100 posts
Fanning the flame of conspiracy theories
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THE editor-in-chief of Poland's leading conservative newspaper, Rzeczpospolita, has left his job after publishing an inaccurate report that explosives were found in the remains of the plane that crashed and killed Polish president Lech Kaczynski...
P and S v. Poland: adolescence, vulnerability, and reproductive autonomy
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The Strasbourg Observers are delighted to publish this guest post by Johanna Westeson, Regional Director for Europe, Center for Reproductive Rights. The Center for Reproductive Rights represented the applicants in P and S v. Poland before the ECtHR;...
Polish Banks Seen Tightening Credit
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The Polish central bank expects the country's commercial banks to tighten lending conditions further for consumers and businesses in the fourth quarter because of a deterioration in both the economic outlook and their portfolios.
Poland's Return to Capitalism
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My book 'Poland's Return to Capitalism' has recently come out in a paperback version. ...
Blogging in Solidarity's shadow
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Three decades ago in Gdansk, Poles rose up and created a marvel - an independent trade union Solidarity that, after a decade of non-violent struggle, threw off the shackles of communism. Today, the country is part of the European Union and has create...
Poland Leads World’s Business Reformers
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Six of the top 10 reformers in Doing Business 2013 are TOL countries – and Poland is top dog worldwide...
Polish Oil Firm’s Shares Jump on Dividend Hopes
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Shares in Polish oil firm PKN Orlen SA jumped as much as 2% Thursday after its chief financial officer said the company’s management was seriously considering recommending a dividend payout from 2012 net profit, after years of not paying any.
Poland's Left-Wing Voices Being Silenced
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Agata Pyzik has written an interesting article for the Guardian's Comment is Free on the lack of a strong left-wing voice in public debate in Poland: After 1989, eastern Europe was supposed to join the club of so-called "normal countries". Fro...
Spotkanie robocze Deutsches Kompensations Forum dotyczace Dyrektywy Obronnej – dyskusja o przyszlosci umow offsetowych.
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W dniach 24-25 wrzesnia br. mialem przyjemnosc uczestniczyc w spotkaniu Niemieckiego Forum Offsetu (Deutsches Kompensations Forum, w skrócie DKF), które odbylo sie w Dreznie. Tematem przewodnim mojej prezentacji w czasie spotkania bylo...
Investing in Poland
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The Polish Embassy in London threw its doors open to the Wednesday Club of the Institute of Directors (and a couple of journalists, including me) this evening, to promote investment opportunities in Poland. The country has much to be proud of, having...
Poland's leftwing voices are being silenced | Agata Pyzik
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The sacking of Przekrój's left-leaning editors is the latest in a narrowing of public debate to the neoliberal viewpointAfter 1989, eastern Europe was supposed to join the club of so-called "normal countries". From now on, we were told, there would...
Czy Polska Tarcza Antyrakietowa potrzebuje specustawy?
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Wraz z podpisaniem przez Prezydenta RP Bronislawa Komorowskiego projektu ustawy o zmianie ustawy o przebudowie i modernizacji technicznej oraz finansowaniu Sil Zbrojnych RP, projekt Polskiej Tarczy Antyrakietowej staje sie coraz bardziej realny. Pyta...
Refugees in Poland on Hunger Strike
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Over seventy people continue a hunger strike in polish detention centers.Below is a statement from the website supporting the strikersFacebook group herePart of the detainees claim they lack competent legal support or interpreting services, which se...
Polish Shale Chatter: Oil Majors Dig In
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Two oil majors with shale gas concessions in Poland--ConocoPhillips and Chevron--are taking actions which industry watchers are interpreting as a commitment to the sector in the central European country, in sharp contrast to ExxonMobil, which has pul...
Details On Immigration To Poland
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Immigration to Poland has brought huge modifications in every aspect of the Polish local community. It has changed from simple giving of licenses to some more complex, very tight process of acquiring visas and citizenship.
Poland Says Euro Has Made Progress, Breakup Risk Not Gone
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Progress has been made over the past year toward a more integrated Europe, but it remains to be seen if leaders have enough political will to complete Europe's monetary union, said Marek Belka, governor of the National Bank of Poland.
