a guide to the ministry of foreign affairs

SERVING POLANDBUILDING EUROPE UNDERSTANDING THE WORLDA Guide to the Ministr y of Foreign A�airs

Ministryof Foreign Aff airs Republic of Poland

SERVING POL AND

BUILDING EUROPE

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD

Contents:

06-07

08-09

10-11

Who are we?

Our responsibilities – foreign policy and security

Talking about Poland

12-13

14-15

18-19

20-21

22-23

24-25

26-27

Caring for Poland’s economic interests

Actively involved in development cooperation

Cooperating with the Polish diaspora

Supporting Polish nationals abroad

An efficient and modern approach

The power of tradition and institutional memory

Talking about Poland’s role in the European Union

28-29 Setting the standard in contacts between countries

30 Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SERVING POLAND, BUILDING EUROPE, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD

It is my great pleasure to present to you a publication depicting the work of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of the Republic of Poland. Our Ministry, with a network spanning 162 diplomatic posts in

135 cities around the world and employing over 3,500 employees, works to advance the Republic of

Poland’s ever stronger position within the European Union and NATO. After four years as Minister of

Foreign Affairs and at the outset of my second term in office, I can proudly state that Polish diplomacy

has earned itself a permanent place amongst the leading diplomatic corps in Europe and around the

world.

The task of government is to provide security to its citizens and to comprehensively modernize

the state. Diplomacy is there to support these goals. We have been successful in convincing other

countries to side with our arguments and initiatives. In recent years, we have managed to make

real the concept of energy solidarity thanks to actions undertaken within the EU and NATO. We

have implemented the Eastern Partnership project – a bridge between the European Union and

our eastern neighbours. Using public and cultural diplomacy, we portray Poland as an attractive

country whose image reflects Poles’ love of liberty and the great collective oeuvre of our artists. We

care about the economic dimension of foreign policy and the worthy representation of our country

abroad. We help entrepreneurs and encourage foreign investors to invest their capital in our vibrant

and expanding market. Our consular staff looks after Poles travelling around the world, as well as

after the Polish diaspora – numbering over twenty million people. Year after year, we are increasing

funds devoted to development aid, thus contributing to poverty reduction and the elimination of

other conflict-escalating factors.

In the age of globalization, our effectiveness is judged by our ability to obtain and process information

and respond rapidly. Our highly qualified staff have been equipped with modern tools enabling them

to compete with the best. Our diplomats serve Poland in the farthest reaches of the world and hold

positions in the newly created European External Action Service, the so-called European diplomatic

corps, thus playing a part in enhancing Europe’s position on the global stage.

Ladies and Gentlemen!


Ladies and Gentlemen!

On 1 July 2011, Poland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This constituted

both a challenge and an enormous opportunity to promote Poland’s standing within the EU and the

effectiveness of Polish diplomacy. During this unique time, our foreign service staff demonstrated their

professionalism and excellent preparation in performing these tasks. Thanks to this experience, we

feel more deeply integrated with the mainstream of events in Europe and around the world.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

0 6


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only government department empowered by the

Constitution to conduct and coordinate Polish foreign policy.

We are tasked with carrying out the following priorities: developing relations with other

countries and international organizations, including Poland’s membership of the European

Union; representing and protecting the interests of the Polish state and coordinating

foreign policy; representing and protecting the interests of Polish citizens and legal

persons abroad, but also cooperating with Poles residing in foreign countries; promoting

Polish cultural and educational institutions; engaging in international cooperation for

development and humanitarian aid; shaping Poland’s international image, conducting

public and cultural diplomacy, and supporting activities aimed at promoting Poland’s

economy, culture, language, tourism, science and technology.

The Polish foreign service is staffed with professionals who demonstrate comprehensive

skills, speak foreign languages, are academically trained and have the necessary

experience to carry out their tasks in every domain of Polish foreign policy, ranging from

political relations (bilateral and multilateral), economic relations and development aid, to

cultural diplomacy and consular affairs.

The organizational structure of the Polish MFA comprises its Warsaw headquarters

and a network of diplomatic missions performing the tasks of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs abroad. Foreign missions include embassies and permanent representations to

international organizations, as well as consular offices – professional and honorary ones.

Polish Institutes, tasked with the dissemination of Polish culture, also come under the

Ministry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister sets

the tasks for the Ministry; the Secretaries and Under-Secretaries of State and the Director

General of Foreign Service assign responsibilities to their respective organizational units;

departments and bureaus allocate tasks to their subordinate foreign missions.

