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Brussels Live
Transcribed and translated by AI

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Dear Mr President, good morning. Ladies
and Gentlemen, a very warm welcome to you

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all at the ceremony to award the Jan Karski
Eagle Prize to the European Parliament

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and its representatives. Today, this will
be presided over by President Roberta

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Metsola, whom I warmly
and very warmly welcome.

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I take the liberty of greeting you, of
course, but— I am particularly pleased to see

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Mr Andrzej Poczobut here with us today, and
I would like to address you— And I would

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like to thank you very warmly for your
strength of character, for your resilience,

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and for the principles
you remain faithful to.

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You are an example to us. I now give the
floor to Mr Andrzej Lutek, who will say a

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few words about the Eagle of Jan
Karski Award and its laureates.

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Esteemed guests, the Eagle of Jan Karski
Award is the only one that Professor Jan

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Karski himself established during his
lifetime, and he did so in his own name only.

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It is therefore not an award
in his name, but his award.

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One spring day in 2000, while walking along
the streets of Washington’s Georgetown

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with his closest friend and collaborator,
Waldemar Piasecki, Jan Karski noticed two

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eagle statuettes in the
window of an antique shop.

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They caught his attention, as he later
said, because they depicted a wise and

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intelligent image of this majestic bird,
which is usually presented in aggressive

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and belligerent poses. The Professor noted
that such a wise eagle could be a kind of

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message for his compatriots; both statues
were purchased that very day, and the

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concept of an award
and its motto was born:

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"For those who can truly worry
with dignity over Poland."

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Over time, this was expanded to include:
'And for those who, though not Polish, wish

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Poland well.' Since its establishment, the
award has gained international prestige

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and recognition. Its laureates include five
Nobel Prize winners, four presidents of

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states, several well-known religious leaders
and several world organisations serving

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peace and the idea of 'never again'.

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Never again.

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And also the Gallery of Figures
Committed to Building the Common Good.

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One of its first laureates, Nobel
laureate and creator of the concept of the

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Holocaust, Elie Wiesel, said that in fact
the prestige of the award is measured by

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the time it takes for the
candidate to accept it.

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He himself accepted it in four minutes. We
have never had to wait longer than a week

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for acceptance. The Yad Vashem
Institute took two hours.

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Presidents of Poland Lech Wałęsa and
Aleksander Kwaśniewski did so within a day.

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The President of Israel, Shimon Peres,
accepted it the following day, as did the

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Holocaust Museum in Washington and the
Israeli Ghetto Fighters' House Museum.

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On the third day, President of Germany
Horst Köhler also did so, as did the leader

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of the Belarusian democratic opposition
and later Nobel laureate Alaksandr

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Bialiatski. Similarly, President
of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Contemporary Polish heroes: Jacek Kuroń,
Adam Michnik and Karol Modzelewski, as well

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as Tadeusz Mazowiecki,
in a similar manner.

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It took no more than that for Oriana Fallaci
or the world public good organisation

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Rotary International.
We did not wait a week.

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We had the president of the World Jewish
Congress, Ronald Lauder, the Vice-President

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of the European Commission, Věra Jourová,
and the community of the Italian island of

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Lampedusa. There has been little more
response regarding the family of the murdered

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Russian oppositionist Boris Nemtsov, and
it has taken a little longer to respond

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regarding the imprisoned Alexei Navalny.
The Hoover family, that of the American

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entrepreneur, philanthropist, politician
and President of the United States Herbert

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Hoover, had no difficulty in making a
swift decision, given his unparalleled

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contributions to the return to for his
invaluable contributions to the return of

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independent Poland to the map of
Europe, for his work in helping post-war

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reconstruction and saving the health and
lives of Polish children, and for his

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obvious influence on shaping the system of
values and life attitudes of Jan Karski.

