Minister for Civil fucieŲ

Agnieszka Buczynska

Warsaw,Į8J une2024.

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On December 13th, 2023,1 was appointed Minister for Civil Society and chairwoman of the Public Benefit Committee. The creation of the office of Minister for Civil Society is proof of the importance that Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government attaches to this area of public life.

My mission is to create conditions for the development of civil society so that its potential can be properly used for the good of both citįzens and the state. As part of an ongoing process of change, I would like to use experience and best practices from other European Union countries.

Face numerous crises affecting EU countries įn recent years (covlD-19 pandemic, climate change disasters, migration crises, war on the eastern flank of the European Union and NATO), the role of civil society as a factor of resilience to crisis phenomena has become crucial. Moreover, I believe that such an important issue of the development of civil society should be reflected during the Polish Presidency of the Councilof the European Union.

Therefore, in June 2025,1 plan to organize a conference on: Civil Society as a Crisis Readiness Factor in the Present EU. National solutions, opportunities, needs, challenges. Cooperation wįth the public sector and transnational civic cooperation.

I invite representatives of civil society, organizations and informal citizen movements, as well as public administration from EU member states to attend the event. Īhe conference will be preceded by a series of preparatory meetings to exchange experiences and views.

Īhe first one, with senior offįcials responsible for cooperation between public administration and various forms of civil society organizations and bodies in crises, will be held in February 2025inWarsaw. lts aįm will be to exchange experiences and to identify key challenges.

(+481 22 694 75 29 [email protected] www.sov. pllweb/oozvtek

Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Repub|įc of Poland Al. Ujazdowskie 1/3, 00-583 Warsaw, Poland

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Subsequently, the conference planned for June 2025will be preceded by expert meetings with experts from governmental and non-governmental structures.

Analysed institutįonal situation in the EU countries in terms of competencies concerning civil society is very different, therefore I address you as the body indicated by the Polish diplomatic institutions and would like to ask you to nominate representatives of your country to attend the February meeting of senior offįcials.

Because of this diversity of administrative structures and scopes of responsibility įn the European Union Member States, We propose a mįxed key: civil society and resįlience /crisis preparedness representative as We envisage the possibility of having two representatives of each country to attend the meeting.

ln Poland, there is The National Freedom lnstitute - a Centre for Cįvil Society Development. lt is responsible for supporting civil society, public benefįt activities, and volunteering and providing non-governmental organisations with content- related and financial support programmes. lf there are similar institutions and solutions in your country we look forward to associating.

It is important to gather representatives of institutions responsible for civil society and representatives of institutions whose competencies are closest to the topic of the meeting. The proceedings will be held in English.

Attached, please find a short survey to share insight into the general situatįon in your country. The answers will help us prepare the meeting substantively.

Please send your responses to both the letter and survey (in English) by July 26th, 2024 to the emaį l add ress: civi [email protected].

Should you require any additional information, please contact:

Ms. Marta Radosz ([email protected] mob. +48 783929 701), and Mrs. Magdalena Ruszkowska-Cieslak ([email protected] mob. +48 734tt7 968).

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Marek Krawczyk Under Secretary of State, Deputy for the Minister for Civil Society

(+48\ 22 694 7s 29 [email protected] www.gov.pllweb/pozWek

Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Al. Ujazdowskie 1/3, 00-583 Warsaw, Poland

Civil SocieŲ Department

Civil Society as a Crisis Readiness Foctor in the Present EU. Notionol solutions, opportunities, needs,

challenges. Cooperation with the public sector ond transnationol civic cooperation.

lnitial survey

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ln response to crisis phenomena such as the CoVlD-19 pandemic, the climate crisįs - natural disasters

resulting from climate change, the migration crisis, have good practices in the field of cooperation

between public administration and civil society and CSOs been developed in your country?

lf positive, please provide examples and share their description (e.g. link to respective website).

2.

Are there any institutional solutions in your country in the field of cooperation between public

administration and civil society in crises - legal regulations, institutions?

lf so, please provide examples and share their description (e.g. links to respective websites).

3.

Please indicate non-governmental organizations in your country that have experience in cooperation

with public administration in crises, and whose participation in the conference works would be

valua ble/suitable.

Please also briefly describe the type of experience the proposed organization has and provide its

contact details.

4.

Please indicate leading research centers or experts on the role of civil society in the area of resilience,

crisis management, etc. in your country.

(+48) 22 694 75 29 [email protected] www.gov.pllweb/pozvtek

Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Al. Ujazdowskie U3, 00-583 Warsaų Poland