Current events 

Polish engravings

A significant vernissage took place on Wednesday 20 January 2010, with work produced in the Graphic laboratory of the Krakow Educational Institution. The exhibition is hosted in the premises of the Center for Engraving and Graphic Arts "Hlios" which is located at Municipality of Neapolis in Thessaloniki. The opening was inaugurated by the Mayor of Neapolis, Mr. Nathanel Ladopoulos and was honored by the presence of the Polish professors of the Institute Mr. Jacek Zaborski and Mr. Marek Sajduk, as well as Mr. Xenis Sahinis, artistic director of the center and professor of Engraving and Graphic Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The exhibition presents works created by students and professors of the Polish laboratory. All the works were transported to Thessaloniki, after an invitation through the "Erasmus" European exchange program.
As Mr. Sahinis notes: "All the works have been produced with all the typical engraving techniques and this exhibition demonstrates the love and the large engraving tradition that exists in Poland". The show will last until the 6th of February. Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 17.00 - 21.00, Saturday: 11.00 - 13.00.

With great pleasure, we would like to welcome you on the Embassy of the Republic of Poland website, in Athens. We hope that your stay here will bring you closer to our country and encourage you to visit our place in the nearest future.

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European Council consensus on climate protection

Press statement

2009-11-03

Poland fully subscribes to the ambitious climate change goals as identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and endorsed by the EU. Poland expresses its satisfaction at reaching common and comprehensive EU negotiating position at the European Council meeting. We are convinced that the text adopted in Brussels on 30 of October 2009 gives the EU negotiators a strong mandate for the negotiation round in Barcelona and the forthcoming climate change summit in Copenhagen in December this year.

While preparing for the European Council Poland was paying a special attention to the European Council Conclusions of March 2009 stating that the EU's position on financing should be decided well in advance of the Copenhagen Conference, including also a decision on the principles of internal burden sharing among Member States. We are happy that the compromise has been reached and we can progress further the work on the details, in particular we note with satisfaction that capacity to pay of individual member States will be principal factor for the future burden-sharing.  

The position that the EU has reached on the global financing actions battling climate change is ready to be taken to Copenhagen as a valuable contribution to the global deal. However, before the end of the year 2012 (the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol), a considerable amount of financial resources is needed, in particular to support urgent adaptation needs of the developing countries with a priority given to Least Developed Parties. In this respect, Poland has decided to support the idea of the so-called fast track even though it is not an Annex II party, and thus is not obliged to provide financial support. Poland is also aware that even bigger efforts will be needed to address the financial challenge of climate change and is actively involved in working towards designing both the operational governance structure and the comprehensive global contribution key. Poland believes that all countries should participate in financing following the principle of their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Poland feels that the last Friday's agreement on the overall scale and distribution of financial support needed helps to build trust in relations with parties in the climate change negotiations process. Despite the differences in EU Member States' capabilities and national circumstances, the Council was able to reach a compromise. Poland believes that it proves that even the most difficult issues can be solved if we learn to listen to each others' concerns and address them in a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory manner. This approach should be carried forward into the global level. We hope that in Copenhagen the parties will be able to show as much of good will and commitment to work together as efficient as all the 27 Member States within the EU.

Poland also appreciates the approach applied to the surplus AAUs. This surplus has resulted from the shift towards the less emitting industry and from implementation of various policies and measures which set Poland and other countries on the right track to fulfill and surpass its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. These surpluses constitute a clear proof of our engagement in the long-term climate protection which inter alia enabled the decoupling of Poland's economic development from GHG emission levels over the last 20 years. Moreover, Poland intends to use these units in a climate friendly manner through the so-called greening mechanism of Green Investment Scheme and has already put forwards concrete proposals in this respect. The revenues from the sale of the surplus AAUs would be used exclusively to support the development and introduction of climate-friendly projects which would in turn lead to further emission reductions.

Poland believes that the EU must maintain its leadership but should be aware that we cannot achieve much if we are left alone with our commitments. To prevent the global temperature rise above 2 degrees Celsius and address the challenges of climate change there must be good will, mutual trust, ambitious goals and serious actions by all parties for now, up to and beyond Copenhagen.