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Polish ambassador visits Belfast to look at shared issues
11 March 2008
The Polish Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Barbara Tuge-Erecinska, has undertaken her first visit to Belfast.
During the two day visit, the Ambassador met local political and community leaders, to look at issues of mutual interest, including helping Polish migrants settle more easily into life in Northern Ireland, co-operation with local authorities and policing issues as they affect ethnic minorities.
Ambassador Tuge-Erecinska also met the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Bernie Kelly.
Born in Gdansk, Barbara Tuge-Erecinska joined the Solidarity movement in 1980, and over the next decade worked closely with Lech Walesa, until his election as the President of Poland in 1990. As a trained linguist, most of her work involved working with foreign diplomats and journalists.
A former Deputy Foreign Minister, Mrs Tuge-Erecinska was appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom in November 2006. She also has served as ambassador to Sweden and Denmark, and has a reputation as a tough negotiator in her dealings with both the EU and the other former Soviet bloc nations.
During her time in the United Kingdom, the main focus of her work has been improving the life of the thousands of Polish immigrants who have moved to the country to work since Poland`s accession to the EU.
While recognising that migrants contribute to the economy, the Ambassador understands that new arrivals put pressure on the local services. To this end, the Polish government has adopted a programme called `Closer to Work, Closer to Home`, to encourage Polish migrants to prepare better before travelling to the United Kingdom.
The Ambassador also wants closer collaboration between the education authorities both here and in Poland, so that Polish children settle more easily.
ENDS
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