Polish Consulate...

"After all, she's an adult. Was the prosecutor supposed to beat her with a belt or a rod?"
-Minister of Justice Grzegorz Kurczuk on the prosecutor who has been accused of a close relationship with a person suspected of multi-million economic fraud and of fraternizing with criminals

"Ever since he lost his post because of his mistakes, he has behaved like a vicious dog."
-Piotr Gadzinowski, a deputy from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), on Mariusz Lapiñski, former health minister, removed from the party, who is now the secretary of the recently founded Federative Caucus that votes against the government on budget issues

"Tragic intellectual form, weak intuition, in an emotional slump."
-A description, published on the SLD website, of the bio-rhythm of Prime Minister Leszek Miller on the day when he appointed Józef Oleksy deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs and administration

"It's because whenever you see Prime Minister [Leszek] Miller on TV, you can see Iwiñski right behind him."
-An opposition deputy on why Tadeusz Iwiñski (SLD), a minister in the Prime Minister's Office, is called "Backpack" in the Sejm

"We do not want a name that will promote the European Union."
-Krzysztof Mitkiewicz, a councilor from the League of Polish Families (LPR) in Warsaw's district of Praga Po³udnie, protesting against calling one of the local streets after Robert Schuman, one of "the fathers of Europe"

"Well, someone must have made the website that way."
-An employee of the President's Office, when asked by reporters why the president's official website includes two mistakes in the text of the national anthem

posted by: Oborski at 21:14 | link | comments |

Polish foreign minister in Slovakia

Polish foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz has said that the Visehrad Group members have only a few months to work out a common stand on the EU’s eastern policy. If the stand is not agreed, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech republic and Hungary will lose an opportunity to present a united front on the European scene and promote their interests effectively. Minister Cimoszewicz said after talks with the Slovak Parliamentary Speaker Pavol Hrushovsky in Bratislava that the Visehrad Group should move from declarations to concrete actions. In his opinion, a common stand is necessary also on the future Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.

Polish-Indonesian arms contract

Representatives of the Polish arms industry – accompanying president Aleksander Kwasniewski on his visit to Indonesia – have signed contracts with Indonesian firms. The deals were concluded during a Polish-Indonesian forum in Djakarta.
The Mielec aviation plant will cooperate with Indonesian Aerospace in the production of Sky Truck planes, while the Naval Shipyard of Gdynia, on the Baltic Sea coast, will repair Indonesian vessels.
Addressing Indonesian and Polish businessmen at the forum, President Kwasniewski encouraged them to build stronger cooperation ties.
Looking at the Indonesian market is also Poland’s Bumar, which recently lost a tender on supplying equipment to the Iraqi army. Its viceprsident Andrzej Spis said that his firm is holding talks on delivering heavy military equipment and radars to Indonesia.

Hausner on his austerity plan

Poland’s vicepremier Jerzy Hausner has reiterated that if the Parliament fails to adopt the fundamental bills of his austerity plan, it would mean that the plan is no longer valid. Voting on the first elements of the plan is scheduled for March the 5th. The House is to decide about legislative work on bills on the promotion of employment and the labour market institutions as well as on pensions.
Commenting on the recent voting on amendments to the VAT law, in which MPs of the ruling Democratic Left Alliance sided with the opposition to reject some government proposals, vicepremier Hausner said this was unacceptable conduct. This provokes questions about differences of view between the government and its parliamentary representation. This situation should be regarded as a final warning, Hausner said.
The alliance’s parliamentary group is discussing this matter today.

Plans of New BBC Radio in Warsaw

Representatives of the Polish Section of BBC have discussed plans for a new BBC radio station in Warsaw with representatives of the National Broadcasting Council. BBC is prepared to launch digital broadcasts, but since too few listeners would be able to receive them, it is interested in broadcasting on VHF. A spokeswoman for the broadcasting council Dorota Jas³owska says that it has no free VHF frequencies at the moment. The two sides decided to continue search for a frequency which would meet the needs of the new radio. According to plans, it is to broadcast mainly information programs addressed to open-minded, mature people. There would be alternating slots in Polish and English. It is to be a non-commercial radio station, subsidized by the BBC

Defence Ministers of Poland and Indonesia, Jerzy Szmajdzinski and Air Marshal Suprihadi, have signed a declaration on military-technical cooperation in Jakarta. The document was signed in the presence of Polish and Indonesian Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski and Megawati Sukarnoputri. Szmajdzinski said this is an initial step before the next phase - the signing of an agreement on military-technical cooperation which may contribute to Poland's many-year presents on the Indonesian market and strengthen our bilateral relations. He added Poland wants to develop cooperation with Indonesia in such fields as logistics and defence industries. We would want to intensify exchange of information and visits of military representatives as well as to enlarge the scope of training. The Polish minister said that Poland's offer for Indonesia is very broad and includes airplanes, helicopters and advanced radar technologies as well as the modernization of post-soviet hardware used by the Indonesian army. Szmajdzinski added that talks with Indonesia focus on radars, patrol cutters as well as choppers and Skytruck airplanes.

Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski believes that the vote taking system to the EU council adopted in Nice in 2000 is vital for all countries that are soon to become members of the European Union. The Polish Sejm speaker emphasized the need to stick to the Nice settlements during his talks with the Czech Chamber of Deputies after the presentation of Poland's stand on the EU Constitution. According to Borowski, the Nice system provides the new EU members with a better position and broader opportunities. The number of votes granted to Poland under the Nice system is almost equal to that Germany has (minus two votes). It has recently been strongly opposed by France and Germany alike that would like to see big EU states with large populations having greater say in the future EU council. Borowski was assured that the Czech side would reconsider advantages and costs of a possible defence of the Nice system.

The government is determined to carry out the plan designed to rationalize public spending, PM Leszek Miller told a news conference. He stressed that talks with the opposition on the so called Hausner plan showed that there was no alternative for the government programme. Information on talks with the opposition shared by deputy PM Jerzy Hausner with the government indicated that no grouping presented a reasonable competitive programme that could become a sensible, economically justified and socially feasible alternative, Miller explained.

Deputy PM Jerzy Hausner said that this year's budget shortfalls following last week's Sejm vote on VAT against the government-made proposal will amount to 613 million zlotys. "The finance minister has prepared a very precise analysis of effects; what the minister is able to count amounts to (...) 613 million zlotys, at the same time the minister has said that if the amendment introduces a legal loophole, then we aren't able to estimate how many people will capitalize on it, and their activities won't be taxed," Hausner said after a cabinet meeting.

Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz arrived in Bratislava for a one-day official visit paid as part of the Polish-Slovak political dialogue. Minister Cimoszewicz will be received by Slovak President Rudolf Schuster, PM Mikulas Dzurinda and head of the National Council Pavol Hrushkovski. He will meet with his counterpart Eduard Kukan. During talks the sides will review political and economic bilateral relations and exchange views on the current European and regional developments. Delegations of both countries will also exchange views on global issues, including the situation in Iraq and European security. RPP not ruling out change of bias to "restrictive"

A delegation of Kazakhstan's Senate have arrived on a three-day visit to Poland. On Wednesday, members of the delegation, headed by Senate Chairman Oralbai Abdukarimov met with Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak and Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski. On Thursday, the Kazakh MPs will meet with Prime Minister Leszek Miller, Poland's Ombudsman Andrzej Zoll and with Warsaw President Lech Kaczynski. The guests will also visit Warsaw University and the warsaw seat of the OSCE. The delegation will spend the last day of their visit in Poznan where they will meet with provincial authorities and with the rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University.

Poland's energy safety could be at risk due to ineffective coal and fuel reserve management and bad legislation on fuel reserves, the Supreme Auditing Board (NIK) warned presenting the results of 2001 and 2003 audits of the fuel sector. Until April 2003 Poland had no clear rulings on black coal reserves, which made stocking coal expensive. In result most companies obliged to possess coal reserves stocked too little to save money. According to NIK the government's 2003-introduced regulations tying coal reserves to usage threatened to lower the reserve quota too much and jeopardize Poland's energy safety. NIK also criticised national control over liquid fuel and gas reserves.

A campaign promoting Polish products entitled Give Work - Buy Polish Products opened Warsaw's Royal Castle. Coverage of the event, to last until April 30, has been announced by several tv and radio stations. The campaign, organised by the Demo Effective Launching agency, will promote Polish products and foreign products manufactured in Poland. Its symbol is an apple, according to DEMO Effective head Jacek Sadowski a good example of a "cheap, small and popular product". According to Sadowski Polish products need most promotion in rural areas, where less people buy domestic ware than in cities.

