The conference is organised by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the European Commission, the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies, the association of Polish non-governmental organisations ‘Zagranica Group’, the Lech Wałęsa Institute, the World Bank, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, and the Polish Committee for UNESCO and UNDP.

The main subject of the debate are transitions in the Arab world and the prospects of drawing on the European, including Polish, experience to support transformation processes in North Africa and other parts of the Arab world.

The plenary session, which opened the conference, was attended, among others, by former Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, former Foreign Minister Andrzej Olechowski and Henryka Bochniarz, President of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan.

In his address to the conference delegates, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jerzy Pomianowski pointed out the special significance of the changes occurring in Europe’s southern neighbourhood and emphasised Poland’s readiness to continue the support for the Arab states in this difficult and challenging process of transformation. Deputy Foreign Minister Pomianowski also underscored the important role of the European Union in the building of democracy in the states participating in both dimensions of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Press Office
Ministry of Foreign Affairs