Estonia and Poland

Bilateral relations

Poland recognised Estonia's independence on 31 December 1920 and re-recognised the Republic of Estonia on 26 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Poland were re-established in September 1991.

Estonia opened its embassy in Warsaw on 20 June 1995. Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Riho Laanemäe worked there initially; in 1996 Peeter Restsinski became the Estonian ambassador to Poland. From 2000 to 2005 the Estonian ambassador to Poland was Aivo Orav and from 2005 until 2009 the ambassador was Ants Frosch. As of August 2009, the Estonian ambassador to Poland is Taavi Toom.

Estonia has four honorary consulates in Poland.  In May 2012 Estonia opened its fourth honorary consulate in Poland in Gdańsk. The honorary consul is the former mayor of Gdańsk and respected lawyer Tomasz Posadzki.

Estonia’s first honorary consulate in Poland was opened in Szczecin in 2002. The honorary consul there is Robert Kornecki and the jurisdiction of the consulate comprises of the administrative districts of Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, and Lubuskie. In 2005 a second Estonian honorary consulate was opened in Poznań, which is led by the rector of the Poznan School of Social Sciences Professor Michal Iwaszkiewicz. The jurisdiction of the honorary consulate is the Wielkopolskie administrative district. The honorary consulate opened in Krakow in 2006 is led by lawyer Piotr Paluch, and its jurisdiction comprises the administrative districts of Malopolskie, Podkarpackie and Slaskie.

The Polish Embassy in Estonia was opened in Tallinn in August 1993. Initially the Polish ambassador to Estonia was Ambassador Jarosław Lindenberg, residing in Riga. As of November 1994 it was Ambassador Jakub Wolasiewicz, who resided in Tallinn. The current ambassador, Grzegors Marek Poznański, presented his credentials to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on 28 October 2010.

Visits of Importance

In November of 2011 Poland joined the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence located in Tallinn. Poland’s contribution to the policing of Baltic airspace is also noteworthy. Polish fighter planes have guarded the Baltic airspace as part of the rotating schedule since 2006 and their last rotation was in 2012 from April to August.

Regular consultations on European Union, consular and political topics take place between the foreign ministries of Estonia and Poland.

The heads of parliament and different parliamentary commissions have also held meetings. An Estonia-Poland parliamentary group has been established in the XII Riigikogu; the group has 15 members and is headed by Aadu Must.

At the beginning of 2013 a Poland-Estonia parliamentary group was formed in Poland’s Seim, it has 5 members and is headed by Krystyna Skowronska.

Agreements

• Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Co-operation (came into force 28.01.93);
• Agreement on Friendly Co-operation and Neighbourliness of the Baltic Sea States (came into force 06.05.93);
• Agreement on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (came into force 06.08.93);
• Agreement on International Road Transport (came into force 30.10.93);
• Agreement on Co-operation Between Region and Local Governments (came into force 24.01.94);
• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital (came into force 09.12.94);
• Agreement Concerning Civil Air Transport (came into force 06.11.95);
• Consular Agreement (came into force 12.01.97);
• Agreement on Rendering Legal Aid and Legal Relations in Civil, Work and Criminal Matters (came into force 08.02.00);
• Agreement on the Fight Against Organised Crime and Other Criminal Activities (came into force 07.02.04);
• Agreement on Co-operation in Tourism (came into force 20.02.05);
• Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Poland on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information (came into force 09.06.2005).
• Intergovernmental Visa Representation Agreement (came into force 05.04.2012)

As of 1 May 2004 the economic relations between Estonia and Poland are regulated by the regulations of the EU's internal market and bilateral agreements in the areas that are under the jurisdiction of individual member states.

Economic Relations

TRADE

Poland is Estonia’s biggest foreign trade partner among Central European countries, ranking 7^th among all of Estonia’s foreign trade partners for several years.

In 2012 Estonia-Poland trade totalled 1.029 billion euros (3.9% of total trade), with export valued at 176.901 million and import worth 852.673 million euros. The balance was negative by  675.773 million euros and compared to 2011 turnover increased by 10.9%.

Estonia-Poland trade 2006-2012 (million euros)

Primary articles of export in 2012:

• Machinery and equipment – 27.6%
• Metal and metal products – 19.0%
• Wood and wood products – 11.1%
• Transportation vehicles – 9.0%

Primary articles of import in 2012:

• Machinery and equipment – 35.0%
• Metal and metal products – 11.3%
• Chemical products – 10.0%

All economic figures originate from the from the Statistical Office of Estonia.

INVESTMENTS

The investment activities between Estonia and Poland were until 2007 relatively sluggish. In 2007, Estonian direct investments in Poland increased by about a factor of 10.

In 2012 Estonia’s direct investment position in Poland was 36.4 million euros. The primary sectors for investments were the professional, research and technical sector; the wholesale and retail trade sector; and the manufacturing industry.

Polish direct investments in Estonia  in 2012 totalled 39.5 million euros. Investments mostly went to the professional, research and technical sector; wholesale and retail trade; and the information and communications sector.

As of February 2012 there were 71 enterprises with Polish participation working in Estonia.

TOURISM

The conditions for tourism between Estonia and Poland are favourable, but there is potential for a lot more. In 2010 the Polish airline LOT resumed regular flights between Tallinn and Warsaw.

Popular destinations for Polish tourists in addition to Tallinn are Tartu County, Pärnu County, and East Viru County.

