Cristina Dascălu (CD): What are be the priorities you will advocate in Brussels, as Vice- Chairman of the Board of Directors of CEEP, representing the energy-intensive industry? Robert Pietryszyn: One of the most important drivers for the further development of the EU, and its position with respect to the biggest world economies, i.e. the USA, China, Japan, Russia and India, is competitiveness. In my opinion, increasing it, and witnessing the catch-up between the EU-15 and Central European countries, is one of the main problems of the EU. We can observe that from 2004, up till now, the GDP gap between the two parts of the EU has not got closer, and is even widening, showing the ratio as 3 to 1 (Euro 33.000 for the EU-15, to Euro 11.000 for Central Europe). Another great problem concerns the different approach to climate issues. In general, Central Europe outpaces the EU15 in terms of climate policy and CO2 decreases. Unfortunately, this is not a commonly known fact. By the way, the EU as a whole, already reached a 20% CO2 decrease in 2013. Again, this fact has not been publicised enough. Why is this? The policy concerning the Emission Trading System (ETS), shows that lower prices for EAU stimulated more investments and technological progress leading to the CO2 decreases in Central Europe, and the whole philosophy concerning backloading and the Market Stability Reserve (MSR), is not necessary at all for EU countries. Central Europe should invest in new technologies and the development of their industries within the frame of the general EU policy. This also means that each country should have [...]
In a few words
We represent the widely understood Central Europe energy sector (electricity generation, distribution and transmission, renewables, gas, oil, heat generation and distribution, chemical industries, etc.), universities and scientific institutions.
