Welcome to the Conservative Friends of Poland (CFoP) Blog Page where you can tap into observations on economics, business, politics and culture in the UK and Central Europe.
Monday 6 August 2012
Thursday 22 March 2012
Weź sprawy w swoje ręce i zadecyduj, kto będzie rządził Londynem przez kolejne cztery lata!
Szczególnie Ci z nas, którzy przyjechali do Londynu w trakcie ostatniej dekady są często zbyt zapracowani i zajęci rodziną, żeby pamiętać o czynnym udziale w lokalnych wyborach, pomimo, że jako Polacy wszyscy jesteśmy uprawnieni do głosowania. Żeby ułatwić rejestrację wyborców Electoral Commission (tzn. Komisja Wyborcza) stworzyła portal www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. Oczywiście nadal możemy rejestrować się w tradycyjny sposób, zapisując się na Electoral Roll, czego można dokonać poprzez Council (Urząd Dzielnicowy) – pocztą lub poprzez stronę internetową Urzędu.
Jesteśmy bardzo liczną i rozpoznawalną mniejszością w Londynie i możemy mieć rzeczywisty wpływ na władzę w mieście. Co więcej, uważam, że jak najbardziej powinniśmy tę siłę wykorzystać i spowodować wybór najbardziej korzystnego dla nas kandydata. W końcu ogromna większość z nas ciężko pracuje – czy to prowadząc własne interesy, czy będąc zatrudnionymi w firmach – a zatem płaci podatki, o rozgospodarowaniu których możemy właśnie decydować oddając głosy w wyborach. Ponadto, pokolenie Polaków, które przyjechało do Londynu w trakcie ostanich lat, zakłada obecnie rodziny, a więc nagle sprawy szkolnictwa, bezpieczeństwa, czystości, czy transportu zaczynają mieć dla nas większe znaczenie. O tych sprawach również decydują władze lokalne – w naszym przypadku Mer Londynu.
Podsumowując, do 18. kwietnia możemy rejestrować się na liście wyborców do majowych wyborów Mera Londynu, ale żeby uniknąć komplikacji proponuję rejestrować się już. Poza tym, jeżeli chcecie, podobnie jak ja, by Londyn nadal wspierał przedsiębiorczość, żeby podatki (w tym council tax) były utrzymywane na poziomie minimalnym, żeby było bezpieczniej poprzez zwiększoną obecność policji, żeby szkoły stawały się coraz lepsze i inwestowano więcej w miejski transport – wtedy zapoznajcie się bardziej szczegółowo z obecnymi dokonaniami oraz programem Borisa na kolejne cztery lata.
Przemek Skwirczynski, Conservative Friends of Poland
English translation:
Although as Poles we are all entitled to vote, we often find that we are too busy with work or family matters to remember to take part in the local elections – this may be especially true of those of us who came to live in London over the past decade. With that in mind and in order to facilitate the registration of voters the Election Commission has created a portal called www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. We can of course still register in traditional ways - by enrolling on the Electoral Roll - either by post, or through our local council website.
We are a very large and visible minority in London and as such we could have a real impact on the city’s authorities. I believe that we should take advantage of this strength and influence the election of the candidate who is most aligned with our needs. Vast majority of us work hard running our own businesses or working for companies, and hence contributing a lot in tax revenues - we can decide on how these are spent by casting our votes in elections. Moreover, the generation of young Poles who came to London over the recent years may now or soon be starting their families, which is why such matters as education, safety, clean streets and transport are gaining importance. These issues are largely a responsibility of the local authorities - in our case: the Mayor of London.
In summary, you can register to vote on 3 May 2012 London Mayor elections by 18 April, but to avoid disappointment I advise you to register now. Besides, if (like me) you want London to welcome entrepreneurship, with taxes (including council tax) kept at minimum, better safety due to an increased police presence, proper schools and an increased investment in London’s transport, then take a closer look at the to-date achievements and Boris’s programme for the next four years.
Przemek Skwirczynski, Conservative Friends of Poland
Przemek Skwirczynski, Conservative Friends of Poland
Friday 27 January 2012
'The Polish Presidency: 6 months on'
Poland leading the way
Amongst the speakers, there was a consensus that Poland had used the opportunity, associated with the EU Presidency, to pursue a number of exciting agendas. Syed Kamall MEP paid reference to the new EU-Ukrainian partnerships that have been struck, as well as the progress made to integrate the countries of the West Balkans into the European Union. Syed also attributed positive political developments in Minsk as being connected with Poland’s work through the EU presidency. All the speakers commented upon Poland’s bridge like status between East and West, as being a key component of its usefulness to the European project.
The narrative concerning Poland’s decisive and forward thinking leadership was extended upon by Charles Crawford CMG, who paid attention to the work of Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski in providing the new Transitional Council in Libya with a reservoir of knowledge regarding what is needed to evolve away from an authoritarian past towards a brighter future, a democratic future. All of these examples demonstrate how Poland, due to the many of the experiences that have shaped it as a nation, plays an invaluable role within the European project.
Poland moving closer to “Western civilization”
Syed Kamall MEP and Charles Crawford CMG painted an optimistic picture of Poland moving decisively, with little apprehension or regret, towards closer relations with its West European partners. Charles Crawford CMG paid reference to meetings he had had with the Kaczynski twins who construed their period behind the Iron curtain as blocking, what would have been their inevitable post-war integration with the West, and the resulting anger that many Poles feel towards the West as a result of Yalta. Both speakers suggested that there was a sense of optimism and determination in Poland to get on with it, and embrace the West, and more specifically the European project.
