By Martin Banks - 4th July 2011
We will never find a way out of the crisis without growth
Jan Tombinski
Poland's top diplomat in Brussels says that economic growth will be the centrepiece of his country's six month council presidency.
Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Jan Tombinski said Poland sought to "chair not change" the EU during its term in office.
He said the ongoing fiscal crisis in Greece had focused attention on the need to achieve economic growth.
"We will never find a way out of the crisis without growth," said Tombinski, who is Poland's permanent representative to the EU.
He said Poland would "explore all possible means" to tackle the current crisis, adding that a solution was necessary in order to "save the European project".
He also said that, despite the current economic problems facing the eurozone, there was widespread support in Poland for EU membership, with latest polls putting it at as high as 80 per cent.
Addressing a Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) debate, he said that security and EU enlargement would be the other two main council. priorities.
He said that by security he was referring not only to military security but also financial security in Europe.
"I hope that during our presidency we can complete different regulations on the banking system and financial services so that our citizens get a sense that the money they put into the financial system is better managed."
Security of energy supply was another priority, he told a packed audience, adding that fossil fuels such as coal would remain an important part of the energy mix.
"We must try to use coal in a less polluting way but you cannot get away from the fact that coal produces CO2."
Tombinski also said that other "unconventional" sources of energy, such as shale gas, should also be considered.
He added, "Security also means doing more to protect our external borders and tackling organised crime and the fight against drugs."
A third priority, he said, would be the successful accession of Croatia to the EU, plus progress on accession talks on other Balkan countries such as Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Iceland.
On other issues, he was less optimistic about a successful outcome to the ongoing Doha round of trade talks.
"On this, I admit I do not have much hope. But we should try to explore all possibilities to conclude work on global trade," he said.
