Konferencja „15 Years of Polish Membership in Nato: Experiences & Future Challenges"

The conference was opened by the Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs, Prof. Andrzej Mania, who emphasized that the event is a part of 650th jubilee of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. In his introductory speech, Prof. A. Mania also stressed that nowadays NATO is a great opportunity for the civil and military cooperation, and that the aim of military actions should be mainly to protect and maintain peace.

In the first part of the conference participants from different academic and military branches summarized the history and experiences of Polish accession and participation in NATO. The first speaker, Mr. Tadeusz Krzywda from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Polish political and military road to NATO, later Prof. Artur Gruszczak from the Jagiellonian University wondered if NATO is a smart actor in political relations. The last speech was held by Wojciech Michnik, Ph.D., who shed some light on Poland's role in developing transatlantic bonds and country's role as a regional leader.

During the next part of the conference Lt. Col. Maciej Klisz from Polish Special Operations Forces described the development and the role of POLSOF after the accession of Poland to NATO. This interesting speech was accompanied by the POLSOF Commando Special Forces Unit presentation. It was an excellent opportunity to talk with professional operators and ask them about their experiences.

The second panel was about other countries' experiences. Guests from Czech Republic (Col. Vladan Holcner – University of Defence in Brno), Lithuania (Prof. Audrone Petrauskaite – Military Academy from Vilnius) and Romania (Maj. Radu Dinu – Land Forces Academy in Sibiu) described the history of their involvement in the structures of the Alliance. Besides challenges for member-states of NATO, a particular attention was addressed to NATO's role in stabilization of political, military and economic growth in countries participating in the Alliance. Also, it was pointed out that actions of the Alliance increase social awareness in case of need for security, not only in time of crisis or war but also during time of peace.

The second day of the conference focused on the future of the Alliance and possibilities of cooperation with other actors – countries or international organizations – and challenges that caused by rapidly evolving security environment.

Speakers of the fourth panel: Cpt. (Navy) Jarosław Hewelt – Deputy Director of Doctrine and Training Center of the Polish Armed Forces, pointed out five dimensions, including tendencies and challenges for global security untill 2040; Łukasz Kamieński, Ph. D. from Jagiellonian University presented problems of risk management in NATO and Col. Dr. Harald Gell, from Theresan Military Academy – the oldest military academy in the world presented Austrian engagement in EU and NATO risk management procedures according to Partnership for Peace Agreement.

In the next session: Col. Martin Braterschofsky, the Deputy Director/Chief of Staff of Civil-Military Co-operation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) in Netherlands, focused on non-kinetic operations led by NATO, and special engagement that is delivered to the Alliance through organizations like Centers of Excellence's with emphasis on activities of the CCOE; Marian Żuber, Ph. D. from the Academy of Land Forces in Wroclaw presented the history of the cooperation of the UE and NATO since 1990; M. A. Agata Mazurkiewicz, M.A. Ph.D. candidate from the Jagiellonian University, spoke about different aspects of cooperation between NATO and United Nations.

The last panel consisted of three presentations. In the first one, Marek Czajkowski, Ph. D. from the Jagiellonian University presented the Anti-Missle defense system of NATO; Piotr Kozłowski, Ph. D. from National Defence Academy in Warsaw raised the issue of NATO – Japan relations and Jacek Durkalec M.A., from Polish Institute of International Relationships in Warsaw discussed NATO's point of view at nuclear weapons.

Two days of the conference provided many interesting presentations and enabled the participants to increase their knowledge about NATO. Institute of Political Science and International Relations of the Jagiellonian University and National Security Students' Society (NSSS UJ) were very pleased to host such distinguished guests from Poland and other European countries and are looking forward for future cooperation. Special thanks should go to the students from NSSS UJ for their engagement in organizing the conference and for Michal Matyasik Ph.D. – coordinator of the conference.