An up-to-date MFA organizational chart is available at our website www.mfa.gov.pl.

Who are we?

SERVING POLAND, BUILDING EUROPE, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLDSERVING POLAND, BUILDING EUROPE, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD

MFA Operations

Center

Foreign Ministers’

debate hosted by

Warsaw University on

Foreign Service Day,

November 2009

Headquarters of the

Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, located at

23 al. J. Ch. Szucha

in Warsaw

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

iP

ho

to: M

ari

usz

Ko

siń

ski

Ph

oto

: B

art

łom

iej K

ozł

ow

ski

Who are we?

Every Polish citizen wants to live in a secure country which fosters friendly relations

with its neighbours and creates conditions which encourage development and prosperity.

Polish history shows us that nothing destroys the achievements of generations past like

war or lack of sovereignty. Poles know best that peace is not given once and for all, and

that it is never got for free. It requires constant nurture, vigilance and work. Therefore, the

main objective of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to undertake actions which shape the

international environment in a way which guarantees peace and security.

Today, security is defined more broadly than in the 20th century. It is no longer only about

being prepared in the event of armed aggression. Current threats include acts of terrorism

perpetrated by groups which do not identify with any given state, cyberattacks and the

cutting off of natural resources, especially energy supplies – which could undermine

a country’s economic functioning. To tackle these challenges, the Ministry develops a

foreign policy strategy, outlines courses of action – analyzing all possible developments

on the international stage – and prepares contingency plans. We also coordinate the efforts

of other ministries in the field of foreign relations on the basis of new instruments which

help to streamline Polish government measures in the area of foreign affairs.

Poland’s security is guaranteed by our defensive efforts and our active participation

in NATO and EU structures. A strong, united Europe holds key significance for Polish

interests. In 2011, during the Polish Presidency, we had the opportunity to show that our

country is a powerful pillar of the EU and a strong link in the NATO alliance.

This also served as an opportunity to garner support for our Eastern Partnership initiative,

aimed at developing an enabling international environment through solidarity with peoples

aspiring to democracy.

We managed to portray Poland as a dynamic country experiencing growth and boasting a

modern economy. The Polish Presidency made every effort to combat the eurozone crisis

and get the EU back on the path of rapid growth. Poland presented itself as a country that

cares about EU unity.


0 8



Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

iP

ho

to: M

ari

usz

Ko

siń

ski

Secretary General

of the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization

Anders Fogh

Rasmussen

in Warsaw, 2011

High Representative of

the Union for Foreign

Affairs and

Security Policy

Catherine Ashton

in Warsaw, 2010

Ph

oto

: Le

sze

k S

zym

ań

ski (

PA

P)

Talks between Minister

Radosław Sikorski

and Russian Foreign

Minister Sergey Lavrov

during a working visit

to Moscow, December

2011


10


Modern diplomacy spans far beyond the rigid framework of intergovernmental relations.

Every country, including Poland, finds it especially important to create an atmosphere

of mutual understanding between societies, thus making possible agreements on

political and economic matters. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

is conducting a range of activities enabling foreigners to discover and understand

contemporary Poland – our economic and scientific achievements, our perspective on

global processes, our international activity, as well as our diverse cultural and historical

heritage. Aware of the fact that a country’s reputation and image greatly influences its

credibility, we make use of public diplomacy to make sure Poland and its citizens are

justly perceived around the world.

We try to achieve our goals by developing constant dialogue with other societies,

including with foreign opinion makers, NGOs and media outlets. This dialogue centres

on Polish international initiatives, ideas, culture and other values of importance for us

and our partners.



Co

urt

esy

of

Cre

ati

ve P

roje

ct

Fo

un

da

tio

n, p

ho

to: J

an

Lu

tyk

Exhibition entitled

“Young Creative

Poland: in Production”

co-organized by the

MFA at the Salone del

Mobile, Milan, 2011

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

American journalist Allen

Paul (centre), author of

publications devoted to the

Katyń Crime, a laureate of

the 2010 Diploma of the

Minister of Foreign Affairs

for outstanding services in

the promotion of Poland in

the world

Ph

oto

: WW

A A

rch

ite

cts

Polish pavilion at

EXPO 2010, Shanghai


1 2


Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004. Even though this is but

a short period in our national history, the EU holds a significant place in the social

consciousness of Poles. The MFA conducts awareness activities which acquaint citizens

with the way the EU functions, the changes it undergoes and the processes through

which Poland shapes common European policies. Such activities are addressed to a broad

range of social groups – young people, teachers, entrepreneurs, NGOs – and make use

of the vast possibilities offered by electronic media, as well as more traditional forms

of communication: conferences, lectures, publications, brochures. Thanks to the MFA’s

ongoing cooperation with the nationwide network of Regional European Information

Centres, such information is ever more accessible to all those interested in EU affairs.

