The Z. Wojciechowski Institute for Western Affairs is established in place of the current Institute for Western Affairs - Z. Wojciechowski Research Institute. The new facility will not be subject to the Law on Research Institutes nor the Ministry of Science. The activities of the institute will be regulated by a new, separate act, and the institute will report directly to the prime minister.

According to PiS deputies who submitted the draft law, the institute would become its strategic strengthening knowledge about the situation of Poles in Germany, analogous to the Centre for Eastern Studies. The institute will also deal with topics related to Polish security in the context of European and German immigration policy.

"Germany is our largest European partner, the neighbour behind the western border, with which we have multiple of political, social, economic ties, which has a huge impact on the functioning of our national community, as well the functioning of many European countries and the EU. We should have a professional German affairs centre, this is our national interest" - representative of the applicants, Tadeusz Dziuba (PiS) emphasised on Tuesday in the parliament.

During Thursday\'s voting members rejected the motions of minorities, according to which the main interest of the Institute for Western Affairs would not be Germany but rather the entire European Union (but "with special focus on Germany").

"I think that Poland needs a research center, a genuine think tank that will support public authorities; an European centre, which will study not only Germany but also other members of the EU, European policy, integration processes, the processes occurring in the Union, and the institutions - said Adam Szłapka (N) on Tuesday at a meeting of the Sejm. - It will not happen right away, but let\'s give the Institute for Western Affairs a chance to develop, to build a leading centre in Poland, and in the future, maybe even in Europe, dealing with the European though. This, of course, will entail a change in funding, but it is extremely important".

At Tuesday\'s meeting of the Sejm, chairman of the Education, Science and Youth Committee Rafał Grupiński (PO) pointed out that the proposed changes extend the scope of activities of the Institute for Western Affairs, which to some extent changes the future nature of the work of the institute. He added that the scope of research on the European Union is also provided for in the Law.

During the voting members rejected an amendment of the Kukiz 15 party. According to this amendment, the institute should be established temporarily, from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020, And after four years of operation, the Institute should present a report on its activities.

The Law provides that the Council of the Institute (appointed by the Prime Minister) will consist of nine members, appointed for a term of office. to the Prime Minister and indicate the ministers of economy and foreign affairs will each select one representative to the council.

This Law comes into force on 1 January 2016. The activities of the institute will be financed with subsidy from the state budget. As the draft budget for 2016 will be adopted after the new year (probably in February or March), during the transitional period (until receiving subsidy from the budget), the institute will be financed from the general reserve of the Council of Ministers.

Currently, the financial situation of the Institute for Western Affairs - Z. Wojciechowski Research Institute in Poznań is uncertain - the authorities of the institute alerted that with the current funding system the institute is threatened with liquidation.

The bill intended to contribute to solving the problems of the Poznań institute was prepared by PiS deputies at the end of the previous term of the Sejm.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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