Order of Merit from the Republic of Poland

Tuesday 4th June exactly 30 years on from the date when democracy began to be restored in Poland, Sir Roger has been given a state honour by President Andrzej Duda: “Recognising outstanding merits in the activity for the support of democratic transformation in Poland as well as for developing Polish and British scientific and academic cooperation: the grand cordon of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland has been bestowed on the citizen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Sir Roger Scruton.”

President Duda's speech in which he refers to Roger's writing and in which he talks about politics being 'for the common good' can be found on You Tube. A translation of the speech can be read here. 

Roger's acceptance speech in Polish and English can be found at 13.10 - 16.10. 

On Wednesday 5th June Roger is guest speaker at the:

4th Summit of Speakers of Central and Eastern European Parliaments. 

Opening of the session, commencement of the 1^st panel

The fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe – fostering common historical memory

• The significance of communism in the awareness of nations.
• What is the Central European community of experiences from the time of the Autumn of Nations?
• How can freedom and sovereignty of nations be implemented in the modern world?
• Cooperation between the states of the region as a guarantee of development and security

​                        Part I

                        Speech by Sir Roger Scruton - this will be livestreamed and you can watch here. 

                        (Keynote Speaker)

​                         Speeches by the Heads of Delegations 

​                        Part II

​                         Speeches by Special Guests 

12:40              Opening of the exhibition “1989 – Nations’ Freedom Year – Triumph of Free Speech”

                        (1^st floor, building C–D)

13:45​               Opening of the 2^nd panel

The approach of Central and Eastern Europe to the challenges of modern times

• The impact of globalisation, information civilisation, national identity inertia, the new geopolitical situation on the future of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Ways to ensure security in the region.
• The importance of the region for Europe and the world in the context of the EU crisis.
• How to strengthen regional unity and the richness of diversity in Central and Eastern Europe divided by various borders?
• The success of Central and Eastern Europe in a changing world.

                         Speeches by the Heads of Delegations 

14:45               Closing of the session

Reports of the events of the last two days can be found below:

ThefirstNews article 

DailyMail report