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Also, we must be filled with respect by
the extremely swift acceptance of the Eagle

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of Jan Karskiego, which is being presented
today by the President of the European

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Parliament, Roberta Metsola. All this, in
addition to satisfaction, also fills us

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with pride that Jan Karski is
seen as the patron of these

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the human values that we so
desperately need, yet still lack.

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In conclusion, allow me, distinguished
Members gathered here, to end with the

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shortest possible overview of the
award, with a simple conclusion.

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We believe that the Jan Karski Society,
which administers it, established shortly

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after the death of our patron, mainly by
people who were his companions during his

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lifetime, as well as the Board of the Jan
Karski Eagle Award, will remain faithful

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to the work and thought
of Professor Karski.

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International opinions that the Eagles are
one of the most important awards coming

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out of Poland should be accepted with
pride, as a review of the work of preserving

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the memory of a great man who created the
award and charted the path for the Eagles.

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Thank you very much.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like
to call on Mr Andrzej Poczobut.

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Honorary member of the Jan Karski Society,
to deliver the award laudation of the

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European Parliament prepared
by Waldemar Piasecki.

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It will be concluded with a video
recording of the final part of Jan Karski’s

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historic speech, "The
Second Original Sin."

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Dear colleagues, Madam President, my friend
Waldemar Piasecki, Chairman of the Jan

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Karski Society and his closest associate,
asked me to read out this eulogy.

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I will do so with great pleasure. First and
foremost, because for me Jan Karski is a

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great hero, and I hold the European
Parliament in very high regard.

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I am extremely grateful to it for honouring
me with the Andrei Sakharov Prize at a

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time that was exceptionally
difficult for me.

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The Jan Karski Eagle Award to the
European Parliament is awarded for the

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representative reunification of Europe and
shaping the European reality in the name

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of a common, better future. With this
decision, we wish to highlight Poland’s

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historic contribution to the
construction of European integration.

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unity, linked to the figure of Joseph
Ratzinger, who as early as 1948 organised the

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European Congress in The Hague with
the participation of 25 states.

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This forum became the catalyst and
inspiration for European integration, it

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initiated the creation of the Council of
Europe and the European Movement, and in

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the longer term, in 1960, the establishment
of the European Parliament, which the

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Polish visionary politician
did not live to see.

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Jan Karski was a collaborator of Joseph
Ratzinger, both during the dramatic years

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wartime, as well as in the post-war years,
and was an enthusiast of the idea of the

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future of a global political order based
on integrated transatlantic cooperation

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between the United States
and the European Union.

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The Eagle Prize is therefore symbolically
dedicated to one of the fathers of the

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European community, a
Pole worthy of our memory.

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We appreciate the role of the European
Parliament and its efforts to make today’s

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Europe a better common place to life. Fully
aware of all the challenges, obstacles

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and risks involved in this process, with
which Parliament is striving to address and

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in doing so deserves our full support, we
bow our heads before the mission of the

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Polish Chair of this body, Jerzy Buzek, and
wish the current Chair, Roberta Metsola,

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every success in her
mission. Jana Karski as well.

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Both the Community idea of Europe and my
studies in diplomacy in Lviv under the

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guidance of the precursor of the law of
nations and their sovereignty, Professor

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Ludwik Ehrlich, and the tragic wartime
experiences, including the Holocaust, led me

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to this. He based his vision of a united
Europe on a deep conviction that lasting

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peace on the continent which can only
be built by renouncing the 17th-century

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concept of sovereignty, according to which
States could do whatever they pleased

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based on national egoisms. which often
lead to conflicts, wars, and the tragic

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consequences of genocidal crimes. The
Holocaust revealed the extreme danger posed by

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uncontrolled, absolute sovereignty, as the
German state of that time simply granted

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itself the sovereignty of
annihilating another nation.

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Moreover, it considered that this
sovereignty would also serve as a shield

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protecting Germany from accountability.

