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Primark said it plans to open three new stores in Poland over the new couple of years

Primark to open 3 new stores in Poland in €25m investment

Primark, which operates as Penneys in Ireland, has announced an investment of over €25m to support its expansion plans in Poland.

Business • 13 Jan

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (centre) visiting a section of the 'East Shield', a defensive infrastructure along Poland's borders with Russia and Belarus

Can Poland reshape EU defence policy during presidency?

Poland is pushing for a debate on increased military spending by EU member states during its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, which started on 1 January. But the result of Germany's federal election and the bloc's economic security could hold the key to any radical shift on defence

Europe • 12 Jan

The event took place in Poland's capital, Warsaw

Poland launches its presidency of the Council of the EU

Poland's six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union was officially launched yesterday evening at Warsaw's Grand Theatre with a performance by musicians from the Polish National Opera.

Europe • 04 Jan

Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said he considered the Hungarian government's decision to grant asylum to the former Polish deputy minister for justice to be a hostile act (file photo)

Poland accuses Hungary of 'hostile' act over asylum case

A diplomatic standoff has broken out between Poland and Hungary after the Hungarian government granted political asylum to a former Polish deputy minister of justice wanted on charges of misusing public funds.

Europe • 20 Dec 24

Polish soldiers patrolling the border with Belarus along the border fence in the Bialowieza forest.

Polish government adopts new approach to asylum claims

One year since Poland's pivotal general election which resulted in victory for a four-party coalition government made up of pro-EU parties, migration remains a divisive issue.

Europe • 19 Oct 24

A man enters into the Morawka river to clean his boots after the flood left debris and damaged houses in Stronie Slaskie, Poland

How Poland and neighbouring countries faced the floods

The provision of €10bn in cohesion funding central and eastern European countries devastated by floods this week will help their regions rebuild and recover. But climate activists say that the real answer to avoiding such extreme weather lies in tackling climate change.

Europe • 22 Sep 24

The Czech Republic was hit by heavy rain and surging water levels

At least 17 dead as Europe braces for more flooding

Residents of several areas of Poland and the Czech Republic rushed to evacuate as others in central Europe began cleaning up after the worst flooding in over two decades left a trail of destruction and a rising number of deaths.

Europe • 16 Sep 24

A view of the drought-affected Vistula River in Warsaw earlier this week.

The European river that fell to a record low level

The central section of Poland's Vistula River had a recorded water level of just 20 centimetres on Wednesday this week, the lowest in the river's history. Experts say the drought is a result of hotter summers and the effect of climate change.

Poland • 16 Sep 24

Poland's President Andrzej Duda lays a wreath at the monument of a former hospital in Wieluń, the first Polish town bombed by Nazi Germany in September 1939

Poland marks 85 years since Nazi Germany's invasion

Nazi Germany invaded Poland 85 years ago today on 1 September 1939, leading to the outbreak of World War II. Poland's President Andrzej Duda attended a commemorative ceremony this morning in Wieluń, the first Polish city to be bombed by the Luftwaffe that day.

Europe • 01 Sep 24

The multi-billion dollar Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines transporting gas under the Baltic Sea were ruptured by a series of explosions in September 2022

Poland receives request to arrest Nord Stream suspect

Poland has received a European arrest warrant issued by Germany in connection with the 2022 attack on Nord Stream pipelines, but the suspect, a Ukrainian man named as Volodymyr Z, has already left Poland, Polish prosecutors said.

Ukraine • 14 Aug 24

Polish President Andrzej Duda delivers a speech during commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising

Warsaw to come to standstill in memory of WWII uprising

At 5pm in central Warsaw, traffic came to a halt and pedestrians stopped for a minute's silence to remember insurgents and civilians who died in an uprising to liberate their city 80 years ago.

Europe • 02 Aug 24

Polish President Andrzej Duda said he would veto all the bills even if they are passed

Polish MPs reject bill to ease abortion laws

Polish MPs on Friday rejected a bill that would have decriminalised the act of facilitating abortions in a blow for reproductive rights and the country's new liberal government.

