Szymon Andrzej Szynkowski vel Sęk (born 24 November 1982 in Poznań) is a Polish politician, member of Sejm (VIII, IX and X terms), between 2018 and 2022 deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Poland in charge of Polish Diaspora, European Policy and Public Diplomacy, since 2022 Minister for European Union Affairs. He was appointed Minister of the Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in November 2023.
Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 27 November 2023 – 13 December 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Mateusz Morawiecki |
| Preceded by | Zbigniew Rau |
| Succeeded by | Radosław Sikorski |
| Minister for European Union Affairs | |
| In office 13 October 2022 – 27 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Mateusz Morawiecki |
| Preceded by | Konrad Szymański |
| Succeeded by | Adam Szłapka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 November 1982 Poznań, Poland |
| Political party | Law and Justice |
Early life and education edit
Szynkowski vel Sęk graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań with a degree in international relations (2006). Between 2003 and 2004, he was studying at Osnabrück University.[1]
From 2006 to 2015, Szynkowski vel Sęk served as city councillor in Poznań. He has been the founder and president (2012–2016) of a local think-tank, 'Project Poznań'. Between 2015 and 2016, he was Poznań's delegate to the Board of the Association of Polish Cities.[1]
From 2004 to 2015, Szynkowski vel Sęk was assistant of Jacek Tomczak, Marcin Libicki, Konrad Szymański, Ryszard Czarnecki, members of the European Parliament.[2]
Political career edit
Szynkowski vel Sęk in his youth was an active member of the 'Youth Conservatives' association and headed its Poznań branch[3. He became involved in political activities within the Law and Justice party. He was an assistant to MP Jacek Tomczak and MEP Marcin Libicki[4]. Later, he was employed in the offices of subsequent PiS MEPs from Greater Poland - Konrad Szymański and Ryszard Czarnecki.
Member of the Polish Parliament, 2015–present edit
In 2015 Szynkowski vel Sęk was elected member of the Polish Sejm receiving 8,676 votes.[3] Consequently, he got re-elected in 2019 (24 233 votes)[4] and 2023 (leading the local Law and Justice list and receiving 45 167 votes).[5] He used to be member of Parliamentary Committee on the European Union and Foreign Affairs Committee. He also chaired the Polish-German Parliamentary Group.[6]
Career in government, 2018–2023 edit
On 1 June 2018, Szynkowski vel Sęk was appointed Secretary of State for the Polish Community Abroad, European Policy and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1]
On 13 October 2022, President Andrzej Duda appointed him as Minister for European Union Affairs.[7] On 27 November 2023, he took up the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the third government of Mateusz Morawiecki.[8]
Interactions with international partners edit
In July 2020, Szynkowski vel Sęk – on behalf of the Polish government – summoned the German chargé d'affaires “in connection with a sequence of articles in German media using manipulation and creating a clear impression of favouring one of the candidates” around the presidential election, referring to a perceived bias in favour of Rafał Trzaskowski over Andrzej Duda.[9] In October 2021, he summoned Belgium's ambassador to express "disapproval and indignation" after Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo accused Poland of "playing with fire" in a worsening dispute with the European Commission over the rule of law.[10]
After adopting on 25 October 2023 by the European Parliament the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs report on the on proposals for the amendment of the EU Treaties (approved with 305 votes in favour, 276 against, and 29 abstentions)[11] Szynkowski vel Sęk made efforts to build a coalition of EU member states against treaty changes in such form, visiting a number of European capitals, including i.a. Copenhagen,[12] Prague,[13] Bratislava,[14] Vilnius,[15] Riga and Budapest.[16]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ Zabawny, Zenon (23 November 2010). "Oni będą rządzić Poznaniem – sprawdź, kim są nowi radni". poznan.naszemiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "PKW | Wybory do Sejmu RP i Senatu RP". parlament2015.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2019 r." sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2023 r." wybory.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk". www.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ News, Polsat (13 October 2022). "Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk ministrem ds. UE w KPRM". polsatnews.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Nowy rząd premiera Mateusza Morawieckiego - Kancelaria Prezesa Rady Ministrów - Portal Gov.pl". Kancelaria Prezesa Rady Ministrów (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ Alan Charlish and Alicja Ptak (8 July 2020), Poland summons German charge d'affaires over election media coverage Reuters.
- ^ Alan Charlish and Anna Koper (29 October 2021), Poland summons ambassador after Belgian PM's rule of law comments Reuters.
- ^ "Future of the EU: Parliament's proposals to amend the Treaties | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Wizyta Sekretarza Stanu Szymona Szynkowskiego vel Sęk w Kopenhadze - Polska w Danii - Portal Gov.pl". Polska w Danii (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Ministr zahraničních věcí Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk v Praze - Polsko v ČR - Portal Gov.pl". Polsko v ČR (in Czech). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Poland calls for debate on proposed EU treaty changes: FM - English Section - polskieradio.pl". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Polish, Lithuanian diplomats discuss EU treaty changes - English Section - polskieradio.pl". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Konsultacje bilateralne Ministra Szymona Szynkowskiego vel Sęka ws. reformy Traktatów - Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych - Portal Gov.pl". Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2023.