If we look at that question through Nice and the European Constitution then I am really worried. The strong countries of Europe seem to have forgotten about the principle of subsidiarity and have begun to think about their own interests. On the other hand, if Europe denies truths so obvious as the role of Christianity in the cultural identity of Europe, then my natural optimism is transformed into pessimism about the further development of our continent. I refuse to run as a candidate for the European Parliament because it is time young people to get involved - says Senator Dorota Simonides. całość...

I expect very low voter turnout in the elections – particularly in the countryside - and that means that Polish agriculture may not be represented in the European Parliament. Let us remember that over 40 percent of the European Union’s budget is absorbed by the common agricultural policy. If farmers want to have a significant voice in that pool, that have to vote for representatives of the Polish countryside. If not for representatives from Polish Peasants` Party (PSL) then for others who have not yet betrayed the Polish countryside. Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (PSL) has and will not betray it - saying Eugeniusz Kłopotek, deputy for the PSL, observer at the European Parliament. całość...

As a result of the Round Table meetings, which gathered both communists and the opposition, the first principles were established, but only partly free elections. They took place June 4, 1989. The majority of seats in the Sejm were taken by communists but 100 percent of the mandates in the Senate fell to the opposition. Tadeusz Mazowiecki was selected Prime Minister, a journalist and opposition activist. The office of President was reserved for General Wojciech Jaruzelski – the author and executor of Marshal Law on December 13, 1981. In 1990 the nation elected Lech Wałęsa (leader of Solidarity movement) chief of state. A two-chamber parliament (Sejm - 460 deputies and Senate - 100 senators) includes several functioning political parties. całość...

Among Poland’s most crippling problems are the countryside and agriculture. The farming census included 10.5 million people (27.4 percent of the general population) who – together with family members – are connected to the land and agriculture. Polish farming is particularly fragmented and over-populated. Barriers to an improvement in the agrarian structure are unemployment and very limited opportunities for income outside of agriculture. całość...

The matter of strategic importance is Poland’s complete dependence on raw imports of energy from Russia: gas and oil. Attempts to diversify these resources were made until 2001 and then completely abandoned by the SLD government. The potential consequences of this situation were demonstrated by Russia’s recent decision to cut off gas supplies to Belarus, which automatically affected Poland. According to the vice-minister of the economy, Krzysztof Krystowski, the interruption in gas supplies on February 19 brought losses to Polish firms in the amount of $1.5 million. całość...

The latest research reveals that Poles most positively evaluate Americans (56 percent), followed by Italians (54 percent), Czechs (47 percent), Brits and Swedes (44 percent each). Poles reserve their dislike for Gypsies (61 percent), Arabs (60 percent), Romanians and Ukrainians. Attitudes towards the Germans are divided. Nearly the same percentage of society evaluates them positively (36 percent) as negatively (38 percent). Equally disliked are the French. całość...

The establishment of independence is a crucial task for each state. I think that a strong, firmly standing Ukraine is in the interest of the Republic of Poland. Our successes, in turn, are celebrated in Poland because they are inspiring. I assert that Warsaw could still do much for Kiev. It is key that the Ukraine have its “Ambassador” in the EU, a friendly country that can preserve the conviction in Brussels that the expansion process should be open and uninterrupted. Poland politely reminds others of the position, meaning and intentions of Ukraine - says Ihor Charczenko, Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland. całość...

Polish independence came too late for a majority of emigrants. Those people who had been tested in battle saw their purpose in raising the torch of freedom and remembered their country as it was before the war. Today’s Poland is foreign and incomprehensible, which is understandable. They were also unable to divest themselves of mistrust towards those who grew up in the PRL and – it was believed – who had to swallow the accompanying ideology. całość...

Beksiński was born in 1929 in Sanok. He was renowned Polish painter, photographer and fantasy artist. From 1947-1952 he studied in the architecture department at the Polytechnic in Kraków. Beksiński was interested in artistic photography, abstraction painting and drawing. In 1999 the Historical Museum prepared the largest retrospective exhibition by the artist at the castle in Sanok. The museum also possesses the richest collection of Beksinski`s work. On 21 February 2005 he was found dead in his flat in Warsaw with 17 stab wounds on his body. His murderer received sentence 25 years in prison. całość...