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That did not happen. It simultaneously
became clear that the concept and practice of

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sovereignty must be redefined; sovereignty
must cease to be a licence for impunity,

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while the guarantee of security is
European integration based on Community

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structures and the relinquishment by Member
States of a negotiated portion of their

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sovereignty. Of course, it was not
31-year-old Jan Karski, who was finishing the

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war, who was the author of these concepts.

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He considered Winston Churchill to be the
main architect of this idea, the father of

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the United States of Europe, but he
certainly saw himself as a follower of this

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idea, as its high priest. He proved this
through his entire brilliant academic

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career at the Department of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University in Washington,

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as well as his public activities. Karski
repeatedly emphasised that a united Europe

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must have a strong, lasting,
moral foundation for unity.

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It cannot be merely an economic,
trading and market union.

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whether it is a centrally managed technocratic
political project It must above all

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be a community of spiritual and moral
values, based on absolute respect for human

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rights, the dignity of the individual
and the protection of minorities.

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Voluntarism, sovereigntist voluntarism,
cannot in any way threaten these fundamental

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values. He also drew attention to the
need for equality and the absence of

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hierarchy, firmly opposing the division
of nations into dominant and subordinate.

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In his famous lecture upon receiving
the title of doctor honoris causa at the

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University of in his native Łódź in 1996
he delivered these fundamental words:

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"There are no better or worse nations.
Nations want to live and prosper in peace.

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It is their governments that start wars."
He added that unfortunately nations

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sometimes also have to be defended
against their own governments.

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Responsible action by the European Union’s
structures should take this into account.

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The European Community should also feel
a sense of responsibility for the fate of

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the entire continent. And also of those
states and nations that are not formally

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associated with it, but

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are under threat. As a long-standing
lecturer of the course 'Theories and Practice

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of Communism in the Soviet Union' at
Georgetown University, which has been breaking

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popularity records among students – among
its graduates was Bill Clinton – Karski

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precisely pointed out source
of the European threat.

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For him, this was always Moscow. He did not
believe in the durability of the changes

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initiated by Gorbachev's perestroika.
Not because he did not believe in his

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intentions, but because he did not believe
that the internal imperial logic of the

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system could allow Gorbachev’s
experiment to succeed.

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Unfortunately, we can easily see how right
Karski was in turning his gaze today to

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Ukraine, which Vladimir
Putin is trying to subjugate.

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All the elements of Jan Karski’s European
community vision are clearly evident in

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the activities of the European Parliament.

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His greatest success since its establishment
as a representative forum of the

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opinions of the Member States has been
its institutional evolution from a purely

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advisory body into powerful co-legislative
institution that, on an equal footing

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with the Council of the European Union,
shapes EU law and transforms Europe into a

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better place to live for
its 450 million citizens.

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Of course, this is not an easy process.
It is marked by many difficulties and also

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failures. Also in the daily struggle with
external challenges and threats, with a

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determined stance against the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, and with concern for

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securing the entire continent
against the Russian threat.

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Overcoming centrifugal tendencies that
are trying to undermine institutional

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cohesion structural
cohesion of the Community.

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Countering the wave of nationalism
and chauvinism sweeping across Europe.

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And with the growing attempts to undermine
the transatlantic alliance between Europe

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and the United States. Let us wish the
European Parliament never to rest in the face

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of these challenges and forces, and may
it always have the strength to meet them.

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The first President of the European
Parliament, Simone Veil, prisoner number 78651,

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survived Auschwitz and forged

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her suffering to good use. Her life reminds
us that neutrality only aids evil, never

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good. The European Parliament should
steadfastly uphold such a moral stance and

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always serve the good. That
is the purpose of this award:

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to link a personal fate, a lifetime’s work
and the message of its patron with the

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ideals that the European
Parliament aspires to serve today.

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I call on Ms Roberta Metsola,
President, to accept it.

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I would like to conclude the project with
a screening of the film "Speeches of Jan

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Karski", which has gone down in
history as the second original sin.

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It spoke about what ends with
a failure to react to evil.