Poland’s Jewish Museum Nears Completion
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Construction work at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews is almost finished, with the building set to open to the public in April next year, officials said Wednesday.
Zaporowa oplata od skargi na orzeczenie KIO – nowe perspektywy
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We wpisie z maja 2011 r. rozwazalismy, jak dlugo utrzymana zostanie „zaporowa” oplata od skargi do sadu na orzeczenie KIO, która moze wyniesc nawet 5 mln zl. Zostala ona wprowadzona nowelizacja Prawa zamówien publicznyc...
Rain Beats Poland in Warsaw
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Poland's new $550 million National Stadium has become a laughing stock after a World Cup qualifier was postponed because the stadium's roof, supposed to protect the pitch from rain, couldn't be closed--because it was raining.
When loyalty blocks climate action - Polish parliament pledges allegiance
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The Polish government has a sad reputation for adopting unilateral, even obscure approaches when it comes to our country’s energy policy. What now came as a very disappointing surprise is that the Polish parliament joined the opportunistic chorus o...
Poland Proposes Royalty Tax on Gas, Oil
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Poland's government proposed a new tax structure for its oil and gas sector Tuesday, which will be based on both the value of a given company's production volumes and its profits, with the total tax burden reaching 40% of gross profits.
Poland’s Data Cement November Rate Cut View
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Lower-than-expected Polish September consumer inflation sealed market expectations that the central bank will deliver on its promise and cut borrowing costs at its upcoming meeting in November.
Poland to Ease Rules to Boost Consumer Lending
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Poland's financial regulator will ease conditions for consumer and mortgage lending in order to stimulate borrowing amid an economic slowdown and to combat growth in the shadow banking sector, its head said Monday.
Meble do kuchni jak zakupić przez internet
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Kupienie szafek kuchennych jest przebiegiem zawiłym oraz pracochłonnym. Ktokolwiek kto chodź raz nabywał kolejne meble kuchenne internet wie ile to zaprząta czasu oraz nerwów, poruszanie się po salonach w poszukiwaniu salonu w jakim natrafimy...
Wymiana mebli kuchennych
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Wraz z upływaniem czasu w obrębie Warszawy zakładanych jest coraz to więcej salonów, w których istnieje możność nabycia szafek do własnej kuchni. Jest to toteż niezwykle ciekawe wyjście, dzięki któremu da się wybitnie wiele uzyskać. P...
Confidence please
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DONALD TUSK is one of the longest-serving prime ministers in Europe. His fans praise his steady, emollient style and the solid economic growth Poland has enjoyed under his stewardship. Foes blast sleazy, complacency and stagnation. Each year Mr Tusk...
In northern Poland, villagers are struggling against shale gas exploration that threatens to transform their lands and livelihoods.
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Shale gas exploration, or ‘fracking’, is on the rise, and is not without controversy with many concerned about its potential for environmental damage. In northern Poland, gas and oil exploration companies are increasingly making use of the techni...
Polish protests
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ANTI-GOVERNMENT protests at the weekend saw an estimated 50,000 demonstrators in the streets of Warsaw, under the slogan "Wake up, Poland". Most were supporters of Law and Justice, the biggest opposition party, which is eurosceptic and conservative o...
SLD’s Economic Programme Offers an Example for the European Left
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On the one hand austerity and on the other…. well what exactly?This is the dilemma that is posed for the left in Europe today. Is there a viable alternative to the policies of the neo-liberal right, who propose yet more cuts and liberalisation as a...
The new engine of Europe
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In Warsaw in mid-September, the German led "Future of Europe Group" announced its plans for the next political development of the European Union. Both in that moment and subsequent speeches, the driving force behind this development has not...
Polish Opposition to Attempt to Oust Prime Minister
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Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice party said Monday it would try to oust Prime Minister Donald Tusk this year in a vote of no confidence and proposed an academic without political experience to head a government that would slow the pac...
Polish Opposition’s Anti-Government Rally Draws Massive Crowd
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Tens of thousands of people marched through the center of the Polish capital Saturday in an antigovernment rally organized by the conservative opposition hoping to unseat the country's popular prime minister.