Thirty nine per cent of the respondents to a CBOS poll said they were against the introduction of the Hausner austerity plan. Thirty two per cent said that introduction of the plan is necessary, while 29 per cent had no opinion on the issue.Two per cent said that the plan is good and would contribute to the recovery of public finances and economic development, further two per cent said that it is a step in the right direction but that it will not bring sufficient enough improvement. Twenty eight per cent of those polled stressed that the plan goes to far in financial cuts which if introduced will be too painful for people. 16 per cent were pessimistic saying the plan is totally wrong and will not improve anything. Furthermore, 32 per cent of the respondents think that not much will change in the Polish economy during the next three years.

posted by: Oborski at 13:06 | link | comments (1) |

Leszek Miller announced Feb. 17 that during his party's convention in March, he would resign as leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). More and more politicians, both the opposition and the left, believe that Miller should also give up his post as prime minister.

Miller listed three reasons for his resignation as head of the SLD. The first was the upcoming campaign for elections to the European Parliament. According to Miller, the head of a party must focus on promoting candidates and become involved in the campaign. The second reason was the situation within SLD, which "requires more aggressiveness from the party and a struggle against inner pathologies." Miller's final motivation involves projects the government has to carry out, Hausner's economic plan first and foremost. Miller claimed they required his maximum concentration and would limit his activities within the SLD.

Miller denied that the real reason behind his decision were SLD's plummeting ratings in opinion polls. The situation of the prime minister is nonetheless influenced by increasingly alarming news from polling centers. A question in one survey asked who would rule in Poland after the elections in 2005. Barely 10 percent of respondents pointed to the SLD, whereas 70 percent said power would be taken over by a different party or a coalition without the SLD.

The four most frequently mentioned candidates for the new leader of the SLD are the party's present deputy chairman Andrzej Celiñski, head of the SLD caucus Krzysztof Janik, minister of defense Jerzy Szmajdziñski and former deputy minister of labor Jolanta Banach. The final decision will be made at the SLD convention March 6-7.

"What happened to you, what's missing?" Aleksander Kwaœniewski apparently asked at a meeting with the presidium of the SLD's caucus Feb. 18. The president openly asked what had happened since the elections in the autumn of 2001 when the SLD won with 41-percent support. Jerzy Szteliga, a member of the presidium, described the meeting with the president as "mobilizing."

The politicians said candidacies for the new leader of the SLD were not discussed at the meeting. Previously, however, Kwaœniewski indirectly commented on the four candidacies listed on the political stock exchange. He said the leader should not be someone with any functions in the government and parliament. In practice, that meant presidential support for Celiñski. The latter, however, is not very popular with the majority of SLD's activists due to his anti-communist past in People's Poland and very late enrollment in the SLD.

On the following day, deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs and administration Józef Oleksy said there was a division within the SLD between those who believed Miller should remain prime minister until the European elections in June and those who said he should resign earlier. "It is hard to tell which opinion prevails," Oleksy said. Miller himself said he knew nothing of any split within the party.

Jan Rokita, leader of the caucus of the opposition Civic Platform (PO), which today tops the polls (their support reaches 30 percent), made a comment on Miller's decision, comparing it to Marian Krzaklewski's resignation from his leadership in the Solidarity Election Action (AWS) in 2001. "That was a testimony to the destruction of the entire camp and likewise, Miller's resignation testifies to the destruction of the SLD," Rokita said.

Jerzy Urban, editor-in-chief of NIE weekly and an influential figure in the left wing, seconds Rokita's opinion. He said recently he would be not surprised at all if the electorate rejected the SLD in the next parliamentary elections, so that like the AWS before, SLD would end up outside the parliament. Miller opposes this opinion categorically, saying there is no real alternative to the SLD in the Polish left wing today and that there will always be a large left-wing electorate in Poland.

According to most politicians, the answer to the question whether Miller's time has come to an end will come no sooner than at the SLD convention. But even the convention may only result in temporary solutions leading up to Poland's accession to the European Union and elections to the European Parliament. The elections will have a very crucial impact on today's political scene in Poland. Instead of opinion polls, the political class-the ruling left wing in particular-will receive a clear sign of social evaluation. Unfortunately, the expected turnout is rather low, 30-35 percent at the most.

posted by: Oborski at 12:59 | link | comments |

"The sense of accession to the European Union lies first and foremost in making up for economic and civilization shortages and delays," said President Aleksander Kwaœniewski Feb. 16, summing up the A Strong Poland in a Strong Europe debate that took place in the Presidential Palace. The president appealed to politicians, experts and media representatives for mobilization "for the great national task of preparing Poland to its accession to the EU." "Seventy-four days before the accession we still have some homework to do in Poland, and the size of the country and its population cannot justify delays in our preparations," said Kwaœniewski.

The meeting was the first in a series of debates on Poland's position in the European Union that will be organized by the president. The debates will take place every month and are devoted to the EU's foreign policy, including its eastern dimension, the model of the EU's financing after 2006 and the Lisbon Strategy-an EU program of economy recovery and competition improvement.

