Poland in the OECD

Ambassador Aleksander Surdej gave an interview for PISM Brussels Podcast. The conversation concerned the activities of the OECD, Poland's cooperation with the Organization, and the 25th anniversary of Poland's membership in the OECD.

The discussion focused on the EU’s response to current developments in Afghanistan, coordination of evacuation and humanitarian measures, and the challenges of possible coordination of development assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

A new version of the programme for specialists and companies from the ICT sector launches today. First introduced in September 2020, the Poland. Business Harbour (PBH) programme is a comprehensive package designed to help IT specialists, start-ups, small and medium enterprises as well as large companies to relocate to Poland in a hassle-free manner. Following the programme’s great success, we are extending it to new countries starting today. It is the implementation of one of the Polish Deal’s proposals.

The foreign ministers of the Visegrad Group and the Western Balkans met at the historic Rogalin Palace on Monday 28 June 2021 to discuss how to accelerate the pace of European integration, support one another in the efforts to rebuild a strong post-pandemic Europe, and how to draw on the experience of Central Europe in building an effective regional partnership. Hosted by Foreign Minister Prof. Zbigniew Rau, the meeting was Poland’s initiative as part of its Visegrad Group presidency, which is now coming to an end. At the invitation of the Polish side, the meeting was also attended by the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues.

The Permanent Representation of Poland to the OECD has a great pleasure to invite you to attend the webinar on the Public Spending and the Role of the State. The event in virtual format will be held on June 24th from 14:00 to 15:30 (CET).

Today, more and more countries and companies are embarking on the road to net zero emissions by mid-century. Oil free transportation offers the hope of a new world of mobility that is not reliant on finite and polluting fossil fuels. EVs enjoy an unprecedented momentum in Europe: numerous countries and car manufacturers stated their ambitions to phase out ICE vehicles from the market in the coming decades. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale of EVs grew considerably in 2020, thanks to the various government incentives and recovery packages. Electric vehicles are one of the few technologies on track under the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario. Another technology, which offers a low or zero-carbon solution to long-haul heavy transport, hydrogen is once again at the forefront of the agenda of governments. More and more countries are developing hydrogen strategies and new pilot projects are mushrooming.

“Poland will continue its active involvement in the Council of the Baltic Sea States and other regional Baltic formats. It is only through joint efforts that we can fulfill our vision of the Baltic Sea by 2030, ensuring its growth and the prosperity and security of our societies,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau during today’s videoconference of the Council of the Baltic Sea States foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union, which concluded the Lithuanian presidency of the Council.

When on 3 May 1791 the Four-Year Sejm also called the Great Sejm adopted The Government Act of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth later known as the Constitution of 3 May, the Polish-Lithuanian state became the Europe’s first and the world’s second that passed the basic law. For its time, it was a progressive and bold legal act which initiated a number of reforms. It also constituted a crowning achievement of the centuries-old links between Poland and Lithuania.

The Day of Polish Community and Poles Abroad was established in recognition of the historical contribution of diaspora communities to the national objectives of the country of their forefathers. Celebrated jointly with Polish Flag Day, it is intended to encourage Poles to reflect on the glorious pages of the country’s past.