Gruzja w polityce Polski w latach 1991−2009

This article focuses on Georgia’s role in Polish foreign policy after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It brings exceptional focus to the period after 2005 and changes in the conception of agreement with Russia based on the ministers of foreign affairs Stefan Meller’s mission for the Eastern policy in the spirit of prometheism. The author concentrates on the analysis of motives behind Georgia’s significant place in Polish foreign policy and interprets the Eastern policy of president Lech Kaczyński and subsequent cabinets after the 2005 election in this aspect. As an entry point for the analysis of the context of intense Polish-Georgian relations after 2005 the author brings up Charles Taylor’s social imaginary concept.

The Intermarium in Ukrainian and Polish Foreign Policy Discourse

The ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, crises in the European Union (EU), and armed conflicts in the EU neighbourhood have influenced the prospects of future development in eastern and central Europe. A search for new security architecture on the margins of the EU and regional collaborations that prevail across formal EU borders have forced national elites in Poland and Ukraine to redefine their efforts regarding regional and security co-operation. Rationales for joining an Intermarium (a regional, transnational project involving successor states of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth countries) are based on the perception of a threat coming from Russia. This article analyzes the Intermarium concept, first, from the perspective of “geopolitical imaginary” with emphasis on periphery-centre relations and, second, in the light of regional “security dilemma” as it appears in attempt of “smaller” states to counteract Russian threats.

Ku modelowi polskiej paradyplomacji

The aim of the article is to trigger the debate and set the theoretical basis for further research on a framework of Polish paradiplomacy. It is also an invitation to a discussion on desirable vision of local diplomacy, from the perspective of Polish foreign policy. The analysis focuses on the institutional dimension of Polish paradiplomacy, which was shaped into a local and civic dimension of Polish foreign policy (LCD), in 2012. Sources consist mainly of official documents and communications. The author preliminarily verifies a hypothesis stating that the withdrawal of the LCD mechanism after 2015 influences negatively the development of Polish paradiplomacy and the implementation of Polish foreign policy in general. Two aspects of Polish local diplomacy are elaborated: position in priorities of foreign policy and practice. In conclusion, the author shows a possible scenario of development and places Polish paradiplomacy within theoretical frameworks.

Krajowe Plany Działania na rzecz realizacji Rezolucji nr 1325. Rady Bezpieczeństwa ONZ w polityce zagranicznej Szwecji i Polski

The aim of the paper is to find out how the UN agenda “Women, Peace, Security” (WPS) established inUN Security Council’s Resolution 1325 of October 2000 is pursued in Sweden and in Poland. The agendais considered to be the starting point in building a new architecture of security with an equal participationof women and men globally, regionally and nationally. Both Sweden and Poland adopted national actionplans to achieve the goals of the WPS agenda. The reading of these documents in the context of Sweden’sand Poland’s foreign policies shows considerable differences between the two states. Sweden is activelypromoting the WPS agenda in the context of its feminist foreign policy and the activity of its feministgovernment whilst Poland adopted its national action plan relatively late. The documents and statements onthe priorities of the Polish foreign policy do not mention the WPS agenda.

What is Media Assistance and (Why) Does It Matter? The Case of Polish Foreign Aid to the Media in Belarus and Ukraine

The paper offers an analysis of media assistance, as a specific form of foreign aid, that Poland offers to strengthen media development in Belarus and Ukraine. It shows if Poland tailors media assistance according to the local context and existing challenges for democratic changes of recipient countries’ media systems. The study builds on the literature concerning the media, development and democratization, in particular looking at media assistance as both democratic aid and public diplomacy. It reveals that Poland’s approaches to media development in Belarus and Ukraine do differ: Poland mainly provides autocratic Belarus with technical support for media established outside of that country, while clearly focusing on media capacity development in democratizing Ukraine. The findings show that Polish media assistance, however, is unlikely to boost media freedom in Belarus as is usually expected as an outcome of democratic aid and is under-financed in the case of Ukraine.