In opening the debate, Kwaœniewski noted that Poland's defense of the Nice voting system in the EU constitution recently dominated the European discussion in our country. "The catalogue of European investments is far wider than only making or blocking decisions in the extended Union," said the president.

Józef Oleksy, deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs and administration, expressed a similar view. According to Oleksy, Poland's position in the European Union will depend not only on the voting system, but, first and foremost, on the state's internal strength-modern economy, internal order, readiness to reach agreement, openness and education level. Oleksy perceives Poland's accession to the EU to be barely significant from the point of view of economic potential, since the share of Polish GDP in the EU is only 2 percent and the share of exports to Poland as a share of the EU's total reaches 3.7 percent.

Minister of Foreign Affairs W³odzimierz Cimoszewicz reacted to voices critical of Poland's stand concerning the EU constitution, saying that all official presentations of Poland's position incorporated a reference to common values. "Poland was and is ready for open discussion, but no agreement can be reached when there are no partners for such a discussion," said Cimoszewicz. According to him, a strong Poland is one that understands its obligations and share of responsibility, but at the same time has faith in its own opinions and rights.

When ending the discussion, the president expressed his belief that "compromise can be reached and the Constitutional Treaty will lead to construction, and not conflict."

posted by: Oborski at 12:53 | link | comments |

Heard in passing...

From Warsaw Voice

"Jedruch is an easy-going and laid-back guy, so sometimes he would make such surprises. He made me accept this toy; but what guy would not like to drive one?"
-Andrzej Lipko, former deputy minister of industry, on a Porsche Carrera he borrowed from businessman Józef Jêdruch, the central figure of one of the biggest economic scandals in recent years

"We are a transparent, democratic party, where everyone has the right to say stupid things."
-Tadeusz Iwiñski, minister in the Prime Minister's Office, when asked whether Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) activists from £ódŸ, who demanded that Prime Minister Leszek Miller face a party court, should be punished

"The procedure requires examining the sobriety of all who were involved in the accident."
-Piotr Kuc, deputy commander of the Lodz traffic police, on why the officers made a 77-year-old woman, who fell over during a tram breakdown, blow into an alcometer

"This was not a terrorist attack but a complaint by a customer who had bought expired strawberry kisiel and included a sample in the letter."
-An employee of a sanitary-epidemiological unit in Gryfice, Western Pomerania province, on an envelope with a mysterious powder that raised alarm at the office

"We cannot intervene. We are only interested in the quality of the chocolate, not its appearance."
-A representative of the Trade Inspectorate in Olsztyn, on penis-shaped snacks that appeared in a local shop and caused protests

"In one of the cars, a smuggled load of parsley was detected."
-A Russian TV report on a customs officers' operation on the border with Ukraine

posted by: Oborski at 12:49 | link | comments |

Polish Task Force Arrests Terrorists in Iraq

Polish soldiers supported by American airforces arrested nine men suspected of terrorism in the desert near Karbala. It is assumed that the detainees were members of an international terrorist organisation. They were well armed and equipped with high-tec satellitary telephones. They had explosives and other materials necessary for production of bombs. The detainees whose nationatlity has not been disclosed are currently interrogated by military authorities.

UK Labour Market Conditionally Open for Poles

Britain moved closer into line with most EU countries that have established barriers to migrants from the new member states, slapping a two-year ban on benefit claims and introducing a worker registration scheme. But with virtually full employment and hundreds of thousands of job vacancies to be filled, the government made it clear the British economy was crying out for skilled migrant workers.
London said citizens from the accession states would be sent home if they could not pay for themselves at the outset. "For two years, and possibly longer, we will require accession nationals to be able to support themselves," Home Secretary David Blunkett told the parliament. "If they are unable to do so, they will lose any right of residence and will have to return to their country." Blunkett stressed that migrant workers "from plumbers to paediatricians, dustmen to dentists" were welcome.
The measures follow scare stories in Britain's right-wing press warning that up to forty thousands of poor migrants will pour in after May 1, overloading Britain's welfare system and stretching its already creaking public services to breaking point.

President Kwasniewski Talks Business in Indonesia

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski arrived in Jakarta for a three-day state visit meant to improve trade ties between the two countries. The President is held bilateral talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri of Indonesia. The visit paves the way for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of aviation, telecommunications and ship-building. Poland intends to export to Indonesia helicopters, airplanes, radars and arms. Currently, Poland imports goods worth US$250 million from Indonesia while Polish exports are valued only at US$17 million. Rear Marshall Suprihadi, the secretary-general of Indonesia's defence ministry, told reporters that Poland offered a credit export for defence equipment worth $135 million, which could be used by the police and the navy, such as for maritime patrol planes and air carriers," "We only want them to be used for defence not offence."

