Estonia and Poland

28.09.2011

Poland recognised Estonia's independence on 31 December 1920 and re-recognised it on 26 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Poland were re-established in September 1991.
Estonia opened its Embassy in Warsaw on June 20 1995. The Chargé d'Affaires a.i. was Riho Laanemäe. 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’s first honorary consul in Poland is Robert Kornecki, who has been running the consulate in Szczecin since October 2002. The jurisdiction of the consulate comprises of the administrative districts of Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, and Lubuskie. On 11 March 2005, a second Estonian Honorary Consulate was opened in Poznan, 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. On 20 June 2006, a third honorary consulate was opened in Krakow, led by lawyer Piotr Paluch. The jurisdiction of the newest consulate comprises of 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

A fresh impetus and meaning was given to Estonia and Poland's relations by the start of the European Union enlargement process, as they co-operated closely within the work of the Luxembourg and Laeken groups. Active communication has continued as members of the European Union as well.

Poland’s presidency of the European Union began on 1 July 2011. Official meetings between Estonia and Poland have confirmed that Estonia and Poland’s goals and position in the EU, for example regarding the new financial perspective, are very similar.

Parallel to the EU subject matter, security policy related co-operation has become important. Poland supported Estonia’s accession to NATO and has three times already participated in patrolling Baltic airspace. Polish planes started their third round of air policing at the end of April 2010 (until August). Consultations occur regularly on the topics of the European Union and consular and political issues.

Regular bilateral meetings take place with the heads of parliament and different commissions. An Estonian-Polish parliamentary group has been established in the XII Riigikogu; the group has 15 members and is headed by Aadu Must.

Agreements

• Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Co-operation (came into force 28.01.93);
• Agreement on the Abolishment of Visa Requirements (came into force 02.03.93);
• 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).

After accession to the European Union, Estonia has terminated all free trade agreements with third party states. Thus, Estonia has terminated its free trade agreement with Poland along with other economic agreements. The economic relations are regulated by the regulations of the EU's internal market.

Economic Relations

TRADE

In both 2007 and 2008 Poland ranked as Estonia’s 7th trade partner. In 2009 Poland kept its position as 7th trade partner with a total trade turnover of 524 million EUR, which is 3.8% of Estonia’s total trade. In 2009 Estonia exported 113.7 million EUR worth of goods to Poland and imported goods valuing 409 million EUR from Poland. Compared with 2008, Estonia’s trade with Poland decreased by about 20% in 2009, with Estonian export decreasing by about 29% and import from Poland decreasing by about 18%.

The primary articles of export from Estonia to Poland in 2010 were metal and metal products (28.3% - in 2009 16.2%); machinery and equipment (17.1% - in 2009 13.4%); wood and wood products (16% - in 2009 13%); transportation vehicles (10% - in 2009 7.4%); and other manufactured goods (6.6% - in 2009 6%).

Export of chemical products decreased by 87%. Export from Estonia’s agricultural and food products sector (trade groups 1-24) to Poland in 2010 equalled 2.2% of exports.

The main articles of import from Poland in 2010 were machinery and equipment (23.7% - in 2009 it was 12%); metals and metal products (11.6% - in 2009 11.4%); mineral products (11.3% - in 2009 9.4%); chemical products (10.7% - in 2009 15.4%); transportation vehicles (8.1% - in 2009 8.6%); and plastic and rubber products (8% - in 2009 8.3%).
Agricultural and food products from Poland (trade groups 1-24) made up 11.8% of imports in 2010.

Poland is Estonia’s largest Central European trade partner. Trade between the two countries has been growing since 1993. In following the dynamics of Estonian-Polish trade, it can be said that Poland is a stable and firm trade partner. This is shown by the fact that trade with Poland has grown similar to the growth of Estonia’s total trade. While in 1995 Estonia enjoyed a trade surplus with Poland, within the period of 1996-2007 imports remarkably surpassed exports.

