The participants of the debate ‘Europe first! How to build European economic potential?’ discussed aspects of partnership between the two countries.
'The slogan "Europe first!" is a continuation of the idea of the founding fathers of the EU, Schuman and Monnet, who saw the future of Europe in joint action. Now the challenges are different, and so is the environment. As Europe, we compete with the US and China. Europe's competitive advantage lies in building a model of innovation that is scientifically advanced, socially just and designed to develop in a sustainable manner', said Valéry Gaucherand, President of the French-Polish Chamber of Commerce (CCIFP) and L'Oréal Poland and the Baltic States.
‘I am glad that France and Poland want to reindustrialise Europe and speak with one voice. For years we have been moving production from Europe to China, and now it has a negative impact on us. ‘We must bring production back to Europe’, urged deputy Rafał Komarewicz. He added that France has a highly developed nuclear energy sector, which means that energy prices there are among the lowest in Europe.
‘In the context of the agreement between Poland and France, two sectors must be important pillars of industrial policy. These are energy, because high energy prices are stifling our heavy industry, and industry, including the arms industry’, pointed out Michał Baranowski, Deputy Minister of Development and Technology, emphasising that in the area of energy this includes nuclear and renewable energy. ‘We need to work together in this area’, he added. Mr Komarewicz, a member of the Polish Parliament, and Frédéric Petit, a French MP, agreed with this, recalling that there had previously been no bilateral treaty between the two countries and that the one signed in Nancy secures Polish-French relations. ‘Energy is a fundamental cost factor for industry, and action must be taken in this area. What European manufacturers also need is to avoid discrimination against them in relation to entities from outside Europe. We need to level the playing field for European companies’, said Piotr Szlagowski-Budacz, Director of Strategy at Qemetica. Everyone agreed that deregulation and accelerating the pace of changes simplifying complex regulations, which constitute a barrier to development and innovation in Europe, are crucial. These two fundamental components – energy costs and the multitude of often contradictory regulations – put European industry in an uncompetitive position. The Europe First idea needs change.
'The most important thing about the treaty is that it has a European dimension. It clearly shows that strengthening Polish-French partnership in areas such as industry (including defence), energy and innovative digital technologies should become a driving force for the development of the entire European economy. This treaty is not just a bilateral agreement between Poland and France. Its purpose is to go beyond this framework agreement and, based on such partnership, to build European industrial champions capable of driving the economy of the entire continent', explained Valéry Gaucherand. He also reminded that France is one of Poland's most important economic partners. French companies are long-term investors who have so far invested over PLN 113 billion, and created almost 250,000 jobs. Every year, they reinvest half of their profits in Poland and, over several decades, have created a strong ecosystem of partnership with local Polish companies', emphasised the head of the CCIFP.
