* News:

 EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council, 10th-11th October in Warsaw 2011-10-08

Security and justice, and to further its improvement and development, are the topics to be discussed during the meeting of the Permanent Partnership Council EU-Russia in the fields of justice and home affairs.

The meeting of the Permanent Partnership Council will be held on 10th-11th October 2011 (Monday, Tuesday) at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

The Polish Presidency will be represented by Minister of Justice Krzysztof Kwiatkowski and Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Jerzy Miller. Also taking part in the meeting will be Russian Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov, and Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Sergei Bulavin. The European Commission will be represented by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

 Strengthening the external dimension of EU energy policy 2011-10-08

On 6 October, Poland became a participant in the Energy Community (EC), established to provide increased energy supply security and energy investment in EC member states. Established in 2005, the EC creates one of the largest internal energy markets in the world. Initially, the European Community and nine countries and territories (Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) belonged to it. Since 1 May 2010, Moldova, and since 1 February 2011 Ukraine have been parties.

 Tourism in Cracow 2011-10-07

On 5th-7th October, Cracow became the centre of European tourism: on those days in the capital of Lesser Poland the 10th European Tourism Forum took place, as well as the most important event of the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union in this area, namely an informal meeting of tourism ministers from EU Member States.

 Minister M. Dowgielewicz summed up the Presidency’s achievements for the COSAC forum 2011-10-07

On 4th October, Minister Mikołaj Dowgielewicz addressed the forum of COSAC (Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union, European Parliamentand candidate countries,). In his address, he summed up the extent to which the Polish Presidency of the EU Council has achieved its priorities.

 Minister Grażyna Bernatowicz at the Association Council EU - Chile 2011-10-07

Today the 5th Association Council EU - Chile took place in Brussels. On behalf of the European Union and EU’s High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Deputy Foreign Minister Grażyna Bernatowicz chaired the deliberations.

During the meeting, among others topics discussed was the bilateral agenda: trade issues and prospects for further cooperation and regional issues concerning the EU’s cooperation with Latin American countries.

 Calls for a common EU position for UN Climate Conference 2011-10-07

Before the Environment Council meeting on October 10 Polish Environment Minister Andrzej Kraszewski calls to negotiate a strong EU position for the UN Climate Conference. Monday’s meeting in Luxembourg will also concern the position of the Union on the global green economy.

This is the first formal EU Environment Council during the Polish Presidency, led by the Minister Andrzej Kraszewski.

 EU increasingly closer to 28th legal regime 2011-10-07

Next week, the European Commission will present solutions regarding the ‘blue button’. Facilitating cross-border trade, particularly online, is one of the priorities of the Polish Presidency.

Blue button is a proposal to establish a 28thlegal regime of European contract law, in addition to the 27 Member States’ regimes, which would be a collection of codifications of the provisions in force in the European Union to facilitate e-commerce. The help concerns mainly cross-border transactions.

 High-Level Energy Conference 2011-10-06

The high-level energy conference “Competitive and integrated market as a guarantee of the EU energy security”, which will be held on 10 -11 October 2011, is co-organized by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Treasury, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Energy Regulatory Office in cooperation with the European Commission. The conference will raise key issues regarding EU energy policy such as an increase of competition and security on the common energy market through development of regional cooperation and infrastructure projects.

Key conference topics:

 Swifter economic growth – a remedy for the crisis 2011-10-06

On Thursday, the Secretary of State for European Affairs Mikołaj Dowgielewicz presented in Brussels the Presidency’s report- ‘Towards a European consensus on growth’ pertaining to sources of economic growth in Europe.

The report’s attempt is to address two issues of key significance to the European Union: what developmental forces should the community bank on to step up growth and, secondly, how to reconcile the need of development-stimulating investment with the necessity of maintaining balanced public finances?

 Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) 2011-10-06

Ministers discuss revision of EU guidelines on the Trans-European Transport Network and the use of tachographs.

The first formal TTE meeting during the Polish Presidency ended in Luxembourg on 6th October. Polish Minister of Infrastructure Cezary Grabarczyk chaired the session on behalf of the Presidency.

Over lunch, the ministers discussed revision of EU guidelines concerning the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). At a press conference that followed, Grabarczyk was hopeful that the debate would help determine the final shape of the relevant Commission regulation, the publication of which has been set for 19th October.

