Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)

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Contents

[edit] Structural organisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

Foreign affairs administration covers

  • Poland’s relations with other states and international organizations,
  • representation and protection of interests of the Republic of Poland and of Polish nationals and legal persons abroad,
  • cooperation with Poles living abroad,
  • promotion of the Republic of Poland abroad.

The Minister

  • as a member of the Council of Ministers is responsible for foreign affairs administration,
  • is a head of the foreign service,
  • establishes foreign missions,
  • with due regard to statutory competences of the Committee for European Integration, coordinates activities of other state institutions and bodies acting in the field of relations with foreign countries.

Secretary of State and Under-Secretaries of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  • operate within their respective remits laid down by the minister,
  • in the minister’s absence, they deputize for him in consistence with their respective remits,
  • acting within their respective areas of responsibility, they set out tasks for the ministry’s structural units and Polish diplomatic missions.

Political Cabinet of the Minister

  • acts as an advisory body of the minister,
  • expresses opinions on the minister’s orders.

Secretariat of the Minister

  • renders services to the minister pertaining to his cooperation with public administration bodies,
  • provides secretarial and clerical attendance on the ministry’s leadership,
  • is in charge of the minister’s agenda, coordinating his visits and appointments.

Bureau of the Director-General

  • attends on the Director-General of the foreign service,
  • supervises organization and functioning of both the ministry and Poland’s foreign missions,
  • is in charge of lawmaking and ensures legal aid within the ministry,
  • is responsible for the exercise of scrutiny in the ministry and Poland’s foreign missions, notably for audit and internal scrutiny,
  • supervises the execution of public procurement in the ministry and Poland’s foreign missions.

Department of Strategy and Foreign Policy Planning

  • analyses the international environment of the Republic of Poland,
  • elaborates strategies of Poland’s activities on the international forum,
  • cooperates with scientific institutions,
  • drafts the minister’s exposés as well as reports setting out main Polish foreign policy objectives for the next year.

Department of the European Union

  • deals with Poland’s relations with the European Union,
  • elaborates strategy of Poland’s implementation of principal Community policies of the European Union,
  • provides assistance to representatives of the Republic of Poland participating in activities of the European Union’s intergovernmental institutions,
  • is responsible for the Minister’s cooperation with Sejm, Senate, political parties, local government bodies and non-governmental organizations with respect to matters relating to European integration,
  • coordinates the work pertaining to Poland’s participation in discussions on the future of the European Union,
  • analyses the activities of the Council of Europe and deals with matters connected with Poland’s membership of that organization,
  • is in charge of issues pertaining to European regional policy and cross-border cooperation.

Department of Security Policy

  • deals with security and defense-related issues, with due account of threats posed to security of Poland,
  • attends on the cooperation of the Republic of Poland with NATO, WEU and OSCE, as well as with the European Union with regard to the Common European Security and Defense Policy,
  • assists Poland’s representatives working on NATO projects,
  • is involved in conventional arms control,

assists representatives of the Republic of Poland engaged in pursuit of disarmament initiatives,

  • is responsible for the international cooperation of defense industries.

Department of Legal and Treaty Issues

  • watches over performance of the minister’s responsibilities ensuing from provisions on international agreements,
  • exercises supervision over the implementation of international agreements concluded by the Republic of Poland, in respect of the minister’s area of responsibility,
  • participates in negotiating international agreements,
  • opines on issues related to public and private international law,
  • keeps an archive of all texts of international agreements and related documents,
  • deals with human rights and ethnic minority-related issues,
  • provides extensive assistance to persons representing Poland before international human rights protection bodies.

Department of the United Nations System and Global Issues

  • is involved in Poland’s cooperation with organizations and organs of the United Nations’ system,
  • ensures assistance to Poland’s representatives in the disarmament-related work of UN bodies and organizations,
  • handles the issue of Poland’s participation in peacekeeping operations of the United Nations,
  • coordinates establishment of Poland’s positions with regard to global problems,
  • deals with cooperation for development.

Department of Foreign Economic Policy

  • helps work out guidelines for Poland’s external economic policy,
  • analyses main problems and trends in international economic relations,
  • evaluates the economic security of the Republic of Poland,
  • participates in projects undertaken in connection with Poland’s membership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and of the World Trade Organization.

Department of Europe

  • is engaged in Poland’s policy towards European nations and its cooperation with the said nations,
  • collects information on the political, economic, scientific and cultural situation in particular European nations,
  • is in charge of bilateral consultations and official visits,
  • exercises supervision of the work of Polish diplomatic missions in Europe.