Z deszczu pod rynne – czyli nowa odslona art. 24 ust. 1 pkt 1b Pzp
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Jak juz informowalismy na naszym blogu, 14 wrzesnia br. Sejm uchwalil ustawe o zmianie ustawy – Prawo zamówien publicznych oraz ustawy o koncesji na roboty budowlane lub uslugi, która obecnie zajmuje sie Senat. Oprócz imple...
Sikorski in Oxford (again)
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A YEAR after his headline-grabbing speech in Berlin, in which he called for German leadership of Europe, Poland's foreign minister Radek Sikorski has launched another bold initiative. In a speech (pdf) near Oxford, he has blasted British Eu...
Joining the Chorus for Austerity
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The Wall Street Journal has recently turned its attention to Poland. Noting the economic slowdown that is occuring it concludes that public spending cuts and a reform of the labour code to make it easier to fire workers are needed for the country to...
Another case of alleged corruption in a CEE energy company
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Alleged corruption at Poland’s second biggest state-owned energy company ENEA S.A. may compromise yet another project financed by European public banks. We have seen a number of cases recently, where clients of the European Investment Bank and the...
Pułapka sześćdziesięciu procent
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W ciągu najbliższych dwóch lat dług publiczny przekroczyłby linię bezpieczeństwa – 55% PKB, a w 2015 r. osiągnął konstytucyjny limit 60%.W ten sposób minister finansów Jacek Rostowski odpowiedział na niedawną prezentację programu gos...
Obronnosc i dialog techniczny - kolejna wazna nowelizacja ustawy Prawo zamowien publicznych
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Jak informuje Urzad Zamówien Publicznych, dzisiaj Sejm uchwalil ustawe o zmianie ustawy – Prawo zamówien publicznych oraz ustawy o koncesji na roboty budowlane lub uslugi.
Procedures in Getting a Polish Citizenship
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The crucial point in submitting an application for a Polish citizenship is planning your Polish roots. The jus sanguinis law of the land otherwise known as the blood principle is the absolute policy of getting citizenship in Poland. On this law, it d...
Escaping the 60% Trap
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Within two years public debt would cross the safety limit of 55% of GDP and in 2015 the constitutional limit of 60%.This was the response of Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski to the recent presentation of the Law and Justice Party’s economic program...
Book review: 'Sawdust' by Krzysztof Varga
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In his spectacular 2008 volume of travel essays, Turul Goulash, the popular contemporary Polish writer reminded us that Hungarian blood also flowed through his veins. With his sixth and latest book 'Trociny', one might even accuse him of taking the '...
Poland’s Strategy
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By George Friedman Polish national strategy pivots around a single, existential issue: how to preserve it...
Poland must expand economic reforms to best weather EU crisis — President Komorowski
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Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has a five-point plan for economic reforms to help Poland better endure the European crisis as Poland must still fight to improve its own competitiveness within the EU while relying on&nb...
Relevant Polish passport Details for Applicants
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A Polish passport is a lawful file that is used to identify the holder, a polish citizen, throughout an international travel. It is given by the Polish government in order to prove that the one who owns the passport is a national and that he is entit...
Poland May Miss Deficit Targets
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Poland's Finance Minister Thursday said forecasting was currently as difficult as in the first phase of the global economic crisis in 2008-2009 and refrained from making a prediction for Poland's expected ratio of public deficit to economic output fo...
What do U2, Poland, the EU and social media have in common?
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In 2009, Poland was getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the transition from communism and the country’s subsequent accession to the European Union. Rafal Rudnicki and his colleagues from the European Commission’s office in Warsaw...
Poland Takes Step Toward Nuclear Energy
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Poland came a step closer to getting its first nuclear power plant, as four state-controlled companies signed a letter of intent to work together to build the reactor.
"The Gender Dimension of Austerity Policy in Poland" by Maria Skora
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In 2009, Poland was announced a survivor, untouched by the global financial crisis. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Finance Jan Vincent-Rostowski proclaimed it to be a “green island” in the sea of crisis on the basis of slight GDP grow...
