"Today we are in a place that impresses all of Europe and the world," he told the Impact conference on Wednesday, adding that Poland remains resistant to what he described as "a pandemic of pessimism, uncertainty and fear."
'Pandemic of pessimism'
“Today we are in a place that impresses all of Europe and the world,” he said said Wednesday, adding that Poland remains resistant to what he described as “a pandemic of pessimism, uncertainty and fear.”
Tusk said Poland's economic transformation since the fall of communism has been remarkable, telling the gathering that average wealth has tripled since 1989.
“At the starting point in 1989, our economy was worth around USD 67 billion annually. This year, it has exceeded USD 1 trillion,” he said.
'The most ambitious nation in Europe'
He credited the country’s growth to entrepreneurship, courage and creativity, calling Poles “the most ambitious nation in Europe.”
Tusk also defended democratic values, saying he had never believed claims that democracy had failed or that freedom was no longer a guiding principle.
He pointed to recent elections in countries including Romania and Hungary as evidence that democracy can endure.
The prime minister said Western support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion reinforced his belief in shared values, adding that Ukrainians are "giving their lives for what Poland has achieved," particularly freedom.
'Europe is a set of values'
"Europe is a continent of freedom. Europe is a set of values, not just an organisation," he said.
The two-day Impact conference, described by organisers as one of the leading economic and technology events in Central and Eastern Europe, opened on Wednesday in Poznań, drawing more than 6,000 participants, including policymakers, business leaders and academics.
The event features around 650 speakers addressing topics including international security, cybersecurity, geopolitics, digital transformation, finance, green transition, culture and health, Polish state news agency PAP reported.