APPGP visited Poland to foster the British-Polish ties

A delegation from the UK Parliament visited Warsaw during the summer recess (21-24 July). The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland organised the trip.

MPs had the opportunity to strengthen their relations with Polish policymakers during the visit, for example, by visiting the Polish Parliament or learning how Poland and Britain are actively assisting Ukrainian refugees through conversations with the British Ambassador to Poland and the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Due to the difficult situation in Europe, particularly in Ukraine, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland (APPGP) organised a delegation of UK Parliamentarians to visit Poland and learn about the perspectives of Polish parliamentarians and other officials, as well as how the country has been affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. During their trip, the MPs met with Ukrainian refugees, aid organisations, British soldiers stationed in Poland, and other key interlocutors.

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All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland AGM

On 7th June 2022, the APPG on Poland hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was organised to foster a good relationship between Poland and the UK and promote the Polish community’s contribution to the UK and bilateral trade. The Ambassador of Poland to the United Kingdom, HE Piotr Wilczek, addressed the guests with a speech on British-Polish cooperation and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Annual General Meeting was opened by Daniel Kawczynski MP, who, throughout the meeting, highlighted the importance of strengthening British-Polish relations, especially in the context of Brexit. The commencement was followed by an officers’ election of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland, during which new potential members had a chance to register.

A trip to Poland has been announced, which will take place at the beginning of the Summer Recess (21-24th July). During the APPG delegation to Poland, UK Parliamentarians will have the chance to meet Polish Parliamentarians and governmental officials in order to understand the Polish perspective on the Ukrainian crisis.

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Annual General Meeting and a Talk with the Polish Ambassador

The AGM of the APPG on Poland took place on the 22nd of March. It opened up with the elections – Daniel Kawczynski MP has been re-elected as Chairman, and Lord Rogan, Viscount Waverley, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Martin Vickers, Robert Halfon, Bob Stewart, Rupa Huq, Andrew Slaughter and Lord Panteg were elected and re-elected as Officers. The Members of the APPG also celebrated increasing the group’s membership to 80, making APPG on Poland one of the biggest groups in Parliament.

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The New Chapter – Post-Brexit relations between Poland and the UK

Recent events may cause significant changes for the UK and for Polish-British relations. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic occurred just after the UK departed from the structures of the European Union. Due to Brexit, Poles in the UK will have to face new challenges in the introduction of new legislation. A significant increase in the migration of Poles from the UK to Poland is also noticeable. At the same time, the UK remains an important foreign partner for Poland, which whom we share common interests and points of view on many international issues in the European and global dimension. We invite you to read the interview with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St. James’s, Prof. Arkady Józef Rzegocki.

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The state of Polish-British trade before Brexit

Poland and Britain’s relations are characterised by a long and harmonious cooperation. Both countries traditionally have had good political and economic relationships. Recently, Britain and Poland were celebrating the 100th anniversary of their mutual diplomatic relations. In 1918, Marshal Józef Piłsudski sent an official, diplomatic letter stating that Poland had become an independent state in the international arena. A year later, in July 1919, diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Poland were officially renewed. London and Great Britain were always very important allies for Poland. Great Britain was one of the first countries which gave its support to the newly formed Poland. Over the years, the friendship between Great Britain and Poland were developed and strengthened, especially during important historical events such as the Second World War. Later this was further amplified throughout the period of the political transformation and peaceful revolution in 1989 which resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2004, Poland become an EU member, and this further intensified the cooperation between London and Warsaw.

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Discussions with Polish Minister Anna Maria Anders

On the 23rd of March 2017 the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland met Polish Minister Anna Maria Anders, the Plenipotentiary of the Prime Minister for International Dialogue. The London-born Senator Anders is Poland’s representative to the Women in Parliaments Global Forum. She is also the daughter of General Wladyslaw Anders, a Polish World War II hero.

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AGM March 2017

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Poland met on 20th March 2017 and held its Annual General Meeting. All the main officers were re-elected – Daniel Kawczynski MP (Conservative) as Chairman, Paula Sherriff (Labour) as Deputy Chairman and Gavin Robinson (DUP) as Secretary. We are thankful to all those MPs who cast their vote. The group currently has 54 Members and aims to increase the number in the upcoming year.

The group declared that their main plans for the upcoming months are the organisation of the Polish Day in the Parliament, the Trip to Poland in May, a monthly newsletter being sent out to MPs with key information about recent events in Poland and of the Polish community in the UK. The group is also planning to record video interviews in order to promote the British-Polish cooperation.