Poland's growing role in the G20 global economic debate

By Mateusz Jaronski Published on 23/04/2026 - 16:19 GMT+2 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp

Poland's participation in the G20 has become one of the key themes of the 18th European Economic Congress in Katowice. The government emphasised the success of the country's economic transformation and the growing importance of Poland on the international stage.

The three-day 18th European Economic Congress is underway in Katowice, bringing together representatives from politics, business and academia to debate the most pressing challenges facing the Polish and European economies.

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One of the key themes this year is Poland’s role in the G20 and what its presence means for the country’s future development.

The discussion has gained added significance following the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Washington on 16 April, attended by Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański and National Bank of Poland Governor Adam Glapiński.

It marked Poland’s first participation in this format of G20 talks.

Speaking during the “Poland in the G20” panel in Katowice, Domański said the country’s presence in the group reflects decades of economic transformation.

“Poland is no longer merely an observer of global processes — today we are helping to shape their direction,” he said.

He added that Poland brings both the perspective of Central and Eastern Europe and the experience of “the most successful economic transformation of the past 40 years.”

According to Domański, “Poland’s voice is listened to very carefully.”

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The minister also noted that tensions in the Middle East and rising energy and fuel costs dominated discussions in Washington.

Despite global uncertainty, he said, the Polish economy remains stable and resilient, citing International Monetary Fund forecasts that Poland will be the fastest-growing large economy in the European Union, with GDP growth exceeding 3%.

Participation in the G20, he added, strengthens Poland’s position in global debates.

“We return from the G20 with the conviction that Poland’s voice is being heard very carefully,” he said.

Also speaking on the panel, TVN Warner Bros. Discovery managing director Kasia Kieli stressed that presence alone is not enough.

“Just being invited to the table doesn’t mean we have a place there — we earn that place by contributing,” she said.

In her view, G20 participation offers an opportunity to build a coherent narrative about Poland that goes beyond the economy to include culture, sport and new technologies.

A similar point was made by Warsaw School of Economics rector Professor Piotr Wachowiak, who said Poland can act as a bridge between different regions of the world.

At the same time, he cautioned against complacency, calling G20 participation “both a great achievement and a great responsibility,” and stressing the need to further strengthen the economy and institutions.

Energy transition was also a key topic at the congress.

Domański said energy prices will be crucial for competitiveness in the coming years and highlighted the role of nuclear power as a stable component of the system, while emphasising that investments must be assessed primarily in terms of cost.

This year’s congress runs until 24 April. Euronews is among its media partners.

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