Poland has a chance to gain a lot from the reconstruction of Ukraine. Big money is already waiting in the EU

• Deepening European integration is the panacea for America's "distancing" from our continent.
• Poland can offer European businesses its experience in doing business in Ukraine.
• In Kiev, they chose the course for Europe in 2013-2014 during the stormy demonstrations on Maidan. All this was discussed during the panel "Poland, Ukraine, Europe" at the 17th European Economic Congress in Katowice.

Michał Baranowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Development and Technology, wondered in his speech whether Europe is prepared for new relations with the USA.

Positively answering this question, Baranowski stated, among other things: - The panacea for America's political and military drifting away from Europe is its economic and military integration. This is key. I see this kind of action, although there are several European governments that are not very keen to go in this direction.

As Baranowski emphasized, Poland has already done a lot to help Ukraine. Now we need to consider the chances for a ceasefire and an end to the active phase of the Russian invasion.

- But will this peace (even if the Russians agree to a ceasefire) last? - wondered our panelist. An unstable ceasefire will put us back on the front line of a clash with an aggressive Russia. This should all the more influence the acceleration of integration processes in the EU. Integration is also a remedy for rebuilding relations with the USA.

Andreas von Beckerath, the Swedish ambassador to Poland, believes that the priority right now is to support the fighting Ukraine . However, after the end of the fighting on the front, the EU countries should actively invest in Ukraine . Andreas von Beckerath also emphasized that Poland has a chance to lead in these investments.

- Now, however, we need to prepare a mechanism of financial guarantees for investments on the Dnieper - said the ambassador. - This includes war insurance. They are essential, and for now many EU bodies are not prepared for this. There are 80 companies from Sweden operating in Ukraine. With the help of Polish "distributors", there will probably be more of them. We need to promote private investments in Ukraine , because public bodies do not have such funds. Ukraine has also made significant progress in the fight against corruption. This needs to be shown.

- Ukraine should also be admitted to the Union. This is one of the guarantees of our future security. It also seems necessary to support Kiev in such a way that the country could act from a position of strength towards Russia. Because this is the only language Putin understands. Therefore, we need to strengthen sanctions , take over Russian deposits in Western banks - he added.

Ukrainian agriculture does not have to compete with agriculture in EU countries.

Nazar Bobitski, director of the Brussels office of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), clearly emphasized that Ukrainian agriculture will not compete with French, German or Polish farmers.

- The European Union will benefit from Ukraine's integration, also in the agricultural sector, because these are complementary markets. In 2022 or 2023, when the EU agricultural market was liberalized, we recorded a very large increase in grain exports, but at the same time Polish meat and dairy products flowed to Ukraine like a wide river - he said.

- Ukraine is also the world's second largest producer of soy. And it is one of the raw materials for producing animal feed. Poland imports large quantities of soy from the USA. So why shouldn't it buy this grain from its neighbours? It would be closer and cheaper. Ukraine also grows a lot of raspberries, and Poland has free capacity for their processing. This is an ideal situation for cooperation. The European Union has several dozen free trade agreements with various countries. So I don't see any reason why such an agreement wouldn't also cover my country - said Nazar Bobitski.

Bobitski also stressed that Ukrainian food exporters are advanced in introducing strict European quality standards. Open trade with EU countries is a kind of stimulus for introducing these changes.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Poland in 2014-2022, Andriy Deshchytsia, emphasized the importance of cooperation between Europe and the US . According to him, everything must be done in Brussels so that Trump does not turn away from Europe. It is necessary to demonstrate that mutual relations are beneficial to both sides. This is also very important for Ukraine. - However, we cannot be an American colony - he added.

Deszczyca also noted that it is not only Polish companies that invest in Ukraine. The opposite movement is also visible : the economic presence of Ukrainians in Poland.

- Currently, there are many thousands of companies (often individual ones) operating in Poland and getting used to European legal standards - said the former ambassador.

Deshchytsia spoke briefly about the current situation in Ukraine: - For us, the fight for independence began in 2014 at Maidan. That was when Russia attacked us for the first time. We must emerge from this war as victors, to be among the free states that profess certain values. If that does not happen, Russia will want to drag us back into its empire.

Kiev hotels full of businessmen ready to operate in Ukraine

Leszek Gołąbiecki, Vice President of the Management Board and Executive Director at Unibep, emphasized how great the business interest in Ukraine is.

- Business is increasingly preparing for cooperation. Hotels in Kiev are full of business delegations, including Polish ones. This may mean hope for an end to aggression. Before the war, we used the support program from the Polish Development Fund. Now, some preferential loans would be useful. Maybe politicians will also negotiate preferences for Polish companies in tenders? Currently, there is a serious shortage of labor on the Ukrainian market. Local partners are also necessary for any presence - lists the vice-president.

Piotr Matczuk, the president of the board of this institution, spoke about PFR's assistance for Polish business in Ukraine. He emphasized that he had a series of investor meetings. Talks between representatives of the EU and Ukraine have accelerated significantly. This is beneficial for Polish business.

- We want to be a protective umbrella for Polish business . Now the most important thing is to develop an effective insurance system against war-related risks - said Matczuk.

Poland is one of the most important foreign investors

Dariusz Szymczycha, first vice-president of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, said that economically, as the European Union, we are already prepared to act in Ukraine. As he stated, EU bodies have already prepared large sums of money for the reconstruction of the Ukrainian state , the aid fund is to serve primarily the reconstruction of road and energy infrastructure, as well as facilities such as hospitals and schools. However, a political and military umbrella is necessary. We must do this in cooperation with the USA.

- There is some complaining in the media that we are not favored. I want to say that this is not true . Fakro, despite the destruction of their warehouse in Lviv, still operates there. Other companies already present in Ukraine do not want to withdraw from there at all. There is also full insurance for the transport of goods from Poland to Ukraine. Our chamber also receives business representatives from other countries who want to do business in Ukraine, but together with companies from Poland. I also see a great opportunity for cooperation between the defense sectors of Ukraine and Poland. In our case, these are mainly state-owned companies - while in this industry private companies dominate - concluded Dariusz Szymczycha.

Bogdan Zawadewicz, director of the Economic and Geopolitical Risk Analysis Office at Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, highlighted something that is an unexpected consequence of Russian aggression.

- Fundamental geopolitical changes in Ukraine began after the aggression. First and foremost, it was the deepening of integration with the European Union. This used to be unimaginable. For the first time, legislative changes have been adapted to the potential European integration of Ukraine. As a bank, in the autumn we will be able to present specific products adapted to Polish economic activity in Ukraine. However, this country will still struggle with labour shortages for many years to come. There are also energy challenges. However, it is worth thinking about investing on the Dnieper, because it is also an element of our (Polish and European) security - said Bogdan Zawadewicz.

Vasyl Bodnar, the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, recalled that the most important thing for Ukraine right now is to repel Russian aggression. This is being done with the support of the entire West. As he noted, Russian militarism has made Europe understand that it is necessary to spend more on defense.

- We are grateful for Polish military aid - said Bodnar. - In the first weeks of the war, without tanks from Poland, it would have been difficult for us to repel aggression. Currently, we are ready for a ceasefire, but not for capitulation, which is what Putin is demanding.

- Only after the end of the active phase of the war will it be possible to talk about the great work of rebuilding Ukraine. Warsaw should then become a natural logistics center for companies wishing to operate in Ukraine. We must also refute various myths about the lack of interest of the European Union in the integration of Ukraine with rational arguments. In addition, further legal reforms are necessary in my country, the purpose of which is to finally defeat the cancer of corruption. But for now, the most important thing is to end the war - added the ambassador.