 Minister Jacek Rostowski chaired the meeting of EU finance ministers 2011-10-05

On 4th October in Luxembourg, a meeting of the ECOFIN Council took place, chaired by Minister Rostowski.

 Poland’s Presidency at halfway point 2011-10-05

Mikołaj Dowgielewicz, Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday summed up the first three months of Poland’s EU Council Presidency. ‘Following the Eastern Partnership Summit and just ahead of the European Council we can say we’re at the halfway point,’ he remarked.

 EU Ministerial Forum - Western Balkans 2011-10-05

Cooperation in the field of home affairs and justice between the Western Balkan countries and the European Union was the topic of the Ministerial Forum, held on 3-4 October in Ohrid in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The meeting was attended by Jerzy Miller, Polish Minister of Interior and Administration, and Igor Dzialuk, Polish Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice, as well as interior and justice ministers from Western Balkan countries and Cecillia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Francoise Le Bail, Director General for Justice in the EC.

 COSAC as part of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency 2011-10-04

On 2nd-4th October, the Polish parliament hosted the COSAC conference, which is a forum for cooperation between the national parliaments of EU Member States, the European Parliament and candidate countries.

This was the biggest event of the parliamentary dimension of the Polish Presidency and was organised jointly by the Sejm and the Senate.

 EPSCO Council concludes deliberations 2011-10-04

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 ‘We’ve adopted the Cracow Declaration at SIMFO’ 2011-10-04

Single Market Forum sends Cracow Declaration to the EU Council, Parliament and the European Commission.

‘We want the initiatives incorporated in the Single Market Act to get fast-track legislative treatment. That will allow us to respond effectively to current challenges connected with the global economic situation and will enhance our competitiveness,’ commented Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak at the Single Market Forum in Cracow. The forum ended with participants sending the Cracow Declaration to the EU Council, Parliament and the European Commission.

 The single market propels the EU economy 2011-10-03

On 3rd October representatives of EU administration and business met in Cracow.

‘We have identified 20 of the regulatory barriers more painful to entrepreneurs and employees which make functioning in the single market difficult. We wish to eliminate them in the near future,’ said Deputy Minister and Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak during the Single Market Forum (SIMFO). The meeting of representatives of EU administration and business was held on 3rd October 2011 in Cracow.

 Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) to meet 2011-10-01

At the session, the council will formally approve six pieces of legislation thereby strengthening economic governance in the EU. Informal agreements had already been reached at an unofficial meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Wrocław on 16September 2011.

On 28September 2011, at a plenary session, the European Parliament approved a compromise. As a result, new regulations concerning economic governance in the EU will come into effect before the year is out.

 Joint press statement from the European Commission and the Polish Parliament on the 2011 European Development Days forum 2011-10-01 Brussels/Warsaw, 30 September 2011

Krzysztof Stanowski, representing the Polish Presidency as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development, have used a meeting in Warsaw, to publicise the 2011 European Development Days forum (EDD). This year the EDD forum will concentrate on democracy and development in the context of the Arab Spring, and the European Commission’s proposals for new EU development policy.

Eastern Partnership Summit ends in Warsaw 2011-10-01

Delegations of 32 EU Member States and partner countries as well as representatives of the main European Union institutions debated for two days on the future of the Eastern Partnership and reviewed its achievements since it was launched two years ago.

 Joint Declaration of the Warsaw Eastern Partnership Summit 2011-09-30

The Heads of State or Government and representatives of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, the representatives of the European Union and the Heads of State and Government and representatives of its Member Stateshave met in Warsaw on 29-30 September 2011 to renew their commitment to the objectives and continued implementation of the Eastern Partnership. The President of the European Parliament and the representatives of the Committee of the Regions, the Economic and Social Committee, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development were also present at the Summit.

 Deputy Prime Minister Pawlak: Slashing red tape also in the EU 2011-09-30 On 29th September, the Polish Presidency presented to the COMPET Council its progress report on the reduction of administrative encumbrance in the EU.

‘As the country chairing the EU Council, we recommend to EU institutions and Member States stepping up cooperation on reducing the encumbrance and costs of adhering to the law. Our overriding goal is to liberate the potential of entrepreneurs and improve the situation in the job market,’ Deputy Prime Minister Pawlak said.