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And a comfortable stance. I believe that
this will never be the stance of the

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European Parliament. Waldemar Piasecki.

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Thank you very much.

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The second original sin had
been committed by humanity.

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Through commission or omission, or
self-imposed ignorance, or insensitivity, or

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self-interest, or hypocrisy, or heartless
rationalization, this sin will haunt

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humanity to the end of time. It does
haunt me, and I want it to be so.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, at this moment we
have reached the climax of our ceremony.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now introduce
and invite the individuals who will be

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presenting the award attributes. I now
invite Mr Andrzej Seweryn, an honorary member

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of the Jan Karski Society, who will
present the statue – the Karski Eagle.

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I now invite Mr Andrzej Poczobut, also an
honorary member of the Jan Karski Society,

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who will present the diploma, and I invite
Jerzy Kozierecki, the great-nephew of our

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hero, who will present a photograph.
And I invite onto the stage Ms President

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Roberta Metsola.

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A diploma to Mr Andrzej.

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Thank you very much. And I would ask the
President to give her acceptance speech.

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Thank you very much, dziękuję. Colleagues,
ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, it is

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such an honor to accept the Jan Karski
Eagle Award on behalf of the European

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Parliament. I am humbled to be part of
such a prestigious list of laureates.

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On behalf of all my colleagues in the
European Parliament, dziękuję bardzo.

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Few countries have done so much to build
Europe as Poland, and her brave sons and

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daughters. Europe will never forget their
sacrifices, and it is fitting that we

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celebrate European democracy
here, in this beautiful city.

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We will live up to the responsibility
that you bestow on us today.

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Yesterday I had the honor of laying a
wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

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Reflecting on all those who gave their
lives for freedom, and all those you rep

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lost. And in that moment I thought of Jan
Karski, and what he must have carried.

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He was a life of unsurpassed
courage, and morality.

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A patriot devoted to the independence of
Poland, and the soul of Europe who stood up

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to evil and brandished the light of truth.

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Jan Karski understood that for courage
and goodness to triumph over fear and

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tyranny, we have to stand up before our
values and for each other especially when it

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is the hardest. Because that
is when it matters most.

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And in these challenging
times his words ring through.

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The commitment, the common humanity of
people, not the power of governments.

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Is the only real
protector of human rights.

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It is a mission that Jan Karski's
contemporary, Josef Rettinger, put into action

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just years after the war ended by helping
to found the Council of Europe, the first

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of many European bodies that
now form a constellation.

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Today the European Parliament proudly
carries forward Jan Karski and Josef

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Rettinger's vision of a Europe that
is founded on peace and democracy.

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We are building a community of values
where freedom, dignity, and solidarity are

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championed. Where peoples' lives, from
Porto to Poznań, are imported and improved

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thanks to their members of
the European Parliament.

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Who work tirelessly in partnership
with national parliaments such as

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the same and the Senate, to
connect Europeans to Europe.

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I am privileged to work alongside so many
incredible Polish colleagues, and I am

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constantly impressed by their ability
to get things done even when it seems

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impossible. Together we are realizing the
dream of voiceless generations who longed

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for a Europe where everyone's voice
is heard and can shape our future.

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And right now, here in Jan Karski's
homeland, I promise you this:

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we will continue working, fearlessly, and
relentlessly to make that European dream a

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reality for people throughout our Union.
Because as Professor Karski taught us,

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witnessing is not enough. We
must stand up for what is right.

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We made that same promise
to you, dear Andrzej.

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For five long years, you were imprisoned,
for speaking out against oppression.

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Last year our house awarded you the Saharov
Prize for freedom of thought, while you

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were still behind bars. This year all of
Europe rejoiced when you crossed the Polish

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border into freedom. And it was such a
privilege to welcome you to our Parliament as

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a free man, shortly afterwards, you remind
us that not even prison walls can silence

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the truth. Your courage carries forward
Jan Karski's legacy and challenges us to

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keep standing up for
our democratic future.

