International Conference “”More Europe” in and outside the EU. What role can culture play?” (Warsaw, 19/11/2012)

19 listopada 2012 (poniedziałek), godz. 9:30 – 20:00
Warszawa, Centrum Nauki Kopernik, Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20  

19 November 2012 (Monday), 9:30 am – 8:00 pm
Warsaw, Copernicus Science Center, Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20 

”MORE EUROPE” to obywatelska inicjatywa kulturalna, której celem jest podkreślenie i wzmocnienie roli kultury w relacjach zewnętrznych UE. Obecna edycja debaty ”More Europe“ odbywa się w stolicy największego kraju spośród tak zwanych „nowych członków“ UE. Polska, aktywnie współpracując w dziedzinie kultury z krajami spoza Unii, zwłaszcza z państwami Partnerstwa Wschodniego, pełni rolę „mostu“ pomiędzy Zachodem a Wschodem, także w obszarze polityki i gospodarki, kładąc jednocześnie szczególny nacisk na wzmocnienie społeczeństwa obywatelskiego przez kulturę. Debata dotyczyć będzie głównie sposobu, w jaki kultura może wspierać budowę europejskiej tożsamości kulturowej w oparciu o społeczeństwo obywatelskie wewnątrz i na zewnątrz UE; struktur do tego potrzebnych; a także sposobu, w jaki artyści i artystki oraz organizacje pozarządowe spoza UE, widzą te kwestie.

 “MORE EUROPE” is a civic cultural initiative that seeks to highlight and reinforce the role of culture in the external relations of the European Union. This edition of More Europe takes place in the capital of Poland, the biggest country among the so called “new” EU Member States and a very active player in the field of cultural co-operation with countries outside the European Union, notably the Eastern Partnership area. Poland acts as a “bridge” between the West and the East in terms of politics, the economy and culture, and puts special emphasis on strengthening civil societies through culture. The Warsaw debate will focus on ways in which culture can contribute to the development of a European cultural identity through the activities of civil societies inside and outside the EU. It will also look at the structures needed to support this process, and present insights of artists and NGOs from outside the EU.

Tłumaczenie: cała konferencja będzie tłumaczona na język polski i angielski
Interpreting: the entire conference will be interpreted into Polish and English
Informacja/Info:
www.austria.org.pl
prosimy o kontakt z /please contact at:
moreeurope@austria.org.pl; 0048 22 526 88 00

19-go listopada Centrum Nauki Kopernik, ul. Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20, będzie otwarte od godziny 8:30
Doors open at the Copernicus Science Center, Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20 Str., at 8.30 am on 19 November

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Events during the European Football Championship – Participation of the Press Office

On the occasion of the European Football Championship “EURO 2012”, organized in Poland and Ukraine from 8th June until 1st July, the Press Office participated in several events.  

