Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I would like to invite Mr President.
Welcome Mr Jean Claude Trichet.
Ladies and gentleman, please rise.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In accordance with Article 138 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland
and the Act on Orders and Decorations,
by the decision of Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland,
Mr Jean Claude Trichet, citizen of the Republic of France,
has been awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
in recognition of his outstanding services in support of economic reforms in Poland
and in developing international cooperation in the area of finance.
May I now ask you, Mr President, to take the floor.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We often say that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
I think we often feel that true friends can be found during trying, beautiful and pivotal moments in our lives.
This is exactly why I wish to express my great satisfaction
that I can enjoy certain privileges that come with being Head of State,
such as the possibility of decorating and expressing gratitude
on behalf of the whole state and the whole nation
to those deserving it for their good service, cooperation, friendship, and understanding of Polish needs.
I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Mr Trichet for the services that he rendered almost 20 years ago
when Poland was in great trouble and in need at the beginning of our difficult,
but remarkable and successful transformation process.
I would also like to thank him for his attitude,
and for his assistance during the most important and beautiful moment of Poland's accession to the European Union.
I congratulate and thank you with all my heart!
This event is symbolic, not solely in its timing, marking the end of Mr President's term of office at the European Central Bank,
which was, difficult and demanding, yet at the same time successful.
I am also glad that the ceremony of decoration is taking place
during such an important conference organised by the National Bank of Poland.
A conference that has attracted the greatest personalities from economic circles.
A conference that is taking place on the eve of the key meeting of the European Council
and touches on the important dilemmas the European Union is facing these days.
The European Union is equally a political and economic structure,
based on joint values, joint responsibility and the solidarity of its Member States.
Thanks to this structure, natural political and economic conflicts of interest are solved through negotiation and compromise.
It is a structure that has ensured dozens of years of peace in almost all of post-war Europe.
This must be remembered particularly in Poland.
The forming of the eurozone - the area of single currency inside the European Union
was an important step forward on the way to closer integration of the European nations, of the whole continent;
important for economically secure Europe, which shows solidarity
and is open to new members and further integration.
In the present economic crisis, we should neither forget about this, nor take actions that would ruin our achievements.
The present euro zone crisis is undoubtedly a turning point in the history of the whole European Union.
And it is, perhaps, the most difficult moment since the onset of the integration process.
The stability of the euro zone has been challenged and some deficiencies in the structure have been painfully revealed.
The global financial crisis has highlighted the shortcomings of institutional organisation,
as well as in the functioning of the euro zone and the European Union as a whole.
Some institutional solutions and the principles behind them need to be reorganised,
others need to be more strictly monitored, and some others need to be updated.
Still, while being aware of all the deficiencies in the euro zone structure, we must not forget that,
in comparison to all previous integration projects, the monetary union is an absolutely unique scheme.
The success of the single currency cannot be measured only by price stability.
The average inflation rate in the eurozone over the past 12 years amounts to 1.97 %.
This is exactly the same amount as the assumed target and the inflation target of the European Central Bank.
The target was defined at below but close to 2%.
It was laid down in this way and so it is.
It is the European Central Bank and its management that deserve to be congratulated on their efficiency in fighting inflation.
But the single currency has also translated into increased trade activity,
economic growth and the creation of 14 million new jobs.
The euro zone is the project of the future for those countries that are not yet part of it, such as Poland.
We do not want to stand by and do nothing while we wait for the changeover to the euro.
We wish to take active part in reforming the system of the monetary union by participating
in the euro-plus pact, along with the five other non-euro area countries,
as well as by actively co-shaping new principles of economic governance, which is important not only from the perspective
of our readiness, but also demonstrates our willingness to participate in the future monetary union.
At the same time, we want to continue a policy to ensure the meeting of nominal and real convergence criteria by Poland.
It is crucial that the process of institutional reforms in the European Union be open
and lead to its further, deeper integration.
Increased joint effort will improve the operations of the monetary union, and consequently,
will provide the European Union with stability and the ability to respond to changes taking place in its environment.
A euro area strengthened and expanded by new members will enhance European integration,
as well as increase the importance of Europe globally.
In the past years, crises were often catalysts of important, though difficult changes that had previously been put off.
I have a firm conviction that the European Union and the whole euro area
will use the current crisis to take important, far-sighted actions.
Actions that will strengthen the foundations of European integration in this rapidly changing world.
This is why I believe that further integration in the European Union and closer cooperation
and solidarity among Member States constitute an effective response to the crisis.
I believe that Europe will not abandon the values underlying the modern Community,
for which we have fought together for years.
I believe that Europe will express its solidarity, since this is the only way to ensure welfare and peace for its citizens.
I say this with full responsibility and from the depth of my Polish feelings and emotions.
Despite disputes and egos growing in difficult times, the magnificent civilisation project of our continent,
in which competition has been replaced by joint effort and mutual trust, must go on.
I hope that also this conference,
organised by the National Bank of Poland in connection with the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union,
will contribute to the exchange of experience and the developing of ideas
that will help the European Union as a whole further change for the better.
Better economic policies in the European Union will serve all nations and citizens in Europe.
This is a desirable expectation for me, and something that I would like to heartily wish you as well.
Thank you.