Department of the Americas

  • is engaged in Poland’s policy towards nations of the Americas and its cooperation with the said nations,
  • collects information on the political, economic, scientific and cultural situation in particular American nations,
  • is in charge of bilateral consultations and official visits,
  • exercises supervision of the work of Polish diplomatic missions in the Americas.

Department of Asia and the Pacific

  • is engaged in Poland’s policy towards nations of Asia and the Pacific region and its cooperation with the said nations,
  • collects information on the political, economic, scientific and cultural situation in particular nations of Asia and the Pacific region,
  • is in charge of bilateral consultations and official visits,
  • exercises supervision of the work of Polish diplomatic missions in Asia and the Pacific region.

Department of Africa and the Middle East

  • is engaged in Poland’s policy towards nations of Africa and the Middle East and its cooperation with the said nations,
  • collects information on the political, economic, scientific and cultural situation in particular nations of Africa and the Middle East,
  • is in charge of bilateral consultations and official visits,
  • exercises supervision of the work of Polish diplomatic missions in Africa and the Middle East.

Diplomatic Protocol

  • is in charge of visits by heads of state and government as well as those by ministers of foreign affairs,
  • makes arrangements for audiences of foreign diplomats accredited to Poland with Polish top-level state officials,
  • makes arrangements for and provides catering services to diplomatic functions,
  • handles accreditation and exequatur of representatives of foreign states to Poland,
  • watches over the observance of diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities.

Department of Public Diplomacy

  • is in charge of promotion of the Republic of Poland abroad and elaborates appropriate strategies serving that end,
  • encourages contacts with various social groups in foreign countries, focusing on opinion-forming circles,
  • is responsible for creating a positive image of Poland abroad.

Department of Information System

  • is in charge of the system of storing, processing and circulating information within the Ministry and in Polish diplomatic missions,
  • prepares and disseminates information on Poland’s foreign policy,
  • cooperates with the media in conveying information regarding the work of the Polish foreign service,
  • handles accreditation of foreign correspondents.


Department of Consular and the Polish Diaspora Affairs

  • supervises the work of Polish consular offices and officers,
  • ensures protection of Poland’s rights and interests abroad as well as of those of Polish nationals and legal persons in foreign countries,
  • elaborates guidelines for cooperation with other nations in the field of movement of persons as well as visa, migration and asylum policies,
  • is involved in protection of rights of Polish communities abroad,
  • authenticates Polish documents meant for use abroad.

Archives

  • keeps and allows access to the ministry’s archival resources,
  • prepares historical documentation for the ministry,
  • establishes principles governing circulation of unclassified documents,
  • makes subscriptions for foreign press.

Bureau of Personnel and Training

  • is in charge of matters pertaining to employment contracts of personnel both in the ministry and in Poland’s foreign missions,
  • supervises observance of provisions of labor law in the ministry,
  • deals with employment policy of the ministry pertaining to Poland’s foreign missions,
  • handles matters related to old-age and disability pensions of the ministry’s employees,
  • supervises and coordinates periodical appraisals of employees’ performance,
  • provides attendance on the ministry’s disciplinary commission and keeps its archive,
  • organizes recruitment to the diplomatic and consular service,
  • runs professional training courses for employees and their families.

Bureau of Budget and Finance

  • provides financial and book-keeping services to the ministry,
  • elaborates a draft of the ministry’s budget, supervises its execution and draws up a report on its implementation,
  • administers financial resources allocated for the maintenance of Polish diplomatic and consular missions,
  • is in charge of matters related to salaries, wages, income tax and social security premiums of the ministry’s employees.

Bureau of Administration

  • is in charge of State Treasury property abroad administered by MFA,
  • handles investment projects and property repairs in Poland’s missions abroad,
  • ensures provision of necessary equipment and materials.

Bureau of Information Technology

  • is responsible for the operation of a single IT system designed for both the ministry and Poland’s diplomatic and consular missions,
  • ensures functioning of worldwide IT networks within the ministry and is in charge of external data bases,
  • keeps the ministry and Polish missions abroad supplied with computer hardware and software,
  • runs refresher courses in new information technologies.

Bureau of Diplomatic Security

  • ensures protection of classified information within the ministry and in Poland’s missions abroad,
  • is responsible for the vetting procedures applicable to applicants and employees of the ministry including those on post abroad; in its discharge of the said duties the Bureau
  • cooperates, if a necessity arises, with appropriate Polish state security agencies,
  • provides secretarial and clerical support both to the ministry and Poland’s missions abroad with respect to handling documents containing classified information,
  • is in charge of the diplomatic mail,
  • runs training in defense-related matters.

