Takeaway
A significant challenge is to ensure the economic security of the EU. During the "Geoeconomics: Looking for Engines of Growth" panel, Deputy Minister of Development Ignacy Niemczycki highlighted that thorough screening of foreign direct investments entering the EU and export control are crucial pillars of the EU's security strategy. Panel participants emphasised the necessity of identifying threats, particularly within supply chains. Román Arjona, Chief Economist at the Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs of the EurCom, observed that Brussels recognizes threats stemming from China's significant involvement in trade. He also advocated leveraging the potential resulting from cooperation with resource-rich countries, such as those in the G7 group, Argentina, and Uganda. Quentin Genard, Executive Director of the European Climate Foundation, underscored that both economic and political factors play a vital role in investment location decisions.
The Green Deal is not destined to fail, but it requires improved communication strategies. Ilona Jędrasik, the new head of the ClientEarth Foundation, stressed the importance of continuing the Green Deal during the "Climate and Energy Transition - a European Green Deal" panel. Addressing the farmers' protests, she said that agricultural regulations represent just one aspect of the Green Deal, which overall benefits EU citizens. Similarly, during the "Geoeconomics: Looking for Engines of Growth" panel, Niemczycki echoed this sentiment, highlighting that many farmers stand to gain from the Green Deal, although he acknowledged understanding their protests, being a farm owner himself. Deputy MinClim Krzysztof Bolesta, participating in the Green Deal discussion, suggested that politicians have lost the "communication battle," leading citizens to doubt the principle of a just transition, particularly amid the conflict in Ukraine and rising prices impacting the economy.
The energy transition is inevitable, but further action is necessary. Susi Dennison, senior director for strategy and transformation at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECRF), highlighted the importance of strong cooperation between EU countries to accelerate the energy transformation. Bolesta said that there is no time for debates on the best energy transformation model, advocating for the EU to adhere to the principle of technological neutrality, which means nuclear energy should not face discrimination. Ilona Jędrasik stressed the necessity of legal changes at the national level, citing the need for liberalisation of wind farm laws in Poland as an example. Grzegorz Kotte, deputy CEO of Enea Wytwarzanie and technical director of the coal-fired power plant in Kozienice, acknowledged the challenges faced by residents of that coal-dependent city in envisioning life without coal. However, he also admitted that coal has no future, predicting that falling wholesale electricity prices due to the increasing share of renewable energy sources (RES) will make it increasingly difficult for coal-fired power plants to remain profitable, with gas units facing similar challenges in the future.
Digital regulations do not guarantee the development of innovation. The assessment of the acts adopted during the outgoing EurCom term divided the conference participants. During the "Digital Future: Between Regulations and Competitiveness" panel, Toomas Ilves, former president of Estonia, criticised the prevalent belief in Europe that innovation will thrive solely through regulations. Deputy Minister of Digitalisation Dariusz Standerski echoed this sentiment but highlighted the importance of new institutions established under the recent laws to support innovation. Mari-Noëlle Jégo Laveissière, deputy executive for Europe at Orange, noted the absence of technological champions in Europe. In contrast, Ewelina Jelenkowska-Lucà, representative of the EurCom, defended European regulations, said that legislation is just one component of a broader EU strategy that includes investments. She clarified that Europe does not regulate technology itself but its specific usage.
Europe needs a change in its approach to cybersecurity. Ilves underscored the urgent need for a shift in Europe's approach to cybersecurity, citing the extensive history of cyberattacks on European countries, including the digital offensive on Estonia in 2007. He advocated for security to become a top priority for the EU, not only in the context of digital transformation but also in energy and green initiatives. Standerski highlighted the crucial role of cooperation, both between national services and internationally, in combating digital threats. His observation that a system's strength is only as robust as its weakest component was echoed by Jelenkowska-Lucà. She acknowledged that previous efforts to bolster Europe's digital security had fallen short but cited the recent adoption of the Cyber Resilience Act by the EurParl on March 12 as a positive step toward addressing past shortcomings. 
