Poland has actively participated in the EASTR in the past. The program of the European Days (JERTE) in Wroclaw in 2003 and the exchanges with the General Secretariat (SG) of the EASTR between 2009 and 2014 are evidence of this. The Polish Minister of the Interior opened the JERTE in 2003 in Wroclaw and the Voivod of Wroclaw received the participants. Over the years, the change of Polish governments has distanced Poland from the EASTR. Today, it is time to strengthen ties again. 

There is no doubt that Poland plays an important and strategic role in Europe. Its return to the EASTR will enrich the exchanges of experiences between colleagues. In addition, a new law on civil security has just been adopted and this is an area in which the State Territorial Representatives (STR) have a lot of expertise to share. Both voivods and prefects are STRs and constitute the territorial administration of the State. This is the deconcentrated administration. In the same territory, an elected official heads the decentralised territorial self-government.

In this context, several interviews were organised, on the one hand with the voivod Mariusz Frankowski and on the other hand with the marshal of the Mazovia region Adam Struzik. 

Given the composition of the EASTR delegation, interviews were also organised with the Belgian ambassador to Poland (Rik Van Droogenbroeck) and the French ambassador to Poland (Etienne de Poncins). To complete this diplomatic aspect of the mission, an interview with Rafał Siemianowski, Director of the European Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also took place in order to present the EASTR and to explain the strategic importance and interest of Poland's return to the association. 

For the EASTR, the delegation was composed of the treasurer of the association, member of the bureau, the governor of the Province of Antwerp, Cathy Berx, and a French member of the association's board of directors, Anne Azam-Pradeilles, honorary civil administrator, expert in administrative and territorial governance. Governor Cathy Berx was accompanied by her chief of staff, Peter Mertens.

The mission to Warsaw took place from Sunday 15 December to Wednesday 18 December 2024. During the mission, other meetings were held, as well as a visit to the beautiful city of Warsaw, full of both special and tragic history. 

We are convinced that the renewal of the membership of our Polish colleagues would be a very good thing for both Poland and the EASTR. We therefore hope to be able to welcome them again. 

Finally, a big thank you to the Belgian Ambassador and his team for the very good organisation of the mission.

 Wreath laying at the monument to the First Armoured Division of General Maczek (16.12.2024)

Meeting with the French Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Etienne de Poncins (16.12.2024)

Meeting with the Voivod of Mazovia, Mr. Mariusz Frankowski (17.12.2024)

Meeting with the Marshal of Mazovia, Mr. Adam Struzik, together with the Belgian Ambassador to Poland, Mr. Rik Van Droogenbroeck (17.12.2024)

Meeting with Rafal Siemianowski, Department of European Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (18.12.2024)

Visit to the POLIN Museum and the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw (15.12.2024)