The European Movement International and the European Investment Bank (EIB), in partnership with the European Movement Poland and the Business Centre Club, hosted the event “Investing in the Future of Europe,’’ which was held in Warsaw on 5 July 2017.

This event aims to give Polish citizens an opportunity and find out more about the transformative power and direct benefit the European Investment Bank (EIB) can generate for the people of Poland as well as the barriers and opportunities in the single capital market in the EU. Representatives from European and national institutions, the European Investment Bank, as well as practitioners and experts, will share their insights into the work of EIB in practice.

The EIB is the largest international financing institution in the world. Through the financing of sustainable projects furthering EU policy objectives, the EIB aims to boost infrastructures, the development of SMEs, and innovation as well as educational systems and the science sector.

Whilst Poland is perceived as a strong and reliable partner for further investment schemes, the question remains how to take the country to the next level so that Poland can become a driver of growth in Europe.

Agenda:

10:00 – 10:30 – Opening coffee and registration

10:30 Welcoming remarks

• Marek Goliszewski, President of the Business Centre Club
• Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General of the European Movement International

10:40 – 10:55 Keynote speech

• Dr Hakan Lucius, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Transparency and Civil Society, EIB

10:55 – 11:10 Presentation: New products of the EIB for the private sector in Poland

• Piotr Michałowski, EIB Representative to Poland

11:10 – 12:10 Panel debate: (held in Polish with English translation)

• Jerzy Kwieciński – Secretary of State in the Ministry of Development
• Maciej Bukowski – WiseEurope, European think-tank based in Warsaw, President
• Tomasz Marciniak – Partner, McKinsey & Company, co-author of “Poland 2025” Report
• Janusz Jankowiak – Chief Economist, Polish Business Roundtable
• Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz – President, The Polish Bank Association;
• Mikołaj Dowgielewicz – Director General, Permanent Representative of EIB Group to EU Institutions in Brussels

Moderated by Marcin Święcicki, Member of the Polish Parliament, President of the European Movement Poland

12:10 – 13:00 Q&A session with the audience

13:00 Networking Lunch

This event is the first in a series co-organised by the European Movement International and the European Investment Bank, taking place in various locations in the EU and neighbourhood countries.

The sessions discussed the benefits of EU membership and it was an opportunity for broader civil society to learn more about the transformative power and direct benefit the EIB can generate for the people of Poland. It was also an opportunity to look at new investment opportunities offered by the EIB for the Polish private sector, including products made possible by the “Juncker Plan‘’. In addition, representatives from the government, the EIB, as well as practitioners and experts were informed about the economic trends and investment prospects in Poland and Europe, and the implementation of “Plan of Responsible Developement (Morawiecki Plan)’’.