On 18-19 May Stary Sacz became a place of debate on Polish-Hungarian relations, the existing cooperation between the two countries and ways to revive it through the prism of geopolitical conditions. The main topics of the event were joint activities in the field of economy, foreign policy, culture, security and social policy.

The Ada Sari Culture and Arts Centre and the Town and Municipality Hall in Stary Sącz hosted important figures of Polish and Hungarian politics and business, diplomats, representatives of local authorities, NGOs and experts from international scientific and analytical centers and think tanks. There were about 250 participants from Poland, Hungary and other countries of the region.

During the Forum there were 10 discussion panels and thematic workshops. The culminating point of the event was the plenary session "For the sake of better quality of life in Central Europe. Fundamentals of building a welfare state" with the participation of the Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński and the Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs of the Hungarian National Assembly Richárd Hörcsik. The Speaker of the Sejm emphasized that the system built on Christianity is the most important for our civilization. - I draw attention to the axiological area - the concept of freedom. 30 years ago we fought for it and we won it. Without freedom, including spiritual freedom, we cannot talk about some form of prosperity. The market without a soul is not just a game of who is to earn how much," said Marek Kuchciński.

In turn, President Hörcsik emphasized, echoing the words of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, that the Visegrad four cannot be ignored in the process of change and development of the European Union. - The future of Europe is Central Europe. It is worth recalling the words of the founding father of the Union, Robert Schuman, who said that either Europe will be Christian or it will not be - emphasised the Hungarian politician.

Stary Sącz, the host city of the 1st Forum, was not chosen by chance. The patroness of the city is the daughter of the King of Hungary - St Kinga, the 'mother' of Polish-Hungarian relations, which lasted almost a thousand years. - It is a place where the history of relations between both countries is very strongly felt and gives us a chance to draw on what was best in our history - assessed the Chairman of the Programme Council of the Economic Forum in Krynica, Zygmunt Berdychowski, co-organiser of the Forum.

During the first day of the Forum, outstanding individuals and institutions from Poland and Hungary who have contributed to the promotion of common values in Europe and the world, as well as influenced the development of cooperation and understanding between the two nations, were honored at a gala ceremony. The award for involvement in the grand undertaking: Europe of the Carpathians and efforts to promote the Via Carpatia cross-border investment was given to Sejm Speaker Marek Kuchcinski. - It is worth cooperating with Hungary, because one of the roots of our history of parliamentarism is the golden Hungarian bull of 1267. It granted privileges to the Hungarian nobility and later our nobility began to demand them from King Louis of Hungary, which took place in Kosice several decades later. We then created the Parliamentary Republic and the history of parliamentarism, about which John Paul II said: "from the Union of Lublin to the European Union." This is a recognition of the entire team that has been working for Carpathian Europe for many years," said the Speaker of the Sejm.

Consul General of Hungary Adrienne Körmendy was also awarded for all her work in strengthening Polish-Hungarian relations. Separate awards "Regio Tandem" were given to the representatives of cities and municipalities, who in a special way cooperate with their Hungarian and Polish counterparts, thus contributing to the strengthening of relations between Poland and Hungary. Honorable mentions were given to the Mayor of Krosno Piotr Przytocki and Ferenc Ruzsics the Mayor of Keszthely. It was in these cities that the best twinning projects were carried out.

In the agenda of the Forum there was also mentioned the parliamentary cooperation between Poland and Hungary. As Marshal Kuchciński assessed, its foundations were renewed. - We have been in the EU for 15 years, but the Polish-Hungarian cooperation started only four years ago. The Visegrad Group was active, but the effect was not there. We have been talking for many years about the need to build North-South communication in Central Europe, not just East-West. This needs to be made up. We want all Poles to benefit from the common goods of the European Union as much as others do.

Apart from panel discussions concerning, among others: investments in science, education and infrastructure, political community of interests of Warsaw and Budapest, ways of protecting common natural heritage of the Carpathian Mountains, benefits from international cooperation of towns and municipalities, exchange of experience in the field of direct and indirect investments in the regions, thematic workshops were also held, whose aim was to gain knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses of the initiatives carried out within the framework of Polish-Hungarian partnership towns. A musical dessert of the first day of the Forum was an artistic performance of Embassy Folk band.

The second day of the Forum was marked by debates on, among others, getting to know each other through culture, exchange of experiences on investments in the regions, ways of effective promotion of tourism, with the participation of special guest Tomasz Sakiewicz, and cooperation of both countries in the field of innovation.

On that day the Speaker of the Sejm visited Limanowa at the largest nearby War Cemetery 368 at Jabłońec where the participants of the battles for the hill fortified by the Russians were buried, among them the Hungarian colonel and hussar commander Othmar Muhr. There is also a Neo-Renaissance chapel-mausoleum named after him and a monument commemorating him, at which the Speaker of the Sejm laid flowers. The Mass at the papal altar in Stary Sacz and the concert of Jozsef Terek and Friends band followed.

The 1st Poland-Hungary Forum is a response to the need to create a meeting space for the international community of leaders of countries in the region, whose aim is to intensify investment, attract business, as well as support research and cultural exchange in Central Europe.

CIS

Photo: Lukasz Blasikiewicz