From April 22 to 24, 2025, Katowice once again hosted one of the most important events in Europe – the 17th European Economic Congress. This year’s edition, organized by the PTWP Group – the organizer of the European Economic Congress, was traditionally held at the International Congress Center and the Spodek sports and entertainment hall.
Over the course of three days of debates, meetings, and panels, more than 15,000 participants took part – including representatives of the Polish government, the European Parliament, the European Commission, business, academia, international organizations, and media from across Europe. The 2025 European Economic Congress was also an opportunity for discussions within the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which began at the start of the year.
The Congress as a platform for international dialogue
Among those participating in the inauguration were includingMinister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka, Minister of State Assets Jakub Jaworowski, Deputy Minister of Climate Miłosz Motyka, former Prime Minister and Member of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, as well as Germany’s Federal Minister of Economy Robert Habeck and representatives of the governments of Denmark and the United Kingdom.
Also participating in the event were: the Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Wojciech Wrochna, Social Advisor to the Minister of Defense Mieczysław Bieniek, former Deputy Commander of NATO Strategic Command, and representatives of the United Arab Emirates administration responsible for the economic development of Abu Dhabi.
Already during the opening session, the need to strengthen energy security and resource sovereignty was emphasized. Participants unanimously stressed that the energy transition must be fair, and its pace coordinated and predictable.
Mutual cooperation, building resilient supply chains, and exchanging experiences among EU member states were repeatedly cited as key conditions for success.
Energy sector as the foundation of security and transformation
Nuclear power – a stable foundation of the energy mix
Much attention was devoted to nuclear energy, which according to the new approach of the Ministry of Industry is to constitute the core of the Polish energy mix after 2035. The Minister of Industry announced that the first large reactor under the project implemented by PEJ and Westinghouse is to begin operation already in 2028, with electricity production planned for 2036.
In addition to large units, the construction of small modular reactors (SMR) is planned, which will be built in locations such as Bełchatów – once the coal heart of Poland.
The President of the Polish Atomic Agency (PAA), Andrzej Głowacki, indicated that the greatest challenge is the lack of sufficiently qualified personnel and the need to simplify formal procedures.
The discussion also involved representatives of companies such as Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) and Unimot, which are actively engaged in implementing SMR nuclear projects. During the debates, they outlined the progress of work on technology implementation and companies’ further plans.
Renewable energy sources – offshore, PV and hydrogen
Apart from nuclear, the further development of renewable energy sources is crucial. Special attention was focused on offshore wind energy. Janusz Bil from Orlen Neptun emphasized that this is the only technology that can replace the phased-out coal capacities within a decade.
Krzysztof Telega from the Industrial Development Agency pointed out the increase in renewable energy projects’ costs since 2021 – resulting from inflation and component prices. However, despite these challenges, the development of offshore wind, photovoltaics, and hydrogen energy is inevitable.
These strategies align with the assumptions of the green economic transformation, which are also priorities for the European Commission and EU Member States. Miłosz Motyka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, announced doubling the installed renewable capacity to 56.5 GW by 2030, with the share of renewables exceeding 33% in the energy mix.
White Paper, KPEiK strategy, and the future of mining regions
On the first day of the European Economic Congress, the Ministry of Industry held a conference as part of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Its goal was to create a space for international discussion on the challenges related to energy transition and the future of coal regions in Poland and Europe.
An important part of this conference was the presentation of a new strategic document – the “Transformation White Paper,” prepared by the Ministry of Industry. The document foresees support for post-mining areas, reforms of the concession system, and new rules for supporting investors in regions such as Silesia and Zagłębie.
Deputy Minister of Climate Miłosz Motyka announced the update of the National Energy and Climate Plan (KPEiK), which will be published in the second quarter of 2025. The plan includes including. the gradual phase-out of coal units, support for bridging technologies, and long-term financing from EU and national funds.
Polish energy system – flexibility, security, and investments
PGE CEO Dariusz Marzec emphasized that “flexibility is the new currency of transformation” – referring to the need to adapt the system to variable renewable energy supplies. He mentioned PGE investments in balancing capacities, energy storage, and gas projects.
Grzegorz Onichimowski from PSE spoke about the need to modernize transmission and digital infrastructure. It is particularly important to secure the system against cyberattacks and increase resilience to extreme weather events. Creating a common energy transmission system in the European Union was one of the main demands of the congress.
Meanwhile, Ireneusz Fąfara – President of Orlen – presented the company’s strategy involving 380 billion PLN in investments by 2035, with a significant part devoted to offshore projects, hydrogen, and new technologies related to climate neutrality.
Regional policy, finance, and technologies
In the context of regional policy, a debate was held on the future of the Silesian Voivodeship and other coal-dependent regions. The Silesian Voivode, representatives of the University of Economics, PKO Bank Polski, ING Bank Śląski, and financing experts emphasized the need to develop dedicated support tools for local businesses and local governments.
The Minister of Digitization and representatives of startups also presented specific technologies supporting the green transformation – including. solutions in the field of smart grids, IoT, and process automation in the energy sector.
International dimension and political-military security
Energy is not the only topic of the European Economic Congress. Political-military security and geopolitical changes were also featured on the agenda, among others, in the context of the war in Ukraine and EU–Russia relations. The participation of security experts such as former NATO Strategic Commander deputies, and representatives from the UK and USA underscored the importance of Europe’s energy security as an element of stability.
As indicated by the President of Tauron Polska Energia, Grzegorz Lot, the transformation of the energy sector is also an opportunity to strengthen Poland’s position in the European Union while maintaining economic competitiveness.
The congress that defines the future
The European Economic Congress 2025 confirmed that Poland has enormous potential to become a leader in green transformation and energy infrastructure development. During the congress, especially in plenary sessions and informal meetings, key topics were discussed, such as investments in new technologies, the role of banks and funds in energy transformation, and the importance of climate policy in the context of European and global ambitions. Experts and leaders from various sectors pointed out that the future of Poland, as well as all of Europe, will rely on combining green transformation with ensuring energy security and the development of modern technologies.
An important topic was also the role of the Polish presidency of the EU Council, which creates a unique opportunity to shape energy policy at the level of the entire European Union. European solidarity and cooperation with international partners were key in the debates about the future of the energy sector and climate policy.
During the European Economic Congress, concrete plans were also discussed to increase investment in renewable energy sources, with an emphasis on offshore wind energy and the development of hydrogen technology projects.
Of particular note was the presentation of the updated National Energy and Climate Plan, which anticipates the shutdown of 30% of coal power units by 2030 and an increase in renewable energy capacity. This strategy, as emphasized, will be crucial for the further transformation of the energy sector in Poland and the entire European Union, balancing ecological goals with economic development needs.
At this important event, we were also present as Good One PR, actively participating in the exchange of experiences, listening to the voices of experts and change leaders, and supporting communication processes that shape the future of the Polish economy and energy sector. Our presence at the Congress was an excellent opportunity to analyze key trends in the energy transition and identify the challenges facing Poland and Europe in the context of striving for climate neutrality and building resilient energy systems.
