Polska Fundacja im. Roberta Schumana is a non-governmental and an apolitical organization established in 1991. It was founded by public figures associated with the political changes of 1989-90, including Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Piotr Nowina-Konopka.
“EUROPE HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR REFERENCE POINT WHEN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR IDENTITY.”
– Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Mission of the Foundation
The fundamental, statutory mission of the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation is to ‘galvanise Europeans into active citizenship as well as promote European integration, and values which underpin it’. Virtually every activity undertaken by the Foundation is devoted to European matters, especially to engaging citizens for European integration, and co-shaping the future of Europe. Some of our activities have equally focused on matters relating to the European history, and the richness and diversity of its culture. Our approach, driving our day-to-day activity, is to reach not only those who are well acquainted with European matters, but all EU citizens. We devote special attention to people who are not particularly interested in European matters on a daily basis or who are sceptical of the European project.
Our activities
In 2022 together with our partners, we were present in a total of 50 localities in 16 EU countries as well as in several regions outside of the EU. Our activities gathered about 18,500 direct participants. Our social media campaigns reached over 4,000,000 users throughout the EU. During a 100+ events and workshops, held both on-line and off-line, we managed to talk about Europe with people having different political views, and a varying level of knowledge about the EU. We enhanced our network of Schuman Volunteers, whom we galvanise to engage in citizen activity in the majority of Member States. Furthermore, we cooperated with a number of European Clu,bs, and local organisations in many regions of Europe. In partnership with them, we organize events aimed at promoting the values inscribed in the Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.
Our campaigns
Polish Robert Schuman Foundation 2021-2022
Examples of our activities undertaken in 2021/2022 are described below
Promoting European values in social media and traditional media outlets
The Foundation conducted campaigns in social media, which promoted European and democratic values. They were focused in particular on the benefits of being part of the EU, European values or the consequences of Brexit, to name but a few. The campaigns reached a total of around 4,000,000 users. Furthermore, we collaborated with traditional media outlets, in particular with local media, in the area of European matters. In 2021, in partnership with them, we launched a campaign on the meaning of European values in various EU policies.
Engaging in the development of the civil society and CSOs
We actively engaged in activities undertaken by coalitions of civil society organisations in favour of the development of the third sector. We operated under numerous European partnerships. We either co-created or supported petitions, appeals, and statements made by civil society organisations calling for the respect of European values, in particular touching on such issues as unlawful police action, guaranteeing the right to a truly fair trial, freedom of the media, growing restrictions on women’s rights, climate protection, etc.
European and civic education of European citizens
The Foundation run over a hundred youth-friendly workshops on a number of European, social and political issues, including about the role of the EU in the world, values underpinning its cohesion policy, environment protection or misinformation. The events were focused on enhancing critical and analytical thinking in relation to information spread by the media and on the Internet. We supported young people in developing skills necessary to act for their local communities. The Foundation supported the network of European Clubs as well as youth councils in a number of Member States. The Foundation equally carried out a study on the approach towards the EU among the 15-26 age group. We published numerous educational and support materials for youth councils, European Clubs, schools and citizens organisations.
International Volunteering
In 2022 The Foundation coordinated the work of 30 volunteers joining various citizens organisations in the EU. For the period of 9 to 12 months, the volunteers worked in facilities supporting people with disabilities, schools, kindergartens, and youth organisations. Several months of work allow for the volunteers to gain new skills while the recipients of their work directly benefit from their efforts as well as make contacts with people representing different countries, cultures, and languages. Former volunteers go on to join the network of ‘Schuman Volunteers’. Supported by the Foundation, they are encouraged to continue to engage in pro-European activity in their respective countries and regions throughout the EU.
European debates
Last year, we organized over 40 events, predominantly using digital tools, including various participants into discussions about the future of Europe. We organized meetings bringing together representatives of local authorities from Member States, devoted to challenges for European cities and towns in the face of the pandemic. We galvanise citizens to partake in the development of claims and demands for the Conference on the Future of Europe. We disseminated information regarding the challenges of implementing the European Green Deal, and EU environmental and climate protection action. Furthermore, we commissioned a research on the influence of Member States in the aftermath of Brexit as well as a publication about the founding fathers of the EU.
Tackling misinformation
As part of a coalition ‘European Front’, the Foundation actively tackles misinformation on European matters which is being spread on-line. We supported a grassroots group of 3,500 on-line volunteers gathered in Keyboard Warriors group. Their mission is to react to manipulated content spread in the social media, especially in relation to European matters. We organized several dozen meetings and workshops for local communities on how to tackle misinformation.
