Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie

Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie (SEA), or the Euro-Atlantic Association, is a non-profit, nationwide non-governmental organization based in Warsaw, Poland, focused on foreign policy, defence and international relations. It was founded in 1994, when 33 founding members adopted a founding declaration on 29 March 1994. The declaration argued that the geopolitical changes underway in Europe offered Poland a historic chance to escape the "double flanking" between East and West that had twice cost the country its independence, and that joining an integrated Europe and Euro-Atlantic security structures would end that vulnerability. The association was conceived as a broad civic forum for reflection on state security, intended to foster better understanding of foreign policy and agreement on Poland's raison d'état. SEA's statutory goals include working for Poland's fullest possible participation in NATO, the European Union and other international security institutions; conducting conceptual work on Polish foreign, security and defence policy; and carrying out educational activities on Polish policy and international relations. To pursue these goals, the association organizes lectures, discussion meetings and conferences on political and military integration, prepares analyses and expert opinions, and engages in publishing. The organization is governed by a board (Zarząd) and a supervisory audit commission, with an executive council (Rada Wykonawcza) and a recommending committee. Its leadership has included figures from Polish diplomacy and security policy, such as Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, Adam Jelonek, Marek Prawda, Stanisław Onyszkiewicz, Norbert Augustynowicz and Agnieszka Homańska. The founding committee included Andrzej Ananicz, Kazimierz Dziewanowski, Przemysław Grudziński, Janusz Onyszkiewicz and Piotr Szczepański. SEA runs several flagship programmes. The Euro-Atlantic Academy (Akademia Euro-Atlantycka) is a training series of ten specialist lectures on Euro-Atlantic affairs, Poland's interests in NATO and the EU, collective security mechanisms, Polish foreign and defence policy, NATO's role, EU security and defence policy, democratization of international relations, strategic culture, the history of European integration, defence economics, modernization of the Polish army, the Polish defence industry and cybersecurity; its inaugural lecture was held on 19 April 2017. The Warsaw Transatlantic Forum was launched on 12–13 March 2009 at the University of Warsaw, co-organized with the Centre for International Relations, to mark NATO's 60th anniversary, the 10th anniversary of Poland's NATO accession and SEA's 15th anniversary. Other projects include the "Diplomacy and International Affairs" competition for middle-school students from towns of up to 20,000 inhabitants, and "Aliante", an international competition held in 12 countries for students aged 15–19 who are citizens of NATO member states. SEA maintains partnerships and networks with Polish and international institutions and personalities, and its members are active in media and public debates. In recent years it has hosted events such as a meeting with Daniel Fried, former U.S. ambassador to Poland and former Assistant Secretary of State, a debate titled "Russia as an empire. Yesterday, today and tomorrow?", and a celebration of SEA's 30th anniversary at its Warsaw premises on Koszykowa Street. It has also issued public positions, including a statement on Volodymyr Z. in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie (SEA) was established in 1994 as a non-profit, nationwide non-governmental organization in Poland. Its founding declaration, adopted on 29 March 1994 by 33 founding members, framed the association as a response to the geopolitical opening that followed the end of the Cold War. The declaration stated that the situation taking shape in Europe and the world over the preceding four years created opportunities for Poland that it had not had for at least two centuries. It argued that the prospect of a favourable change in Poland's geopolitical position—by removing the "double flanking" from East and West that had twice led to the loss of independence—could be realized through entry into an integrated and successfully developing union of European countries combined with entry into European and Euro-Atlantic security structures. The founders warned that this chance must not be wasted and proposed creating, following the example of other countries, a broad forum for civic reflection on state security. They emphasized that the association's non-governmental character would facilitate open discussion and exchanges with foreign partners. From its inception, SEA pursued three main goals: working for Poland's fullest possible participation in NATO, the European Union and other international security institutions; conducting conceptual work on Polish foreign policy, security and defence; and educational activity on Polish policy and international relations. The association organizes lectures, discussion meetings and conferences on political and military integration, prepares analyses and expert opinions, and carries out publishing activity. Over the decades, SEA has built a portfolio of programmes. The Warsaw Transatlantic Forum was launched on 12–13 March 2009 at the University of Warsaw, co-organized with the Centre for International Relations, to mark the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Alliance, the 10th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO and the 15th anniversary of SEA. The forum debated the future of NATO, the situation in Afghanistan, challenges to world peace, the legacy of Bronisław Geremek, and transatlantic relations and the role of the United States in addressing global challenges. The Euro-Atlantic Academy (Akademia Euro-Atlantycka), a series of ten specialist lectures, held its inaugural lecture on 19 April 2017 under the title "U.S.