Bureau of Communications

  • is responsible for the operation of the ministry’s communications system used for transmission of unclassified and classified information,
  • ensures functioning of contingency communications system at a time of a politico-military crisis or armed conflict,
  • keeps the ministry and Poland’s foreign missions supplied with classified information-processing and transmission equipment,
  • is in charge of the ministry’s communications centers in Warsaw.

Maintenance Services Unit

  • administers property placed under the jurisdiction of the ministry,
  • keeps the ministry’s buildings and facilities in good repair, pursuant to the relevant regulations,
  • takes care of the ministry’s vehicles, office equipment and other movable property,
  • keeps the ministry supplied with necessary equipment and materials,
  • provides catering services to official conferences, meetings and visits,
  • keeps the ministry’s outpatient dispensary operational.

[edit] Structural units subordinate to or supervised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Embassies

  • represent the Republic of Poland in receiving states,
  • protect interests of the Republic of Poland and of Polish nationals and legal persons – in accordance with international law and laws of receiving states,
  • encourage promotion of Poland,
  • conduct negotiations with governments of receiving states,
  • transmit to the appropriate authorities of the Republic of Poland lawfully obtained information on the conditions, developments in and activities of receiving states,
  • foster friendly relations between the Republic of Poland and receiving states.

Diplomatic missions to international organizations

  • represent Poland’s interests within those organizations,
  • protect interests of the Republic of Poland and of Polish nationals and legal persons – in relations with organizations,
  • maintain communications between the Republic of Poland and organizations,
  • ensure Poland’s participation in the activities of organizations,
  • conduct negotiations both with organizations themselves and within their structural frameworks,
  • transmit to the appropriate Polish authorities information on activities performed by organizations,
  • support pursuit of principles and objectives adopted by organizations.

Consular offices

  • protect interests of the Republic of Poland and of Polish nationals and legal persons – in accordance with international law and laws of receiving states,
  • lend support to development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between the Republic of Poland and receiving states,
  • issue passports and travel documents to nationals of the Republic of Poland as well as visas to persons who wish to visit Poland,
  • provide assistance to Polish nationals in receiving states,
  • discharge the duties of both a notary public and a registrar as well as act in an administrative capacity,
  • protect interests of Polish nationals in matters related to property inheritance,
  • transfer judicial and non-judicial documents,
  • provide assistance to Poland’s aircraft and seagoing vessels.

Polish institutes

  • disseminate information about the Republic of Poland, its history, culture, science, tourist attractions, domestic and foreign policies as well as economic and social transition,
  • project a good image of Poland by focusing on the country’s cultural and artistic output and teaching Polish as a foreign language,
  • are supportive of communities living in receiving states that are concerned with Poland-related issues,
  • support cultural, educational and scientific cooperation between the Republic of Poland and receiving states,
  • maintain contacts with Polish artists and scientists living in receiving states.

The Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw

  • conducts research into international relations and prepares expert analyses and surveys in the above-mentioned field,
  • runs professional training for persons acting in the domain of international relations and foreign policy,
  • keeps specialist libraries and scientific documentation,
  • runs a publishing house.

The Western Institute – Zygmunt Wojciechowski Memorial Institute in Poznań

  • conducts research into Polish-German relations,
  • studies German history and follows political, social and economic developments in the Federal Republic of Germany,
  • conducts research into the history and present day of the Polish western and northern territories in the perspective of Polish-German relations,
  • collects relevant literature and scientific documentation,
  • runs a publishing house.

The Institute of Central-Eastern Europe

  • conducts research into the history and present-day political, social and economic situation of Central-Eastern European nations,
  • deals with the cultural and religious heritage of Central-Eastern European nations,
  • applies historical and present-day perspectives to its analyses of Europe’s integration processes,
  • follows the social, economic and cultural development of Poland’s eastern borderland,
  • collects relevant literature and scientific documentation.

Diplomatic Academy

  • trains prospective members of the Polish foreign service;
  • provides lifelong education to members of the Polish foreign service and other public administration officers as well as employees of institutions acting on the international scene,
  • runs specialist courses in international relations,
  • runs foreign language courses,
  • holds seminars and conferences,
  • runs publishing projects.


[edit] History

[edit] Former Ministers of Foreign Affairs

[edit] Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Poland (1916-1918)

[edit] Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 2nd Republic of Poland (1918 - 1939)

[edit] Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Polish Government in Exile (1939 - 1945)

[edit] Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Poland (1944 - 1989)

[edit] Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 3rd Republic of Poland (since 1989)

[edit] External links

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