“Russian aggression against Ukraine and instability in the Middle East remind us that peace cannot be taken for granted,” said Poland’s Chargé d’Affaires, Monika Krzepkowska, during a reception she hosted to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May 1791, the second oldest in the world after that of the United States.
The Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Polish Mission in Madrid stressed that, in the face of an aggression such as the one Russia has been carrying out against Ukraine for five years, “we cannot say that this is not our war”. She added that “when Europe looks the other way, the risk posed by the adversary, whose aim is to frighten and divide, increases”. “Therefore”, she concluded, the EU’s response “must be collective”, as both in the EU and in NATO, cohesion is not a luxury but a strategic necessity.
Krzepkowska said that “Poland firmly believes in Europe”, to the point that “our national interest lies in building the European Union, not in regretting it”. She admitted that “Europe needs reforms”, but argued that “the future of the continent must be built on the foundations of the EU, not on its ruins“.
In this regard, the Polish diplomat expressed her gratitude to Spain for “understanding the challenges of the eastern flank and demonstrating this with its military presence in the region“. She also stressed that bilateral relations between the two countries are based on fluid political dialogue, solid trade, investor confidence and cooperation in international institutions.
In the economic sphere, after congratulating Spain on being “the 20th largest economy in the world”, the head of the Polish Mission said that her country “is an example of dynamism, resilience and economic success, the result of the hard work, determination and ambition of the Polish people”, adding that “Poland is the driving force behind the change of mindset in the EU in terms of defence and security”.
The reception dedicated a special space to ‘gastronomic diplomacy’, during which the transfer of the European Capital of Gastronomic Culture from Gdansk to Malaga was announced. Monika Krzepkowska also took the opportunity to present the new Polish wines and the caviar, of which Poland is the world’s second-largest producer.
The reception was attended by numerous ambassadors accredited to Spain; representatives of the Government — Maider Makua Garcia, Director of European Affairs in the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government — and of political parties, such as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the PP, Ildefonso Castro.
