Heads of state, prime ministers, government members, and leaders of international organizations meet at the 50th Munich Security Conference with Radosław Sikorski

The Munich conference is one of the most prestigious international venues for discussing the world’s security situation, and foreign affairs at large. Each year it brings together heads of state, prime ministers, government members, and leaders of international organizations. Moreover, the conference provides an opportunity to hold a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings. 

On the sidelines of this year’s conference, Minister Sikorski will meet the president of Latvia, as well as foreign ministers of Ukraine, France, Germany, Russia, Georgia and Libya. The event in Munich is also attended by representatives of Ukrainian opposition. 

“It’s an important forum for raising important issues,” Minister Sikorski said upon his arrival in Munich. “I’m all the more happy to be here as I’m the same age as  the Munich Security Conference, which marks its 50th anniversary this year.” 

On Saturday, the second day of the conference, Minister Sikorski took part in the panel “MSC at Fifty: The Past, Present, and Future of International Security,” which was devoted to the future of Europe in the security context. In his address, the minister put forward the idea of establishing on our continent “a coalition of countries ready for action.” “We still haven’t put right the mistakes we made in the 1990s,” said Sikorski. He recalled that at that time Europe was helplessly watching as the break-up of Yugoslavia led to a tragedy, and could not prevent the outbreak of war. “Europe continues to lack the ability to take coordinated and concerted actions,” pointed out the chief of Poland’s diplomacy, warning that global conflicts will not wait until Europe has solved this problem. 

He noted that Poland supports establishing a permanent cooperation structure, in line with the Lisbon recommendations. The starting point could be “a coalition of countries ready for action.” “Why don’t we send EU battlegroups to the Central African Republic?” wondered the minister and replied, “because it takes money.” The same is true for NATO, where the country deploying troops foots the bill. Sikorski suggested that military missions be financed from community funds. 

Apart from Poland’s top diplomat, other panellists of the discussion about the past and future of international security were former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former French President Valery Giscard d\'Estaing, former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and the German politician Egon Bahr. 

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To commemorate the 50th edition of the conference, a special publication entitled "Towards Mutual Security" was compiled, featuring articles by the most eminent speakers. The book also includes an article by Minister Radosław Sikorski entitled "Munich Security Conference 1963–2063: The European Union as a Superpower?", which you can read below.

Marcin Wojciechowski

MFA Press Spokesman