The Russia-Ukraine conflict has aggravated the risk associated with energy supplies from countries to the east of the EU border. Despite a sufficient market supply of both natural gas and crude oil, importers can hardly avoid additional costs in the event of any disruptions in supplies from Russia.  In other words, it would take time and money to afford this solution. This is why it's high time for Poland and the rest of Central Europe to start thinking seriously about their energy security. In the case of our country, it would not mean self-sufficiency, because we have always imported energy and will continue to do so. However, we need to make an accurate assessment of our own resources and our importing needs. Today, Poland enjoys a sound level of energy security, but that does not change the fact that we should always strive for the lowest possible dependence on a single supplier.  Monopoly is no doubt the least favourable option. All is well as long as the relations with the main supplier are good, but when it comes to a clash, it is the monopolist that will dictate the conditions.  This is why we must diversify – to have an opportunity to choose the best offer in the case of any trouble. Today, however, we are speaking not only about diversification, but about creating a pan-European system of mutual support.  We need the European Union to work as a whole and put an end to situations where one country can play on EU's internal issues for its own ends.  Faced with the Ukrainian crisis, we can clearly see how Russia has been reinforcing its dominant position in the energy sector and how unscrupulously it has been using its economic and capital clout. That is why we need Europe's energy solidarity. It really is a formidable challenge. The new EU countries are weaker compared with the more developed ‘old’ member states. We might not like the expression ‘EU of two speeds’, but unfortunately it is a hard fact. The economic disparities continue to exist, and so the EU is not cohesive but diverse, and lacks a common position on a number of issues. Having learnt the lessons of 2006 and 2009, when Russians cut off the supplies of gas, we know that without partnership and infrastructure, such as interconnectors, we risk serious consequences. For the time being, however, we have found it easier to speak about energy solidarity than to take any necessary steps in that direction.  Still, I believe that EU's solidarity in the energy sector will be achieved. It is difficult because it requires true partnership, when not only successes but also problems are shared. However, during the EU enlargement to include Central Europe, the richer countries accepted the new member states even though their economies were less developed.  Therefore, speaking about solidarity, we can also expect greater understanding for members with less mature economies. I believe that the existing economic differences will be eventually levelled out. Meanwhile, they are vast and need to be minimised through the creation of a system of support for individual countries and their economies.  But that would benefit all parties in the EU. Central Europe has a vast development potential and investing money here would certainly give a financial boost to businesses from the EU-15.  The Ukrainian conflict has shown that the need for solidarity requires us to redefine our policies and relations within the EU.  We need to find a way to diversify our energy supplies and achieve a true energy partnership with the United States. How can we do this? For instance by reducing our purchases of gas from Russian companies to a safe level of no more than 25 percent. Where can we source the missing amount? We must increase our domestic production by developing shale gas. But that is not all. Our climate policy should focus on reducing CO2 emissions, but it should not lead to decisions to shut down all coal-fired power plants in Poland.  That would be a total misunderstanding. Climate quality can be improved through innovative technologies which increase the efficiency of power-generating units, thus reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. In spite of many challenges, I am convinced that we will succeed in creating a development scheme for the energy sector of Central European countries. To this end, Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP), a think tank based in Brussels, was established. CEEP's core team consists of representatives of companies from across our region. We are speaking with one voice, a voice shared by the 11 states involved in CEEP's work. The ideas we develop are treated very seriously by commissioner Guenther Oettinger, and we also work with Jerzy Buzek on designing an internal energy market for the entire EU (not just Central Europe).  We already have designs for interconnectors; the energy bridge linking Poland and Lithuania is now under construction. Also, the Poland-Germany gas interconnector has been built,  and our LNG terminal in Świnoujście will soon start operations. CEEP is working on another joint project in cooperation with the Atlantic Council – a study concerning the southern North-South corridor with respect to energy and transport, because to fully improve the connections between the North and South, roads and railways must be built in addition to energy links.  These connections are still failing. If we have succeeded in reaching an agreement here in Eastern Europe, we will also be able communicate our rationale to the rest of the EU, because our common future is at stake.