17 February
Brussels. Inauguration of the European Parliamentary Week with the participation of the Sejm and Senate Marshals
“We need strong leadership in Europe today. We need to reboot Europe for cooperation and values it started with; but above all, today in Europe, we should be reiterating that old Polish saying “umiesz liczyć, licz na siebie,” that is to say, if you want something done, do it yourself. And that is where we should start any conversation about how to mobilise Europe’s great potential,” the Marshal of the Sejm pointed out.
“We are ready to work together in any forum and in any format. To make Europe simpler, more comprehensible, and to make it once more a continent that invests in itself and in its hope, rather than just serving the fear instilled by others. I hope that the Polish Presidency, this strong Polish leadership which is indisputable in Europe today, leads us to solutions to European problems,” said Marshal Hołownia.
As Marshal of the Senate Malgorzata Kidawa-Błońska pointed out, the fundamental problem facing Europe today is to protect and strengthen our security. Her belief is that the best guarantee that the enemies of freedom do not divide us is the strength of our economy. We can achieve this by establishing the right environment for enterprises to produce better, more efficient and more innovative goods, services and solutions than those offered by their international competitors. We need to ensure that Europe is a place where economic growth and innovation, especially digital innovation, are strongly supported. “It is our job as parliamentarians to convince citizens that only with a strong European economy can we ensure security for Europe in all its dimensions: external, internal, economic, information, energy, food and health. This is how we have defined the priorities of the Polish Presidency,” argued Marshal Kidawa-Błońska. As she noted, Europe has created a community of the West and a community of democracy. The European Union is today the foundation of the democratic world. “To ensure a secure future for this community, we need to build the strength of the European economy. It is a big challenge, but I am sure that together we can meet it,” the Marshal assured.
“This is the largest gathering of national and European parliaments. People across Europe are looking to us, to parliaments, to deliver. They want to see action. They don’t want to see words. They want to see solutions, not excuses. And they want to ultimately feel that their vote makes a difference,” Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, declared in her speech.
“Parliamentary democracy is the best model we have, but it’s up to us collectively to prove that it works. And that means pushing past political divides, and focusing on what really matters,” she said.
“We are a global economic powerhouse. We have a highly skilled workforce. Our life expectancy is among the highest. The challenge now is to secure these gains for the future. We need the political courage to do this. Our responsibility is to find solutions to the challenges people face in today’s world: cost of living, jobs, security,” President Metsola added.
After the session, Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia opened the exhibition titled ‘Republic of Innovation,’ which presents Poland’s contribution, the contribution of Polish men and women, to the development of the modern world. The exhibition is part of a series of events accompanying the parliamentary dimension of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The vernissage was attended by the Vice-Marshal of the Senate Maciej Żywno, along with deputies, senators and MEPs.
In turn, Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska met with the Polish community and Poles living in Belgium at the Polish Embassy in Brussels.
The Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Coordination and Economic Governance in the European Union brought together the committees of the European Parliament. Representatives of key Sejm and Senate committees, including those competent for public finances, the economy and development, and the European Union, took part in the talks.
The meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs discussed the future of Banking Union and Capital Markets Union. In Session II, speakers tackled the topic of creating an ecosystem for European investments. Together with the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament Aurore Lalucq, the deliberations were moderated by Deputy Maria Małgorzata Janyska, Member of the Economic and Development Committee of the Sejm, and Senator Waldemar Pawlak, Chair of the Committee on National Economy and Innovation of the Senate.
Session I of the meeting of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament was titled “AI and the labour market with a focus on changing working conditions.” In Session II, guests, representatives of national parliaments, and MEPs discussed the role of social and employment policies in the EU’s reviewed economic governance framework. The Committee’s deliberations were co-chaired by Li Andersson, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament; Deputy Agnieszka Pomaska, Chair of the EU Affairs Committee of the Sejm; Deputy Marek Krząkała, Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Sejm; and Senator Tomasz Grodzki, Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee of the Senate.
The works of the Committee on Budgets focused on “Bridging the competitiveness gap: how to increase synergies between the national budgets and the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.” The keynote speaker for this session was Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration. In the subsequent session, participants sought to address European Public Goods: how to identify and finance them? The deliberations of the Committee on Budgets were co-chaired by Johan Van Overtveldt, Chair of the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament; Deputy Krystyna Skowrońska, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances of the Sejm; Deputy Rafał Kasprzyk, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances of the Sejm; and Senator Kazimierz Kleina, Chair of the Committee on Budget and Public Finances of the Senate.
The Sejm’s delegation also included the following deputies: Krzysztof Truskolaski – Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee, Konrad Frysztak – Member of the European Union Affairs Committee, Łukasz Horbatowski – Deputy Chair of the Economic and Development Committee, Izabela Bodnar – Member of the Economic and Development Committee, Zofia Czernow – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances, and Agnieszka Kłopotek – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances. Michał Deskur, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Sejm, was also present.
