The first point on the agenda of Minister Kamil Bortniczuk’s visit to Bucharest was a meeting with the Romanian Sports Minister Carole-Eduard Novak. During the talks, Minister Bortniczuk referred to the Polish-Romanian cooperation to date in the formulation of positions expressing disagreement to the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international sports competition.

The firm stance of Romania, reflected, among others, by the statements regarding Russia’s instigation of the war in Ukraine, is fully in line with our position. It is of great significance at a time when the IOC is considering the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympic Games Paris 2024

- said minister Bortniczuk.

Ministers Bortniczuk and Novak exchanged information on the financing of sport in both countries. They also discussed the subject of school sport and the system of physical education lessons. Minister Bortniczuk presented to the Romanian side, which is currently trying to introduce the third hour of PE to schools, the principles of the pilot programme “Sports Talents” to be included in the core curriculum of Polish schools starting from the next school year. At the end of the meeting, the Polish side invited the Romanian side to visit our country on the occasion of the Third European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 to begin in June.

Together with Minister Novak, we have decided to intensify the cooperation between Poland and Romania in the field of sport, which will be facilitated by the established working group

- said Minister Bortniczuk as he summed up the bilateral meeting during the intergovernmental plenary session.

The session ended with a joint press conference with the participation of Polish and Romanian Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki and Nicolae Ciucă. Among the main conclusions of the Polish-Romanian intergovernmental consultations was the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of sport by Ministers for Sport Kamil Bortniczuk and Carol-Eduard Novak.

The document will contribute to developing bilateral cooperation in the field of sport, including, e.g., encouraging direct cooperation between sports organisations from both countries, and exchanging information on the organisation and financing of sport, sports infrastructure financing and management, sports training and coaching systems and sports law. The memorandum provides for the exchange of experience and good practice in the field of sport, sustainable development, sports integrity, combating violence in sport and anti-doping.

Polish-Romanian intergovernmental consultations

On 28 March 2023, Prime Ministers Mateusz Morawiecki and Nicolae Ciucă led intergovernmental consultations in Bucharest. The subjects of the meeting of the heads of governments and ministers of both countries included bilateral cooperation, security issues and preparations for the NATO summit. An important topic discussed during the consultations was Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its economic consequences. The consultations were attended by representatives of the ministries of: foreign affairs, culture and national heritage, national defence, infrastructure, interior and administration, development funds and regional policy, family and social policy, sport and tourism, development and technology, agriculture and rural development, climate and environment, state assets, and education and science.