Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy visited Grupa Przemysłowa Baltic (GPB) facility in Gdańsk on 6 February 2025. The visit was a key stop in the Commissioner’s tour ahead of the announcement of the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Union’s new industrial policy. Prior to this, Séjourné had visited key sectors in Europe, including the steel industry in Ghent (Belgium), the chemical sector in Milan (Italy), the battery industry in Romania, and the automotive sector in Stuttgart (Germany). The visit was attended by Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy of Poland, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, and Radosław Niedzielski, Acting President of the Industrial Development Agency.
The delegation toured Ostrów Island, historically linked to the Gdańsk Shipyard, where they explored GPB’s operations and production facilities. The meeting took place at a crucial moment for European industry and energy policy, as the European Commission had just introduced the framework for the Competitiveness Compass—a flagship initiative aimed at driving technological progress and economic growth in Europe. One of its key pillars is the development of resilience and economic security.
Strengthening Europe’s Industrial Base
Meeting participants emphasized that Europe’s economic transformation depends on technological sovereignty and rebuilding a strong industrial base. A prime example of this shift is the offshore wind energy sector, which is growing rapidly. In Poland, where offshore wind energy investments amount to tens of billions of euros, there is an opportunity to build a strong, integrated supply chain that not only strengthens the Polish industry but also plays a key role in Europe’s reindustrialisation strategy.
– The energy transition, and with it investments in obtaining energy from renewable sources, is currently the greatest challenge for the creators of economic growth in our country. Taking advantage of the heritage that is the Gdansk Shipyard and its strategic location, as the Industrial Development Agency we are creating state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities capable of meeting the challenges posed to the Polish and European wind energy industry. The recent handover of two substations for the first offshore wind farm in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea and the construction of an offshore wind tower factory only confirm that both the Grupa Przemysłowa Baltic and Baltic Towers are counted among the leading suppliers to the Polish offshore industry – said Radosław Niedzielski, Acting President of the Industrial Development Agency.
– Offshore wind energy is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in Europe. We believe that Poland, with its industrial potential and strategic location, can become a key pillar of this initiative. This is a vast market where European companies should play a major role as preferred suppliers. We appreciate the European Commission’s openness to dialogue on these crucial issues – said Adam Kowalski, CEO of Grupa Przemysłowa Baltic. He added: GPB draws from the long-standing traditions of the Polish shipbuilding industry, combining them with a modern approach to production and industrial development. We are consistently building our position as a national and regional leader, aiming to maximise the involvement of European companies and resources in offshore wind projects, thereby supporting the growth of local industry and Poland’s economic development.
– The energy transition and Europe’s reindustrialisation must go hand in hand. Investing in offshore wind energy is not only a matter of energy security but also an opportunity to rebuild European industry and strengthen its global competitiveness. As the European Commission, we will support the efforts of Member States and the industry to create conditions for greater integration of the European supply chain and maximise the participation of local companies in this strategic sector – commented Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.
Stéphane Séjourné’s visit to Grupa Przemysłowa Baltic took place at a particularly significant moment, as Gdańsk hosted a meeting of the College of Commissioners of the European Union with the Polish government as part of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.
