TOPIC: Reviving the shipbuilding industry in Europe.

The European shipbuilding industry is now a shadow of its former glory. Back in the early 1980s, our continent's share of shipbuilding production expressed in CGT units was 45% – today it is about 6%. We continue to maintain a very strong position in the production of marine equipment, in the construction of high-tech vessels and in production for the navy. However, there has been a complete collapse in the production of ships for the transportation of goods. European shipowners order more than 90% of the tonnage they need from the Far East, causing our dependence on that region of the world.

Poland became a member of the European Union by virtue of the Accession Treaty in which we transferred a large part of our competencies to the EU, including in the sphere of maritime affairs. Other EU countries have done the same. Therefore, the key to reviving the shipbuilding industry in Poland and other member countries is to create solutions at the EU level.

It should also be said openly – the process of reviving our continent's shipbuilding industry will not be easy, and we will face numerous challenges in the process.  But we must undertake them for our security in the face of gathering black clouds over hitherto peaceful coexistence.

The panel will discuss ways of reviving Europe’s shipbuilding industry.