We recently wrote about the ceremony of presenting Bolesławiec with the Honorary Plaque of the Council of Europe. The ceremony took place on Saturday, 25 August, in the Forum cinema hall at BOK-MCC. That day, the Bolesławiec City Council adopted a resolution “on an appeal to strengthen European integration.” The document reads:
At this special moment, when the Council of Europe honored the city of Bolesławiec with the Plaque of Europe in recognition of its significant achievements in integrating Europe at the local-community level, we wish to appeal to parliamentarians and governments of European countries to strengthen efforts aimed at making Europe the home of all free nations, a Europe made strong by the richness of its diversity. In August 32 years ago, the Polish “Solidarity” movement began the process of dismantling the post-Yalta order in Europe and rejecting the diktat imposed on the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe on Soviet bayonets. Alongside economic and labor demands, in 1981 “Solidarity” formulated an appeal to the peoples of Eastern Europe, whose content left no doubt about its awareness of acting “for your freedom and ours.” Love of freedom was and remains a defining feature of the actions of Poles for generations. As heirs to this idea, we make an impassioned appeal to the politicians who decide the fate of ourselves and our children and grandchildren: may there be a place in the European Family for all free nations.
The document’s justification stated:
The Honorary Plaque of the Council of Europe for Bolesławiec is an expression of recognition for the local community’s efforts toward international cooperation in a Europe that is becoming united. For years, the efforts of the local-government authorities, institutions and organizational units, associations and various groups in our city have expanded and consolidated contacts between partner cities, provided opportunities to exchange experiences, build attitudes of openness and respect for others, and participate in creating a common European Home. This process must not exclude any free European nation. The Bolesławiec City Council addresses its appeal to the Council of Europe, the authorities of the Republic of Poland and the local-government authorities of its twin cities, and through them to the parliaments and governments of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Czech Republic, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic and the Italian Republic.
(information: ii)