 Streamlining of the internal market discussed in Brussels 2011-09-30

Unified Patent Litigation System and the free movement of goods and people were the main topics of discussion at a meeting of the EU’s Competitiveness Council in Brussels on 29 September, 2011.

The participants hammered out a draft agreement on the introduction of a unified system for resolving patent disputes. The document contains legal provisions which would allow the issuing of patents valid in the whole of the EU and envisages a single system for patent litigation, declared the Polish Deputy Minister of Economy, Marcin Korolec.

 First Eastern Partnership Business Forum 2011-09-30

Beata Stelmach, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is taking part in the first Eastern Partnership Business Forum in Sopotwhich on 30th September is accompanying the Eastern Partnership Summit.

The Forum was conceived by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, and its organisers is the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Leviatan and BUSINESSEUROPE. The Forum is being held under the auspices of Poland’s EU Council Presidency.

 Joint communication on the European Development Days 2011-09-30 Brussels/Warsaw, 30 September 2011

The annual European Development days (EDDs) – have been launched today by the Polish Presidency, Under-Secretary of State, Krzysztof Stanowski and EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs. This year, the EDDs will focus on democracy and development in the wake of the recent Arab Spring events and the proposals of the European Commission for a new EU development policy.

Start of negotiations on the CRD IV package 2011-09-30

On 29thSeptember 2011, in Brussels, a meeting of the Council Working Party on Financial Services took place at which work began on the CRD IV package, namely regulations that include an enhancement of the quality of capital in banks and investment companies, thereby increasing stability and security of financial markets.

 Polish Presidency: Compromise on nuclear research reached 2011-09-30

EU Science Ministers have forged a compromise to guarantee the continuation of nuclear research till 2013. Minister Kudrycka says: ‘It’s a success for the Presidency.’

Last Friday in Brussels, Minister of Science and Higher Education Prof. Barbara Kudrycka chaired the EU Competitiveness Council (COMPET) meeting. Kudrycka said: ‘I am glad we managed to reach agreement on three motions being carried on the basis of the European Atomic Energy Community framework programme. Their chief objective is to extend research on nuclear energy by two more years - until the end of 2013. I consider the fact the reaching of a compromise to be a significant success for the Polish Presidency.’

 Prime Minister Tusk meets Ukrainian President 2011-09-29

On Thursday Polish Premier Donald Tusk held talks with visiting Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. The meeting preceded the two-day Eastern Partnership Summit that opened in Warsaw later in the day.

‘It is obvious to all the participants of the Eastern Partnership Summit that Ukraine plays a key role in this grand European project,’ Tusk commented after the meeting. He also noted that Ukraine was the furthest advanced in the process of integration with the European Union of all the countries of the Eastern Partnership.

 Multilingual Competences for Professional and Social Success 2011-09-29

Good knowledge of foreign languages is a key competence that allows proper functioning in the contemporary world.

 Signing of EU legal acts by the Polish Presidency 2011-09-29

On 27th September 2011, the European Parliament in Strasbourg was the scene of a ceremony at which President Jerzy Buzek on behalf of the EP and Minister Mikołaj Dowgielewicz on behalf of the EU Council signed successive legislative acts adopted during the Polish Presidency. EU legislative documents signed by a representative of the Polish Presidency on 27th September 2011

 Aid for the Poorest – a debate at the European Parliament 2011-09-29

The European Parliament discussed food aid for the poorest citizens at a plenary session in Strasburg yesterday.

Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki sharply criticised the so-called ’blocking group’ of Member States. Sawicki said: ‘I hope the debate will let us cut through the Gordian knot tied on 28 November 2008. That is when the blocking minority was established. Since then we’ve had six presidencies and each one - beginning with the French Presidency – passed over this tricky problem, like a hot potato, to the next one. Let me make this crystal clear: the Polish Presidency does not intend to leave it to our successors. We will make every effort to solve the problem in the near future.

 European Parliament adopts the six-pack 2011-09-29

The Polish Presidency has welcomed the adoption of the ’six-pack’ by the European Parliament on 28 September.

It is expected that the Ecofin Council will formally endorse the package of six legal acts boosting economic governance in the European Union at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Luxembourg on 4 October.