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Yesterday I discussed that future with
students and the Warsaw School of Economics,

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it was inspiring to hear their
dreams and ideas for our continent.

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These young people never had to live
through the horrors that Professor Karski

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witnessed. They can enjoy the freedom to
travel without borders, to build without

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limits, to fall and
know they are supported.

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That is what Europe can deliver,
and what we must protect.

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Their generation will write
Europe's next chapter.

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That is why it is up to us to make sure
that they can succeed here at home, and that

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is why we are simplifying legislation and
connecting markets so people can innovate.

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And businesses can
flourish on our continent.

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We have the talent, the ideas, and the
resources and Poland is proving it every

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single day.

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This is no surprise. You cannot speak
of Europe without speaking of Poland.

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In 1989 Solidarność lit the torch of
democracy behind the Iron Curtain.

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In 2004 when Poland joined the European
family we finally answered Pope John Paul

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II's call, made in our house, for
Europe to breathe with both lungs.

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In our Parliament intellectuals like Bronisław
Geremek reshaped how Europe thinks of

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itself. And my predecessor, Professor
Jerzy Buzek, became the first member from a

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post-Soviet country to
lead our Parliament.

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Now, as Russia's illegal war in Ukraine
continues to threaten our eastern flank,

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Poland is once again leading
the defense of our way of life.

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Europe stands with you, together we
must continue to support Ukraine.

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In its fight for freedom and
democracy. Against Russian aggression.

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More than 80 years ago Jan Karski risked
his life for that same freedom here in

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Poland. He also warned the
world of the Holocaust.

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The darkest consequence of antisemitism.
Tragically just as our freedom is again

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under threat, so too is the evil
of antisemitism rising once more.

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This time we must answer it with decisive
action, and I repeat the commitment I made

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at last year's ceremony honoring Yad Vashem,
the European Parliament will never give

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up the fight against this
ancient evil. And it is growing.

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On our streets, on our
campuses, and online.

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Our determination to beat it must match the
scale of the challenge, and the European

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Parliament will always be at
the forefront of that fight.

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Last month our Parliament welcomed Omri,
who spent 738 days as a hostage of the

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terrorist group Hamas after October 7th.
We cannot look away from such horror.

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Our Union was built on the
ashes of the Holocaust.

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And in the name of Jan Karski and every
victim of those monstrous years, we must

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keep speaking up, because to be
antisemitic is to be anti-European.

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And it can never be accepted.
We will never accept it.

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I am President of the House, as you Andrzej
said, that was once led by Simon Weil,

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herself a survivor of Auschwitz, so our
commitment is personal, as much as it is

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institutional.

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So you can rely on the European Parliament
to keep speaking up for truth, for

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justice, and for democracy. Bringing
people together to create a common European

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reality. And a better future for everyone.

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It is a mission that I know Jan Karski would
be proud of, and that is why this award

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means so much, and we will
carry it forward in his spirit.

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Thank you.

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Ladies and gentlemen, dear media representatives, welcome to the press conference on

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the joint conclusions of the Justice Minister
session held as part of the EU-Western

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Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice
and Home Affairs here in Budva.

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Today's press conference will feature
statements by the Minister of Justice of

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Montenegro, Bojan Božović, Minister for
Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration of

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Ireland, Jimo Callaghan, and European
Commissioner for Justice, Michael McGrath.

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Ladies and gentlemen, dear media representatives, welcome to the press conference on

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the joint conclusions of the meeting of
justice ministers held as part of the

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EU-Western Balkans Summit, namely the
Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Forum.

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At today's press conference, we will hear
statements from the Minister of Justice of

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Montenegro, Mr Bojan Božović, the Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of

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Ireland, Mr Jim Callaghan, and the European
Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael

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McGrath.

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Following their opening remarks, the
floor will be open for your questions.

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After their opening statements, we
will open the floor for questions.

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And now let's start.
Minister Božović, please.

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The floor is yours.