From Friday through Sunday, Warsaw hosts a congress titled “Poland of the Great Project” under the banner of sovereignty. The gathering features high-profile participants, including Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Ministers Jacek Sasin and Piotr Gliński, along with prominent voices from science and culture. The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, with the ceremonial honors presented in the presence of a state figurehead.
Different meanings of sovereignty
The congress takes place at Arkady Kubicki and runs from Friday to Sunday. In a conversation with the Polish press agency, Prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski, a member of the program council, described the event as a forum where intellectuals, cultural practitioners, and artists engage with political decision-makers. The gathering is designed as more than a political or party-focused event; it aims to chart new directions and foster fresh ideas, according to Krasnodębski. The objective, as he put it, is to explore sovereignty in its multiple dimensions and to stimulate practical action in political life.
The proceedings will examine sovereignty in economic, EU-related, cultural, and urban planning contexts. Debates are expected to spark new initiatives and translate discussion into concrete policy considerations.
Congress program
Opening discussions will address global renewal and the consequences of the war in Ukraine for the European and world order. The lineup includes Mateusz Morawiecki, former foreign affairs minister Jacek Czaputowicz, and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a former Polish EU negotiator, along with Jan Parys, a former defense minister. Subsequent sessions will tackle economic agency within the European Union, featuring Jadwiga Emilewicz, Bartosz Marczuk, Tomasz Grosse, and Grigoris Zarotiadis from the University of Thessaloniki.
Panel discussions will further explore regional responses to neo-imperial trends, with participants including MEP Ryszard Legutko and historian David Engels. A discussion titled “Poland and France – new leadership in Europe?” will feature Krasnodębski, Philippe Fabry, and Eryk Mistewicz. Another opening-day panel, “Made in Poland – Polish success abroad,” will include Jacek Sasin, Zdzisław Sokal of the Polish Development Fund, and Ryszard Florek of FAKRO. The gathering will also address reparations, reconciliation, and the broader concept of a just peace with experts such as Spero Simeon Z. Paravantes, Omiros Tachmazidis, and Uria Nandiuasora Mazeingo.
Furthermore, Mary Eberstadt, Zbigniew Stawrowski, and Bronisław Wildstein will contribute to the discussions. The panel “Quo vadis universitas?” will feature Brett Bourbon, Jacob Phillips, and Nicholas Eberstadt. The final day will include a session entitled “Green cities of the future” with urban planning authorities and practitioners, and a panel on “War and Culture” with Piotr Gliński, Wojciech Roszkowski, and Maksym Ostapenko.
The Prize
The prize, named in honor of the President, will be awarded during Saturday’s ceremony. On Sunday, the medal “Courage and Credibility” will be presented to individuals who champion Polish culture and promote the country’s good name abroad. Krasnodębski noted that the prize is given to creators who preserve and advance Polish tradition in a contemporary context. He also indicated that the medal for this year will recognize a British recipient for contributions to Poland’s international profile.
All programs and honors are part of a broader effort to highlight Polish intellectual and cultural leadership on the European stage. The event organizers emphasize that the project aims to connect Poland’s rich heritage with modern achievements.
[Citation: wPolityce]