In 2010 a total of 19 522 tourists from Poland used Estonian accommodation establishments; this is 14% growth compared to 2009. In 2011 a record number of Polish tourists visited Estonia – 27 093, with a total of 52 153 nights in accommodation establishments.

In 2012 a total of 25 513 Polish tourists used Estonian accommodation establishments.

Cultural Relations

Estonia and Poland’s cultural relations are close and diverse. A detailed overview of the Estonian cultural events that have taken place with the help of the embassy can be found on the Embassy in Warsaw’s page for news and events: http://www.estemb.pl/est/esileht/uudised/.

At the end of 2007 a branch of the European Institute of Culture EUNIC was established in Warsaw, of which the Estonian Embassy is a member. The EUNIC in Warsaw organises events that introduce European culture. The Estonian Embassy has participated in the EUNIC event European Language Days and the joint EUNIC event in Warsaw “Poems on the Underground” and in the project “Awakening of the Summer”. For more information about the activities of EUNIC Warsaw, visit their webpage: http://www.eunic-online.eu/poland_warsaw.

ESTONIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

The works of A.H. Tammsaare, J. Kross, A. Valton, M. Unt, and E. Niit have been translated into Polish. As of the year 2000, very little Estonian literature has been published in Polish. The last work was in 2008 when Mart Laar’s book on the Forest Brothers called “War in the Woods” was published. Translations of the works of poet Aarne Puu and other Estonian poetry have been published.

It is possible to study the Estonian language and culture as a second foreign language within the Hungarian studies department at the University of Warsaw.

Co-operation between the University of Warsaw and the Estonian Institute began in the fall of 2007. As of  the fall of 2011 Estonian is being taught at the University of Warsaw by Svetlana Kass. In addition to the Estonian language, literature and culture classes organised by the Hungarian studies department at the University of Warsaw, it is also possible to study Estonian in Krakow at Jagiellonian University (http://www.uj.edu.pl/index.en.html) under Aarne Puu. Instructor Robert Bieleck in the Hungarian studies department of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan has also taught Estonian, though not continuously due to a lack of interest. The university press also published the first Estonian language learning book meant for Polish speakers, which was written by Robert Bieleck.

For those studying Estonian, a traditional Mother Tongue Day supported by the embassy takes place every year. However, there are only a few interested in learning the language. University students are more interested in classes about Estonian culture and society.

VISUAL ARTS

Estonian art exhibits are constantly being held in Poland.

Exhibits from the collection of KUMU have toured Poland in Warsaw and Szcsecin, as has the photo exhibit on the history of the Republic of Estonia compiled by the Estonian Institute in honour of the 90^th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

The exhibition dedicated to Estonia and Poland’s shared history entitled “Three Lions and a White Eagle” at the Warsaw Art Museum examined Estonia-Poland relations from 1919-1939.

In addition, the Polish public has had the opportunity to become acquainted with the works of artists Jaan Toomik, Leonhard Lapin, Ly Lestberg, Mark Raidpere, Sirje Runge, and others.

MUSIC

Polish music-lovers appreciate Estonian music, particularly folk music and classical music.

Estonian musicians have performed at various festivals and given concerts in Warsaw, Poznan and Szczecin. The works of Arvo Pärt,  Urmas Sisask, and Heino Eller have been presented in Poland and performers such as Vaiko Eplik and the Eliit ensemble, blues band Bullfrog Brown, folk musicians Anu Taul, Triinu Taul and Tarmo Noormaa, Svjata Vatra, Abdres Uibo, and Annely Peebo have all performed in Poland.

CINEMA

Estonian and Polish filmmakers have a long history together and nearly every major Polish film festival includes an Estonian film. Estonian films have won awards at many film festivals – for example Ilmar Raag’s “The Class”, Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aarma’s “Disco and Atomic War” – and Estonia’s unique animation has also been recognised (a separate programme of Priit Pärn’s films entitled “Pärnography” was shown at the Warsaw FilmFest).

In 2009 the first Estonian film days took place in Poland, which began in Warsaw and spread from there. The following films were shown: “Taarka”, “Kinnunen”, “Shop of Dreams”, “Knife”, “Autumn Ball”, “Jan Uuspõld Goes to Tartu”, “Navigator Prix”, “Frank and Wendy”, and “The Class.”

Ilmar Raag’s film “The Class” is available on DVD in Poland; also available there are Veiko Õunpuu’s “Autumn Ball” and Kaspar Jancis’s “Frank and Wendy” with Polish subtitles.

Estonians in Poland

According to the Polish Office for Foreigners, as of September 2012 there are 64 Estonian citizens officially residing in Poland, who have valid European Union right of residency on Poland’s territory. There are more Estonian citizens living in Poland, but under different circumstances – businessmen or students that go back and forth between Poland and Estonia or those working at international organisations. The embassy estimates that 150-200 Estonian citizens live in Poland.

It has become a tradition for the Estonian community to gather together for Estonia’s Independence Day and an annual end-of-summer garden party.

The Polish-Estonian Friendship Association has been in operation since 1993; its chairman Mieczyslaw Maciejak was awarded the Order of Terra Mariana 4th Class in February 2002. The Polish-Estonian Friendship Association is composed of people interested in Estonia and organises regular cultural and economic events. In March 2001, the Warsaw City Court registered the society Pro Estonia, which promotes Estonian culture in Poland (www.eesti.pl).

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