Any debate about the united Europe's future in the energy sector encompasses three distinct issues, which are interconnected and need to be addressed jointly. These include the end costs of energy, energy security, and global considerations – matters which concern the entire population of the planet, such as global warming and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The energy sector is shaped by political, economic and financial factors. This makes the debate particularly difficult, and means that it has to be conducted all the more professionally and in the spirit of creativity and responsibility for the decisions it will enforce. There shouldn't be winners and losers in this game. At the end of the day, everyone leaving the table should feel victorious.

And so it is with a sense of satisfaction that I see Central Europe Energy Partners, both as an organisation and as its individual members, invariably presenting such a prudent and responsible approach. In the more than three years since CEEP was established, we have presented our views on the future of the energy sector, as well as concepts for mature and highly professional solutions, at dozens of major conferences, symposia and think tanks. This voice of realism and experience offers – and not only in my opinion – valuable input in our continent's future in the energy sector.

Energy costs are of the utmost importance to Europe, as energy is inherent in the costs of all products and services. The more energy intensive the industry is, the greater the impact of energy costs on the final product price, which all of us, as consumers, must pay. Europe cannot look for savings in the area of salary and social benefits. These are high, and will remain so, as the nations of the Old Continent have become accustomed to their welfare over generations, and will not allow it to be taken away so easily. Instead, we must look for competitiveness elsewhere, perhaps to the most innovative products and services, affordable thanks to their rationalised energy costs, amongst other things.

Secondly, our energy security is an absolute priority, and we must all strive to ensure it. I am aware that it may prove impossible to eliminate certain conflicts of interest between energy suppliers and customers, but it doesn't mean that this area cannot also be rationalised, so that any tensions and disputes are kept amongst market participants, within the market's reality, and not made the subject of geopolitical conflicts. For this to be possible, it is not only good will that is necessary, but also an understanding of all market participants' interests. We all depend on each other, and we will be more successful if we fight less and cooperate more.

The last, but by no means least important area is that of mankind's common problems, i.e. global warming and the control of human activity contributing to the climate warming process. To best serve our common interests, we must pay the cost to protect nature and the climate. We must reduce emissions and restructure our energy mix so that it is least burdensome to the natural environment. This is indisputable. And I would also like to think that another view is considered indisputable. In pursuing emissions reductions, we must not allow ourselves to curtail the European chances of competing in the global markets, and most of all, to relegate the new member states (the so-called EU11), to the back of the European development and welfare race.

I sincerely believe that during the COP 19 climate summit in Warsaw, we will manage to find a compromise between ecology and business so that the European and global economies can grow dynamically, in step with environmental protection goals.