We share a common history, values and the same objectives. Doing business with Europe is a natural step for Canada – said Daniel Costello, Ambassador of Canada to the EU and former Ambassador of Canada to Poland, during a study visit of the Polish group. I’m not an economist, but the purpose of the agreement is clear: we want to create stable business conditions, find new trade partners and thus create new jobs - he added. Study visit concerning the CETA agreement was organised by the Delegation of the European Commission in Poland for Polish entrepreneurs, scientists and foreign trade experts. Marcin Rau, the CIR’s analyst participated in the meeting. 

We were invited to attend a high-level workshop in Brussels, held as part of a Demos project on populism and political, social and economic trends in the European Union. The event brought together leading European scholars, policy-makers and journalists for a lively and solutions-focused debate. CSM was represented by Agnieszka Ostrowska, Centre’s strategic programmes coordinator. The workshop began with presentations from Demos and its five research partners in Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and Poland on their national case studies, as well as exclusive new polling that has been undertaken with YouGov to support qualitative analysis. 

Russian aggression in Ukraine was a serious illustration that emerging powers strive to change international order. In fact we have witnessed, in recent years, more assertiveness from the rising “Rest” and the construction of an alternative world system. This brings more risks for global peace and stability and is a grave challenge to the Western powers. The changes in the international system in recent years - scrutinizing moves to set up parallel global institutions, norms and regulations by emerging powers – show two possible reactions of the West. A compromise would be the only sustainable way to avoid growing divisions. Although this will not be easy, the alternative – confrontation – is only worse - writes Patryk Kugiel in his analysis entitled New world order or disorder?

"The pro-Kremlin media attack personally people who investigate pro-Kremlin trolls" - said Jessikka Aro, Finish investigative journalist during the conference “Future of Transatlantic Security” organised in Tallinn (Estonia) by the European Liberal Forum. "What is particularly dangerous are the stories which find their way into the mainstream media. Therefore, the short-term strategy that should be implemented to defend against pro-Kremlin disinformation, should be to liaise with the mainstream media and inform them about disinformation" - said Antoni Wierzejski, Centre for International Relations' analyst. He moderated a panel entitled "Propaganda and Information War in the EU: Are We Doing Enough?".

Poland has a good economic tie-up with the UK — it’s our third trade partner after Germany and the Czech Republic. If Brexit is a reality, Poland also wants to use it positively for ourselves, for our economy. The Polish government expects some companies to move from the UK to Poland — financial companies, service companies. We are trying to encourage tie-ups between Polish companies and British and foreign companies that are in the UK, and the best would be for us to convince some of them to move to Poland as a European hub - said dr Małgorzata Bonikowska in a comment for "Gulf News" - the biggest selling English newspaper in the UAE. 

Economic and financial stability in Europe is a common good, which becomes fragile nowadays. European societies blame political elites for this uncertainty. "More Europe" doesn't work anymore, but perhaps "Better Europe" will - if we take advantage of the present crisis to fix what is not working properly - said dr Małgorzata Bonikowska, president of the Centre for International Relations, at a Warsaw Security Forum panel “New post-crisis approaches on how to improve financial stability and economic security in Europe”. Amongst noble speakers there were: Marek Belka, f. Prime Minister of Poland, Ralf Jansen, General Counsel, Member of the Management Board, European Stability Mechanism and Michał Krupiński, President of the Board, PZU. The debate was moderated by dr Paweł Wojciechowski, f. Polish Minister of Finance.

Those last years there were some important disagreements between the USA and Israel, especially on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the Iranian nuclear deal, which was the major crisis in Israeli-American relations. Despite these disagreements, highly important security and defence issues remain untouchable – both countries still cooperate in this matter - said experts during the CIR debate "Israel and its place in the international order" organised in the frame of the discussion series "World: Inspirations". The experts during the debate were: Bogdan Klich, dr Wojciech Szewko, prof. Eytan Gilboa, prof. Amtzia Baram, dr Jerzy Wójcik, Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, dr Maciej Kozłowski, Piotr Puchta. The moderators of the debate were Eugeniusz Smolar and dr Małgorzata Bonikowska.