Lower House Speaker Discusses European Affairs in Prague

European integration and cooperation between Polish and Czech parliaments were the top issues discussed during lower house speaker – Marek Borowski’s – visit to Prague. In the Czech capital Borowski explained Poland’s position on voting rights in the European Parliament, a point which remains open in the discussion on the shape of the constitution of enlarged European Union. Poland, as well as Spain, both demand respecting the stipulations of the Nice treaty while the remaining EU members prefer the division of power suggested by the European Convention. Marek Borowski was received by the Czech president, foreign affairs minister, speakers of parliament, coalition and opposition leaders.

Fraud on Polish Auction Site

Major fraud discovered on the Polish internet auction site Allegro. One of the Internet dealers offered on sale over 200 computer screens allegedly bought at a custom office depot sale. The seller had collected feedback for half a year, posing for a representative of Lukserwis a no longer existing company from Kudowa in the South of Poland. When he had enough positive feedback he put on sale state-of-the-art computer screens which sold approximately at 450US dollars each. Many of the prospective buyers transferred money to the dealer’s account but no goods were ever received. By the time the auction site blocked the account and sent warning e-mails to the buyers, the dealer whose identity has not yet been found although investigation is under way collected the equivalent of over 21 thousand US dollars.

Will Ukraine's Odessa-Brody Gas Pipeline reach Poland?

Talks have been resumed in Kiev, Ukraine, on the extension of the oil pipeline Odessa-Brody to Plock in Poland. This round of talks is attended by members of Polish and Ukrainian governments, experts as well as representatives of the European Commission. Initial agreement on the supplies of oil from Ukraine was signed last year. Now details are being discussed as to the construction of the Brody-Plock line and temporary transport of oil to Poland by rail, which should begin at the end of April or early in May.

10% Adult Poles Suffer From Depression

Every tenth adult Pole suffers from depression. Constant sadness, apathy, inactiveness, long-lasting fatigue and insomnia are the most common symptoms of this illness. February 23rd has been recognised by the Health Ministry as the Day of Fight Against Depression. Its aim is to make people aware that depression is an illness, which can and must be treated. More Polish women than men suffer from depression, yet fewer men decide to consult a doctor to deal with this problem. A visit to a psychiatrist is still regarded as a reason to be ashamed of in Poland.

Rust-Coloured Stains On Snow Prove Not Dangerous

The rust-coloured coating on the snow, spotted in several localities of south-eastern Poland, is not toxic. Earlier this morning dwellers of a number of villages situated along the Polish-Ukrainian border noticed rust-coloured stains on the snow. It soon turned out that similar spots had appeared in 2 other places in the region. The local Environment Protection Inspectorate is having samples of the suspicious substance tested thoroughly. What has been established by now is that the rust-coloured substance is not harmful, hence water from nearby springs has not been polluted. The results of detailed tests are expected in a couple of days’ time.

posted by: Oborski at 00:33 | link | comments |

PULLING THE CURTAIN DOWN

On 1st May 2004 will be in the vanguard of the creation of the new Europe. This historic enlargement is coming through peaceful and democratic means. As Tony Blair has said “The New Europe is being created by free will – not conquest; spreading equality and justice – not domination and exploitation. We will see few more significant events in our lifetimes.”

The tragedy of 1939, and the denial of a people’s rights that followed, cast a long shadow over Europe for decades. The tearing down of the Iron Curtain, that began with the Solidarity movement in shipyards of Gdansk, has led to freedom for the enslaved half of our continent.

The new Europe will bring greater prosperity and employment for us all. There will also be better co-operation on tackling organised crime, drug trafficking and people smuggling. Enlargement will improve environmental standards, health and safety in the workplace, and opportunities for business.

The West Midlands has strong and proud links with Poland. The partnership between the West Midlands in Europe office and Lower Silesia is a practical example of how we are working together. The recent visit to our region by the Polish Chamber of Commerce shows how economically we are growing ever closer.

On May 1^st, Poland - so crucial to Europe’s future, will take its rightful place as a full and free member of the European Union. This is a time to celebrate as we look forward together to create a better Europe of jobs and security for us all.

posted by: Oborski at 16:57 | link | comments |

If the tabloids are to be believed unless drastic steps are taken May 1^st will see millions of wild Central Europeans, mostly Poles, descend upon these shores in the biggest outbreak of economic pillaging to be seen here since the Saxons arrived in the fourth century.

