Polish-Czech Forum 2022 – “What connects us, what separates us? Polish-Czech relations.”
The project “What unites us, what separates us?” Polish-Czech relations. ”, Assumes the initiation by the non-governmental sector of a public debate on Polish-Czech relations and their impact on the Polish and Czech state and society, as well as the importance of Poland and the Czech Republic in the world and their place in shaping the situation on the international arena.
The main goal of the task is to conduct a series of four online informational and educational events aimed at initiating a public debate on geopolitics, including the foreign policy of the Republic of Poland and its allies, as well as international security, energy, defense, disinformation, civic affairs, culture and other important issues of public interest. In addition, each event will be summarized by an expert article that will summarize and draw conclusions from the issues raised during the debates. The last point of the project will be the preparation of a special report, which will include the topics discussed, but also present the perspective of the development of bilateral relations.
The Warsaw Institute Foundation acts as a think tank that strengthens Poland’s position in the area of ”soft power” in the international arena and effectively disseminates the Polish point of view on a global and regional scale, as well as introduces topics related to geopolitics to Polish society.
The project consists of three main parts:
1. Information and education events
2. Expert articles
3. Special report
The project is open to the general public in order to build and increase civic awareness. All the results of this task will be available free of charge in the public domain and made available for further use for information and education purposes.
The task is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland in the total amount of 60 700 PLN (total amount of the task 60 700 PLN).
Polish-Czech Forum 2022 Report
The project “What unites us, what separates us?” assumes the initiation of a public debate on Polish-Czech relations and their impact on the Polish and Czech state and society, as well as the importance of Poland and the Czech Republic in the world and their place in shaping the situation on the international arena.
Polish-Czech cultural cooperation. What unites and what separates us?
On June 30, two experts professionally focused on culture and cultural relations – Sylvie Vůjtková, Theatre dramaturge, PR manager and producer, and Jan Hernik, Editor-in-chief at the Warsaw Institute – discussed Czech–Polish cultural cooperation. They focused especially on what unites and what divides us. Sylvie Vůjtková outlines the main takeaways from the discussion in the following article.
Polish-Czech cultural cooperation
The speakers who took part in this event were: Liliana Śmiech, the Vice President of Warsaw Institute; Sylvie Vujtkowa, theatre dramaturge and PR manager, producer and Jan Hernik, editor-in-chief at the Warsaw Institute. The main topic of the program, was Polish – Czech cultural cooperation. Poland and Czechia are neighbors that share common values, have similar Slavic roots. The main goal of the event was to show the similarities as well as differences in common stereotypes of the Polish and Czech. The speakers illustrated how this cooperation looks like and how it would eventually look in the future.
The threats and opportunities of China’s “17+1”
On May 31, two experts professionally focused on Chinese influence and China-Europe relations – David Plášek, an analyst from the European Values Center for Security Policy, and Wojciech Adamczyk, an analyst from the Warsaw Institute – discussed the threats and opportunities of China’s 17+1 format. They primarily dealt with the differences and similarities between Polish and Czech experiences and activities regarding the 17+1 group.
The “17+1” format – threats and opportunities for the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic
On May 31, 2022 the “The” 17 + 1 “format – threats and opportunities for the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic” debate took place, which was organized by the Warsaw Institute as part of a project financed in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland entitled ” Polish-Czech Forum ”. The debate was attended by the moderator Marcin Jerzewski, and two speakers, Warsaw Institute expert Wojciech Adamczyk, who represented the Polish side and David Plášek, the analyst of the Red Watch Program, representing the Czech side.
Energy policy in Poland and Czechia undergoing stress test: Opportunities for cooperation and joint initiatives
On May 4, the distinguished Czech expert Tomáš Petříček, a senior non-resident fellow at the PIIR and former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jakub Wiech Polish Lawyer, journalist, and publicist discussed the energy system in Poland and the Czech Republic, prospects for energy transformation in both countries, and the Turów Power Plant Closure.
Turów is an accident at work. Poland and the Czech Republic have more links than divisions
The dispute over Turów undermined Polish-Czech relations. But Warsaw and Prague have more links than separations – such conclusions are drawn, among others from the debate “Closing of Turów power plant. The Polish and Czech view ”, in which I had the pleasure to participate.
“The Foreign Policy of the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic towards Russia” – key proposals
Before discussing the Polish and Czech foreign policy toward the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is vital to stress the importance of bilateral ties between the governments in Warsaw and Prague. There are plenty of paradoxes in Polish-Czech relations––some polls find that both nations tend to like one another and are strategic economic partners. On the other hand, though, the authorities in Poland and the Czech Republic are unable to elevate their relations to the strategic level. No political circle in Poland and the Czech Republic is interested in forging long-lasting cooperation and strengthening relations, which was particularly noticeable in an unneeded dispute over the Turów open-pit coal mine.
Foreign Policy of the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic Towards Russia
On March 22 an expert discussion with EVC senior analyst David Stulík and Polish political scientist Piotr Bajda was held on the topic ‘Foreign policy of the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic towards Russia – differences and similarities’.
The project is financed from the state budget as part of the grant by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland “Polish-Czech Forum 2022”
Fundacja Warsaw Institute
