30th anniversary of the accession of the Republic of Poland to the Council of Europe.
26.11.2021
On 26th November 2021 was the 30th anniversary of Poland's accession to the Council of Europe. At the ceremony of signing the Statute of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Poland was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Krzysztof Skubiszewski, pictured together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Catherine Lalumière.
The then chief of Polish diplomacy said “The Council of Europe is the bridge through which Poland returned to European cooperation” – 16 Nov. 1989 - signing the European Cultural Convention. “The Council of Europe embodies the identity of contemporary Europe, which is contained in the synthesis of three great factors co-creating European civilization: its Christian roots, a sense of beauty derived from Ancient Greece, and the concept of law developed in Rome and its role in the life of the individual and society - all of this can be found in the activities of the Council Europe, common values, in particular human dignity and rights, the rule of law and democracy, culture and art that define the spirituality and mindset of an individual” - said on 26 Nov. 1991, the Polish minister. A month after the first completely free parliamentary elections after World War II, Minister Krzysztof Skubiszewski recalled that Poland had done a lot in previous years so that the values of the Council of Europe could be present in our part of Europe. He also emphasized that although Poland was not actually and legally present in 1949 among the founders of the Council of Europe, it was spiritually present.
Just like 30 years ago, also today active membership in the Council of Europe is part of the Polish raison d'état.
The Council of Europe is the oldest European regional organization. It significantly supported the process of democratization and the development of human rights standards and the rule of law in Poland after the 1989 system changes. Like millions of Europeans, Poles appreciate the importance of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the key role of the European Court of Human Rights. The Council of Europe makes a valuable contribution to the development of pan-European dialogue and strengthens the legal culture of our continent. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Poland in the Council of Europe, Poczta Polska issued special greeting cards.