Poland is one of the countries with the highest level of EU knowledge among citizens. Poles

also demonstrate strong support for their country’s EU membership.

Talking about Poland’s role in the European Union


Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

iP

ho

to: M

ari

usz

Ko

siń

ski

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

MFA offices at the

intersection of

Szucha and Litewska

Streets in Warsaw

European Library in

Warsaw (operated by

the MFA)

Opening of the

„Polish Path to

the Presidency”

exhibition, Old Town

Square, Warsaw,

November 2011

14


A country’s standing on the international arena depends primarily on its economic position,

its level of innovation and the ability to reap the benefits of globalization. These features

are characteristic of open and competitive economies formed by entrepreneurs and actively

supported by government administration.

In order to meet this challenge Polish foreign policy must grant a permanent place to the

promotion of economic interests and measures aimed at safeguarding national economic

security. Fulfilling these objectives requires the cooperation of various ministries,

government institutions and agencies, as well as self-regulatory organizations. One of

our main tasks is to develop the potential of the Polish foreign service so as to effectively

support the strategic goals of Poland’s economic policy.

In this context, our economy-oriented diplomatic activities focus mainly on strengthening

Poland’s position in the international debate on global challenges (energy security, climate

change, building a new economic order), creating favourable conditions for boosting Polish

brands on foreign markets and supporting economic promotion, especially in countries of

paramount importance for the growth of Polish trade and investment.



Ph

oto

: Po

lish

Em

ba

ssy,

Do

ha

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

iP

ho

to: I

wo

na

Sta

rzyk

Signing of the

Contract on LNG

Supplies, Doha, 2009

Conference on

shale gas potential in

Poland and Europe,

Warsaw, 2011

Minister Radosław

Sikorski at the 38th

World Economic

Forum, Davos, 2011


CANADA

USA

BRAZIL

MEXICO

GUATEMAL A

EL SALVADOR

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

VENEZUEL A

GUYANA

SURINAMEFRENCHGUYANA

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

HAITI

CUBA

JAMAICABELIZE

BAHAMAS

GREENL AND

ICEL AND

SENEGAL

GAMBIA

GUINEA BISSAU

GUINEA

BURKINA FASO

LIBERIA

COTE D'IVOIRE GHANA

TOGO

BENIN

LESOTHO

SWAZIL AND

MAL AWI

BURUNGI

RWANDA

ERITREA

DJIBOUTI

EQUATORIALGUINEA

SIERRALEONE

TUNISIA

TURKEY

ALGERIA

LIBIA EGYPT

NORTHSUDAN

SOUTHSUDAN

CHAD

NIGER

NIGERIA

CAMEROON

CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC

ETHIOPIA

YEMEN

SAUDI ARABIA

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

PAKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

CHINA

RUSSIA

KAZAKHSTAN

MONGOLIA

UZBEKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

GEORGIA

ARMENIAAZERBAIJAN

TAJIKISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

BUTHAN

BANGL ADISH

MYANMAR

INDONESIA

TAIWAN

JAPANREPUBLIC OF

KOREA

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’SREPUBLIC OF KOREA

THE PHILIPPINES

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW ZEL AND

L AOS

VIETNAMCAMBODIA

THAIL AND

MALYSIA

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IRAN

NEPAL

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JORDAN

KUWAIT

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UNITED ARABEMIRATES

SYRIA IRAQCYPRUS

ISRAEL

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MOZAMBIQUE

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CONGO

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ZAMBIA

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UGANDA

MALI

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MOROCCO

WESTERNSAHARA

COLOMBIA

ECUADOR

PERU

CHILE

BOLIVIA

PARAGUAY

URUGUAY

ARGENTINA

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

MontrealToronto

Caracas

CuritibaSão Paulo

New York

Mexico City

Bogotá

LimaBrasília

Nairobi

Abuja Addis Ababa

Tel Aviv

CairoNew Delhi

Kuala Lumpur

Hanoi

BeijingPyongyang

TokyoSeoul

Hong Kong

Shanghai

Singapore

Jakarta

Canberra

Wellington

Sydney

Bangkok

Guangzhou

Mumbai

Almaty

Islamabad

Astana

Irkutsk

Tashkent

Amman

TehranKabul

Baku

Abu DhabiDoha

Riyadh

Kuwait

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Los Angeles

Chicago

Vancouver

Ottawa

Nicosia

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Tbilisi

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TunisAlgiers

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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GUYANA