"Youth Unemployment in Poland – Economic Growth is Not Enough" by Michal Polakowski
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Until recently, youth unemployment had received relatively little attention in Poland’s policy-making circles. However, since 2008 the youth employment situation has deteriorated considerably, even though Poland’s general economic indicators stoo...
Morning Briefing: Polish Inflation Expectations Poll Due
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Polish gross domestic product growth in the second quarter came in below expectations Thursday and data due Friday on the country's inflation outlook will provide further clues as to whether monetary easing by the central bank is on the cards.
Polish Missile Defense Plan Puts Poland First
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In an August 6, 2012 interview in the Polish weekly Wprost, President Bronislaw Komorowski stated that Poland is prepared to create its own anti-aircraft and missile defense system as part of a NATO shield. While some saw the statement as a rej...
No miracle cure
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IN JULY I went to my local hospital in Warsaw for a scheduled operation to remove a metal support pin from my once-broken leg. I checked in on a Tuesday. On the Wednesday morning, the doctor told me they had a glut of more urgent procedures to get th...
Poland’s secret CIA prisons
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THE outsourced torture sessions carried out here were supposed to make the suspected terrorists talk. Ironically, those who facilitated these tortures may now themselves be forced to talk. At least this is what the European Court of Human Rights dema...
Poland in “Baltic Dimension” of European Integration
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By Jan Nalepa In the end of this March the Minister of Foreign Affairs reported to the Sejm on the program “P...
The Shehyni-Medyka border post
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OUR correspondent crossed from Ukraine into Poland by foot at the busy Shehyni-Medyka border post, which is one of the crossings of the European Union's eastern border since the EU's enlargement in 2004. The pedestrian route is a recent add...
Moscow Patriarch Arrives in Poland for Landmark Visit
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Patriarch Kirill I began his visit to Poland, the first ever by a head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country once controlled by Moscow.
Poland Wants Missile Defense System of Its Own
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Poland should build its own missile-defense system, the country’s president said, adding to earlier signals that the country no longer plans to rely solely on security guarantees offered by the U.S.
Why the Russian Patriarch's visit to Poland is important for Europe
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Poland is rare among EU countries. It thinks and acts strategically and can reconcile its national interests with Europe's.
Poland’s Premier in Hot Water over Son’s Jobs
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A conflict-of-interest scandal that has embroiled the son of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is causing a political headache for the government.
Ambitious Acquisition Leaves Polish Firm’s Tongue Tied
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Polish copper miner KGHM Polska Miedz’s dramatic expansion abroad is proving to be a linguistic challenge for the Lubin-based company.
Polish Missile Defense Plan Puts Poland First
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Poland's pursuit of own its anti-aircraft and missile defense system will complement a U.S. proposed MD plan and strengthen Poland's role in the NATO alliance.
Some Notes on Poverty in Poland
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As part of another larger project I have been writing something about poverty in Poland. Below I include some notes on this topic.The graph below shows some clear trends in changing poverty levels in Poland.According to all the measurements of povert...
Golden deposit troubles in Poland
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The official rate in Poland is 4.75 per cent.Yet, across the Polish high street a slew of so-called ‘para-banks’, regularly offer interest rates in excess of 8 per cent....
Why Immigration to Poland is Beneficial
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Immigration to Poland might just be what you need to have even greater opportunities than you actually have where you presently reside. Once you are a Polish citizen, you are also automatically considered a European citizen. If you are heading from a...
Tadeusz Kowalik 1926 - 2012
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The life of the renowned Polish economist, Tadeusz Kowalik, spanned 10 decades and three economic and political systems. Tadeusz was born in the village of Kajetanówka in the south-east Lubelskie region of Poland. He was brought up in condition...
Poland’s Parliament Blocks Civil Unions Debate
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Poland’s parliament Tuesday rejected, without reading, proposed legislation to introduce civil unions, an indication that conservatives still dominate society here and a reflection of deeply-rooted skepticism towards same-sex partnerships.
