Summary of the first conference under the Polish Presidency of the European Union

On January 30-31, 2025, the ICE Congress Center in Krakow hosted an international conference entitled “Development, European Style. What Development Policy for a Secure, Resilient, and Globally Competitive European Union?”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate and Environment as part of the Polish Presidency of the European Union.

The conference brought together leading experts, representatives of the Polish government, local governments, the European Commission, and the academic and business communities from across Europe. Discussions focused on the key challenges and priorities of the European Union’s development policy in the coming years.

Main conference topics:

• Cohesion Policy’s Past Effects and Future Challenges – Cohesion policy’s achievements in areas such as mobility, climate neutrality, and social, economic, and digital transformation were discussed. Particular attention was paid to analyzing the effectiveness of EU funds in reducing development disparities.
• Cohesion Policy as a Tool for Strengthening Europe’s Security – It was emphasized that territorial cohesion contributes to the region’s economic and political stability, and well-designed infrastructure investments can counteract the effects of geopolitical crises.
• Territorial Approach to Development Policy – ​​The importance of adapting development policy to the specificities of individual regions was highlighted. Examples of effective project management in Central and Eastern Europe were presented.
• Cohesion Policy Implementation System – Panelists addressed the topic of simplifying procedures and increasing the effectiveness of projects financed by EU funds. The need for a flexible approach to fund allocation was emphasized.
• Intangible Benefits of Cohesion Policy Implementation – The discussion focused on the role of EU funds in promoting social integration, developing democracy, and strengthening European values.

Paweł Engel from the Centre for EU Transport Projects (CEUTP) moderated one of the key debates on mobility and territorial accessibility. The panel discussed challenges related to public transport, digitalization in transport, and integrated infrastructure planning.

Panel summary: “Transport as a key element of the EU single market and cohesion policy”

The panel, moderated by Paweł Engel, focused on the role of cohesion policy in shaping mobility in the European Union, particularly in the context of climate change, digitalization, and security. Experts from various countries participated in this section:

• Oksana Zikuna from the European Commission emphasized that investments in clean public transport and decarbonization are crucial for the functioning of the single market.
• Sofie Defour commented on Enrico Letta’s report, pointing out the need to reduce barriers in transport and the necessity of cooperation between EU countries to ensure the competitiveness of the European economy.
• María del Carmen Corral Escribano highlighted Spain’s experience in adapting to reduced cohesion funds and the need for strategic planning of investment priorities.
• Katrien D’Hert addressed the topic of military mobility and the need to better connect it with the EU transport system.
• Dionizy Smoleń, PhD. highlighted the possibilities of financing dual-use projects (civilian-military) and the need to balance security needs with climate goals.
• Alan Lynch from JASPERS presented best practices in prioritizing transport investments and ways to adapt them to new safety standards.

The panel concluded by highlighting the need for synergies between transport infrastructure, digitalisation and climate goals to ensure the smooth and safe functioning of the EU single market.

Accompanying events:

The conference included an exhibition titled “Rooted in Cohesion,” showcasing projects supported by EU funds. Training workshops were also held on modern data analysis methods and the use of artificial intelligence in regional policy.

Thanks to the participation of experts and decision-makers from across Europe, the conference delivered valuable recommendations that could shape the future cohesion policy of the European Union. The CEUTP contributed significantly to this effort.