For a start it seems to have been forgotten in all the uproar that the UK is not a signatory to the Schenegen Convention and so does NOT actually allow unimpeded movement of EU citizens in the first place!

Visitors from EU countries can come here for up to six months visa-free so long as they have a valid passport or identity document.

Job seekers from EU countries are, however, only allowed up to three months to look for work. If they are eligible for any unemployment benefit for that period they can ONLY claim it from their OWN country and NOT UK funds.

Anyone coming for more than 6 months has to have sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure that they do not become a burden on the social services of this country.

EU citizens only have a right to permanent UK residence if they can first demonstrate four years legal residence in UK.

In addition the ‘habitual residence’ rule is applied to establish that long term migrants are exactly that and to weed out those who do not have legitimate claims to benefits.

So how many current EU citizens are living in the UK? According to the 2001 UK Census the answer is that some 1.3 million (2.2% of the population) were born outside the UK but within EU. The vast majority of these are of course from the Republic of Ireland!

Enlargement of EU on May 1^st will mean that 10 more countries totalling some 70 million people – almost 40 million of them Polish – will join EU. So how many of these will head towards the UK on May 1^st?

There are currently about 850,000 accession state nationals currently residing within EU. That is 0.2% of the current EU population. Only 5% of these, around 50,000 people are estimated to be in the UK. This does not include much of the older Polish community which came here as the result of World War II.

In 2002 only 2.2% of visitors to UK came from Central and Eastern Europe. The total of 539,000 was dwarfed by the 700,000 visitors from Australia alone and the massive 14.1 million visitors from existing EU states.

Only a tiny proportion of visitors from non-EU Europe were migrants intending to stay for more than a year to study or work.

2001 figures show 82,600 immigrants from EU countries, 169,800 from the Commonwealth, 104,700 from elsewhere and only 15,100 migrants from non-EU Europe.

Indeed, in 2001 200 more people, 15,3000 in total, LEFT UK to live in non-EU Europe than came into the UK from those countries!

Furthermore it is estimated that only 920 12-month work permits and 1180 work permits for less than 12 months were issued to Polish nationals in 2003 by the UK authorities.

Only 2% of all work permits issued in the last 5 years were for Polish and Czech citizens.

In 2002 some 25% of the 19,372 people who came to the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme about 25% were Polish.

Current EU figures predict an annual flow of migrants from the new member states into the ENTIRE EU peaking at 370,000 in 2005 and then reducing gradually.

Net annual inflow into the UK is predicted to peak at 17,000 in the first couple of years after free movement is permitted.

Further it is predicted that the total of new member nationals living in UK will rise from the current 50,000 to a peak of 180,000 in 2030 before falling again. Even at its peak this remains a negligible 0.6% proportion of a UK work force of 28 million.

Furthermore surveys show that most migration from Central Europe will be of very short duration.

Probably about 45% of Poles intending to work abroad want to do so for periods of a few weeks at a time and 37% for a few months at a time. This is why the main target countries for migration are Germany and Austria which are “near to home” and therefore cheap and easy both to get to and to travel to and from to visit home regularly.

Those thinking of long term migration are interested in the United States (which is already home to at least 10 million people of Polish origin) and Canada and Australia which also already host substantial Polish communities.

This largely explains why only a very small percentage of migrant Polish workers are interested in the UK as a destination.

The most likely groups of Poles to come to the UK for work are high-skilled professionals particularly in the Health Services (doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists) and engineering; skilled craftsmen (builders, carpenters, electricians and plumbers); and low-skilled workers willing to accept low pay in the service and agricultural sectors.

Skilled and qualified young workers are the most likely to seek work abroad for a period before eventually settling down in Poland.

Of the work permits issued to Poles in 2002 7.3% were for managers and administrators, 5.4% professional, 24.9% associate professional and technical, 0.5% clerical and secretarial, 0.6% craft related, 28.2% personal and protective services, 0.4% plant and machine operatives, 0.0% sales, 32.6% others.

Poles coming to the UK are not likely to be looking for health care or for benefits. Health services in Poland have their problems but are generally good and, indeed, there is now a steady trickle of UK citizens heading to Poland for their hip replacements! Poles migrating for work are keen to work hard to earn as much as possible to buy the flat or house and set up the company at home. Professional Poles are also interested in improving their qualifications, extending their experience and improving their English.