The compromise between the European Parliament and the Council was hammered out during an informal Ecofin session in Wroclaw on 16 September. As a result, the new provisions will enter into force before the end of the year.

 Prime Minister meets European Council President 2011-09-29

Meetings between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy have ended. The two politicians held talks with the Belarusian opposition and representatives of participants of the Civil Society conference.

The head of the Polish government expressed appreciation for the European Union’s involvement in the Belarusian situation as well as the role of the Eastern Partnership in the democratisation process taking place in participating countries.

 Polish Presidency achieves compromise on ‘correlation tables’ 2011-09-28

The Polish Presidency was successful on Wednesday, in its efforts to broker an agreement on the so-called ‘correlation tables’ that define how EU laws are implemented in the respective Member States. The compromise between the European Parliament and the European Council was endorsed on Wednesday by members of the Committee of Ambassadors (COREPER).

 Minister Dowgielewicz in the European Parliament 2011-09-28

Mr President, President of the Commission, Commissioners, Honourable Members, First of all, let me thank you, President Buzek, for the opportunity to speak here today on behalf of the Council Presidency. This is yet another proof of the ongoing close dialogue between our three institutions.

I am also very grateful to you, President Barroso, for your “State of the Union” address. I particularly wish to refer to your remarks on growth. This is a shared concern of the Commission and the Council presidency. Our mutual cooperation will be highlighted by the “Sources of Growth” report next week.

Let me accentuate two elements of particular importance:

 Polish Presidency: Go East, Erasmus! 2011-09-28

‘Thanks to their mobility, young Europeans are increasing their chances of employment, developing a multicultural awareness and such traits as creativity and civic involvement,’ emphasised Science and Higher Education Minister Professor Barbara Kudrycka while opening the ‘Go East, Erasmus!’ conference.

Professor Kudrycka recalled that in 2009 the states participating in the Bologna Process pledged that by 2020 at least 20 percent of students from the European Higher Education Area should take part in a student exchange or training session abroad. The Eastern countries can fulfil that requirement as soon as we set up an Erasmus programme for them.

 6th European Quality Conference - online 2011-09-28

The conference is one of cyclically held Quality Conferences under the European Public Administration Network (EUPAN), organized since 2000. So far, the conferences have been held in Copenhagen, Luxembourg, Tampere and Rotterdam, and the last one took place in 2008 in Paris at the initiative of the president of France.

 Minister Sawicki: let’s actively limit poverty 2011-09-28

Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Marek Sawicki addressed the Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg during the plenary debate on the Food Programme for the most deprived persons in the EU.

 An intelligent response of employment and social policy to the crisis 2011-09-28

On 26th-27th September in Wrocław, EU ministers and experts gave advice on innovative methods of preventing the effects of the economic crisis.

In the first part, a debate was held among representatives of Member States. Polish Deputy Labour Minister Radosław Mleczko opened the conference, indicating that despite the budgetary savings enforced by the crisis, some areas of society must be specially protected because they are key for future development. In Poland, these areas are education and promoting balance between family and work responsibilities. The need to protect the social sphere in a time of crisis became the leitmotif of other speeches.

 Barbara Kudrycka opens the congress for the beneficiaries of ‘Marie Curie Actions`2011-09-27

Science knows no bounds and nowhere is this better seen than at this congress. ‘I wish to thank the Polish Presidency for bringing together so many great scientists in one place,’ said the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Andrulla Vassiliou at the inauguration of the event.

She also stated that this year’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Maria Skłodowskia-Curie’s Nobel Prize is the perfect opportunity to promote science and research projects among the general public.

 Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw 2011-09-27

The two-day meeting of heads of state and government is to adopt strategic decisions on the shape of the Eastern Partnership for the years to come.

The purpose of the summitis to provide a strong political signal on the increasing integration of the EU’s Eastern neighbours into Europe. At the same time, summit participants will evaluate the achievements of the Partnership to date which have contributed to the convergence of the partner countries towards European norms, standards and values and facilitated their political association with, and economic integration into, the EU.

 Minister Dowgielewicz: eurozone concerns us all 2011-09-27

For the first time in the history a presidency has started a series of informal high-level debates with the European Parliament, during which current issues that are on the agenda of European Union institutions are being discussed. At today’s first meeting, Secretary of State for European Affairs Mikołaj Dowgielewicz presented an overall assessment of the current situation in the European Union and answered MEPs’ questions.