GREENL AND

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BURKINA FASO

COTE D'IVOIRE

TURKEY

ALGERIA

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SUDAN

SOUTHSUDAN

CHAD

NIGER

NIGERIA

CAMEROON

ETHIOPIA

YEMEN

SAUDI ARABIA

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

PAKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

CHINA

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KAZAKHSTAN

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KYRGYZSTAN

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JAPAN

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW ZEAL AND

L AOS

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THAIL AND

IRAN

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KENYA

TANZANIA

MADAGASCAR

MOZAMBIQUE

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BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

ANGOL A


CONGO

CONGOGABON

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

UGANDA

MALI

MAURITANIA

MOROCCO

IREL AND UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAY

SWEDEN

DENMARK

BELGIUMGERMANY POL AND

UKRAINESLOVAKIA

LITHUANIA

L ATVIA

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AUSTRIA

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CROATIASERBIA

MONTENEGRO

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ALBANIA

GREECE

BOSNIA ANDHERZEGOVINA

SWITZERL AND HUNGARYROMANIA

CZECHREPUBLIC

NETHERL ANDSBEL ARUS

FRANCE

SPAINPORTUGAL

FINL AND

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ECUADOR

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CHILE

BOLIVIA

PARAGUAY

URUGUAY

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SERBIASERBIA

GUATEMAL A

EL SALVADOR

DOMINICANREPUBLICHAITI

JAMAICABELIZE

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

SURINAMEFRENCHGUIANA

BAHAMAS

LESOTHO

SWAZIL AND

MAL AWI

GUINEA

LIBERIA

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BURUNDI

RWANDA

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DJIBOUTI

EQUATORIALGUINEA

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SENEGAL

GAMBIA

GUINEA BISSAU

TUNISIA

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QATAR

UNITED ARABEMIRATES

CYPRUS

ISRAEL

LEBANON

TAJIKISTAN

BHUTAN

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REPUBLIC OFKOREA


PHILIPPINESCAMBODIA

MAL AYSIABRUNEI DARUSSAL AM

TIMOR-LESTE

NEPAL

SRI L ANKA

CUBA

MALTA

IREL AND

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BELGIUM

GERMANY POL AND

UKRAINE

SLOVAKIA

LITHUANIA

L ATVIA

ESTONIA

AUSTRIA

ITALY

SLOVENIA

CROATIASERBIA

MONTENEGRO

MACEDONIA

BULGARIA

ALBANIA

GREECE


SWITZERL ANDHUNGARY

MOLDOVA

ROMANIA

TURKEY

CZECHREPUBLIC

NETHERL ANDS

BEL ARUS

FRANCE

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

FINL AND

Dublin

Paris

Manchester

Edinburgh

Hamburg

London

Chis inãu

PragueLeipzig

LisbonMadrid

Berlin

Barcelona

Milan

Lille

Munich

Vinnytsia

Kaliningrad

Lviv

BrestLutsk

Grodno

Lyon

Athens

Vatican City

Minsk

StockholmOslo

Vilnius

Istanbul

Odessa

Tirana

Ljubljana

Vienna

PodgoricaSarajevo

SkopjeSofia

GenevaBern

Luxembourg

Brussels

Strasbourg

Riga

Tallinn

BucharestBelgrade

Budapest

Helsinki

Bratislava

Copenhagen Malmö

Ostrava

Zagreb

Cologne

The Hague

Rome

KOSOVO

Smolensk

Saint Petersburg

KievDüsseldorfKharkiv

Sevastopol

Polish diplomatic missions abroad

16

EmbassyGeneral Consulate Permanent RepresentationConsular agenc yPolish Institute