Enlargement is likely to increase EU GDP by 11 billion euros a year, UK GDP by £1.75 billion a year and add 1.5% a year to the candidates’ GDP. This means more jobs and prosperity. Other research estimates that enlargement will create over 300,000 new jobs in current EU Member States and around 2 million new jobs in the candidates.

posted by: Oborski at 15:29 | link | comments (2) |

posted by: Oborski at 19:53 | link | comments |

Polish President starts Asian visit

Singapore is the first stop for Polish President Aleksander Kwaœniewski now on an tour of South-East Asia. The visit to Singapore was launched with a meeting with the local Polish community, to be followed with official talks with representatives of the authorities tomorrow, including President Sellapan Rama Nathan and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The chief objective of the visit is to energise commercial relations. Singapore is Poland’s major trading partner in the region. Imports from Singapore include electronics, integrated circuits and computers, while exports mainly ships and equipment for the shipping industry. Tomorrow, President Kwaœniewski is also to give a lecture at the International Affairs Institute, devoted to Polish foreign policy vis a vis Asia. In the course of his Asian visit, the Polish President is also to tour Indonesia and Thailand.

President Putin guarantees gas supply to Poland

In a telephone conversation Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Aleksander Kwaœniewski that last week’s stop in gas deliveries to Belarus, which also affected this country, was not aimed against Poland. President Putin spoke to the Polish President at the stopover in Tashkent on his flight to Singapore, saying that an unfortunate situation had occurred which resulted from relations between Russia and Belarus, and was not in any way aimed against Poland. He also gave his guarantees on supplies of Russian natural gas to Poland.

PSL congress earlier - and certain to be heated

The PSL Polish Peasants Party has decided to hold earlier its congress to elect new party officials, so that it would not collide with elections to the European Parliament in Poland. The PSL has now moved its congress from the end of April to mid-March. According to observers, this is cast to be a heated meeting, as many members blame current PSL chief Jaros³aw Kalinowski for the falling ratings of the party. Meanwhile Mr.Kalinowski claims that he is not giving up and that he has a very good platform for his party which shall recover lost ground. His opponents within the PSL are turning to challenger Janusz Wojciechowski, who is hoped to ease some of the friction inside the party, who says that his programme is better and that he knows how to put it into operation.

Investor selected for Huta Czestochowa

The Indian-British-Dutch holding LNM has been named as the strategic investor, to take over the Czêstochowa foundry in southern Poland. LNM Holdings NV was selected over Ukrainian Donbas, which had been supported by the Economic Ministry. The decision needed acceptation from the Polish government and president. LNM holds foundries in the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Rumania, and has recently also purchased shares in Polish Steelworks.

Gizycko in Poland's lakeland holds a winter swim

For the 9th time the northern lakeland resort of Gi¿ycko is holding a winter swim down one of the region’s most famous canoeing routes along the river Krutynia. The swim takes several hours and all participants who reach the finish receive the title of “Tough Guy”. The event, which is to encourage tourists to visit the region in winter as well as in summer is accompanied with tests of modern diving equipment.

Poland has the world’s best programme examining hearing in new-born babies,

acknowledged participants of an audiological conference now on in Washington DC. The programme was put into operation with funds gathered by Poland’s giant annual charity drive called The Orchestra of Christmas Help organized for twelve years now January and the brainchild of journalist Jerzy Owsiak. Representatives of the Orchestra of Christmas Help Foundation were invited to the Washington conference as special guests. Jerzy Owsiak told the conference that Polish specialists will be happy to share their experience with colleagues from the United States.

The Polish Parliament has voted through amendments to a new services tax,

with surprisingly little support in the chamber from its own party for the government’s proposals. The government also decided to abandon some of the planned raises, for instance on tourist services, road transport and products for children. Among others, in result of the vote, as of May 1st, when Poland joins the EU, VAT on building construction materials will rise from 7% to 22%. There will be no VAT on internet services. A highly controversial amendment introducing a 22% VAT for eg.artists and freelancers was dropped. The government said that the raises were caused by the need to adapt Polish legislation in line with EU requirements and Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko said that he would make efforts to have the amendments scratched by the Sejm lower chamber adopted by the Senate.