Deeply divisive
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LATELY Poland has appeared as a rapidly modernising place, gradually less influenced by its old-fashioned Catholic clergy. The country now has one openly gay, one transsexual and two black MPs, which would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Sackings expose the harsh reality of Poland's junk jobs | Peggy Watson
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The dismissal of 25 workers from the Chung Hong factory for a legal strike highlights the price workers pay for Polish 'success'Twenty-five workers were sacked from Chung Hong Electronics – a Chinese company producing TV motherboards for LG in Pola...
Poland Welcomes Romney’s Visit
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Poland's government welcomed Mitt Romney's planned visit to the country in late July, when the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is set to meet the Polish leadership and former president Lech Walesa on a leg of his European tour.
Lithuanian Prime Minister to meet with Polish counterpart in Warsaw next week
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video Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius is going to Poland next week to meet with the country's Prime Minis...
Common Russian - Polish proclamation to be signed in August
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By Maria Nalewajko During a visit of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and whole Russia in August a Common Proclamation to...
Only Government Intervention Can Prevent a Post-Euro Slowdown
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Wersja Polska TutajSo Euro2012 is over. The stadiums have emptied, euphoria subsided, supporters gone home, fanzones dismantled and Spain departed with the trophy. The discussion about the merits and worth of hosting such a tournament will continue,...
Poland Less Shielded from Euro-Zone Crisis
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Poland's economy will slow in coming years as domestic factors shielding it from the euro-zone debt crisis weaken, the country’s central bank said Monday.
In Kiev, the Game Continues
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The European Football Championship in Kiev has given the Poles and Ukrainians much pride, if not in the performance of their teams, then in the new stadiums, airports, train stations, and highways built for the occasion.
Things You Ought to Be aware Regarding Polish Visa and Immigration Poland
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Immigration Poland stats have increased in number and folks indicated great pursuits in migrating to the country. Poland is one of the European union countries and provides cheaper labour when compared to rest. The nation is endowed with professional...
Top Reasons Why You Should Visit Poland
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Poland is a country located in central Europe. It is a country thought to have a rich historical background. Travelers like its diversity and boredom is obviously out of the question. Every town is rendered with some thing exclusive socially and also...
Civic Platform against the registered partnership
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The Civic Platform (PO) was supposed to accept the SLD (Democratic Left Alliance) and the Palikot’s Movement projects on registered partnerships. The deal, though unwritten, was about to apply in this parliamentary term. But I waited patiently...
Taking The Positives Out of Euro2012
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Recently I got into a conversation about Euro2012 with someone who is, well let’s say, from the other end of the political spectrum. It turned out we both had gripes about how our respective political camps were interpreting Euro2012. Her main comp...
Poland to Keep Safe Distance from Euro’s Banking Union
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Poland rushed head over heels to sign up for the euro zone's new set of fiscal rules last year out of fear it would be left out of Europe's more integrated core. But the latest proposal for fixing the euro, a banking union for the bloc, seems too rep...
Exploring Witkacy Project
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Tweet My Polish friend Jakup and his wife Anna started a few months ago a trip following famous Polish painter – Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz aka Witkacy : Intriguing and tragic person which makes what we do even more exciting. We not only trav...
Poland continues to oppose the European Union´s stupid zero carbon plan
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Poland is to be congratulated for standing against the European Union´s unrealistic, and downright stupid zero carbon plan, which - if adopted - will guarantee a permanent recession in this crisis ridden club of climate change alarmists. But what a...
Building risks in Poland
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All eyes are on Poland as it hosts the Euro 2012 football championships, but as SocGen analysts have already pointed out, there’s more than just football at stake here....
Poland: Obama's “Polish Death Camp” Gaffe Causes Controversy
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In the last days of May, a storm of controversy struck the Polish public opinion when the US President Barack Obama used the expression "a Polish death camp" rather than stating clearly that what he meant was a Nazi Germany-operated death camp on the...
Morning Briefing: Polish Rates Seen Steady on Cooling Economy
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Polish monetary policy is set to remain unchanged Wednesday due to the cooling European economy, while that slowdown is expected to weigh on Czech industrial output and trade surplus data.
