This text is a report from the National Conference of Finance Faculties on "Finance and banking in the context of Poland´s accession into the European Union". This year´s conference was held in Pułtusk on 9-11 September 1999 attended by representatives of the banking sector and scientists dealing with banking and financial issues.

The three-day discussions focused on three blocks of issues:

1. Banking and financial markets;
2. Corporate finance;
3. Public finance.

At the plenary meeting speeches were delivered, among others, by Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, President of the National Bank of Poland; Stanisław Pacuk, President of Kredyt Bank S.A.; Andrzej Szukalski, President of the Polish Bank Association; and Cezary Stypułkowski, President of Bank Handlowy w Warszawie S.A.

In her speech Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz exchanged her impressions on the reasons of exchange and banking crisis, and emphasized the role of "good management" as a prerequisite determining long-term economic growth.

Stanisław Pacuk specified major tasks of the Polish commercial banking that should be achieved within the framework of integration with the European Union. Polish banks' actions should first of all aim at enhancing the quality of services which is still below the European standards.

Andrzej Szukalski stressed the role of the Polish law adjustment to the European legislation. Moreover, he stated that in view of the future integration Polish banks should take steps to reduce gradually competitive advantage of the fifteen EU countries.

Cezary Stypułkowski presented his thoughts on the perspective of Poland´s accession to the European Union, stressing related consequences for the economy and the banking sector.

Discussions on the issue "Banking and finance" focused on four aspects determining banking sector´s profile in the future:

• Foreign capital participation in financial institutions in Poland, and resulting threats to the Polish economy;
• Activity of the National Bank of Poland;
• Commercial banks´ functioning in the context of growing competition in financial markets;
• The future of cooperative banks in Poland.

In the course of the discussion consequences of Poland´s accession to the European Union were emphasized, and new opportunities of the banking sector following that accession presented with regard to related threats.

Discussions on "Corporate finance" took up the problem of effects of the economic policy on the corporate finance, and opportunities of using different types of the economic policy under specific circumstances. The role of an active economic policy of the state in supporting Polish enterprises in the pre-accession period was stressed.

Discussions on "Public finance" concentrated on three aspects:

• Basic problems of the public finance from the perspective of ongoing pre-accession processes;
• Tax system reform and desirable profile of the system;
• Self-government finance, in particular development of the Polish self-government system in compliance with the European Self-government Chart.

At the end of the conference, participants expressed their hope that conclusions and suggestions formulated during the conference will find their reflection in reality, thus enhancing conditions of the financial sector and the Polish economy functioning in the process of integ