“Ukraine’s path to join the European Union will be very long because it depends not only on Ukraine” – dr Małgorzata Bonikowska in TVN24 [03.02.2023]
While commenting on the EU-Ukraine summit, which took place on 3.02.2023 in Kyiv, dr Bonikowska drew attention to the complexity of the EU enlargement process. It is already difficult for some institutions to coordinate joint actions of member states, so the potential increase in their number to more than thirty...
Diplomatic Coffee: Singapore
Centre for International Relations invites you to another conversation in the Coffee with the Ambassador series, organized by the CIR-CSM jointly with the National Geographic Traveler Polska, THINKTANK and Weco-Travel. Once a month, together with invited guests, former ambassadors, we present you a different region of the world. Our next...
“Polish-German relations are and will be crucial for relations within the European Union and for the future of this organization. Arranging relations between the member states – with such a large group of 27 countries – is a great challenge” – Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska on Polish Radio 24 [ 17.01.2023]
Germany’s eastern policy has strained the country’s position in Europe. However, it is still the largest country in the EU in terms of population and the largest EU economy. It is also Poland’s first and most important economic partner , said Dr. Bonikowska. This is the moment in which Germany...
“Croatia is a small economy, so it is simply a strategic choice. But it is also based on tourism, so Croatians exchange kuna for euro anyway. They should be appreciated for the fact that, despite the changes in cabinets, Croatia was able to meet all the conditions” – Dr. Bartłomiej Nowak on Croatia’s accession to the eurozone [10.01.2023]
Any economic forecasts are too risky at the moment. But let me give you an interesting example. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which joined the euro in a very turbulent economic period, the very impact of anticipation of accession, i.e. before their accession, was positive. Both in...
“The West has to arrange itself with the fact that in today’s world, there exist different concepts of political systems and the West will not be the leading example anymore telling the rest of the world what to do and how to behave”- said Dr. Bonikowska, president of the CIR, in RzeczoPolityce by Rzeczpospolita [04.01.2023]
Asked to identify the most crucial changes going on in the current world, Dr. Bonikowska responded that the biggest challenge firstly is to understand that there are two proposals on the table for states to choose from regarding their political systems. On the one hand, there is a liberal system...
“Russia aims at making a move to decide the fate of the war in its favor” – Dr. Bonikowska in the “Punkt Widzenia” program on Polsat [03.01.2023]
We are currently seeing massive rocket attacks. At one point, the Russian army was keen to stabilize the front – a strategic pause to prepare the recently mobilized citizens for combat. It seems that Russia is now more determined than at the beginning of the war. Putin is also determined...
“Despite the fact that Russia is aggressively trying everything to force Ukraine and the West into a dialogue and negotiations, the EU will continue to stand together and support Ukraine which is why the Kyiv EU-Ukraine Summit scheduled for February is a symbolic statement”- said Dr. Bonikowska, president of the CIR, on Super Express [03.01.2023]
For Putin’s Russia, now with the international status of a terrorist state, it is likely that it will continue its anti-western campaign and military attacks in Ukraine in order to achieve those victories that were planned but not realized in the last year. However, all forms of Western support for...
“The Russian President’s political branch of the administration has prepared a handbook for state and pro-government media, which describes how journalists should summarize the year 2022. This shows what a propaganda war, which is not fought on the front line, looks like” – Eugeniusz Smolar on Radio TOK FM [01.01.2023]
I perceive it as proof of weakness. The handbook recommends to emphasize that Vladimir Putin, sending troops, made the only right decision to pre-empt the impending attack by Ukraine and NATO. Of course, Russia should continue to emphasize that the special operation is successful, said Eugeniusz Smolar, the CIR expert....
“Public opinion polls confirm that Poles still are at the forefront of countries with a very good attitude towards the process of European integration and the European Union” – Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, president of the CIR, on the program “Fakty po Faktach” [24.12.2022]
The European Union is a pillar of strength and stability, said the president of CIR in an interview with Grzegorz Kajdanowicz. She also reminded that the funds from the National Reconstruction Plan mean “temporary money, so you have to hurry”. Find out more
Ukraine and the recent visit of President Zelensky to Washington also contributed to this, which is perceived by Americans as part of their world. This is an asset that possesses real meaning, said Janusz Reiter, an expert at the CIR, on TVN24 [22.12.2022]
This visit took place at an extremely important, difficult, critical moment, when you can see that Russia is using its double advantage. Numerical superiority – material and human. Ukraine must respond to this. And in order to answer, he needs strong support from the West, especially from America. Ukraine received...