There are several reasons for this. One reason was the absence of a free trade agreement between the two countries until the beginning of 1999. While Estonian entrepreneurs were hindered in their access to the Polish market, Estonia employed a duty-free foreign trade policy. Secondly, Polish goods have been quite popular in Estonia due to the favourable relation between price and quality. However, Estonian goods are not well known in Poland. The third is that factories in Poland provide supplies to many international groups that produce consumer goods in Estonia. Regardless of this, the last few years show a trend of export growth increasing and import growth slowing somewhat. Due to the economic crisis, trade decreased in 2009. However, during 2010 trade grew by 40%: export grew by 26% and import by 44% compred with 2009. The trade deficit with Poland in 2010 was 451.1 million euros.

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.
According to Bank of Estonia data, as of 31 December 2010 Estonia’s direct investment position in Poland was about 41.4 million euros, which makes up 0.9% of direct investments in foreign countries (placing Poland in 13th place). About 56% of these investments were in the professional, research and technical sector; 14% were tied to the wholesale and retail trade sector; and 12% are in the financial and insurance sector.

Polish direct investments in Estonia totalled 61.1 million euros, making up 0.5% of direct investments made in Estonia by foreign countries (20th place). Nearly 76% of this went to the professional, research and technical sector; 10% to the information and communications sector; and 8% is in the financial and insurance sector.
According to the business registry, as of 24 March 2011 there were 65 enterprises with Polish participation working in Estonia, most of them in wholesale and retail trade.

TOURISM

The prerequisites for tourism between Estonia and Poland are favourable, but there is a potential for a lot more, on condition that the construction of the transport network, especially the Via Baltica and Rail Baltica is advanced. Especially as to the Via Baltica, the Baltic countries have made a lot more progress. Since the end of March 2000, a regular bus line was launched between Estonia and Poland. In October 2000 the Polish airline LOT resumed regular flights between Tallinn and Warsaw, which then ended in October 2008.

Taking into consideration the fact that the Polish travel more and more each year and spend a lot while travelling, there still is potential left for Estonia. The number of Polish tourists using Estonian accommodation establishments has grown remarkably over the past few years, with the exception of 2009, when Statistics Estonia data showed that 17 062 Polish residents had been accommodated (mostly in Tallinn) for a total of 31 878 nights. The reduction in the number of tourists arriving from Poland was caused not only by the economic crisis, but also the closing of LOT airline’s direct flight route from Warsaw to Tallinn. LOT Polish Airlines reopened the route on 10 May 2010 and flights take place every day.

In 2010 a total of 3 092 people travelled to Poland with the help of Estonian travel agencies. The decline was seen in every quarter, and the duration of stay at the destination decreased as well.

According to Statistics Poland about 236 000 Estonian residents visited Poland in 2007, the majority of whom visited Poland privately or in transit. In 2008, 41 700 Estonians spent the night in Polish tourism establishments (-23% compared to 2007).

Cultural Relations

Estonia and Poland’s bilateral cultural relations are close and provide cultural events for various interest groups. A detailed overview of the Estonian cultural events that have taken place with the help of the embassy from 2005 until today can be found on the embassy’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 in Warsaw is a member. The EUNIC in Warsaw organises events that introduce European culture. In 2009 and 2010 Estonia participated in the joint EUNIC event European Language Days in Warsaw, within the framework of which it was possible to obtain information about Estonia, the Estonian language, and opportunities to study in Estonia, as well as to participate in sample Estonian language classes. In addition, in 2010 the embassy participated in the joint EUNIC event in Warsaw “Poems on the Underground” and in 2011 in the project “Awakening of the Summer”. For more information about the activities of EUNIC Warsaw, visit their webpage: http://www.eunic-online.eu/warsaw.

Language and literature

Polish readers should be familiar with the works of Estonians Tammsaare, Kross, Valton and Niit – the works of these Estonian authors can be found in Polish libraries. Unfortunately, between the year 2000 and today very little Estonian literature has been translated into Polish. The last work was in 2008 when Mart Laar’s book on the Forest Brothers called “War in the Woods” was published in Polish; it was translated into Polish from the English translation of the original Estonian due to a lack of translators.

In 2007 the collection of poetry “Kręgi Pamięci” by Aarne Puu, and Estonian poet and Estonian language teacher, was published in Polish, containing in addition to his own creative work also translations of several Estonian poets. In 2010, Aarne Puu’s bilingual book of poetry “Listen Please” was published.

