The Polish aerospace industry and AECMA, the European Association of Aerospace Industries, held a Conference in Warsaw on 10 and 11 May 2000, discussing links between the aerospace industries in Poland and activities underway within the European Union.
The Conference is co-ordinated and supported by the Polish Office of the Committee for European Integration, and the European Commission through the TAIEX(1) office of the DG Enlargement and the Enterprise Directorate-General.
Over 100 participants attended the "Conference on European and Polish Aerospace Industries", which took place at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland.
In his introductory remarks the Polish Vice Minister for Economy, Mr Henryk Ogryczak, today emphasised the importance of integrating the Polish aerospace industry within the overall framework of the European industry to help improve the position and competitivity of the industry. The establishment of in-depth contacts with high-technology companies as potential partners was considered to be a vital step in developing such an important industry for Poland.
The Polish industry, with more than 30 aerospace companies, is seeking long-term industrial participation to build on existing experience in producing trainer and light combat aircraft, helicopters, general aviation aircraft and equipment for the ATM and defence sector. Prospective restructuring and defence procurement programmes should provide opportunities to give a boost to the Polish industry.
Presentations from representatives from the European Commission, the Joint Aviation Authority (JAA), Eurocontrol and AECMA emphasised the need for the aerospace community in Poland to join European organisations in particular relating to regulatory, standardisation and quality-related activities.
Mr Piet Blondé, member of the TAIEX (Technology Assistance Information Exchange Office) office of DG Enlargement of the European Commission, described the important role of the office in helping professional industry associations and governmental organisations of the accession countries in the process of adapting to the legal and regulatory framework of the European Union.
Presentations by both Polish and AECMA companies as well as a panel discussion initiated an interesting dialogue on the future direction of co-operation in the European aerospace sector. It has been decided to continue the support of the integration of the Polish aerospace industry into the European industry structure with follow-up workshops.
As part of its integration process the Polish aerospace industry plans to join the AECMA activities by the start of next year. It follows the Association of the Aviation Manufacturers in the Czech Republic (AAM CR) which has joined AECMA in January as the first member from an accession country to the European Union.
AECMA is the European Association of Aerospace Industries. Its members are the national aerospace associations of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom as well as the largest European aerospace companies.
The European aerospace industry comprises about 750 companies with a further 80,000 suppliers, many of which are SMEs. The sector employs some 420,000 people directly and about 1.2 million (1998) including indirect employees, with an annual turnover of more than Euro62 billion.
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Support for the Integration of the Polish Aerospace Industry into the European Aerospace Industry Structure
