (including cultural events) and leisure activities