30 Million Dollars For Diversification of Gas Sources

‘Polish Oil and Gas will invest 30 million dollars this year to guarantee Poland’s energy security’, informed deputy economy minister Jacek Piechota. As of next year the company should be able to finance the necessary projects itself. Minister Piechota’s speech in parliament came in response to the recent cut of Russia’s gas stream to Belarus to force it to pay outstanding bills. This move affected Poland as well. Supplies to chemical plants had to be reduced, which slowed down their production. Moscow’s unexpected decision to close the gas tap raised a discussion here in Poland over the necessity to look for alternative sources of natural gas. Hence, representatives of Polish Oil and Gas talked to Norway’s Statoil and Danish DONG.

posted by: Oborski at 10:56 | link | comments |

Russia Resumes Gas Suppplies to Belarus and Poland

Russia has just resumed gas supplies to Belarus. The cut, announced on Wednesday affected also all oil transit via Belarus, hitting Poland, Germany and Lithuania. The situation caused concern but no panic in Poland. “Poland does not face a risk of cuts in natural gas supplies but if the situation drags on, the biggest Polish gas users – especially in the industry sector – might be in trouble”, Polish vice-premier and infrastructure minister Marek Pol had commented earlier.
This is the first time that Russia has closed the oil tap and – as GAZPROM representatives said – the aim was to force Belarus to pay its outstanding gas bills.
Vicepremier Pol says that Poland has to draw conclusions from this fact. Talks are under way with Norway on building a pipeline linking it with Poland. This attempt at diversification of Polish oil supplies dates back to 2001, when Polish Oil and Gas concluded a gas supply deal with five Norwegian firms. But in 2003 the contract was annulled, as demand for Norwegian gas was too small to make the building of the pipeline a feasible project. Now, the situation is different, Marek Pol said. Under a new contract with Russia, the volume of Russian gas supplies enables Poland to look also for new gas suppliers. Thirty percent of Poland’s daily gas demand is supplied in transit via Belarus.

Poland to Import Norwegian Gas

Norway’s Statoil and Polish Oil and Gas have signed a memorandum on Norwegian gas supplies to Poland. Poland plans to import 1 to 2 billion cubic meters of Norwegian gas annually, starting from next year, at the earliest. The gas will most likely flow through Germany. This attempt at diversification of Polish oil supplies dates back to 2000, when Polish Oil and Gas concluded a deal with five Norwegian firms. But in 2003 the contract was annulled, as demand for Norwegian gas was too small to make the building of the pipeline a feasible project. Under a new contract with Russia, the volume of Russian gas supplies enables Poland to look also for new gas suppliers.
Polish Oil and Gas will conduct more talks on the diversification of gas supplies to Poland tomorrow.

Presidents of Poland and Austria Meet

Presidents of Poland and Austria, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Thomas Klestil believe that a compromise on the European Constitution is possible. This and a vision of united Europe has been one of the issues the presidents discussed in Vienna. They did not think that Wednesday’s French-German-British summit will divide Europe. President Kwasniewski believes that such summits should take place as they serve European integration. In the opinion of president Klestil, Germany, France and Britain are locomotives of economic growth in Europe.

EU Aid Funds for Poland

The European Commission has allocated 336 billion euros for the realization of an economic and social cohesion policy in enlarged Europe. Presenting the tenets of the Third Cohesion Report in Warsaw, Jean-Charles Leygues from the Directorate General for Regional Policy stressed that Poland will be given priority treatment. He did not give an exact sum but said it will be in excess of 50 billion euros. This is a big challenge for Poland, which will have to co-finance cohesion projects on its territory.
The Polish government will present a plan of how the EU aid funds will be used shortly.

More US Funds for Poland-led Force in Iraq

The multinational stabilization force under Polish command in Iraq will receive an additional 12 million US dollars to strengthen security and logistics, a Polish Radio correspondent in Iraq reports. Camp Babylon was visited today by a representative of the American defense department Dou Zkhaim, who wanted to see how the US support funds were being spent. Zakhaim thanked Poland and Poles for their mission in Iraq.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister in Warsaw

Saudi Arabian foreign minister prince Saud al-Faysal arrives in Warsaw for talks on economic cooperation, combating international terrorism and bilateral relations. Prince Saud al-Faysal meets foreign minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz and president Aleksander Kwasniewski on Friday.
Foreign ministry sources in Warsaw say that Poland may be an attractive source of imports and a place to invest. Mentioned especially are the real estate sector, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, spa treatment, infrastructure projects as well as the financial market.

Calls for Tougher Penalties for Pedophiles

The opposition Law and Justice Party wants to toughen penalties for pedophilia. Draft amendments proposed by the party include a lifetime ban on work with children, an obligation imposed on courts to make verdicts public and life sentences passed unconditionally on pedophiles who commit murder. The draft will be submitted to the Parliament tomorrow. It is part of a heated debate in Poland sparked off by a mass circulation daily, which revealed that a choir master accused of molesting his singers was infected with HIV.

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