CANADA

USA

BRAZIL

MEXICO

GUATEMAL A

EL SALVADOR

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

VENEZUEL A

GUYANA

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GAMBIA

GUINEA BISSAU

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LIBERIA

COTE D'IVOIRE GHANA

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BENIN

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SWAZIL AND

MAL AWI

BURUNGI

RWANDA

ERITREA

DJIBOUTI

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TUNISIA

TURKEY

ALGERIA

LIBIA EGYPT

NORTHSUDAN

SOUTHSUDAN

CHAD

NIGER

NIGERIA

CAMEROON


ETHIOPIA

YEMEN

SAUDI ARABIA

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

PAKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

CHINA

RUSSIA

KAZAKHSTAN

MONGOLIA

UZBEKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

GEORGIA

ARMENIAAZERBAIJAN

TAJIKISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

BUTHAN

BANGL ADISH

MYANMAR

INDONESIA

TAIWAN

JAPANREPUBLIC OF

KOREA


THE PHILIPPINES

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW ZEL AND

L AOS

VIETNAMCAMBODIA

THAIL AND

MALYSIA

BURNEI

TIMOR-LESTE

IRAN

NEPAL

SRI L ANKA

JORDAN

KUWAIT

GATAR

UNITED ARABEMIRATES

SYRIA IRAQCYPRUS

ISRAEL

LEBANON

OMAN

SOMALIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

MADAGASCAR

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTH AFRICA

BOSTWANA

NAMIBIA

ANGOL A


CONGO

CONGOGABON

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

UGANDA

MALI

MAURITANIA

MOROCCO

WESTERNSAHARA

COLOMBIA

ECUADOR

PERU

CHILE

BOLIVIA

PARAGUAY

URUGUAY

ARGENTINA

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

MontrealToronto

Caracas

CuritibaSão Paulo

New York

Mexico City

Bogotá

LimaBrasília

Nairobi

Abuja Addis Ababa

Tel Aviv

CairoNew Delhi

Kuala Lumpur

Hanoi

BeijingPyongyang

TokyoSeoul

Hong Kong

Shanghai

Singapore

Jakarta

Canberra

Wellington

Sydney

Bangkok

Guangzhou

Mumbai

Almaty

Islamabad

Astana

Irkutsk

Tashkent

Amman

TehranKabul

Baku

Abu DhabiDoha

Riyadh

Kuwait

Beirut DamascusBaghdad

Moscow

Yerevan

Pretoria

Luanda

Buenos AiresSantiago de Chile

Havana

Washington D.C.

