Europe on Edge: Building Strategic Communication on the European Union in Poland

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A Case Study from Polish Districts

The Europe on Edge project was carried out by the Res Publica Foundation between 2023-2024. It consisted of: meetings with local leaders in four district cities Przemyśl, Radom, Elbląg and Sosnowiec with polarised political identities, an accompanying podcast and the following report.

As our interviewees and interlocutors pointed out, there are no nationwide formats to map and connect local leaders, which would enable a conversation about the role of locality in the EU. There are no spaces or formats to talk about the implementation of EU directives at the local level, with the presentation of concrete solutions from Poland and other EU countries.

There is a noticeable lack of discourse regarding the European Union itself, particularly in Poland. Prior to the accession referendum held in 2003, public debate centred around whether or not Poland should join the EU. This discourse explored both the advantages and disadvantages of membership, as well as offered a broader reflection on the extent to which Polish society identified with Europe. In the 2003 referendum, a majority voted in favour of the accession, and Poland officially became an EU member in 2004.

In 2024, marking Poland’s 20 anniversary of EU membership, the conversation about the EU’s role and significance in our lives appears to have faded. What does the EU represent for Poland today? Do we perceive ourselves as active contributors to the European project, or do we view the EU, and specifically Brussels, as an external entity imposing decisions upon us? Furthermore, what role can local leaders and communities play in revitalising this conversation and contributing to the co-creation of the European Union’s future?

By animating discussions on democracy in Poland, we have created local platforms for the exchange of ideas that increase the involvement of an active civil society.

Today, the Europe on Edge project ends. But the discussion about Europe from the perspective of Polish district cities continues within the podcast series as well as our various formats – discussions, workshops and texts. Please visit our website: https://publica.pl/programy/europa-na-krawedzi.

Download the report

Editorial

On the eve of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Polish government needs a coordinated communication strategy on Europe, and in particular the European Union.

An element of developing the Polish story about the EU should be the use of existing structures and networks outside of academic circles. This is the main recommendation for convincing the Poles about the sense of European integration stemming from our report.

Moreover:

• European issues should be placed in the context of local issues, going down to the commune level.

• The basic task must be to counteract disintegration and social divisions.

• Communication activities must be engaging for local leaders.

• Communication must take into account the practical effects of meetings from the point of view of the problems of participants on the spot.

• European communication should be based on lively centres of local activity.

• The aim should be to connect and create a network of cooperation of local leaders of this subject throughout Poland.

• A pop-culture TV format should be created that combines the above-mentioned environments and raises the status of local activities, e.g. Europa da się lubić – remake.

• A talk show about Polish perspectives on Europe should be launched on Polish Radio with the voices of people from outside large urban centres.

Authored by Dr Anna Kuczyńska, this report presents eight recommendations based on the experience of meetings with social leaders from four district towns where no party dominated the 2023 parliamentary elections and interpretation of existing sources.

I highly recommend reading it and invite you to discuss our project.

Wojciech Przybylski
President of Res Publica Foundation
Editor-in-Chief, Visegrad Insight

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