On behalf of the Senate, the event was also attended by the following senators: Jolanta Hibner – Deputy Chair of the Committee on National Economy and Innovation, Jacek Włosowicz – Deputy Chair of the EU Affairs Committee, and Janusz Pęcherz – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Budget and Public Finances. Ewa Polkowska, Head of the Senate Chancellery, was also part of the delegation.
“We are ready to work together in any forum and in any format. To make Europe simpler, more comprehensible, and to make it once more a continent that invests in itself and in its hope, rather than just serving the fear instilled by others. I hope that the Polish Presidency, this strong Polish leadership which is indisputable in Europe today, leads us to solutions to European problems,” said Marshal Hołownia.
As Marshal of the Senate Malgorzata Kidawa-Błońska pointed out, the fundamental problem facing Europe today is to protect and strengthen our security. Her belief is that the best guarantee that the enemies of freedom do not divide us is the strength of our economy. We can achieve this by establishing the right environment for enterprises to produce better, more efficient and more innovative goods, services and solutions than those offered by their international competitors. We need to ensure that Europe is a place where economic growth and innovation, especially digital innovation, are strongly supported. “It is our job as parliamentarians to convince citizens that only with a strong European economy can we ensure security for Europe in all its dimensions: external, internal, economic, information, energy, food and health. This is how we have defined the priorities of the Polish Presidency,” argued Marshal Kidawa-Błońska. As she noted, Europe has created a community of the West and a community of democracy. The European Union is today the foundation of the democratic world. “To ensure a secure future for this community, we need to build the strength of the European economy. It is a big challenge, but I am sure that together we can meet it,” the Marshal assured.
“This is the largest gathering of national and European parliaments. People across Europe are looking to us, to parliaments, to deliver. They want to see action. They don’t want to see words. They want to see solutions, not excuses. And they want to ultimately feel that their vote makes a difference,” Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, declared in her speech.
“Parliamentary democracy is the best model we have, but it’s up to us collectively to prove that it works. And that means pushing past political divides, and focusing on what really matters,” she said.
“We are a global economic powerhouse. We have a highly skilled workforce. Our life expectancy is among the highest. The challenge now is to secure these gains for the future. We need the political courage to do this. Our responsibility is to find solutions to the challenges people face in today’s world: cost of living, jobs, security,” President Metsola added.
After the session, Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia opened the exhibition titled ‘Republic of Innovation,’ which presents Poland’s contribution, the contribution of Polish men and women, to the development of the modern world. The exhibition is part of a series of events accompanying the parliamentary dimension of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The vernissage was attended by the Vice-Marshal of the Senate Maciej Żywno, along with deputies, senators and MEPs.
In turn, Marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska met with the Polish community and Poles living in Belgium at the Polish Embassy in Brussels.
The Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Coordination and Economic Governance in the European Union brought together the committees of the European Parliament. Representatives of key Sejm and Senate committees, including those competent for public finances, the economy and development, and the European Union, took part in the talks.
The meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs discussed the future of Banking Union and Capital Markets Union. In Session II, speakers tackled the topic of creating an ecosystem for European investments. Together with the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament Aurore Lalucq, the deliberations were moderated by Deputy Maria Małgorzata Janyska, Member of the Economic and Development Committee of the Sejm, and Senator Waldemar Pawlak, Chair of the Committee on National Economy and Innovation of the Senate.
Session I of the meeting of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament was titled “AI and the labour market with a focus on changing working conditions.” In Session II, guests, representatives of national parliaments, and MEPs discussed the role of social and employment policies in the EU’s reviewed economic governance framework. The Committee’s deliberations were co-chaired by Li Andersson, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament; Deputy Agnieszka Pomaska, Chair of the EU Affairs Committee of the Sejm; Deputy Marek Krząkała, Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Sejm; and Senator Tomasz Grodzki, Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee of the Senate.
The works of the Committee on Budgets focused on “Bridging the competitiveness gap: how to increase synergies between the national budgets and the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework.” The keynote speaker for this session was Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration. In the subsequent session, participants sought to address European Public Goods: how to identify and finance them? The deliberations of the Committee on Budgets were co-chaired by Johan Van Overtveldt, Chair of the Committee on Budgets of the European Parliament; Deputy Krystyna Skowrońska, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances of the Sejm; Deputy Rafał Kasprzyk, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances of the Sejm; and Senator Kazimierz Kleina, Chair of the Committee on Budget and Public Finances of the Senate.
The Sejm’s delegation also included the following deputies: Krzysztof Truskolaski – Deputy Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee, Konrad Frysztak – Member of the European Union Affairs Committee, Łukasz Horbatowski – Deputy Chair of the Economic and Development Committee, Izabela Bodnar – Member of the Economic and Development Committee, Zofia Czernow – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances, and Agnieszka Kłopotek – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Public Finances. Michał Deskur, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Sejm, was also present.
On behalf of the Senate, the event was also attended by the following senators: Jolanta Hibner – Deputy Chair of the Committee on National Economy and Innovation, Jacek Włosowicz – Deputy Chair of the EU Affairs Committee, and Janusz Pęcherz – Deputy Chair of the Committee on Budget and Public Finances. Ewa Polkowska, Head of the Senate Chancellery, was also part of the delegation.
