| Major Challenges | Modernisation of the country versus national traditions and values such as patriotism and the Catholic religion. Vehement debates on historical issues, dealing with communist past, symbols. Relations between East and West Europe. Self-perception of an ethnically homogeneous society, while change of population structure through ongoing emigration alongside a new immigration phenomenon. |
| Main Interpretations | All aspects of multiple cultures present in modern Europe, joint international projects, promotion of the achievements of European culture and strengthening of the common values of European culture; awareness raising for multiple roots of the Polish nation, set at the crossroads in the Centre of Europe. Certain focus on dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring countries (Belarus, Ukraine) and the respective minorities residing in Poland. Preserving and presenting minority cultures. EYID-Slogan "Dialogue is building Mutuality". |
The Ministry of Interior and Administration
(http://www.mswia.gov.pl/)
Division of National Minorities in the Department of Denominations and National Minorities
Coordinating body for national minority issues within the government, collaboration with local governments. A ‘Team on National Minorities', composed of representatives of several ministries, was established in 2002 as an advisory body of the Prime Minister. Within this Team were established: a Sub-Team on Education of National Minorities and a Sub-team for Roma Issues. A special Unit is responsible for monitoring, prevention and combatting racism and xenophobia, cooperating as well on an international scale.
EX: Roma programme since 2003, established by a Decision of the Council of Ministers, common platform involving the Ministry of Interior and Administration, the Ministry of National Education and Sport as well as local authorities, NGOs and Roma associations.
The Polish Parliamentary Commission of National and Ethnic Minorities
(http://www.sejm.gov.pl/)
Advisory body on legal issues and protection of rights, evaluating programmes for cultural identity, taking action aimed at counteracting discrimination of people belonging to minorities. Commission was founded in 2005, its members representing state administration, national and ethnic minorities, regional language communities.
EYID-coordination body:
National Centre of Culture (Narodowe Centrum Kultury) (Polish language website see also 2.)
Furthermore, a special Council of the EYID in Poland will be established, composed of representatives of NGOs, ethnic and national minority organizations, academic communities and government institutions and offices. They are all supposed to act as "Ambassadors of the EYID in Poland".
National implementation strategy (http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/dialogue/strategies_en.html)
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
(http://www.men.gov.pl/)
Allocation of subsidies and grants for the realisation of various tasks concerning protection, preservation and development of minorities' cultural identity and promotion of cultural diversity
Policies: National Strategy for Cultural Development 2004-2013
National Centre of Culture (Narodowe Centrum Kultury)
(http://www.nck.pl/)
State Institution supporting social movements and NGOs operating in the field of culture and national heritage; providing cultural information and conducting research work; maintaining and propagating national traditions and cultural education; stimulating interest in culture and the arts.
Municipalities (EX):
City of Warsaw: Annual festival "Crossroads of Culture"
Warsaw District of Bielany: Financed by the local authorities, the Bielany Cultural Centre carries out several activities fostering recognition of other cultures, tolerance and understanding: e.g. annual Bielany Days of Culture, Dni Kresowe Polish Eastern Borderlands Days.
ICD-relevant issues are not yet addressed by the official educational system.
Ministry of National Education
(http://www.men.gov.pl/)
Ministry of Science and Higher Education
(http://www.nauka.gov.pl/)
Various initiatives aimed at improving knowledge on European integration and cultural diversity among students. Debates and initiatives of state authorities (usually in cooperation with NGOs) for a legislation stipulating the education of / in the minority languages. The German and Lithuanian languages have their own national strategies.
Civil Society (EX):
Foundation Znak
(http://www.fundacja.znak.com.pl/english/foundation.php)
Self-description as an "instrument for international co-operation in the development of the culture of peace and tolerance"; several educational programmes in the area of intercultural, interreligious and intercultural dialogue such as "Bridges to the East", "Bridges of Tolerance", "Eurodialog".
Besides the Ministry of National Education (see 3.), the following Ministries are coordinating youth oriented EU programmes:
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
(http://www.men.gov.pl/)
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
(http://www.mps.gov.pl/)
EX: Programme ‘Youth in Action'
Ministry of Sports
(http://www.msport.gov.pl/)
Provides additional financing for international youth sport meetings.
EX: "Let's kick racism out of the stadiums", organized by the Association ‘Never Again' (see 6.).
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
(http://www.mps.gov.pl/)
Changes are planned in migration policy, including a gradual liberalization of access to the labour market for foreign nationals and a closer linkage of migration and integration policies.
Civil Society:
Although NGOs play a rather marginal role in the mainstream policy, they conduct most of the ICD-related projects throughout the country with a wide scope of actions (protection of minorities' rights, fight against xenophobia, cultural encounters and initiatives with relevance for ICD, etc.), e.g.
Association ‘Never Again'
(http://www.nigdywiecej.prh.pl/english/)
Non-political organisation monitoring racism in Poland since 1996.
The Other Space Foundation ‘Continent Warsaw'
(http://www.kontynent.waw.pl/index.php)
Cultural Portal to communicate the multicultural nature of the capital - founded in 2007 and supported by the Warsaw City Hall.
Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
(http://www.men.gov.pl/)
Ministry of Regional Development
(http://www.mrr.gov.pl/)
Many trans-border programmes carried out by different levels of state authorities of different fields. They are mainly based on multi and bilateral agreements or on regional partnerships. As they often focus on cultural initiatives ICD issues are also addressed here.
Adam Mickiewicz Institute
(http://www.iam.pl/en/site/)
Government cultural institution which aims to popularise Polish culture around the world and cooperate on cultural projects with other countries.
CIVIL SOCIETY (EX.):
The Borderland Foundation
(http://www.pogranicze.sejny.pl/?s=flash&lang=eng)
Established in May 1990 as an independent NGO and located in the small town Sejny on the north-eastern border of Poland, the Foundation is devoted exclusively to building bridges between the peoples of different religions, ethnicities, nationalities, and cultures, or in other words "to gather the richness and wisdom of the borderlands, a wealth which results from the co-existence of different traditions and beliefs..."
This assessment of the "General approach to ICD" is based on an evaluation of different policies and programmes, provided by the national experts Dorota Ilczuk and Jacek Drozda, Warsaw (Poland). An explanation of the accronyms can be found on page 1 of this Annex. The overall content of the country sheet has been edited by the ERICarts Institute.
