Alex Taylor, euronews:

One of Europe’s problems is that it’s simply too big. People find it hard to identify with huge multi-national institutions, and in some of the more federally-minded countries there’s not even a very strong sense of national identity either.

Perhaps this is why more and more people are turning to their regions. Is smaller sometimes better?

It’s time for your questions to Danuta Hübner, chairwoman of the committee on regional development here in the European Parliament. Mrs Hübner, hello, welcome.

You’re from Nisko, which region is that in Poland?

Danuta Hübner:

It’s in the south east of Poland. Today it’s Podkarpacie. When I was born a long time ago it had a different name.

Taylor:

OK, right, first question here on I-Talk.

Question from Ajar:

Hello, I’m Ajar from Brussels. We’ve just seen the end of Poland’s presidency of the European Union. I’d like to ask what Poland was able to do to help Europe out of the financial crisis?

Taylor:

Just in two or three sentences, what has Poland done?

Danuta Hübner:

Poland kept Europe together. Poland allowed us to avoid the division into a double-speed Europe. This is, I think, the most important thing that we got from Poland.

Taylor:

In what way exactly, by implementing what policies?

Danuta Hübner:

Poland was always against this idea of having the eurozone talking separately, deciding separately. Now we will have the discussion on the future together, between the 27 with the 17 voting on what concerns them, but we will be together.

Taylor:

Are many Polish people favourable to join the euro or not?

Danuta Hübner:

The majority used to be in favour. Now, I think they are more reluctant, but more than 80 per cent are happy with being in the European Union.

Taylor:

OK let’s have another question on Europe… the second question here on I-Talk.

Question from Claudia:

Hello, I’m Claudia, originally from Poland. I live in Brussels the European capital and I wonder why many Poles are euro-sceptics?

Taylor:

The same theme.

Danuta Hübner:

I don’t agree with my young compatriot. I believe that all the public opinion polls show clearly huge support, strong support.

Taylor:

There’s disappointment though since Poland joined. When it joined it was vastly enthusiastic but there’s been some disappointment obviously.

Danuta Hübner:

You know, the last public opinion poll shows higher support than it was in 2004. I really believe that we are very much in favour and really happy with what we get from the European Union. Where we are probably most sceptical now is exactly what we discussed which is accession to the eurozone.

Taylor:

OK, let’s have another question… outside Poland now.

Question from Silvio:

My name is Silvio, I’m a Croat living in Belgium. I have a question regarding my homeland, Croatia. As Croatia is now approaching the EU, what is the policy for regional development for south-eastern Europe to Croatia? Are there some concrete plans and some funds to help raise the standard of the whole region? And are there concrete funds for some other countries who will try to approach the EU in the forthcoming years?

Taylor:

Are you going to open your pockets wide Mrs Hübner?

Danuta Hübner:

I want to say that I’m very happy that Croatia is basically in. We have signed the treaty, so (now) it’s just the ratification and in 2013 Croatia will be the 28th European Union member state. And already in the pre-accession phase Croatia was benefiting largely from what we call ‘pre-accession instruments’…

Taylor:

What does that mean?

Danuta Hübner:

….which means that Croatia was getting money, also for the regional policy, to prepare also for the better absorption of the funds…

Taylor:

But in times of crisis do we have money to give to these new countries? We can’t even give money to our own regions.

Danuta Hübner:

No, that’s not true because we have the budget now which has been decided years ago. We are now negotiating the new budget and of course it is difficult. There are member states who want to cut it. There are member states who say ‘we consolidate’ – which means cut national budgets, we should also cut the European budget. But we should remember that Europe needs growth, and the European budget is purely an investment budget, so we need the funding.

And then if Croatia finally joins in less than 2 years from now it will be a part of European policies that are benefiting all citizens of the European Union.

Taylor:

OK, let’s have another question for Danuta Hübner.

Question from Jean-Francois:

Hello Mrs Hübner – Jean-Francois here. I’m Belgian. Are workers from the east, particularly Polish plumbers who are so often talked about, cheaper than western workers from France or Belgium? I’d like to hear you opinion on that. Thank you very much.

Taylor:

A very big theme in the past – the Polish plumber. What about differences in wages now?

Danuta Hübner:

First of all let me say that now we have total free movement for the Poles to work wherever they can find a job, and wherever (people) want to have a Pole employed. That’s one thing. Of course our salaries at home are much lower than in many other member states, that comes with the level of development, and Polish GDP per capita, which is measuring the development level, is around 55 per cent of the European average.

Taylor:

What can you do on a regional level to change the discrepancies, to make the situation more even?

Danuta Hübner:

There is no other way but just to grow. To grow, and be more developed and with this, also the level of salaries also goes up. As long as were are really less developed – which means our productivity is lower, that we produce less per person annually – also our salaries are lower. But let’s hope that with the years passing Poland will be more developed and our national salaries will be higher.

Taylor:

OK another question now here on I Talk on euronews

Question from Miriam:

Hello, I’m Miriam. Originally from Latvia, born in Bruges and raised in an international environment. When are we finally going to advance European unification on the social level? I’m talking about social protection, salaries, etc. It would avoid a lot of disloyal competition between the different member states.

Taylor:

It’s a general question, but how can regional policy make things more fair and equal in social questions?

Danuta Hübner:

We have to remember that social policies are still largely national competences, so Europe as such does not have very much to say, or much to do. But we are moving on this, and there is more and more in European competences as well on this. But everything, I think, starts with the level of development, and regional policy which is an investment policy contributes to accelerating growth – mobilising the local growth potential – is generating the conditions to reduce the disparities also in social benefits. But to a large extent it’s still in the hands of the national governments, and Europe is helping to move further on growth and development. And also, Europe is providing a level playing field for social rights, and this is something I think is very important for us.

Taylor:

OK let’s have a final question on today’s I Talk.

Question from Constantin:

Hello, I’m Constantin and I come from Romania. How do you envisage linking regional development policy with sustainable development policy, which is a main pillar of the new common agricultural policy?

Taylor:

Green issues? Regions?

Danuta Hübner:

A lot of things. I think through the regional policy we have very clear roles in that we have to invest in an environmentally-friendly way and we have to invest more than now in energy-efficiency, making the use of all natural resources more efficient; respecting all the environmental rules and directives – the union has a lot of them – and now we are also investing in everything that’s related to climate-change, and this is for all the regions across Europe.

Taylor:

Just one final question. When the world is becoming more and more concentrated on blocs – we have China, we have America, we have Europe – should we really be concentrating on the different regions and perhaps exacerbating the difference between our small regions? Is that what we need to be doing?

Danuta Hübner:

If you think in terms of global challenges that we all live with, and you look for the responses to global challenges you will find them locally… on anything. On energy-efficiency you have to act locally; to make decisions on how you cope with the transport at city level. So most of the responses to big global challenges are at the local level. That’s why we have to be down there on the ground.

More about: European Union, Geography, Legal institutions, Poland

Copyright © 2012 euronews