Co-operation with the University of Warsaw began in the fall of 2007 when Leila Kubinyi, an Estonian language lecturer, was sent by the Estonian Institute to work at the University of Warsaw. In the fall of 2011 she was replaced 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. However, the university press still 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. Unfortunately there are few interested in learning the language. University students are more interested in classes about Estonian culture and society. Hopefully an interest in Estonian culture will lead to a desire for more profound language study, which in turn would help to deepen cultural exchange through literature.

Exhibits

Estonian art and artists have been able to show their works frequently in Poland over the past few years thanks to various co-operation formats.

The most impressive exhibition of 2008 was “Three Lions and a White Eagle” at the Warsaw Art Museum, which was dedicated to Estonia and Poland’s shared history. Materials from the Estonian National Archives, the Warsaw department of the Polish National Archives, and the Warsaw Art Museum were on display, illustrating Estonia-Poland relations from 1919-1939. The co-operation between the Estonian National Archives and the Warsaw department of the Polish National Archives continues today. In the fall of 2009 a film about relations between Estonia and Poland from 1919-1939 was posted on the webpage of the Warsaw department of the Polish National Archives in co-operation with the Estonian National Archives as a supplement to the exhibit “Three Lions and a White Eagle” (http://www.warszawa.ap.gov.pl/estonia-filmy.html).

In the summer of 2009 the exhibit on their shared history moved to Poznan, and by today it has also been displayed in the Poznan School of Social Sciences, the lobby of the Poznan City Government building, and at Adam Mickiewicz University. In December of 2009 the Estonian history exhibit “Republic of Estonia 90” compiled by the Estonian Institute was opened in the exhibition hall of the Augsberg Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Warsaw, and a sermon was given in Estonian by visiting pastor Arho Tuhkru. The aforementioned event helped to develop warm relations between the Polish Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. For more information about the aforementioned visit: http://www.eestikirik.ee/node/8521.

The most important exhibits of 2010 were the KUMU exhibits displayed in two different galleries of the Szczecin National Museum, the exhibit of Ilon Wikland’s works at the Kielce Toy Museum, and the photo exhibit by the Estonian Institute illustrating the history of the Republic of Estonia from its birth until its 90th anniversary, which was seen in both Warsaw and Poznan. Other larger joint projects saw the participation of artists like Jaan Toomik, Leonhard Lapin, Ly Lestberg, Mark Raidpere, Sirje Runge, and others.

In May of 2011 KUMU’s extensive travelling exhibit of Estonian art reached the Warsaw National Museum.

Music

Estonian music is appreciated in Poland, particularly folk music and classical music. The musicians that are most warmly received are those that can offer the Polish public something special and unique.

In January of 2009 Vaiko Eplik and the ensemble Eliit gave two performances in Warsaw, in June the Tartu Students’ Choir gave a concert at the Augsberg Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Estonia’s Victory Day, in July the blues band Bullfrog Brown performed at the Suwalk Blues Festival, and in September the folk group Ro:toro gave four concerts in Poland – two in Warsaw and one each in Poznan and Szczecin.

Assorted Estonian music reached the Polish public in 2010. Paavo Järvi, about whom a long story was published in the cultural supplement to the daily Rzeczpospolita, conducted during the Beethoven festival that took place in March. Annely Peebo also participated in the aforementioned festival. In May Andres Uibo participated in a church music festival, and in November folk musicians – Anu Taul, Triinu Taul, and Tarmo Noormaa – gave three concerts in Poland. In December Paul Cole (Raul Keller) and his band gave a concert, with which they introduced the exhibit of KUMU’s modern art in Szczecin.

In 2011 performances have been given in Poland by the classical guitar and flute duo Kristo Käo and Leonora Palu, soprano Annely Peebo within the framework of the Beethoven festival, Rainer Jancis’s experimental music project, and Opium Flirt. In addition, messages about the Song Celebration as well as folk music were brought to Poland by Svjata Vatra. Within the framework of the “Arsenal Nights” festival in Wroclaw a night of Estonian classical music took place, during which the works of A. Pärt, U. Sisask and H. Eller were performed.

