Ministers Jacek Czaputowicz and Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide discussed economic cooperation, specifically in the energy sector. The Polish foreign minister said that the building of the Baltic Pipe and connection with the Norwegian shelf will strengthen the Polish-Norwegian partnership and raise their bilateral relations to a higher level.‎ “I hope that we will soon start our joint project of building a gas pipeline that will deliver Norwegian gas not only to Poland, but also to other countries of Central and Eastern Europe,” said Minister Czaputowicz.

Poland’s top diplomat thanked Norway for its support under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. “I am very grateful for  the help we have received from Norway in recent years. Cooperation with Norway has been critical to projects that address environmental protection, saving energy, and promoting renewable energy sources and civic society,” noted the minister. 

The ministers also discussed security. Minister Czaputowicz welcomed the fact that bilateral relations in the area of defence and the current Polish-Norwegian dialogue on defence are gaining momentum. He also said that he was glad to see Poles being present and active  across Norway’s social spectrum. “One of the aims of my visit to Oslo is to highlight the importance we attach to the situation of Poles living in Norway,” said the minister.

Poland’s top diplomat also visited the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget). He told the Norwegian-Polish Friendship Group that parliamentary cooperation between Poland and Norway and in international organizations – the UN, NATO, and the Council of Europe, is of major importance.     

The chief of Polish diplomacy also met with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. He stressed that Norway is one of Poland’s most important partners in the area of security. Both countries have a similar assessment of threats coming from Russia, they support the expansion of NATO’s military presence on its flanks and are engaged in projects that enhance NATO’s capabilities. “Allied unity in the face of Russia’s actions is key. We need to be able to effectively deter Moscow and defend ourselves,” noted the minister.

The head of the Polish MFA also delivered a lecture at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) on challenges to European security from Poland’s point of view.

Minister Czaputowicz laid a wreath at the memorial to Polish pilots at Vestre Gravlund cemetery. Today, he is meeting with members of the Polish community in Norway at a reception hosted by the Polish Embassy in Oslo to mark the anniversary of the Third of May Constitution.

 

MFA Press Office

Photo Tymon Markowski / MFA