BPCC Policy Groups

BPCC PPP/ Infrastructure Development Group, created to engage key stakeholders in infrastructure development in the public sector and to ensure 2012 target delivery of infrastructure by the private sector – roads, rail, airports and stadia in co-operation with IFSL London as a partner.PPP Group should serve as a platform for dialogue between the Government, Parliament, national/international experts in the field and private sector – BPCC Members.

Contact:
Marta Rynkowska, BPCC Project Co-ordinator
Tel. 22 320 01 15,
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Agenda:

27 March 2008, Business Breakfast on the Prospects of PPP development in Poland, Main Guest: Mr Andrzej Panasiuk, Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure

31 March 2008, Conference on PPP in Łódź with a participation of Special Guest Stephen HARRIS, Director of International Strategy Department, IFS in London

17 April 2008,meeting with Mr Zbigniew Rynasiewicz, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland

BPCC Healthcare Policy Group’s plan is to enable the development of holistic health reform and exchange knowledge and experience with national counterparts as well as to support Ministry of Health, Finance and Economy and Parliamentary Health Committee.

Contact:
Marta Rynkowska, BPCC Project Co-ordinator
Tel. 22 320 01 15,
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Agenda:

Health Forum

BPCC Finance and Tax Reform Group is focused on de-regulation, taxes and ZUS payments, SME development and innovative economy.

Contact:
Marta Rynkowska, BPCC Project Co-ordinator
Tel. 22 320 01 15,
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Agenda:

May 2008, meeting with the Parliamentary Committee “Przyjazne Państwo”

Contact:
Marta Rynkowska, BPCC Project Co-ordinator
Tel. 22 320 01 15,
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

BPCC Public Procurement Group is aimed at senior managers from international businesses that have invested in Poland, and also at lawyers and consultants specialising in the field to speak freely about problems encountered with the public procurement process in Poland and to draw up suggestions for improving procedures and transparency to Polish decision-makers.

Contact:
Marta Rynkowska, BPCC Project Co-ordinator
Tel. 22 320 01 15,
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Agenda:

20 May 2008, first introductory meeting – presenting an official memorandum to the representatives of the Office of Public Procurement and the Ministry of Economy

June 2008, meeting with Transparency International and World Bank

A meeting between the BPCC and the Polish-British Parliamentary Group took place on 24 April at the Polish Sejm. Michael Dembinski, Head of Policy BPCC, delivered a presentation on the BPCC’s history and wide range of activities. Bilateral trade between Poland and Great Britain was one of the main subjects of the presentation. Martin Oxley, CEO BPCC emphasised that co-operation between the BPCC and the Parliamentary Group has been traditionally very close and BPCC representatives regularly attended meetings of the previous Groups.

“As Members of Parliament we want to support the Chamber in its activities and to intensify our co-operation” declared Grzegorz Karpiński, Chairman of the Polish-British Parliamentary Group. He also suggested that future meetings, during which the Chambers’ experts could present their experience and best practice in a number of social and economic issues, should take place in the Sejm and underlined that such meetings would certainly be of mutual benefit.

Members of the Group expressed their interest in the “Wracaj do Polski” programme run by the BPCC.

They also raised questions regarding the support of export of small and medium enterprises products to the UK, currency risk and the recent migration of Poles to the UK. The Chairman of the Group invited BPCC members to deliver a presentation on administrative barriers that prevent foreign investors from doing business in Poland at a joint meeting of the Group and two parliamentary committees - the Economy committee and the “Friendly State” committee, in July.

The BPCC, in co-operation with the Polish Embassy in London and the Polish Sejm, also plans to prepare a study tour to the UK for the Groups’ members. The trip will enable Members of Parliament to familiarize themselves with British solutions in four key issues: Innovation, E-Government, Public Private Partnership and Corporate Social Responsibility. Members will also have the opportunity to meet their counterparts in the British Parliament.

The Polish-British Parliamentary Group is usually established at the beginning of each Parliamentary term and it currently comprises of 15 Members of the Polish Sejm and Senate.

The first PPP Group meeting with Zbigniew Rynasiewicz, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee took place on 17 April 2008 at CMS Cameron McKenna. The meeting, chaired by Aleksander Granowski, WS Atkins, brought together many representatives from a variety of law firms as well as those from the construction, transport and infrastructure sector.

Zbigniew Rynasiewicz emphasized the importance of consultation and co-operation between the public and the Infratructure Committee. “The British-Polish Chamber of Commerce and its associated members will have an invaluable input into the committee by sharing their experience and best practice”- declared the Member of Parliament. He also stressed the UK’s considerable experience in PPP projects. “Public Private Partnership has still not been developed in Poland”- admitted Zbigniew Rynasiewicz “There isn’t enough knowledge about PPP opportunities among central and local government officials and civil servants, but I am pleased to say that the present Government is a great supporter of the PPP idea.”

“The main objective of Parliament right now is to break down investment barriers” said Zbigniew Rynasiewicz. He specified a speed-up of privatization, a “public aid” definition, new legal framework for town planning and Public Procurement Law novelization.

“Making procedures more transparent and clear is necessary if Poland’s economic growth is to be maintained” stressed Zbigniew Rynasiewicz. He also admitted that he is not keen on the special EURO 2012 law - in his opinion it does not provide long-term effective solutions for infrastructure problems.

Christian Schnell, BSJP gave an overview of the Government’s work on the novelization of the PPP law which is currently being consulted by a joint committee made up of representatives from the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Finance.

Piotr Sołtyski, Hochtieff remarked that for the last few years it has been the private sector that has been initiating all plans to disseminate the PPP idea (seminars, PPP Centre). In the context of the forthcoming EURO 2012 event we do however anticipate that a great number of pilot PPP projects can be initiated by the Government.

Zbigniew Rynasiewicz invited BPCC experts to organize a half-day seminar on PPP for the Infrastructure, Economy and Treasury Committees at the Sejm.

Asked for opportunities for private investors in the context of PPP projects, Mr Wojciechowicz admitted that the environment for PPP over the last few years has not been very friendly. “There was a lack of decision-making and good will”, said Wojciechowicz. In his opinion, private investors could be interested in projects such as the construction and management of underground car parks, a new tram line to Piaseczno might and a congress centre in Warsaw “It is likely that by 2010 the city’s level of indebtedness will be around 60% so the PPP projects could be the only chance for the city”.