Geopolitical aspects of new technologies, conflict in Ethiopia, and the Strategic Compass (strategic guidelines for the development of European defence policy) were the main agenda items for the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday. EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Belarus and met with Israel’s Foreign Minister Jair Lapid.

On Saturday, Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk and Deputy Health Minister Maciej Miłkowski held a press briefing at the MFA on the amendment to the so-called epidemic regulation – Regulation of the Council of Ministers of March 19, 2021 on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in relation to state of the epidemic (Journal of Laws, items 512 and 546 as amended). Among other topics, quarantine exemption rules for persons arriving to Poland were presented at the briefing.

“One of Poland’s top priorities under the Three Seas Initiative is infrastructure development, in particular on the North-South axis. Coordinating activities within the Initiative will help us bridge existing gaps and better exploit our potential,” said in his speech Deputy Minister Marcin Przydacz during a panel discussion on the Three Seas Initiative, the EU, and Central and Eastern Europe-China cooperation, which took place during the Dubrovnik Forum 2021.

Delegates were selected in a competition run jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council for Dialogue with the Young Generation.

On Thursday, during their Vilnius meeting, the heads of Lithuanian, Ukrainian and Polish diplomacies signed a declaration of joint European heritage and common values. The document was adopted on the occasion of the 230th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May and Mutual Pledge of the Two Nations of 1791.

“The agreement on cooperation between the foreign ministry and Statistics Poland which we have signed today is a step towards strengthening the potential of our economy and Polish companies operating in foreign markets,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński during the Wednesday ceremony.

“Poland, as Ukraine’s friend, will continue to support Kyiv in carrying out its reforms. With the assistance of the international community and thanks to its own commitment, through the undertaken reform efforts, Ukraine will strengthen its internal stability and boost its resilience to external challenges,” said Minister Zbigniew Rau during the fourth edition of the Ukraine Reform Conference in Vilnius.

A community activist and entrepreneur, Jarosław Marek Nowak will be in charge of measures to develop Polish-Jewish relations, working together with relevant units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He took up his post on 6 July 2021.

Challenges related to cultural heritage protection in conflicts and crises were at the centre of a debate organised by the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the European Union on 5 July 2021. The event was remotely attended by Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński.

“Poland consistently supports NATO’s extensive cooperation with Western Balkan countries on political and military dialogue, and reform efforts. We also support the development of the EU-NATO cooperation in the region to counteract hybrid threats and disinformation, and to build strong and resilient state structures,” said Minister Zbigniew Rau in Ohrid, Macedonia, on Friday.