This is the second foreign visit, after France, of a new vice-chancellor of Germany responsible for economic, energy and climate policies. Today in Warsaw vice-chancellor Robert Habeck also talked to Jacek Sasin, deputy prime minister and minister of state assets and Anna Moskwa, minister of climate and environment.

The dominant topics of the talks between vice-chancellor Habeck and his Polish peers included challenges related to the decarbonization of the UE economy and maintaining competitiveness of European industry.  

In the opinion of the Polish minister of economic development and technology, green transformation cannot result in the deterioration of the economic condition of member states.

Fair energy transformation should be adjusted to the capabilities and pace of the UE member states that are the least privileged in terms of energy, and not of those that are the most advanced in the development of green economy”,

said minister Nowak. 

While investments in energy transformation may bring savings in the long term, the introduction of such an ambitious climate package as Fit for 55, which provides for the reduction of CO2 emission by 55% up to 2030, will bring additional costs for Poland of nearly EUR 190 billion, partly due to a significant increase in ETC costs. In relation to GDP, that difference represents approximately 1.3% of GDP per year.

Vice-chancellor Robert Habeck pointed out in turn that climate neutrality and related development of innovations require enhancing the strength of our economies and today’s geopolitical situation of Poland and Europe means the necessity of competing with the entire globalized world.

We need to improve our situation as regards e-technologies and innovations. We need to move forward as fast as possible and we will succeed if we act together for the benefit of citizens in our countries. This is our approach and I see the same in Poland”,

said vice-chancellor Habeck during a press conference in Warsaw.

The ministers agreed that there is a need to intensify cooperation regarding the development of industry 4.0 and support for digitization, automation and robotization of production. They discussed perspectives for common initiatives between the Polish Future Industry Platform, PFR agencies, the German foundation Industrie 4.0. and chambers of commerce.

Polish – German economic cooperation

Germany is Poland’s most important trading partner, with a 29% share in exports and a 22% share in imports in 2020. Strong foundations of business cooperation between Poland and Germany are reflected in the previous year’s increase in exports to that market. In spite of extreme global situation, in 2020 we recorded an increase in sales to Germany by 5.1%, up to EUR 69.4 billion. On the other hand, imports from Germany decreased by 3.2% down to EUR 50.2 billion, which at the same time translated into an increase in trade surplus by EUR 5 billion, up to EUR 19.2 billion. The role of Poland in Germany’s international trade of goods is lower than the role of Germany for Poland, however it continues to grow. In 2020 Poland was ranked 6th among Germany’s main export markets (5.4% share) compared to the 8th place in 2015 (4.4% share). As regards the value of imports Poland ranked 4th (5.7% share) while in 2015 Poland was 6th (4.7% share). A high increase in turnover with Germany was recorded last year. After 11 months exports to Germany increased by 18.3%, up to EUR 74.8 billion, and imports grew by 19.1%, up to EUR 54.4 billion.