We want you to be leaders not only among Poles abroad, but in your entire community, said Senate Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, addressing the representatives of the Polish diaspora and Poles gathered at the Polish Embassy in Bucharest on Monday.
One of the Senate’s most important tasks is to care for and support the Polish community and Poles living abroad. That is why this meeting is very important
– said Kidawa-Błońska at a meeting organized by the Polish Embassy in Romania.
The Marshal said that the Senate again has PLN 10 million for Polish projects this year, which is “good news.” As she added, this may not be a “dream amount”, but it will support the implementation of the so-called “soft projects” that will help develop the potential of the Polish community and activate Poles living abroad.
We want Poles living abroad to be leaders. Leaders not only of Polish affairs, but also of their communities. Secondly, young people should be encouraged to take on these tasks
– noted the marshal.
Gerwazy Longher, President of the Union of Poles in Romania, thanked the Polish Senators for their support of this organization and the Polish community in Romania. Thanks to this help, he said, a number of projects were organized, such as the opening of a Polish school in 2010 in Pojana Micului (Poiana Micului) or the Polish House in Nowy Sołoniec.
For the local Polish community, as he emphasized, which is mainly concentrated in the Suceava region of Bukovina, Romania, education projects are particularly important.
Many people go to Poland to study. Not everyone comes back, but I know many cases where, even if they stay outside Romania, they work for the good of both countries
– said Longher, who also represents the Polish minority in the Romanian parliament as a member of parliament.
The Leader of the Union of Poles in Romania thanked in particular the former President of the Senate, Bogdan Borusewicz, who is currently Chairman of the Commission on Emigration and Contacts with Poles Abroad.
Mr. Longher praises me, but this is half, or perhaps a quarter, of the truth. It is mainly thanks to you and when I decided to invest (in Polish projects) I knew that this money would not be lost.
– said Borusewicz.
The senator noted that the good political atmosphere between two countries – Poland and Romania – has a positive effect on the benefit of the Polish community and the Polish minority.
Marshal Kidawa-Błońska and the Senate delegation are in Bucharest for a two-day official visit. On Monday, the marshal met with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Nicolae Ciuca and Alfred-Robert Simonis. She also spoke with the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu.
On Tuesday, the Senate President will meet with Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu.
The Marshal’s delegation is also accompanied by the Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Public Finance, Senator Kazimierz Kleina, the Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Senator Mirosław Różański, the Chairman of the Committee on Rules, Ethics and Senatorial Affairs, Senator Sławomir Rybicki, and the Vice-Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Senator Jacek Włosowicz.
The visit takes place at the invitation of the President of the Romanian Senate.
Kidawa-Błońska: Poland and Romania were the first to warn about what Russia is capable of
It was Poland and Romania who first warned about what Russia is capable of, said Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, the President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, who is on an official visit to Romania together with the delegation. Monday, said in an interview with PAP.
She emphasized that Poland and Romania share common experiences and similar perceptions about threats in the east and south of Europe.
We were the first to warn what Russia is capable of, what (Vladimir) Putin is capable of. It was Poland and Romania who were the first to help when war broke out in February 2022.
– she remembered.
We have common experiences, we work together on safety and we agree that we must invest in safety
– she noted. She added that both countries have incurred high costs from Russia’s war against Ukraine and that they want “this experience to be used.”
That it will not be the case that we will do everything that needs to be done and others will watch. The time for discussion is over and action is needed
– said the marshal. This is especially true of joint steps to purchase weapons and ammunition for Ukraine.
As she emphasized, the voice of the countries on the eastern flank is important and must be heard.
It’s us. These are the Baltic countries. We can’t do it alone, but we know that together we can fight back strong
– she added.
Marshal Kidawa-Błońska and the Senate delegation are in Bucharest for a two-day official visit. On Monday she met with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. She also held talks with Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland said in a statement that the talks included “on European security in the context of the war in Ukraine, defense, the economic cooperation of both countries and Romania’s aspirations to to join the Schengen area.” Good relations between countries were also emphasized.
Referring to the meetings with representatives of the Romanian authorities, the Marshal said that during these meetings she heard “a confirmation of good cooperation, the need to talk not only about war and security, but also about what we need to do to strengthen our economic cooperation to make it even better. “
We talked about the cultural season (this year Poland and Romania are jointly organizing cultural seasons) and about education. Very interesting, good conversations, also announcement of meetings of parliamentary committees – there is a lot of room for parliamentary work
– said Kidawa-Błońska.
tkwl/PAP/X
Source: wPolityce