Poland Joins the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics as Eighth EU State Member

The Brussels Institute for Geopolitics (BIG) is delighted to welcome Poland as its eighth EU state member, increasing the Institute’s geographic representation in central and eastern Europe, alongside current member, Czechia.  

This development follows several rounds of fruitful exchange between the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BIG to discuss cooperation in line with our mission to develop a more strategic Europe that can face today’s realities.

BIG’s state members now comprise France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Spain—which joined earlier this year—and Poland, alongside  private sector stakeholders.

To mark this milestone, Deputy Foreign Minister Marek Prawda emphasized that the European Union has the potential, resources and instruments to become a major global player. “To achieve this, we must engage in deep reflection on what defines our community, which values are fundamental to us, and what price we, as Europeans, are willing to pay to defend them. As one of the EU’s largest member states, Poland should actively participate in this debate,” he stated.

BIG’s Founding Director, Luuk van Middelaar, welcomed Poland’s membership, emphasizing its strategic importance in shaping Europe’s geopolitical response:

“It is a unique privilege to work alongside Polish colleagues to better understand the tectonic shifts tearing at Europe’s post-World War II security order and shape a collective response. Poland’s direct experience of the existential risks facing Europe will bring critical insights to the debate.

It has played an instrumental role since the start of the war in Ukraine in speeding up defence readiness and coordination among European states – an effort it is currently leading through its presidency of the Council of the European Union. At BIG, our role is to bring together voices from governments across Europe into the strategic conversation in Brussels. Poland joining is yet another milestone.”