“To be perfectly frank, the Western societies, France included, are tired of the war and would like to have this war over and look for solutions to end this conflict. It does not mean that Europeans do not support Ukrainians anymore” – Małgorzata Bonikowska in the World News (TVP World) [19.12.2022]
The Eurobarometer shows very stable support for the Ukrainian case as well as the military domain within the EU. At the same time, however, Europeans do not want a wavering conflict or aim at overpowering Russia by any means, but prefer to end this crisis with a peaceful method of...
“Anti-European, as well as anti-German phobias of the incumbents, are deadly for the interests of our country” – stated Eugeniusz Smolar, an expert at the CIR, in Rzeczpospolita [14.12.2022]
Eugeniusz Smolar writes that the war between Russia and Ukraine ploughed through the awareness of threats. The reorientation of Western politicians and societies is not an easy process, given the persistence of the previous assumptions and economic consequences – the energy crisis, high inflation and recession, which threatens to undermine...
“It is vital to convey to the Russian elites that Russia is not the problem, but its imperialism and Putin’s policy” – commented Eugeniusz Smolar, expert at the CIR, in the program “Horyzont” on TVN24 [10.12.2022]
There should be no illusions that Russia has enormous potential to negatively influence European security, which does not mean that Russia should find its place in the new security architecture of Europe, said Eugeniusz Smolar. He pointed out that the refusal to talk is also a form of communication while...
“The Hungarian government is well aware that as a member of the EU, Hungary has had the full right to participate in all EU decisions so far, which is why it is now taking advantage of this and is blocking” – said Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, president of the CIR, on Radio Polska 24 [10.12.2022]
It so happens that in foreign policy, when we decide, for example, on sanctions against Russia, unanimity is necessary. Thus, even a small Hungary, or even a smaller Malta, can block the work of the other members, Dr. Bonikowska commented on Hungary’s actions. Hungary now takes advantage of this and...
“Liberal democracy must have teeth to defend itself against extremists – the German one possesses them” – said Eugeniusz Smolar, expert at the CIR, on Radio TOK FM [09.12.2022]
The whole thing looks indeed theatrical, were it not for the fact that there is a social basis for right-wing radicalism, which in Germany is considered the greatest threat to the stability of democracy – Eugeniusz Smolar, CIR expert, about the detention of people suspected of preparing a coup d’état....
“What I am most sorry for is that the president ignored the voice of scientists. In this case, 172 scientists from Polish universities, including the Jagiellonian University, with which the president is particularly connected, appealed that the president should not sign this act, as it is contrary to human rights standards and is incorrect in terms of legislative quality” – said Adam Bodnar on TVN24 [08.12.2022]
On the occasion of President Andrzej Duda signing the amendment to the Penal Code on Friday, December 2, Adam Bodnar comments that the President had ignored the voices of scientists who have criticized the proposed regulations to be incompatible with human rights standards as well as inadequate in terms of...
“Extreme right-wing circles are a threat to the public order. There is no question of a coup, however, these people are able to create a sense of threat in society, which would already pose a problem to the polity” – commented Janusz Reiter on the action of the German intelligence, expert at the CIR, in an interview with Gazeta.pl [08.12.2022]
A group of people who have no real entrenchment in German society has been caught. They mean nothing politically. The very person of their leader, this prince whom no one had heard of until recently, shows that this is a complete marginality – said Janusz Reiter, Chairman of the Council...
“It is worth reminding that it is not only about designing in the context of buildings but also in terms of urban spaces, such as various pedestrian routes, that especially cater to people with disabilities” – said Adam Bodnar in Architektura i Biznes [06.12.2022]
In this short interview conducted during the Open Eyes Economy Summit 2022 in Krakow in November, Adam Bodnar elaborates on the question of how human rights relate to urban space. At the same time, Bodnar promotes the concept of universal design. Read more
“In Poland, apart from completely marginal groups from the extreme right, there is an undoubted consensus that the United States is a strategic ally in the security sphere” – said Bruno Surdel on the Arabic-language TV station Alghad TV [01.12.2022]
“In Poland, apart from completely marginal groups from the extreme right, there is an undoubted consensus that the United States is a strategic ally in the security sphere. However, there is no such cross-party agreement and unity in terms of relations with Poland’s key neighbor, Germany, as well as in...
“What we are seeing in Turkey right now is really overshadowed and determined by political events and elections taking place in the coming year, and there will be both parliamentary and presidential elections” – said Bruno Surdel, expert at the CIR, on Wnet.fm [01.12.2022]
In the interview, Bruno Surdel contextualizes recent actions undertaken by the Turkish Government, especially in Turkish foreign policy. Among other things, Surdel comments on the Turkish economic crisis as well as on the ongoing conflict between Turkey and Greece evolving around territorial claims of islands in the Aegean See. Find...