Cinema

Estonian films reach various festivals in Poland through different channels thanks to the long-time contacts between Polish cinema people and Estonian filmmakers, so practically every larger film festival that takes place in Poland includes Estonian films. The films that have earned the most recognition are Estonia’s unique animated films.

In 2007 the biggest events was the “Estonian explosion” with 5 films at the Warsaw Film Festival (at which “The Class” by I. Raag won 2 prizes).

Estonian films were also screened during various film festivals in 2008: Ilmar Raag’s “The Class” and the animated films of Priit Pärn were shown the most at the Warsaw FilmFest. The festival included a separate film programme entitled “Pärnography”.

The Jewish Motives Film Festival that took place in Warsaw at the end of April in 2009 included the Estonian documentary “Lotman’s World”, screenwriter Agne Nelk. The film was awarded a cash prize of 5000 Polish zlott for being the best documentary for introducing Jewish culture. At the animated film festival Animator held in Poznan in August of the same year, Rao Heidmets’s puppet film “Inherent Obligations” earned a high award – the Bronze Pegasus. The prize came with a cash component as well – 20 000 Polish zlotts. At the 25th Warsaw FilmFest in October, Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aarma’s documentary “Disco and Atomic War” was named best documentary. There were 22 documentary films competing for the title in documentary film category.

In October of 2009 the first independent Estonian film days in Poland began in Warsaw and lasted until March of 2010. Within the framework of the “Estonian Survey” it was possible to view the following films: “Taarka”, “Kinnunen”, “Shop of Dreams”, “Knife”, “Autumn Ball”, “Jan Uuspõld Goes to Tartu”, “Navigator Pirx”, “Frank and Wendy”, and The Class.”

In 2011 Veiko Õunpuu’s film “The Temptation of St. Tony” was shown in Poland, and the documentary “Sacred Fire”, about the folk ensemble Svjata Vatra, was screened at the “Globaltica” festival held in Gdansk in July.

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 January 2011 there are 15 Estonian citizens officially residing in Poland, who have valid European Union right of residency on Poland’s territory. Between 2007 and 2010 a total of 45 Estonian citizens applied for residency in Poland. 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 at the embassy for Estonia’s Independence Day and an annual end-of-summer garden party.

Friendship Societies

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 July of 2011 lawyers from Olsztyn paid a visit to Estonia.

In March 2001, the Warsaw City Court registered the society Pro Estonia that helps to unite students and promotes Estonian culture in Poland. Pro Estonia has been very helpful to the Embassy in introducing Estonia in Poland. They also administer the webpage www.eesti.pl, which to a certain degree fills the gap for Polish-language information about topics and events related to Estonia. It is a volunteer-based endeavour.

Poles in Estonia

According to the 2000 census, 2,145 people (0.1% of the population) indicated their nationality as "Polish" of which a majority reside in the bigger cities (Tallinn, Narva, Kohtla-Järve). Most of them arrived in Estonia after World War II, immigrating from Poland's former Eastern provinces (Galicia, present-day Western Ukraine), but also from Central Asia, for example Poles deported to Kazakhstan after World War II and their offspring.

Societies

The Poles in Estonia are united by the Estonian-Polish Society "Polonia" that publishes a Polish language information bulletin Nasza Polonia ("Our Polonia") and in co-operation with Latvian and Lithuanian Poles publishes the bulletin Nasz Czas ("Our Time").

The Estonian-Polish Society has existed in Estonia since 1930, whereas its founding was preceded by mutual visits by the heads of state. The Honorary Chairman of the Society in the 1930s and 1940s was General Johan Laidoner. The Society was re-established in 1965 during Khrushchev's "thaw" as the Estonian-Polish Friendship Association, but after the restoration of the Republic of Estonia it was renamed the Estonian-Polish Society, in reference to the early years of the society and to Laidoner's activities. The Estonian-Polish Society has 40 members and their main areas of activity are cultural exchanges and the exchange of journalists.

In 2001, the Pro Polonia Society was founded in Tartu to unite Estonian students who are interested in Poland.

In addition to the Narva Polish Society, in Kohtla-Järve a Polish Society has been established.

The Polish language is taught at the University of Tartu and at Tallinn University in the Slavic studies department. .