European Economy and Industry Ministers Meet at WSE

For the first time in the history of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, its trading floor hosted a summit of European economy and industry ministers. The 9th Friends of Industry Ministerial Conference focused on the future of European competitiveness and economic security. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Warsaw Declaration​.

Organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the conference brought together representatives of European countries responsible for industrial and economic policy. The participants were welcomed by Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy; Andrzej Domański, Minister of Finance and Economy; Michał Jaros, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology; and Tomasz Bardziłowski, President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

“There is something symbolic about the Friends of Industry summit taking place here, at the Warsaw Stock Exchange. This year, we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Warsaw Stock Exchange under the theme ‘From Transformation to Innovation’. Thirty-five years ago, WSE became a symbol of Poland’s successful transition from communism to a market economy. Today, we want it to become a symbol of innovation as well. And this is already happening. This year, the Warsaw Stock Exchange hosted Europe’s first IPO of a quantum computing company. The Berlin Declaration states: ‘A strong Europe needs a strong industry.’ And a strong industry needs investment, investment needs capital, and capital needs strong capital markets. The Warsaw Declaration adopted today highlights the need for effective implementation of economic policies that will restore the competitiveness of European industry. The capital market has an important role to play in this process,” said Tomasz Bardziłowski, President of the Management Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

The conference focused on the future of European industry and the conditions necessary to strengthen its competitiveness and resilience in the face of economic and geopolitical challenges. It culminated in the adoption of the Warsaw Declaration, which sets out directions for action aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of European industry.

Key areas identified in the Declaration include a well-functioning Single Market, competitive energy prices, sovereignty in artificial intelligence, protection against unfair competition, and decarbonisation pursued in a way that strengthens rather than weakens the European economy.

Delivering on these ambitions requires investment and, consequently, access to capital. Industry and the capital market are closely interconnected and constitute important elements of a coherent economic strategy. The presence of European economy and industry ministers at WSE therefore symbolically linked the debate on the future of the European economy with one of the key prerequisites for its growth: access to capital to finance investment.