Jubilee 25 years of Leviathan in Brussels

lewiatan.org 3 weeks ago

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Among the guests were Members of the European Parliament Elżbieta Łukacijewska, Magdalena Adamowicz, Michał Szczerba, Dariusz Joński and Michał Kobosko, as well as erstwhile members of the European Parliament, including prof. Danuta Hübner.

Single marketplace at the centre of speeches

Special guests of the Jubilee were Ambassador Agnieszka Bartol and Commissioner Piotr Serafin. In their speeches, they focused on the importance of the single marketplace and on how much we must take care of it. The Ambassador recalled that Leviathan was the first Polish employers' organization present in Brussels. Commissioner Serafin besides spoke of the EU's multiannual financial framework, which sets yearly spending limits for 7 years and provides unchangeable backing for EU policies.

Office in Brussels before Poland joined the EU

Marek Górski, president of the Confederacy Lewiatan recalled that Poland was not yet a associate of the EU 25 years ago. Leviathan understood, however, that if the future of Polish business is to be shaped in Europe, Polish business must be present in Brussels. The Confederacy opened a permanent office there in 2001.

It was a declaration of ambition, a clear signal that Polish business wants not only to participate in European integration, but besides to have a voice in shaping it.

Polish companies and organisations that erstwhile learned how the European decision-making process works have become an active part of it. present they come to Brussels not only to explain what is not working, but with concrete proposals for better solutions.

From pharmacy advertising to sanctions against Russia

Marek Górski besides recalled the most crucial issues where the long-term presence of Leviathan in Brussels translated into concrete results for Polish and European business. Among them, he mentioned actions concerning the ban on pharmacy advertising, SPC Manufacturing Waiver, expanding the importance of the production of active substances in Europe and sealing EU sanctions against Russia for selected building materials.

These examples show 1 thing: erstwhile business is present early, it presents credible evidence and builds strong European partnerships, it can turn its concerns into a real change of policy.

Perhaps the strongest symbol of this road is, as Marek Górski said, the presence of Leviathan in BusinessEurope, the largest business organisation in Europe, which brings together federations of entrepreneurs from all over the continent. Leviathan has been a associate of it since 2002. Henryka Bochniarz was Vice president of BusinessEurope and Maciej Witucki was her Vice president and peculiar Envoy for Ukraine. This year Maciej Witucki became president of BusinessEurope as the first Pole and the first typical of Central and east Europe in this position.

Speaking of the next 25 years, president Leviathan announced that the Confederation would proceed to bring the voice of Polish business to Brussels. However, her ambition goes on: it is about making Poland and Polish business the leaders of change in the European Union.

Risk worth taking

The participants, in the form of a video recording, were addressed to Henryk Bochniarz, the founder president of the Confederate Leviathan. She recalled that the decision to open the office was not obvious. Poland was only negotiating accession, and any members thought that Leviathan was going besides fast. The office besides meant investments, people, time and energy without guarantees of success.

I remember reasoning then very simple: if we wait until Poland joins the European Union, we will be late.

She stressed that nothing crucial that Leviathan achieved in Poland and Europe was the work of 1 person. She thanked everyone who believed that idea. In her opinion, it is time for Poland to decision from the function of a associate in European integration, which has succeeded, to the function of 1 of the countries liable for the future of Europe. Polish business should be part of this leadership.

The presence matters. If you're not sitting at the table, individual else will decide.

Thank you for the team

An crucial part of the evening was honoring the present and erstwhile representatives. Marek Górski thanked those who first took the challenge and introduced Leviathan to Brussels: Henryka Bochniarz, Lech Pilawski and Andrzej Rudce. He besides thanked everyone who created the office for 25 years: Lucynie Kamińska, Magda Kopczyńska, Piotr Sarnecki, Annie Kwiatkiewicz, Annie Trzop and Adam Dorivalski.

Special thanks were received to King Graf, manager of the Bureau in Brussels, and Luan Żak, Deputy Director. present they represent Leviathan and proceed to work in Brussels.

Competitiveness of Europe: from diagnosis to action

The authoritative part closed the panel “Europe’s Competitiveness: From Diagnosis to Delivery”. He was led by King Graf. The discussion was attended by:

Mr Valère Moutarlier, Deputy Director-General of DG GROW at the European Commission,
Maciej Witucki, president of BusinessEurope,
Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, associate of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Committee on the interior marketplace and Consumer Protection.

The starting point was to observe that Europe is not lacking a diagnosis. Structural challenges have already identified Letty and Draghi reports. Today, we request to answer the question of how rapidly ambition can be translated into results and erstwhile companies will actually feel the difference.

King Graf asked the panelists what the most hinders Europe: regulation itself, fragmented implementation in the associate States or the pace of decision-making. The questions besides included:

gaps between political ambition and business reality,
simplification beyond reporting,
barriers that companies, especially SMEs, inactive face in the single market,
whether Central and east Europe can become 1 of the drivers of European competitiveness.