Responsibilities and competences of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

1. As defined in the regulation of the President of the Council of Ministers of 22 December 2009 concerning the detailed scope of activities conducted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

Directing branches of government administration: foreign affairs and the Republic of Poland’s membership of the European Union; and

Disposing of the 45th portion of the state budget.

2. As defined in the Act on branches of government administration of 4 September 1997:

1) In the branch of foreign affairs:

Maintaining the Republic of Poland’s relations with other states and international organisations;

Representing and protecting the Republic of Poland’s interests abroad, including also before the international courts and tribunals, excluding the judicial bodies of the European Union and the Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA Court);

Coordinating the foreign policy of the Republic of Poland, including the activity of government administration bodies and their subordinate units by:

a) Developing, agreeing and submitting for examination to the Council of Ministers, on an annual basis, of the government document defining the directions and objectives of Poland’s foreign policy and promotion of the Republic of Poland’s interests for the following year, as well as developing and submitting to the Council of Ministers long-term strategies in the area of foreign affairs;

b) Giving opinions on consistency with that document and submitting to the President of the Council of Ministers of the opinions on the annual and long-term plans of the ministers’ foreign cooperation;

c) Being involved in international relations essential from the point of view of the interests of the Republic of Poland;

Representing and protecting the interests of Polish nationals and Polish legal persons abroad as well as cooperating with Poles residing abroad, including supporting Polish cultural and educational institutions abroad;

Dealing with matters in the area of international cooperation for development and humanitarian aid;

Building the international image of the Republic of Poland;

Dealing with matters in the area of public and cultural diplomacy as well as supporting efforts promoting the Polish economy, culture, language, tourism, technology and science undertaken within the scope of other activities;

Presenting the report on the tasks of the Polish foreign policy to the Sejm (lower chamber of the parliament) of the Republic of Poland;

Determining organisation of and directing the activity of foreign diplomatic missions of the Republic of Poland and coordinating the activities associated with assurance of their security.

2) In the branch of membership of the Republic of Poland in the European Union:

In terms of involvement of government administration bodies in the work of the institutions of the European Union, in particular developing the strategy of the Republic of Poland’s policy within the European Union as well as initiating and preparing government documents relative to involvement in the work of the institutions of the European Union or giving opinions thereon in terms of their consistency with that strategy;

In terms of information and educational activity aiming to disseminate knowledge about European integration and operation of the European Union, and the related policy of the Council of Ministers;

In terms of consistency of the Polish law system with the law of the European Union and protection of the interests of the Republic of Poland in the proceedings before the judicial bodies of the European Union and the Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA Court), in particular:

a) Coordinating the process of transposition of the law of the European Union into the Polish law system;

b) Presenting to the Council of Ministers opinions on consistency with the law of the European Union of government draft acts of commonly applicable law and draft international agreements;

c) Giving opinions, on the principles specified in the regulations of the Sejm, on consistency of draft laws with the law of the European Union;

d) Assuring, subject to the separate regulations, representation of the Republic of Poland in the proceedings before the judicial bodies of the European Union and the Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA Court);

Preparing government administration bodies for performance of the tasks stemming from the Republic of Poland’s membership of the European Union; and

Employing Polish nationals in the institutions and agencies of the European Union.

3. Pursuant to Act on the Council of Ministers of 8 August 1996:

Being involved, on the principles defined in the Constitutional Act, in establishment of the state’s foreign policy, assuming responsibility for the content and implementation of the Government’s efforts in the manner and on the principles laid down in separate regulations;

Initiating and developing the Government’s policy within the scope of his competence as well as submitting initiatives, draft assumptions underlying draft laws and draft regulatory acts at the meetings of the Council of Ministers, on the principles and according to the procedure specified under separate regulations;

Implementing the policy of the Council of Ministers;

Representing the Government before the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on the statutorily specified principles;

Participating in the meetings of the Council of Ministers;

Directing, overseeing and controlling the activity of subordinated bodies, offices and units; and

Presenting the matters relative to measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the meetings of the Council of Ministers.