The 18th Economic Forum has opened in Poland's southern spa of Krynica.

Slawek Szefs reports

This popular resort in the Malopolska region is host to some 1700 guests from 60 countries. They represent private capital and state enterprizes, regional administration bodies,research institutes and a variety of NGOs. Needless to add, journalists and experts specializing in economic, financial and social related topics are an important element of this international conference.

This year's event has been expanded to include an accompanying Forum of Regions in nearby Muszyna, an Investment Forum in Tarnow and an Economic Forum of Young Leaders in Nowy Sacz.

Zygmunt Berdychowski, chairman of the Krynica Forum's Program Council believes that one of the dominant themes this year shall be the growing role of Central and Eastern Europe in international politics and the economy: 'Mostly because both the latest EU summit as well as discussions in connection with preparations and ratification of the Lisbon Treaty have shown that from the political dimension the countries of Central Europe which gained Union membership are becoming ever more important elements of European structures. The same applies to Central European based companies,' he says.

Krzysztof Bobinski from the Union and Poland Foundation says the Economic Forum in Krynica is a grand opportunity to exchange information and ideas among politicians, experts and scholars holding very differing viewpoints on fuel and energy related issues, national security, macroeconomics, social reforms or even business and management, to name but a few areas of interest: 'This is a gathering of people from all around the region and inevitably, especially behind the scenes, they will be talking about what has been happening and how that could affect business and maybe politics in the region. It's a very good place to talk privately. The comparison here is more like Davos, organized by the World Economic Forum.'

Indeed, the annual gathering in Krynica has earned itself the nickname of the Polish Davos, or the Davos of the East.

Zygmunt Berdychowski is sure that given the latest developments in the Caucuses, energy security matters will be another leading topic in Krynica this year: 'This will be the first opportunity for informal and open talks in confronting Russian stands and arguments with Georgian, hopefuly also European, expectations. In this respect, the Forum will be a unique event.'

Unfortunately, due to the current complicated political situation in Ukraine, this eastern neighbor of Poland will be absent from the Krynica debates.

Krzysztof Bobinski stresses the eighteen years of the Krynica? Forum have clearly shown that Poland can serve as an important venue in setting European economic policy trends through informal means: 'It brings people together, it brings people to Poland. It brings people from Western Europe to a place where they can meet with contacts and counterparts from the region of Eastern Europe. And for that reason it is quite successful.'

The current Economic Forum debates, panels and accompanying private discussions will last in Krynica till September 13th.