 Western Balkans EU Ministerial Forum 2011-09-27

The Western Balkans’ rapprochement with the EU, visa and migration policy as well as combating trafficking in human beings and arms will be the main focus of the Western Balkans EU Ministerial Forum taking place on 3rd-4th October 2011 in Ohrid in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

During the conference, the process of stabilisation and association between the Western Balkans and the EU is due to be reviewed. Under discussion will be the liberalisation and monitoring of visa policy following the elimination of the visa obligation for most of the region’s states.

 On the significance of innovations and research studies in European development 2011-09-27

A conference entitled the European Intersectoral Summit on Research and Innovation organised jointly by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Jagiellonian University and Atomium Culture was opened on 26th September.

The conference was devoted to great challenges faced by European society and researchers in modern times as well as to relationships between science and society and the position that European science occupies in the global world.

* Cultural Programme

 Review of Roman Polański films in Prague 2011-10-07

Polański most famous Hollywood-style productions as well as lesser known films of his Polish period are being screened in the Praguecity centre from 5thto 12thOctober. They include film études of his student period being presented for this first time. Rounding out the review is an exhibition of film posters illustrating Polański’s films. They have been assembled by the Museumof Cinematographyin Łódź and are on display at the French Institute and the Ponrepo Cinema.

 Schaeffer’s Era in Madrid 2011-10-06

The Schaeffer’s Era spectacle is being shown in Madrid as part of the cultural programme of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.

This outstanding collage, a festival of sound, pictures, movement and words, is a tribute to art, which turns out to be the supreme value. The event promoting the creativity of Bogusław Schaeffer was directed by Maciej Sobociński, and outstanding Polish and foreign artists took part in it: the Amadeus Orchestra conducted by Agnieszka Duczmal, the Olga Szwajgier Quartet, Michal Urbaniak (violin), Łukasz Poprawski (alto sax), vocalist Jorgos Skolias, the actors Marek Frąckowiak, Waldemar Obłoza, Agnieszka Wielgosz and Sean Palmer, the soprano Valentina Pennino and the dancer Witold Jurewicz.

 Euro Night 2011 2011-09-30

On Friday, 23 September 2011, the spacious interior of the La Maison Française, the French Embassy in Washington, was home to the fourth edition of the annual festival of European Union Member States’ cultures, Euro Night 2011, on which representatives of more than twenty European embassies showcased their culture, traditions and national cuisine.

 Kilométrage - Jan Brzękowski and his artistic worlds 2011-09-28

The Polish Institute of Berlin presents avant-garde art from the EgidioMarzona Collection.

 Polish jazz and classical music in the capital of peace 2011-09-27

The Hague is a special place, known as the international capital of peace and justice due to the numerous international legal institutions that are situated there. The concert will be dedicated to these institutions and to the city of The Hague, a city in which hundreds of people work every day in the cause of a more just world.

* After Hours

 ‘Poland noted a good start’ 2011-10-05

We speak with ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller on preparations for the Danish Presidency and on life in Poland.

On January 1, 2012 Denmarktakes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Poland. How ready are the Danes for this event?

Thomas Østrup Møller: Basically the state of our preparations for the Presidency lags six months behind Poland. We are doing well in terms of both logistics and content. Prior to taking over the Presidency, on September 15, there will be parliamentary elections in Denmark, but as we have faced similar situations in the past, I am sure we will also succeed this time.

Will Denmark’s approach to the preparations differ from Poland’s?

 Polish Presidency at the halfway point – film 2011-10-04

We now have dozens of political meetings and hundreds of cultural events under our belt. See what has been taking place during the Polish Presidency over the past three months.

This material has been assembled from the Polish Presidency’s videoblog: http://pl2011.eu/en/videoblog

 Poland Has No Easy Role to Play 2011-10-03

‘Polish Presidency triggers considerable expectations,’says Inga Rosińska, Head of the Cabinet for Jerzy Buzek, President of the EU Parliament.

PL2011.EU: What is your opinion of the Polish Presidency so far, from your Brussels perspective?

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For further information: Polish Presidency of the EU Council