International Trade in Transport Services between Poland and the European Union

The structure of international trade in today’s global economy is undergoing transformation. The increase in the importance of services is a clear trend. In Polish foreign trade with the European Union countries, it is transport services that to the greatest extent create the trade surplus. These services significantly affect the environment, which makes it necessary to take measures aimed at the implementation of the green transport principles. The aim of the study was to provide a detailed description of transport services in Polish foreign trade with European Union (EU) countries and to assess the role of these services in Polish economy, including in terms of sustainable development. The study concerned transport services, consisting of four separate types: maritime transport, air transport, other transport services (except maritime and air) and postal and courier services. The time span of the study was 2010–2018. The latest secondary data from the official statistics of the National Bank of Poland and the Central Statistical Office were used for the purpose of the analysis. The research methods included: critical analysis of the source literature, analysis of secondary data (desk-research) and graphic methods (tables and diagrams), by means of which the results of the study were presented. The conclusions drawn are inductive and deductive in nature. The article describes in detail Polish trade in transport services with EU countries. It focuses on export, import and balance. The role of the examined services in foreign trade and Polish economy was assessed based on the analysis of the structure of export and import and the rate of export and import, geographical orientation of trade, as well as the activity of enterprises from the transport service sector, registered in Poland, including joint ventures. Research has shown that between 2010 and 2018 Polish export and import of transport services as part of trade relations with EU countries increased considerably. The conducted research indicates that transport services are a crucial element of Polish trade. The role of EU countries in the Polish trade in transport services was recognised as significant and growing. This has a positive impact on the country’s economy. The increasing role of road transport in the structure of the Polish trade indicates that Polish entities providing transport services are thriving in this demanding market. However, the analysis of the source literature indicated changes in the preferences of consumers, who increasingly often expect the implementation of sustainable development principles in the distribution of goods. Green marketing or green transport are concepts more and more frequently used to gain competitive advantage in the market. The transport sector in Poland is facing a major trend towards the implementation of sustainable development principles. In order to maintain sales growth internationally, the entities will have to implement sustainable development principles.

Human Milk Banks – biobanking for preterms and newborns

Breast milk banks are specialized hospital-located laboratories. Their role is to provide breast milk to newborns and infants who, for various reasons, cannot be fed with their mother’s milk. They are an inseparable part of intensive neonatal care units and an element of the mother and child care system. They are financed by hospitals in which they operate. Milk is obtained from donors, thoroughly examined, pasteurized and passed directly to children in need. Food recipients are mainly premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. As proven by numerous scientific studies, breast milk is the most appropriate food for newborns and infants. Breast milk is also recommended by Polish, foreign and international organizations and institutions involved in nutritional problems of children. There are 226 Breast Milk Banks in Europe (first organized in 1909 in Vienna) and the organization of additional 16 is planned. In Poland there are only 9 banks and two more are in the organizational phase. Breast milk banks in Poland operate on the basis of in-hospital regulations. The European Association of Milk Banks strives to unify the procedures of conduct in all units, including Poland.

Foreign Intelligence and Pharmaceutical Industry in Poland. Part 2

In the 1960s, Polish society was still not affected by lifestyle diseases to such a large extent as in the developed countries of Western Europe. However, the statistics on cancer and cardiovascular diseases started to rise in the 1970s, along with the dynamic economic development of Poland under communist party’s secretary Edward Gierek. Meanwhile, the government of the People’s Republic of Poland could not afford to invest simultaneously in all critical sectors of the economy. Particular priority was given to capital-intensive automotive and electronics industries as well as to traditional but important for Polish exports of raw materials (copper, coal). In the 1980s, as a result of the Cold War escalation along with the subsequent tightening of the strategic embargo by NATO states, and — finally — because of the gigantic foreign debt, the financial resources of Poland were reduced almost to zero. The lack of funds for research and development in the field of pharmacy and biotechnology was to be compensated for by an illegal transfer of know-how from the OECD area. Polish foreign intelligence services had already considerable experience in the field of purchasing technical documentation on the black market. In the 1970s, at least a dozen or so antibiotic manufacturing technologies were clandestinely obtained in the West and passed on to the Polish R&D and industry. The article examines the involvement of Polish intelligence in the transfer of medicines, active substances and other pharmaceutical products (including medical equipment) to Poland. The “socially useful” function of communist secret services becomes a fascinating problem in this context. The article is based partly on the documents produced or collected by the Polish foreign intelligence service in 1960–1990, which have been declassified and are now accessible to the public in the Archive of the Institute of National Remembrance.