• “Cultural Week of Greeks in Poland” (Warsaw. 2-8 June 2012) 
  The events, that took place at “Galleria Freta” in the historical center of Warsaw, were organized by the musician of Greek origin Milo Kurtis and under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Warsaw.
  They included concerts, exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and photographs, films, classes of Greek dances, a theater performance, a debate on Greece`s current affairs, gastronomy etc.
  Several musicians, such as Milo Kurtis and “Naxos Quintet”, Kostas Georgiadis and the group “Edesea”, Apostolis Anthimos, Jorgos Skolias and “Sefardic Trio”, Maja Sikorowska, the group ‘Olympus’, several artists, such as the sculptor Christos Mandzios, the painter Michalis Chrisoulidis and the photographer Kostas Kawardzis, the film director Athena Savidis, the journalist Dionysios Sturis, the philosopher and musician Ilias Vrazas, the byzantine choir of the orthodox church of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw, were among those who have performed during the cultural week. 
• Greek Embassy`s event in honour of the Greek National Football Team (Warsaw, 9 June 2012) 
  Representatives of business, academic and artistic sectors of Greeks in Poland, Polish academics, journalists and representatives of Polish authorities, Greek journalists covering the participation of the Greek football team in “Euro 2012”, the General Secretary of Sports, Panos Bitsaxis, were among the participants. 
• Celebrations of Legionowo City hosting the Greek National Football Team (Legionowo, 2 June 2012)
  A ceremony during which the official city-keys of Legionowo were handed over to the charge d`affaires of the Greek Embassy, Stavros Spyridakis. 
• Polish Railways’ promotion of European countries during the Football Championship and for six months afterwards (May – December 2012)
  For the promotion of the European Football Championship in 20 trains, Polish Railways have painted 16 of them in the colours of European countries` flags. On the 19th of May there was a parade of 5 trains painted with the colours of Greek, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech and Russian flags on a central bridge of  Warsaw. 
  The Press Office collaborated with representatives of the Polish Railways (PKP) in order to present the Greek flag on a Polish train. 
• “Fan`s Dictionary” for the volunteers` communication during the European Football Championship
  The dictionary includes common phrases in major European languages and was issued in cooperation with the UEFA, the EUNIC Cluster Warsaw (EU National Institutes for Culture) and the French Institute in Warsaw. The Press Office translated the leaflet into Greek language. 

The “Economist” Conference

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) A much timely “Economist” Conference was addressed yesterday by the country’s leadership and experts from the financial and business world.

Taking the floor, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou availed himself of the opportunity to note that Greece’s fiscal problems are also an issue for the entire eurozone and marked that a spill-over effect will not leave other eurozone countries unaffected, especially those which are as vulnerable as Greece.
The remarks were reported one day before the European Commission announces its recommendations on the country’s stability programme , which is most likely to receive European approval.   

“Deficit Fetishism is a Mistake”
Addressing the Conference (Discussion and Debate with Joseph Stiglitz on the World Economy 2010), Nobel Economics Laureate 2001, former Senior Vice President of the World Bank, and Professor at Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz, dismissed fears that Greece will go bankrupt, adding that, when struggling with recession, governments ought to be careful with their rectifying measures.
“Cutting deficits in the wrong way can be counterproductive.”
Kathimerini daily: Greek woes are a eurozone issue

Economist Joseph Stiglitz to visit Athens

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Economist and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz is invited to participate at an open debate, titled “Discussion and debate with Joseph Stiglitz: in or out of the economic crisis?,” organized by the Economist and Hazlis & Rivas conferences, on February 2. 
Prime Minister George Papandreou will inaugurate the conference with an opening address, focusing on the government’s effort to fulfil the twin aim of monetary restructuring and growth.
Ministers, the leader of the opposition New Democracy party, Antonis Samaras as well as representatives of business associations will also participate at the conference.
Meanwhile, Stiglitz has contributed an article (January 25) in the ‘Comment is Free’ section of The Guardian, under the title “A principled Europe would not leave Greece to bleed,” urging Europe to show support for the honesty and integrity of Greece’s government and its efforts not only to bring the budget under control, but to increase transparency of the entire budgetary framework and to reduce corruption.

PM`s press conference for the first 100 days of the government

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The year 2010 was the time for Greece to make a new start and major changes, Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed on Wednesday during a press conference held to mark the completion of 100 days since PASOK was sworn in as the new government. “It is time to change everything, to turn the crisis into an opportunity. We have already shown that we are capable of doing this, that we can be leaders and not laggards,” Papandreou said, emphasising that the government was determined not to fall into the inertia of its predecessors and had already made important changes at every ministry, while several deep reforms were now in the process of being introduced. Among these he listed the effort to establish a new taxation system, overhauling the social insurance system, and initiating a debate on local administration reform and a new electoral law.Reviewing his government’s course during the first 100 days, he admitted that some mistakes have been made but stressed that the government is prepared to take corrective action when this proves necessary. “We are determined to do the things for which we were elected by Greek men and women. It is this that gives us the strength to not back down,” he underlined, and urged everyone to join the “democratic front” in order to democratically restructure the country.