Syed Kamall MEP argued that liberalism was crucial for Poland’s development, and that it was composed of two phases, economic, and social. Though he felt that Poland has been successful in adopting economic liberalism, there remained work to do with regards to social liberalism. However, he pointed out that it takes time, and that twenty, thirty years ago; Britain was far less socially liberal than it is now.
A note of caution
In contrast to Syed Kamall MEP and Charles Crawford CMG, Professor Anita Prazmowska provided from a historical perspective, a far more cautious take on Poland’s relationship with the EU. Professor Prazmowska argued that there was a certain degree of cautiousness within Poland in regards to her country’s relationship with the EU, with the question, “Are we about to lose something we have just gained”, on many people’s minds. Professor Prazmowska expanded on this by alerting the audience to a determination within Poland not to lose its Catholic ethos, and the resulting values that have for centuries underpinned it as a Nation.
Professor Prazmowska went on defend the actions of the allied powers at Yalta, arguing that there was little else they could have done. Before providing detailed analysis on Poland being a complex concoction of East and West, and that it shouldn’t downplay, or seek to hastily free itself from its Eastern influences, for these influences are a key part of what makes Poles who they are.
Professor Prazmowska suggested that the history of Poland, and the dynamics of Polish society, made the two-stage liberalization process outlined by Syed Kamall MEP extremely hard to achieve. She commented, “Whereas in the UK, it’s your business what your sexuality is, in Poland, it’s everyone’s business”.
CONCLUSION
It’s particularly interesting how in Britain today, much of the conversation emanating from the British Conservative Party seems to be concerned with how we, as a society, can ascertain, more shared, common values with one another, and how the strengthening of local neighbourhoods is seen as critical for “Civic resilience”, whilst in Poland, many seem to be driven by a desire to move away from what we’re striving towards. I think in many senses, there is an awful lot both countries can learn from one another in their attempt to strike the right balance between a socially liberal society, which at its best represents freedom, diversity and tolerance, and a more socially conservative society, which at its best provides a firm grounding of shared values and societal cohesiveness.
by Cllr Tom Hunt
Amongst the speakers, there was a consensus that Poland had used the opportunity, associated with the EU Presidency, to pursue a number of exciting agendas. Syed Kamall MEP paid reference to the new EU-Ukrainian partnerships that have been struck, as well as the progress made to integrate the countries of the West Balkans into the European Union. Syed also attributed positive political developments in Minsk as being connected with Poland’s work through the EU presidency. All the speakers commented upon Poland’s bridge like status between East and West, as being a key component of its usefulness to the European project.
The narrative concerning Poland’s decisive and forward thinking leadership was extended upon by Charles Crawford CMG, who paid attention to the work of Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski in providing the new Transitional Council in Libya with a reservoir of knowledge regarding what is needed to evolve away from an authoritarian past towards a brighter future, a democratic future. All of these examples demonstrate how Poland, due to the many of the experiences that have shaped it as a nation, plays an invaluable role within the European project.
Poland moving closer to “Western civilization”
Syed Kamall MEP and Charles Crawford CMG painted an optimistic picture of Poland moving decisively, with little apprehension or regret, towards closer relations with its West European partners. Charles Crawford CMG paid reference to meetings he had had with the Kaczynski twins who construed their period behind the Iron curtain as blocking, what would have been their inevitable post-war integration with the West, and the resulting anger that many Poles feel towards the West as a result of Yalta. Both speakers suggested that there was a sense of optimism and determination in Poland to get on with it, and embrace the West, and more specifically the European project.
Syed Kamall MEP argued that liberalism was crucial for Poland’s development, and that it was composed of two phases, economic, and social. Though he felt that Poland has been successful in adopting economic liberalism, there remained work to do with regards to social liberalism. However, he pointed out that it takes time, and that twenty, thirty years ago; Britain was far less socially liberal than it is now.
A note of caution
In contrast to Syed Kamall MEP and Charles Crawford CMG, Professor Anita Prazmowska provided from a historical perspective, a far more cautious take on Poland’s relationship with the EU. Professor Prazmowska argued that there was a certain degree of cautiousness within Poland in regards to her country’s relationship with the EU, with the question, “Are we about to lose something we have just gained”, on many people’s minds. Professor Prazmowska expanded on this by alerting the audience to a determination within Poland not to lose its Catholic ethos, and the resulting values that have for centuries underpinned it as a Nation.
Professor Prazmowska went on defend the actions of the allied powers at Yalta, arguing that there was little else they could have done. Before providing detailed analysis on Poland being a complex concoction of East and West, and that it shouldn’t downplay, or seek to hastily free itself from its Eastern influences, for these influences are a key part of what makes Poles who they are.
Professor Prazmowska suggested that the history of Poland, and the dynamics of Polish society, made the two-stage liberalization process outlined by Syed Kamall MEP extremely hard to achieve. She commented, “Whereas in the UK, it’s your business what your sexuality is, in Poland, it’s everyone’s business”.
CONCLUSION
It’s particularly interesting how in Britain today, much of the conversation emanating from the British Conservative Party seems to be concerned with how we, as a society, can ascertain, more shared, common values with one another, and how the strengthening of local neighbourhoods is seen as critical for “Civic resilience”, whilst in Poland, many seem to be driven by a desire to move away from what we’re striving towards. I think in many senses, there is an awful lot both countries can learn from one another in their attempt to strike the right balance between a socially liberal society, which at its best represents freedom, diversity and tolerance, and a more socially conservative society, which at its best provides a firm grounding of shared values and societal cohesiveness.
by Cllr Tom Hunt
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