Los Angeles

Chicago

Vancouver

Ottawa

Nicosia

Ankara

Reykjavík

Tbilisi

TripoliRabat

Erbil

Ramallah

TunisAlgiers

CANADA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BRAZIL

MEXICO

VENEZUEL A

GUYANA

GREENL AND

ICEL AND

BURKINA FASO

COTE D'IVOIRE

TURKEY

ALGERIA

LIBYA EGYPT

SUDAN

SOUTHSUDAN

CHAD

NIGER

NIGERIA

CAMEROON

ETHIOPIA

YEMEN

SAUDI ARABIA

INDIA

AUSTRALIA

PAKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

CHINA

RUSSIA

KAZAKHSTAN

MONGOLIA

UZBEKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

MYANMAR

INDONESIA

JAPAN

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NEW ZEAL AND

L AOS

VIETNAM

THAIL AND

IRAN

SYRIA IRAQ

OMAN

SOMALIA

KENYA

TANZANIA

MADAGASCAR

MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTH AFRICA

BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

ANGOL A


CONGO

CONGOGABON

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

UGANDA

MALI

MAURITANIA

MOROCCO

IREL AND UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAY

SWEDEN

DENMARK

BELGIUMGERMANY POL AND

UKRAINESLOVAKIA

LITHUANIA

L ATVIA

ESTONIA

AUSTRIA

ITALYSLOVENIA

CROATIASERBIA

MONTENEGRO

MACEDONIABULGARIA

ALBANIA

GREECE


SWITZERL AND HUNGARYROMANIA

CZECHREPUBLIC

NETHERL ANDSBEL ARUS

FRANCE

SPAINPORTUGAL

FINL AND

COLOMBIA

ECUADOR

PERU

CHILE

BOLIVIA

PARAGUAY

URUGUAY

ARGENTINA

SERBIASERBIA

GUATEMAL A

EL SALVADOR

DOMINICANREPUBLICHAITI

JAMAICABELIZE

HONDURAS

NICARAGUA

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

SURINAMEFRENCHGUIANA

BAHAMAS

LESOTHO

SWAZIL AND

MAL AWI

GUINEA

LIBERIA

GHANATOGO

BENIN

BURUNDI

RWANDA

ERITREA

DJIBOUTI

EQUATORIALGUINEA

SIERRALEONE


SENEGAL

GAMBIA

GUINEA BISSAU

TUNISIA

GEORGIA

ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN

JORDANKUWAIT

QATAR

UNITED ARABEMIRATES

CYPRUS

ISRAEL

LEBANON

TAJIKISTAN

BHUTAN

BANGL ADESHTAIWAN

REPUBLIC OFKOREA


PHILIPPINESCAMBODIA

MAL AYSIABRUNEI DARUSSAL AM

TIMOR-LESTE

NEPAL

SRI L ANKA

CUBA

MALTA

IREL AND

UNITEDKINGDOM

NORWAYSWEDEN

DENMARK

BELGIUM

GERMANY POL AND

UKRAINE

SLOVAKIA

LITHUANIA

L ATVIA

ESTONIA

AUSTRIA

ITALY

SLOVENIA

CROATIASERBIA

MONTENEGRO

MACEDONIA

BULGARIA

ALBANIA

GREECE


SWITZERL ANDHUNGARY

MOLDOVA

ROMANIA

TURKEY

CZECHREPUBLIC

NETHERL ANDS

BEL ARUS

FRANCE

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

FINL AND

Dublin

Paris

Manchester

Edinburgh

Hamburg

London

Chis inãu

PragueLeipzig

LisbonMadrid

Berlin

Barcelona

Milan

Lille

Munich

Vinnytsia

Kaliningrad

Lviv

BrestLutsk

Grodno

Lyon

Athens

Vatican City

Minsk

StockholmOslo

Vilnius

Istanbul

Odessa

Tirana

Ljubljana

Vienna

PodgoricaSarajevo

SkopjeSofia

GenevaBern

Luxembourg

Brussels

Strasbourg

Riga

Tallinn

BucharestBelgrade

Budapest

Helsinki

Bratislava

Copenhagen Malmö

Ostrava

Zagreb

Cologne

The Hague

Rome

KOSOVO

Smolensk

Saint Petersburg

KievDüsseldorfKharkiv

Sevastopol


18

Supporting the aspirations of developing countries is a relatively new form of international

activity for Poland. Not that long ago, we ourselves were the beneficiaries of similar aid,

which we received from countries that understood and recognized our goals. Bearing

in mind the scope and significance of the assistance provided to us during the times of

political upheaval, we consider it our moral obligation to work for the benefit of countries

currently undergoing transformation.

Poland serves as a positive example of economic modernization and democratic transition.

Since our experiences can be used by developing countries, we are keen to respond to the

challenges faced by the international community. We are fulfilling our obligations in line

with agreements governing development cooperation. We believe that the concentration of

resources and exchange of experiences contribute to the creation of an effective system of

development assistance. An important part of Polish development aid is the co-financing

and co-drafting of measures undertaken in this area by both the European Union and UN

agencies.

Alongside our participation in multilateral aid programmes, Poland also implements its

own bilateral cooperation projects with developing countries. We allocate the most funding

towards cooperation with countries with priority status (in 2011, these consisted of Belarus,

Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Afghanistan, Angola, and the Palestinian Autonomy). Key

partners for Poland’s cooperation include countries covered by the Eastern Partnership

project. We support the modernization efforts and aspirations of our eastern neighbours,

since we would like their regulatory framework to be as close as possible to EU standards.

Our involvement varies in scale and scope – it includes both rapid-response humanitarian

actions and long-term development and democracy projects.

These actions are made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Polish officials, our

diplomatic missions, NGOs, and volunteers. We are convinced that the responsibility for

implementing processes and actions aimed at advancing socio-economic development and

global prosperity also lies with our country.

We recognize, support and publicize efforts undertaken by Poles to help the inhabitants

of countries which find themselves in a needier situation than Poland. In 2011, in a special

competition addressed to journalists entitled “How do Poles help the world?”, we awarded

reporters documenting the work of Poles who provide professional or volunteer assistance

to developing countries.



Ph

oto

: Ko

nra

d Ś

mig

iels

kiP

ho

to: M

ari

usz

Ko

siń

ski

Floodproofing the Deh

Daulat school building,

Khwaja Omari District,

Afghanistan, 2011

Official hand-over

of the Polish EU

Council Presidency

logo to Krzysztof

Stanowski, chair of

the International

Solidarity Foundation

tasked with promoting

democracy and

distributing Polish

development aid, 2012


Ph

oto

: Ka

tarz

yna

Ze

ga

dło

, Po

lish

Gre

en

Ne

two

rk

Meeting devoted to the

project on “Building

wells and supporting

farmers in Tafi-Todje

rural areas”, Ghana 2009

20


We highly value the activities undertaken by the Polish diaspora, which has proven time

and time again that it is capable of effectively supporting Polish interests abroad. For

Poland – which pursues its interests and shapes its positive image in Europe and around the

world – the Polish communities present in almost every country are natural and precious

allies. Ties between Poland and the citizens of other countries and Poles living abroad are

based foremost on our greatest national treasure: Polish culture.

