In July, the Chatham House in London and the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) jointly organised the Polish-British Belvedere Forum. The Belvedere Forum is an annual conference aiming at establishing a dialogue between Polish and British counterparts from a variety of fields.
The event was attended, among many others, by distinguished policymakers, leaders of the civil society, entrepreneurs and academics. The event’s main objective was to strengthen the partnership between Poland and Great Britain by exploring possible cooperation opportunities from the political, economic, social and cultural perspectives. Guest speakers from both countries shared their insights on the most important topics relevant to both countries through debates and discussions.
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British Ambassador to Poland and the Polish Ambassador to the UK opened the Belvedere Forum
In their opening remarks, both ambassadors acknowledged the war in Ukraine as a significant security threat in Europe. They also praised the coordinated efforts of both countries to provide aid to Ukraine.
“I think it is absolutely significant that Poland and the United Kingdom have stood up together as two leaders in support of Ukraine. They are working together and standing up against the brutality of the unprovoked aggression of Russia in Ukraine”, said HE Anna Clunes, the British Ambassador to Poland.
Poland and the United Kingdom have not only provided coordinated military support, especially within NATO, but also both countries worked closely together on humanitarian response to the crisis, which has been noted by the speakers as a successful example of cooperation between the two countries. HE Anna Clues highlights that it has been a privilege to see the Polish response to the war and the “generosity of the Polish society in welcoming Ukrainians”.
The Ambassador of Poland to the UK, HE Piotr Wilczek, said that the United Kingdom and Poland are “like-minded countries in numerous areas of cooperation”, which creates a strong foundation for a successful partnership. Ambassador Anna Clues mentioned economic security and energy security as two goals for the UK-Polish cooperation, which will be developed in the future beyond the already firmly established trade and cultural relationships.
HE Piotr Wilczek also acknowledged the impact of the over one mln members of the Polish diaspora in the UK. He mentioned that “a strong and tightly-knit Polish community” greeted him in all the places he visited in the UK. The subject was later discussed by Prof Anne White, Magda Harvey, Aga Dychton and Barbara Drozdowicz during a discussion on “The role of the Polish diaspora in the UK”, which acknowledged the value of the Polish community residing in the British Isles.
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Speaker panels on key challenges tackled by Poland and the UK
Security policy in the context of the war in Ukraine, which strongly resonated with the guests’ perception of the need to cooperate between Poland and the United Kingdom, was the most discussed topic during the forum. During a discussion on „Poland, UK and Ukraine”, Prof Przemysław Żurawski vel Grajewski and Angus Lapsley agreed that „Poland’s and UK’s moral obligation to do whatever we can to help Ukraine”. Speakers also agreed that ensuring military support for Ukraine is necessary for upholding the security of the Baltic region.
The discussions on the implications of the war in Ukraine continued during breakout sessions on the geopolitical shocks and businesses, the future of the Nordic-Baltic region after the war in Ukraine and the role of the civil society in providing help to Ukrainians.
During a plenary session on the “Young people and social activism in Poland and UK”, the audience heard from Cllr Mete Coban from My Life My Say, Maciej Antosiuk from Projekt Ursynów, Magdalena Turowska from the Pilecki Institute and Pegah Moulana from Youth and Environment Europe. The speakers compared the civil society landscapes in Poland and the UK, outlining the similarities and differences in values between the two countries.
The panellists praised the Polish support of Ukrainian refugees, who acknowledged that Poland stepped up to the challenge in an unprecedented civil movement. Healthcare, education and sustainable living have been identified as the most important topics concerning the Ukrainian refugee influx to Poland.
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The final plenary session covered the subject of „Poland, UK and the Future of the West”. During the session, a panel of speakers discussed their understanding of „the West” and engaged in a heated debate on whether it is still a useful concept. Prof Marek Cichocki said that the Polish perspective of „the West” is rooted in the history of the XXth century. He explained that „what has happened during the WWII and the fact that the West had to accept the Soviet power constitutes the polish experience and the polish understanding that the West is always ambivalent”.
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The event concluded with final remarks by the Co-Chairs, Prof Zdzisław Krasnodębski and Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Sir Robin Rifkind received a Polish sword from Dr Sławomir Dębski representing PISM as a symbol of appreciation.
Author: Marta Kakol
Pictures: Marta Kakol, British Poles
Marta has recently graduated from Utrecht University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Her interdisciplinary education allows her to apply multiple perspectives to complex political issues. She vocalizes her interest in public affairs in a multitude of ways, from journalistic writing to organising speaker events. She hopes to gain funding for her Master’s in Politics Research at the University of Oxford in 2022.
