Poolse vice-premier: groene economie zal toekomst van Europese welvaart verzekeren (en)

Discussions at the informal Competitiveness Council i meeting.

“Maintaining an appropriate balance between the development of industry and environmental protection objectives will increase the competitiveness of the European economy and provide Europeans with a climate appropriate for life,”stated Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak during the informal Competitiveness Council meeting.

The meeting of industry ministers from member states took place on 22 July 2011 in Sopot.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes that sustainable industrial development with respect for environmental protection is a big chance for Europe. “Today, real manufacturing is the basis for the prosperity of EU i states. For this reason the requirements of climate policy should not have a negative impact on the competitiveness of industry,” he said.

In his opinion, simultaneous reduction of greenhouse gasses and economic development are entirely possible. “A good example here in Poland. Over the past 20 years we have reduced emissions by 30% while doubling our GDP,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

He recalled that the Europe 2020 i strategy adopted by the European Union redefines development priorities. “Economic growth must be sensible, sustainable and socially responsible,” he said. “These objectives must be supported by effective industrial policy. In building a competitive European economy we must combat the movement of manufacturing out of the EU,” he stated.

He stressed that industry provides one in five private sector jobs in the European Union. “It is also a driving force for innovation,” he added. As much as 80% of private expenditure on research and development comes from industry. Mr Pawlak’s views are shared by European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani i. “In order to be successful in building a competitive European economy we have to support real manufacturing and production by enterprises,” he said.

He recalled that the objective of EU initiatives is to enable citizens of the European Union to achieve a high quality of life. In his opinion this may be ensured through maintaining an appropriate balance between industrial development and ecology.

Mr Tajani believes that industrial development can be reconciled with environmental protection. “This is a type of marriage of convenience, where the partners have equal rights. This type of marriage can be very long-lasting,” he said.“We should however find solutions which allow for the effective and economical use of available resources in order to develop industry while simultaneously ensuring environmental protection,” Mr Tajani added.

He emphasised that assistance from science and new technologies is necessary for the implementation of EU 2020 environmental objectives. “We want the European Parliament to allocate EUR 80 billion to the research and development of innovative environmental solutions,” he said. He also noted the need to ensure appropriate lending for businesses.

Minister of the Environment Andrzej Kraszewski also spoke of the possibilities to reconcile environmental and industrial objectives. In his opinion the cause of the EU’s on-going crisis is overly developed consumption, which the economic systems of specific countries cannot handle.

“Pressure to achieve a high standard of living brings with it over-use of natural resources and their rapid depletion,”he warned. “The only solution for our planet today is green economy. The quicker we begin to implement it, the more time and resources we will have to find solutions which will provide us with an appropriate standard of living,” Mr Kraszewski stated.

The Minister of the Environment also supports the demands of the Minister of Economy concerning a sustainable production and consumption model. “We cannot afford the current waste of energy and raw materials,” he said. “Consumers must be aware of the impact their actions have on the environment. If people are well informed they will be willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products, understanding the significance for their health and for future generations,” he stated.