The relationship between Poland and the Polish diaspora is simple and obvious: Poland’s

every success abroad strengthens their position in their country of residence; the stronger

the position of the diaspora, the more knowledge about Poland gets disseminated in the

foreign country. The main task of our newly defined, partner-based relations with the

diaspora – which also represents Poland’s strategic objective vis-à-vis the diaspora – is

to establish forms of understanding and solicit its assistance in the implementation of our

country’s interests, as well as to use the potential of the Polish diaspora and Poles living

abroad to create and promote a positive image of Poland around the world.

At the same time, we never forget about the state’s responsibility for all Poles and people

of Polish origin, especially those residing in places where democracy has yet to establish

a foothold. Polish tradition sees it an obvious duty to support them, protect their rights,

and help them in meeting the needs arising from their Polish ancestry.



Ph

oto

: Ro

be

rt K

rzy

żan

ow

ski

Exhibition on the

occasion of the 110th

anniversary of the death

of Polish engineer

Ernest Malinowski,

constructor of the

Central Transandine

Railway, Lima, 2009

Ph

oto

: Jo

hn

Liv

iero

QV2: Second edition

of the conference of

young Polish leaders

from the U.S.

and Canada,

Windsor, 2010

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

Foreign Minister Rado-

sław Sikorski grants

the Bene Merito Award

to the doyen of Polish

Americans, Władysław

Zachariasiewicz, in

recognition of his work

to enhance Poland’s

international position,

September 2011


2 2


Many Polish and foreign citizens shape their opinions of Polish diplomacy, and thus

indirectly also of our country, on the basis of contacts with consuls responsible for

protecting the interests and rights of Poles living abroad. When acting as consular officers,

we demand a lot of ourselves on the assumption that we must not only be quick and efficient,

but also open and friendly to others.

The consular service primarily consists in support and care. Consular officers

regularly encounter random situations that require their intervention: accidents, theft,

hospitalization, arrests and cases of serious disability or death. They also perform a

number of legal actions, such as the issuing of visas and passports, and are responsible

for organizing presidential and parliamentary elections abroad.

Consular offices monitor the security situation in foreign countries and global regions. The

MFA website features a constantly-updated newsletter entitled “Poles Abroad”.

The implementation of new IT systems for issuing visas and passports has enhanced the

efficiency of our consulates. The improved e-Consulate system enables applicants to

prepare visa applications and submit them to the relevant diplomatic post in electronic

format, make consular appointments and voluntarily register their stay abroad. Selected

missions offer mobile consular services which allow officials to perform certain operations

outside consulates, thus saving applicants the hassle of having to appear on-site.

Supporting Polish nationals abroad


Ph

oto

: D

an

uta

Gre

szc

zuk

Official opening of the

first Visa Application

Filing Point, one of 14

such offices opened

by the MFA in Ukraine,

November 2011Supporting Polish nationals abroad

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

Granting of the Andrzej

Kremer “Consul of the

Year” Award, handed out

since 2010, to Krzysztof

Ciebień, Consul General

of the Republic of

Poland in Guangzhou,

November 2011

Ph

oto

: Ge

ne

ral C

on

sula

te in

Ne

w Y

ork

Voting in Elections to

the Polish Sejm and

Senate, Consulate

General of the

Republic of Poland in

New York, 9 October

2011

24


The Polish foreign service is a modern and well-trained corps, conscious of its mission

and increasingly better equipped. We want it to be an effective service, capable of

granting Poland an international position which corresponds to its potential and

aspirations.

A growing number of Ministry employees are equipped with technologically advanced

tools – smartphones and secure laptops. But these are just the tangible examples of

far deeper changes. For over four years now, the Ministry has been implementing a

modernization programme aimed at reforming the MFA’s organizational structure,

institutional culture and quality management system. The MFA’s modernization process

is based on both an in-depth analysis of the international situation and on the real tasks

and needs of the Ministry. Reforms currently carried through by the Polish MFA will allow

us to adapt to the new foreign service structures of the majority of highly-developed

countries.



Ph

oto

: MA

ŁE

CC

Y b

iuro

pro

jek

tow

e.

