| The message of the conference The fall of socialist economy in Poland and in other Central and Eastern European countries in 1989 marked the beginning of profound socio-economic transformations which have led over the past 20 years to the formation of democratic societies in this part of the world. Consequently, the political, social and economic maps of Europe, and indeed the entire world, have changed. There was an acceleration of the European integration process which embraced the majority of countries in the region. While it was necessary to incur considerable social and economic costs to carry out the process of transformation, Central and Eastern European countries would have preserved ineffective structures prolonging stagnation and poverty, if they had not borne the costs. The reforms and transformations that have been implemented can, therefore, be perceived not only as a road to freedom, but also as a road to improved living standards. The Conference, organized on the 20th anniversary of the first free elections in Poland, which may be seen as a symbol of the fall of the socialist system, will be devoted to the evaluation of transformations carried out in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries in the past two decades. Our goal is also to look at the role the countries of our region play in the international arena. The Conference will also provide an opportunity to exchange views on the problems and challenges the Central and Eastern European countries are facing today.  Statistical annex - (pdf, 117 kB) |