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Will the value-based policy work? Is it profitable to be ethical? Is the true democracy likely to happen without manifesting one's interests? How to define relationships between interests and values in the light of the variable world? - responses to these questions have been searched for by: Benjamin R. Barber, philosopher and political scientist, Grzegorz Hajdarowicz, entrepreneur and film producer, publisher, Henri Malosse, Chairman of the Employer's Group of the European Social and Economic Committee and Sophie de Menthon, President of ETHIC, Chairwoman of the French Social and Economic Committee

Barber emphasized the meaning of process values in the democracy. „In the times of huge cultural changes we have to handle diversity, learn the tolerance. The democracy does not depend on the cultural homogeneity, yet on the contribution into the building of process values. (...) The financial crisis shaded the cultural crisis, that may appear to be the worse problem to the world. Europe have to think over and, perhaps, redefine the concept of democracy." - underlined Barber. Furthermore, he focused on discrepancies between the private and public interests. „ A tremendous tragedy of neoliberalism is the fact that the private interest is becoming more crucial than the public one. We shall always look for the balance between these worlds. Equilibrium is a must. Non-regulated capitalism is a wild capitalism." - he concluded.

Sophie de Menthon indicated the nature of CSR in corporations. Today, enterprises have to perform reliable actions and participate in promotion of the ethical world. „In order to provide progress, law-abiding actions are not enough. It is necessary to do more." - said the Chairwoman. Henri Malosse stated that „Values always have to be more important than interests. In order to maintain order in Europe and worldwide, this priority must never be changed." Grzegorz Hajdarowicz stressed that these are states, which should remember first about the responsibility and ethics. Then, they may demand it from the business representatives. „The state has to be the role model and protect values" - he said.

What are the ecological and power dilemmas of Europe?
Most of all, the issue is: how to deal with climate challenges and simultaneously maintain competitiveness of the power sector. EU authorities (EP and EC) tend to tighten climatic objectives, recognising the EU policy as the tool for the economy development. Moreover, they believe that it spurs up an expansion impulse to the European economy. Power business representatives, participating in the panel, were focusing on the fact that such an approach may result in numerous threats, eventually heading for increase of the energy prices and costs of products as well as depletion of competitiveness as compared to growing markets. Corporations point out high costs of such a power policy and uncertain results. They debate on those, who will finance these changes and on consequences of elevation of energy prices versus economy competitiveness. It does not mean that business is not willing to face up climate challenges, however the thing is to work out the policy, which would consider climatic, power and industrial issues.

Where will the Internet lead us?
Nelson Mattos (Google) mentioned four trends of the Internet development. Firstly, it will stimulate the economic growth. As it allows smaller companies to compete on the global market. Secondly, the role of the Internet will be increasing, particularly the amount of information available online continues to grow and social media are gaining more and more power in building of relationships. Thirdly, the Internet will be still driving democratization and knowledge access. It is a great opportunity for access to information source also for the individuals from the pauperised regions. Fourthly, the Internet will provide solutions to essential social problems (e.g. access to health advisory services, informing on climate threats, etc.).

Professor Cezary Wójcik (Warsaw School of Economics) underlined that there is no single Internet. Each user is looking for information that „suit" his/her world. Therefore, it might also cause communications difficulties. The role of the Internet will be determined by conditions and needs of recipients. The network is the only tool - supported him Ph.D. Kate Coyer (CEU). According to Alek Tarkowskie (Centrum Cyfrowe, Project: Poland) the challenge of the XXI century is building of the information exchange infrastructure, which will be grounded on a genuine transparent swop. Thus we need legal regulations, corporate responsibility and courage in thinking about the new shape of the Internet. Martin Kalovec (BCG) presented results of the BCG surveys, showing that though the Internet is global, actually it is rather local and its character differs depending on the state. Accordingly, it is does not stay away from the external environment and we are not able to escape from it.

What are the consequences of panconsumption?
Participants discussed, among other things, on consequences of the global consumption. They were pondering effects this phenomenon will bring in short-term, medium-term and long-term and how it will evolve.

- In China, the economy is in an absolutely different cycle than in other parts of the globe and the ongoing priority is a rapid foundation of the consumer market. The government has got many plans in order to strengthen the consumer sector, what is supposed to lead to a rise in living standards of the citizens - said Christopher P. Davies (HSBC, China).

Professor Dariusz Filar remarked that the problem arises out from the mentality as many persons, due to the social pressure and advertisements, decides to purchase goods they cannot afford. He claimed that we have to create a new way to make up workplaces, which will not result from boosting of the consumption level.

Balázs Horváth (UNDP) stressed that currently we are not dealing with the crisis, but with the consequences of the financial malfunction. He reckons that we should smoothly react right now in order not to suffer from the consequences long-term since, sooner or later, as a global society, we will be forced to coordinate our actions. He noticed that, at present, lower classes, which have neither a „safety pillow" nor a chance to alter their situation, are the weakest element.

„In most cases, economists are wise after the event. Today, we cannot come across a suitable analysis what should be done next. We frequently say „we have to do this or that", nevertheless we are not strong enough to implement it. We should get smarter and realise future effects of our today's actions, yet as for this, I am pessimist." - stated professor Andrzej Kowalski, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Food Management.
„It is worth not the lead to worsening of the natural environment quality. It has to be defined, who is liable for destruction of the environment and enforce liability related to these actions. As far consumption in the third world countries, we must not limit expansion of this phenomenon, as it is a natural process. Fortunately, world's ecological consciousness continues to grow." - summed up Hernando de Soto.

Forecast for the European economy

We have to save Euro, if we want to overcome current difficulties and resist the economic crisis. In addition, we have to lift up competitiveness of the European economy - decided participants of the „Forecast for the European economy" panel.

In the opinion of Arnaldo Abruzzini, General Secretary of Eurochambres, European societies do not trust their governments. In other parts of the world the situation seems different. The European business is not satisfied with the scope of reforms, which are intended to rise competitiveness of economies. „We must not continue with increase of budget deficits, we should cut them down. We are not allowed to let the Euro zone collapse." - he added.

Jesus Banegas Nunes from the Spanish Confederation of Entrepreneurs COE assured that the Spanish business bolsters anti-crisis actions of the government. Structural reforms are indispensable in order to hoist competitiveness of economies. Yet, considerable reductions in the education and healthcare sectors make everybody anxious. Entrepreneurs think that if the government spends less public funds, then more of them will remain in hands of its citizens and companies, and they will use them in a proper manner. Furthermore, they call for more freedom in the economy since this is the only way it develops at a faster pace. Europe needs a common internal market, too.

Ph. D. Vilhjalmur Egilsson, General Director of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers SA underlined that in the era of crisis, we ought to be modest and prepared for the worst. „Don't look back, don't reconsider the crisis of 2008, look ahead, search for new solutions. We need an efficiently operating financial sector, but not too regulated one. Considering the aforesaid, a proposal of taxation of financial transactions is not the best way out as, finally, the customers will pay for that. Despite the crisis in the Euro zone, Iceland should strive for the common currency," - he added.

Anatolij Kinakh, President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, former Prime Minister, appealed to the EU not to turn its back on Ukraine. According to him, only joint actions will enable to overcome the crisis. It is to focus on improvement of competitiveness of economies since it is crucial in terms of economic growth. Ukraine fears Europe starts running the protectionist policy, as both parties will be losers.