What was the subject of the Social Dialogue Council meeting in November 2022?
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki – Prime Minister and Marlena Maląg – Minister of Family and Social Policy took part in the plenary session of the Council, which was devoted to energy policy in Poland.
The meeting took place on 7 November 2022 at the Social Partnership Centre „Dialog”. The meeting was also attended by Anna – Moscow Minister of Climate and Environment, Waldemar Buda – Minister of Development and Technology, Olga Semeniuk – Secretary of State in the Ministry of Development and Technology, Jacek Żalek – Secretary of State in the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, Piotr Patkowski – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance, Piotr Bromber – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Health, Grzegorz Witkowski – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Karol Rabenda – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets and Piotr Dziadzio – Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, speaking out, informed that the price of energy is the engine of inflation throughout Europe as well as in Poland. It translates drastically into the costs of production and services in all enterprises, which then translates into higher prices. He stressed that such inflationary phenomena from previous historical periods could be very annoying and lasted for many years. Addressing the members of the Social Dialogue Council, the Prime Minister stressed that the Council is one of the key institutions through which the government tries to reach the widest possible range of employees and employers.
In his speech, the Prime Minister noted that the government protects enterprises and public utilities against the effects of inflation and the increase in energy prices, which are a consequence of Russian aggression against Ukraine. He stressed that at the beginning of the year, the anti-Putin shield and the anti-inflation shield were adopted, and the government’s actions are focused m.in on bringing lower prices of heat, gas, electricity from coal and other carriers through appropriate tariffs. He stressed that for households, a freeze on energy prices to the amount of annual consumption of KWh 2,000 KWh per year has been implemented; for households with disabilities up to 2.6 KWh per year and for families with a Large Family Card and farmers up to 3 KWh per year. He pointed out that in the event of exceeding the limit of electricity consumption, a mechanism of the maximum energy price of PLN 693 per MWh for households was introduced, while the maximum price for sensitive entities, local governments and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will amount to PLN 785 per MWh. Special regulations have been adopted for energy-intensive enterprises that consume a significant amount of energy, e.g. the fertilizer industry. In conclusion, he noted that the increase in energy prices in Europe is the result of Russian policy and aggression against Ukraine.
Later in the meeting, the social partners presented their observations and doubts. M.in the issue of the Act on Emergency Measures aimed at limiting electricity prices and supporting certain consumers in 2023, signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, which, according to trade union representatives, requires amendments, was raised. Attention was also drawn to the high costs of the Polish power industry related to the supply of fuel to the power plant/ combined heat and power plant. The question was asked when decisions will be made regarding the construction of new mines, investment plans in this area and whether a revision of the Polish energy sector by 2040 is planned. Attention was paid to the issue of increases in the budgetary sphere.
Prime Minister M. Morawiecki, referring to the issues raised by the social partners, informed that hard coal extraction in the country is about 40 million tons, while its demand is about 58-59 million tons, which is why hard coal had to be imported. He stressed that the issue of investment plans will be presented by the end of this year. He noted that the investment in the opening of new mines is a long-term process and involves the outlay of significant financial resources. He also informed that by the end of the year the government plans to revise the State Energy Policy until 2040.
Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.