Interiors of the

Consulate General

opened in 2009 in

Vinnytsya, Ukraine

Ph

oto

: Po

lish

In

stit

ute

, Bu

ch

are

st

Library at the Polish

Institute, Bucharest

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

Training staff in the

use of state-of-the-art

communications

equipment


26


One of the key factors which help streamline the functioning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

is caring for institutional memory and disseminating knowledge in the field of Poland’s

diplomatic tradition. In recognition of this, in 2009 the Minister of Foreign Affairs decided

to make the 16th of November – the day Marshal Józef Piłsudski dispatched a cable to

world leaders proclaiming the rebirth of the Polish state in 1918 – Foreign Service Day.

The Ministry is also active in the field of publishing. The MFA has rolled out albums devoted

to the Polish diplomatic tradition, as well as series of publications on the history of Polish

foreign affairs. Diplomatic missions abroad implement projects documenting the history

of bilateral ties. The MFA also comprises an Archive which makes documents created

after 1945 available to researchers for professional and scientific purposes. The Archive

also gathers objects linked to the history of the foreign service – stamps, uniforms, and

distinctions.



Ph

oto

: MFA

Diplomatic uniform

from 1936 belonging

to Henryk Sokolnicki,

Envoy Extraordinary

and Minister

Plenipotentiary of the

Legation in Helsinki

Ph

oto

: MFA

Official annotations

on a diplomatic

passport of the

Second Polish

Republic,

issued in 1938 to

Stanisław Wyszyński

Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

Polish President

Bronisław Komorowski

at the exhibition held

on the occasion of

Foreign Service Day,

November 2010


28


• As Poland’s official protocol, we define and confirm the general protocol rules to be

implemented by central and local government administration.

• We plan and programme visits of heads of state and government and foreign ministers,

and we are responsible for seeing through these visits.

• We provide protocolar assistance at diplomatic functions hosted by Poland’s

President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister.

• We make sure that members of diplomatic missions, consular posts and

representations of international organizations receive proper conditions to carry

out their work, in line with international agreements and norms.

• We are responsible for granting orders and distinctions to foreign nationals and

Polish citizens living abroad.

• We host the “Diplomatic Gallery” where – together with the Mariusz Kazana

Foundation operating under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry – we hold exhibitions

highly praised by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Poland.

We invite you to visit the “Diplomatic Protocol” section of the MFA website, where you

will find:

• A list of diplomatic missions and consular posts in Poland

• Information about international organizations present in Poland

• An alphabetical list of diplomatic staff and consular officers in Poland

• Order of precedence of heads of missions

• A list of national days

Setting the standard in contacts between countries

SERVING POLAND, BUILDING EUROPE, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLDSERVING POLAND, BUILDING EUROPE, UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD

Ph

oto

: Da

ria

Ch

mie

lew

ska

de

Na

rmo

nt

Ph

oto

: Pio

tr M

olę

cki

(P

resi

de

nti

al C

ha

nc

ell

ery

)P

ho

to:

Łu

kasz

Ka

miń

ski (

Pre

sid

en

tia

l Ch

an

ce

lle

ry)

Directors of the

Diplomatic Protocol

at Piłsudski Square

during the official

visit of H.M. King Carl

XVI Gustav of Sweden

and H.M. Queen

Sylvia to Poland,

May 2011

Official visit to Poland

of the President of the

Swiss Confederation

Ms Micheline

Calmy-Rey, June 2011

New Year’s Meeting

hosted by the Polish

President,

January 2012Setting the standard in contacts between countries

3 0


Ph

oto

: Ma

riu

sz K

osi

ńsk

i

The greatest asset of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is its professional staff. Every

year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers university graduates a chance to take

part in diplomatic and consular training. The one-year course, which culminates in

an examination and the awarding of a diplomatic rank, prepares trainees to perform

professional diplomatic service. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes

open competitions to fill vacancies at the Ministry.

For more information on working at the Ministry, visit www.rekrutacja.msz.gov.pl.

Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ceremony awarding

the first diplomatic

rank

Working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SERVING POL AND

BUILDING EUROPE


SERVING POL AND

BUILDING EUROPE


Ministr y of Foreign A�airsBureau of Archives and Information ManagementTel . + 4 8 22 523 86 33al . J . Ch. Szucha 2300 - 5 80 Warsaw, Polandwww.msz.gov.plwww.poland.gov.pl

ISBN 978 -8 3- 6 374 3- 03-1

a guide to the ministry of foreign affairs

Documents

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