World • 12 Jul 24

An election poster for the European Parliament elections in Warsaw this week

Poland's European Parliament election hinges on security

Campaigning in Poland for the European Parliament election has been low key ahead of the vote on 9 June. But the defection this week of a Polish judge to Belarus has heightened debate around national security, which has so far been the main issue of the campaign.

Analysis and Comment • 12 May 24

Twenty years after accession, support for EU membership in Poland remains high at 77%

Back in Poland, 20 years after EU accession

Twenty years ago this week, on 1 May 2004, 10 new member states joined the European Union. Citizens of new eastern EU members, particularly from Poland, soon arrived in Ireland seeking work. Many settled in Ireland but, in recent years, an increasing number have also decided to return home.

World • 28 Apr 24

Pupils and their teacher at a primary school in Krakow (file pic)

Why did Poland get rid of homework in primary schools?

Earlier this month, Poland's government dispensed with compulsory homework for school children up to the age of 15. The new rules have caused a lot of discussion about the country's education system, and how children can benefit from more free time.

Poland • 22 Apr 24

The Włodarski family inspect their fruit farm in Pułtusk county, east-central Poland

Why Poland's farmers oppose the Green Deal

Protests by farmers have taken place in a number of EU countries this year against the bloc's proposed Green Deal, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Some of the strongest opposition has come from farmers in Poland, which argue that the deal will be too costly to implement.

Europe • 13 Apr 24

The new legislation would have made the pill available without prescription for people over 15 (stock image)

Law easing 'morning after' pill access in Poland vetoed

Poland's conservative President Andrzej Duda has vetoed a bill to ease women's access to the "morning after" contraceptive pill, sparking outrage among left-wing and liberal politicians.

World • 29 Mar 24

Polish farmers block a road outside Warsaw during a nationwide protest on March 20, 2024

What is driving Poland's farmer protests?

An estimated 70,000 Polish farmers blocked more than 550 roads across Poland last week as part of their ongoing protest against the EU's Green Deal and the access of Ukrainian food imports to the bloc's market. After one month of mass protests, Poland's government wants to resolve the dispute.

Europe • 25 Mar 24

Polish farmers blocking a motorway linking Warsaw and Lublin earlier this week during a protest against EU regulations

Polish farmers block key road into Germany amid protests

Polish farmers have blocked a major highway into Germany in the latest such protest against European Union regulations and taxes.

World • 25 Feb 24

The Pope's representatives in Poland accepted Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga's resignation after claims he ignored abuse (file image)

Pope accepts resignation of Polish archbishop

Pope Francis' representatives in Poland have said that he had accepted the resignation of an archbishop who was accused in a documentary of turning a blind eye to child abuse.

World • 24 Feb 24

Farmers in Kraków protesting against Ukrainian agricultural imports which they say are threatening their livelihoods

EU states back plan to limit Ukrainian farm imports

EU member states have backed a push from Brussels for "safeguards" to stop cheap Ukrainian farm imports from flooding the market amid angry demonstrations in Poland.

World • 21 Feb 24

Around 1,000, mostly Ukrainian trucks wait in kilometre-long lines after Polish farmers closed off the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine

Polish farmers plan total blockade of Ukrainian border

Polish farmers will step up protests on the border with Ukraine, blocking almost all traffic in what they say is a bid to save their livelihoods but which Kyiv says is damaging its war effort.

Ukraine • 20 Feb 24

Polish farmers blocked roads in Poznan as a month-long general strike got underway

Polish farmers protest Ukraine imports, EU policies

Polish politicians have called on the EU Commissioner for Agriculture to quit as farmers blocked roads across his home country Poland and at border crossings with Ukraine, kicking off a month-long general strike to protest against EU policies.

World • 09 Feb 24

Holocaust survivors took part in the ceremony of the 79th anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp liberation

Liberation of Auschwitz remembered on 79th anniversary

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 79 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Twenty survivors of the Holocaust were among those to attend this evening's commemoration at the site of the former camp.

Europe • 27 Jan 24

Mr Duda had originally pardoned the two politicians in 2015 (file image)

Polish president pardons jailed former politicians

Polish president Andrzej Duda yesterday pardoned two members of the former Law and Justice government who had started two-year prison sentences for abuse of power. It marks another clash between Mr Duda and the new centrist coalition government.

World • 24 Jan 24