On 25 June, Business & Science Poland organised a roundtable event in cooperation with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), entitled "Revitalising Industry in the EU: Insights from Poland and the CEE Region". The event was held under the official patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of a broader energy transition in decarbonising Europe’s industrial base, with a particular focus on the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Drawing on the experiences of Poland and its neighbouring countries, the discussion focused on how EU policy could better balance climate ambitions with industrial resilience, competitiveness, and energy security.
The event opened with keynote remarks by:
• Irena Banaszyńska, Counsellor-Attaché for Industry, Space & TechHarm, Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
• Jacek Truszczyński, Acting Head of Unit: Net Zero Industries, DG GROW, European Commission
Participants included representatives from organisations such as: BASF, Bellona Europa, Carbon Capture & Storage Association, Cefic, European Aluminium Association, European Lime Association, Euromines, International Copper Association Europe, nucleareurope, SEV – Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, and Shearwater.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the preparation of a document summarising the main points raised by participants, which should be addressed at the EU level to enhance the competitiveness of the CEE region's economy:
1. Ensure Technology Neutrality Across All EU Policies
2. Reduce Energy Costs for Industry to Maintain Global Competitiveness
3. Improve Access to Financing
4. Accelerate Permitting Processes and Regulatory Simplification
5. Support the Creation of Lead Markets for Clean Industrial Products
6. Accelerate Infrastructure Development for Clean Energy and CCS
7. Optimise the ETS and CBAM
8. Develop Cluster-Based Industrial Decarbonisation Strategies
9. Ensure Full Integration of CEE Perspectives into EU Policy Design
10. Recognize the Socioeconomic Dimension of Industrial Transition
We invite you to read the meeting SUMMARY and view the photo coverage of the event.
