European Economic Congress in Katowice: Central Europe’s Rail Infrastructure Also Addressed

This year, for the 16th time, the European Economic Congress took place in Katowice, the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.

It is the largest economic congress of its kind in Central Europe, initiated by the first government of Donald Tusk and patronized by Jerzy Buzek, Prime Minister of Poland from 1997-2001 and later President of the European Parliament. This year, after a change of governments, the Congress received the support of the new government. It also held its own retreat at its launch and welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as its keynote speaker.

The Congress seeks to cover broadly all sectors of the economy and formulates some of the discussion blocks in an interdisciplinary and principled dialogue between industry, politics, international relations, European institutions, and public administration.

Transport was the focus of many forums this year: rail transport, the future of high-speed rail and the planned airport hub in Poland, rail infrastructure in Central Europe, electromobility, unmanned aviation, Baltic ports, and the space industry.

The next edition will take place in May 2025, during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. The ambition of the Polish government is to make it a pan-European meeting of politics and business.