Deputy MFA head Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk met with Under Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Wendy Morton, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons Thomas Tugendhat, and Head of the Exiting the European Union Committee Hilary Benn. The officials discussed in particular bilateral cooperation, security, the situation of Poles in Great Britain, and global agenda. ‘Our objective is a close cooperation with Great Britain after Brexit, both bilateral and regional, for example within the Visegrád Group,’ stressed Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk. He added that Poland’s forthcoming presidency of the Visegrád Group would mark our increased activity in the V4+UK cooperation.

‘Broadly understood security is, and will remain after Brexit, a particularly vital area of cooperation with Great Britain,’ highlighted the deputy chief of Polish diplomacy during his talks with the British partners. He expressed his hope that London would remain active not only in global affairs but also in European issues. The officials agreed that it is in the interest of the EU, Poland and Great Britain that after Brexit the EU and the UK should cooperate in the closest possible way, especially in terms of economy and security. ‘As part of global ambitions that Great Britain has declared to pursue after Brexit, we are also open to cooperation within international formats in which we share common interests,’ said Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk.

The minister’s visit to London also came as an opportunity to discuss the situation of Poles living in the United Kingdom. Another issue on the minister’s agenda was the forthcoming Belvedere Forum, one of three most important formats of Polish-British cooperation. This year’s edition of the Belvedere Forum will take place in London on 3-4 March.

Another highlight of the visit was the minister’s meetings with Poles living in Great Britain. While in London, the deputy head of the Polish MFA met with Barbara Drozdowicz from the East European Resource Centre to talk about the registration process for the EU settlement scheme. Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk also attended a concert given by a young Polish pianist, Artur Haftman, celebrating the 210th anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin’s birth. The minister also laid flowers at Northwood cemetery of Polish pilots who served in the Royal Air Force squadrons, as well as at the monument to General Władysław Sikorski.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Polish Embassy in London