–Russia–EU relations: challenges and threats for Polish foreign and security policy." Its curriculum covers Euro-Atlantic affairs, Poland's interests in NATO and the EU, collective security mechanisms, Polish foreign policy in international security, NATO's role and tasks, EU security and defence policy, Polish defence, democratization of international relations, defence and strategic culture, the history of European integration in the context of security and defence policy, Polish economic policy from a security and defence perspective, modernization of the Polish army, the Polish defence industry, and cybersecurity. The academy uses debates, lectures, conferences, workshops and discussion meetings, led by prominent experts and public figures, sometimes in cooperation with institutions dealing with Polish defence, foreign policy and national security. SEA also runs educational competitions. "Diplomacy and International Affairs" is aimed at middle-school students from towns of up to 20,000 inhabitants, with the goal of raising their knowledge of diplomacy and international affairs, sparking interest in these issues and encouraging them to use the internet to find information; during the second edition in 2009, laureates also took part in a simulation of the North Atlantic Council. The competition is supported by the Foundation for the Support of Rural Areas (Fundacja Wspomagania Wsi). "Aliante" is an edition of an international competition organized in 12 countries—Czechia, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine—aimed at promoting knowledge of security, international relations, 20th-century history and geography; it is open to all high-school students and university students in Poland aged 15–19 who hold citizenship of a NATO member state. SEA's governance includes a board (Zarząd), an audit commission (Komisja Rewizyjna), an executive council (Rada Wykonawcza) and a recommending committee (Komitet Rekomendujący). The board has been led by President Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, with board members Adam Jelonek, Marek Prawda, Stanisław Onyszkiewicz, Norbert Augustynowicz and Agnieszka Homańska. The executive council is chaired by Janusz Onyszkiewicz, with Jerzy Maria Nowak as vice-chair. The founding committee comprised Andrzej Ananicz, Kazimierz Dziewanowski, Przemysław Grudziński, Janusz Onyszkiewicz and Piotr Szczepański. In recent years, SEA has continued to host high-profile events and issue public positions. It held a meeting with Daniel Fried, former U.S. ambassador to Poland and former Assistant Secretary of State, and organized a debate titled "Russia as an empire. Yesterday, today and tomorrow?" on the historical and contemporary dimensions of Russian imperialism and its consequences for European and Central and Eastern European security. It celebrated its 30th anniversary at its premises on Koszykowa Street in Warsaw with two panels on current security challenges facing Poland and Europe and SEA's role in building transatlantic cooperation. It also issued a statement on Volodymyr Z. in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, arguing that the allegation made by the German side appeared devoid of any sense and justification.

• 2024

  SEA's 30th anniversary celebrated at Koszykowa Street in Warsaw.

• 2017

  Inaugural lecture of the Euro-Atlantic Academy held on 19 April 2017.

• 2009

  First Warsaw Transatlantic Forum held on 12–13 March 2009 at the University of Warsaw, co-organized with the Centre for International Relations.

• 2009

  Second edition of the "Diplomacy and International Affairs" competition; laureates took part in a simulation of the North Atlantic Council.

• 1994

  Founding declaration adopted on 29 March 1994 by 33 founding members; SEA established.

Non-profit, non-governmental civic forum for foreign policy, security and defence analysis, education and public debate in Poland.

• Akademia Euro-Atlantycka

  A training series of ten specialist lectures on Euro-Atlantic affairs, security and defence.

• Warsaw Transatlantic Forum

  International conference launched in 2009 on transatlantic relations and security.

• Dyplomacja i Sprawy Międzynarodowe

  Competition for middle-school students from towns up to 20,000 inhabitants.

• Aliante

  International competition in 12 countries for students aged 15–19 who are NATO member state citizens.

1. 1Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie official websitesea.org.pl
2. 2Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie – Wikidatawikidata.org