Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski’s political consultations with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Berendsen mainly focused on the military and security cooperation, multilateral activity, including within the European Union and NATO, and international issues, including the aggression against Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

Polish and Dutch heads of diplomacy, Radosław Sikorski and Tom Berendsen respectively, jointly launched the 35th edition of the Utrecht Conference. In his opening address, Minister Sikorski stressed the very good bilateral cooperation with the Netherlands, also within the European Union and NATO.

As allies in NATO and partners in the EU, we work closely together to strengthen collective defence, enhance protection of critical infrastructure, and increase our resilience against hybrid threats. Our cooperation proves that solidarity, a word that we in Poland hold dear, is not just a principle we uphold. It is a commitment we put into action,

said Poland’s top diplomat during the conference opening ceremony.

Minister Sikorski also expressed his gratitude for the support shown to Poland in its efforts to ensure that Polish heroes of the Second World War, including General Maczek, are properly commemorated.

During his visit to The Hague, Minister Sikorski also met with Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Sabrina Dallafior Matter. The discussion centred on the importance of upholding the ban on the use of chemical weapons, the effective enforcement of international commitments, and the role of the OPCW in countering such violations, including in the context of Russia’s reported use of chemical weapons against Ukraine.

Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski also gave a lecture at the Clingendael Institute [for more information about the Institute, see below].

Over the centuries, nations in the region have experienced consequences of Moscow’s lust for land. Under the tsars, under communism, and now under Vladimir Putin, regimes have changed but imperialism has persisted. (...) But hope is not a strategy. That is why most post-Soviet states have seized the opportunity to join Western security institutions. Contrary to what Russian propaganda would like you to believe, NATO did not expand eastwards of its own accord. It was invited,

said Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski.

In addition, Poland’s foreign minister paid a visit to the NATO Communications and Information Agency, met with representatives of the local Polish community, and launched the Youth Advisory Council at the Polish Embassy in The Hague.

The Netherlands is home to one of the largest Polish communities in Europe. More than 450,000 Poles. It represents an immense capital of knowledge, experience, and energy. I was therefore delighted to accept the invitation to establish the Youth Advisory Council. It was a grassroots initiative. It was your initiative,

said Poland’s top diplomat.

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The Utrecht Conference is a series of Polish–Dutch meetings organised since 1999. Their aim is to strengthen cooperation between Poland and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the political, economic, and social domains.

This year’s edition of the Conference, a key platform for dialogue at the level of government experts, was attended by several dozen Polish and Dutch representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, national defence, agriculture, development and technology, climate and the environment, energy, home affairs and administration, justice, as well as family, labour, and social policy.

The Clingendael Institute (Netherlands Institute of International Relations) is an independent Dutch think tank and diplomatic academy based in The Hague. It is tasked with researching global political trends, analysing international security, and providing training for diplomats and experts from around the world.