Press release
Sopot, 2 October 2015
Inequality, immigration and the media
The second part of the European Publicists' Forum took place at EFNI. The discussion
focused on social inequalities, radicalism and the consequences of migration crisis for
Europe.
- The problem of the refugees will decide about the future of the union – says Piotr Kraśko,
journalist & TV presenter of the Polish Television (TVP), moderating the second part of discussion
within the European Publicists' Forum at EFNI, attended by the representatives of leading Polish
and foreign media.
Leszek Jażdżewski, Editor-in-Chief, LIBERTÉ!, noted that the European Union has failed to provide a
response to the refugee problem. - EU was not prepared for this crisis, although it has been four
years since the war started. We were not active enough as a political union. – he says and adds –
The problem of refugees should be connected with the EU’s common foreign and defence policy.
However, I don’t see the political leadership in this regard. – he says.
Michael Knigge, journalist, Deutsche Welle, said that what particularly irritated Germans is the
inappropriate response of Hungarians upon arrival of refugees to the country. Back then, local
citizens very explicitly showed that refugees are not welcome there. Looking ahead, he thinks that
an European quotas system will have to be developed.
Luigi Ippolito, editor, Corriere della Sera, underlined that the refugee crisis reaches far than the
Syrian war. As he says, only a minority of refugees coming to Europe are Syrians. For instance,
those heading to Italy are mainly coming from Somalia, Eritrea or other Sub-Saharan African
countries. - In the recent months, there has been a spike in terms of arrivals of migrants from
Syria. However, even if we solve the Syrian crisis, the refugee problem is broader and will still
persist. It will likely accompany us for next decades, and therefore we have to devise a long-term
strategy to cope with that and better accommodate these people – he says.
The Italian journalist also noted that there is a rise of left wing radicalism, which probably reflects
dissatisfaction of people with rising inequalities. What’s more, Leszek Jażdżewski foresees that
radical left or right wing parties will succeed in political elections across the continent. Nonetheless,
he hopes to find a solution to accommodate refugees as the U.S. does. - To achieve this we need
to change the way how we define who is who. It will be difficult, and maybe the only solution is to
create the European citizenship alike to the British one, which would be connected with the political
participation. – says Jażdżewski.
Sylwia Czubkowska, journalist, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, noticed that young Poles at the their 2030s appear to be particularly against accepting immigrants due to uncertainties over their future.
– The big problem is that young Poles, teenagers are against migrants. This is because they don’t
feel secured and are getting frustrated. In effect, they are joining anti-migrants movements – she
explains.
On the other hand, Grzegorz Siemionczyk, journalist, Gazeta Parkiet, stressed that this is not
always the case and pointed at the European dimension of the problem. – Demur in Central and
Eastern Europe against migrants is not an opposition to migrants itself. This reflects fears that
Europe has not developed a strategy to solve the migrant crisis. – he explains.
Czech Luboš Palata, editor, Lidove Noviny, noticed that many young Czechs are helping refugees in
Austria, Serbia and on the Macedonian border. He also said that some of Czech politicians are
reluctant when it comes to accepting refugees. What’s more, Czech president Miloš Zeman said
once that allegedly every terrorist is a Muslim. - Quotas and hysteria about Islamic refugees if for
these people a weapon against Europe. – says Palata. He sees some hope in the new generation of
Czechs, which is very open to Europe.
The Czech journalist also raised a question about why Poles had changed their approach towards
immigrants over the course of last years. For instance, Poland accepted over 80,000 of refugees
from Chechenia in the 1990s. - Chechens were escaping from a war against Russia, and they were
perceived by some Poles to some extent as heroes, fighting against an empire of evil. Whereas now
Syrians are escaping from a completely different and more complicated war. – Kraśko explains.
Pertaining to situation in Lithuania, Egle Samoskaite, publicist, delfi.lt, pointed out that there is a
homogenous society and lack of proper information on Islam and differences between sects of
Muslim societies. What also adds to the problem is lack of long-term solution to the crisis. It is also
believed that Lithuanian political elites have taken quite ambiguous approach towards migrants.
While Lithuania understands the solidarity in the crisis and so didn’t reject the quotas system, but
deep down ordinary citizens are against this idea.
The partner of this year’s edition of the European Publicists' Forum is Gazeta Wyborcza.
***
THE EUROPEAN FORUM FOR NEW IDEAS is an international business congress attended by prominent representatives
of politics, culture, science, and media. It has been organised since 2011 by the Polish Confederation Lewiatan in
cooperation with BUSINESSEUROPE, the city of Sopot, and Polish and foreign companies and organizations. The Forum is
aimed at creating ideas for a strong Europe and a competitive economy, a Europe open to trends of social growth and
technology. This year's EFNI will be held on 30 September – 2 October 2015 in Sopot, and its theme is: Europe and the
World in the Face of Growing Inequality, Radicalism, and Geopolitical Threats
More information: www.efni.pl
Honorary patronage
Institutional partners
Strategic partners
Opening Gala partner
Main partners
Supporting partners
President of the Republic of Poland, European Parliament
Polish Industrial Development Agency S.A., European Commission, National Centre
for Research and Development
MetLife, PKN ORLEN, PZU, Totalizator Sportowy, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, Grupa
Onet.pl, TVP SA
Bank Pekao S.A.
Biznes.pl, BMW, Citi Handlowy, Discovery NETWORKS CEEMEA, Forbes, France 24,
Intel, Microsoft, Newsweek, Orange Polska, Parkiet, PKP S.A., Silvermedia
AMS, Bloomberg Businessweek Polska, Gazeta Wyborcza, Havas Worldwide,
Liberté!, McCANN Worldgroup, PAP Polish Press Agency, PGNiG SA, Polish
Association of Employers in Mining Industry, Pomeranian Special Economic Zone,
Puls Biznesu, Starcom MediaVest Group, Polish Association of Employers in
Knowledge partners
Logistics partner
Official carrier
Executive Producer
Transport and Logistics, Warsaw Business Journal Observer, Association of Private
Employers in Energy Industry, Digital Technology Employers Lewiatan
Ashoka, Aspen Institute Prague, Centre for International Relations, demosEUROPA
– Centre for European Strategy, ECFR, Institute of Public Affairs, POLITYKA
INSIGHT, Res Publica Nowa, THINKTANK, Global Compact in Poland – an Initiative
of the UN Secretary General, World Academy of Art and Science
Lech Wałęsa Airport in Gdańsk
PLL LOT
IDFX
MEDIA CONTACT:
Zbigniew Maciąg, [email protected], phone number: +48 604 589 080