WeTogether Stand
The ”Coalition of the Willing” must now take up the defense of Polish airspace Page 3
Table of contents
POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Guarding the NATO’s Eastern Flank 3-7
ECONOMY
New Strategy, Budget Ready, Money from EC, but Rating Down 8-11
THE BUZZ | 12-20
International Chopin Competition
Works of street art superstar under one roof Warsaw haunted by Beetlejuice Prometheus premieres at the Wielki Theatre Polish and Belgian precursors to Surrealism Skłodowska-Curie up close and personal Synth-pop legend brings 80s vibes to Warsaw Angelic voice beloved by whole generation Poland’s international artistic ties under Communist regime explored
SOCIETY
Warsaw ranks high among cities with the best quality of life 21
Olfactory Tribute to Marrakech
911 for 4?: Porsche Panamera 4
A new chapter for Maserati in Poland
Nokian Tyres ranks 98th in the list of the world’s most environmentally sustained companies Volkswagen named the world’s most innovative group
Sweden buys Polish Piorun missiles
Danes take over another wind business
Green light for desalination pilot project
PLN 100 billion for transport in 2026
The military is purchasing Polish radars Agreement signed for CGR-080 missiles
Small Nuclear Power plant in Włocławek
Polish laboratory to be launched into orbit
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GUARDING THE NATO’S EASTERN FLANK
The September intrusion of more than 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace caused another acute crisis between NATO and Moscow. For the first time in history, Alliance forces shot down Russian aircraft flying over NATO territory.
On the night of September 9-10 Polish airspace was repeatedly violated by drones during Russia’s night attack on targets in Ukraine, The Armed Forces Operational Command’s statements indicated that at least several drones were shot down.
The Operational Command issued a statement saying that there had been “an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by drone-type objects.” “This is an act of aggression that posed a real threat to the safety of our citizens. On the orders of the Operational Commander, defense procedures were immediately activated,” the statement added.
Dutch F-35s, which arrived in Poland on September 1 and are to remain there until the end of the year, took part in the operation to shoot down the drones.
During the Polish and allied operation, the airports in Rzeszów, Lublin, Warsaw-Okęcie, and Modlin were temporarily closed.
The Polish Prime Minister assured that Warsaw would not tolerate any violation of its airspace by Russian drones or any other aircraft. “We will make decisions to shoot down flying objects without question when they violate our territory and fly over Poland. There is nothing to discuss here,” Donald Tusk said.
The Polish PM was asked about the words of Czech President Petar Pavel, who, after Russian MiG-31K fighter jets violated Estonian airspace and remained in Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes, said that “we must respond appropriately, including possibly shooting down Russian aircraft.”
“When we are dealing with situations that are not entirely clear, so we have to think twice before deciding on actions that could trigger a very acute phase of conflict. That is why we are in constant consultation with our allies. We are ready for any decision aimed at destroying objects that may threat-
OPERATION EASTERN SENTRY IS INTENDED TO INCREASE SECURITY ON THE ALLIANCE’S EASTERN FLANK. NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE ANNOUNCED ITS LAUNCH A FEW DAYS AFTER RUSSIAN DRONES VIOLATED POLISH AIRSPACE
en us, such as Russian fighter jets, if, for example, they fly over our territorial waters. But I must be 100% sure that all our allies will treat this in the same way as we do. I must be 100% sure that if the conflict enters a very acute phase, we will not be alone in this,” said Tusk.
“Let’s also remember that civilian drones are quite commonly used in Poland. We have had two cases in recent days where flying objects were found on the ground and it turned out that they were not part of this Russian drone aggression. We are trying to be very reliable here and not cause panic,” added the PM. “So far, there has not been a single case of an armed drone that could explode or in any other way harm the inhabitants (of Poland) or their property,” he assured.
At a meeting of the National Security Bureau attended by President Karol Nawrocki, Prime Minister Tusk, and Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Gen. Wieslaw Kukuła, the activation of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which provides for the possibility of consultation with allies, was decided. After the consultations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has decided to react.
“Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a decision granting permission for foreign troops from North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states to remain on Polish territory as part of Operation Eastern Sentry,” wrote the National Security Bureau (BBN), noting that the president’s decision is classified.
Operation Eastern Sentry is intended to increase security on the Alliance’s eastern flank. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced its launch a few days after Russian drones violated Polish airspace. The head of the Alliance said at a press conference at NATO Headquarters in Brussels that protecting the eastern flank is a key task for NATO. He
stressed that the incident over Poland was “the largest set of NATO airspace violations ever observed.”
“What happened was not an isolated incident,” he said, adding that Russia’s reckless actions along NATO’s eastern flank are becoming more frequent. Rutte mentioned the violation of the airspace of Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia by Russian drones. He noted that whether intentional or not, this behavior was “dangerous and unacceptable.” Rutte announced that the operations would begin in the coming days and would involve “numerous forces” from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
“The planned military capabilities will respond to specific threats related to the use of drones. Operation Eastern Sentry will add flexibility to our posture and show that, as allies, we are always ready to defend ourselves. I am con-
vinced and believe in the strength of this alliance - not only thanks to the leadership of our commanders,” he said.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said that strengthening integrated, multi-layered air defense from both the air and land will be key to Operation Eastern Sentry. He assessed that NATO’s response to the intrusion of Russian drones into Alliance airspace was “decisive and effective, and demonstrates the capabilities and professionalism of the Allies.”
Six NATO countries already want to send their troops to Poland as part of Operation Eastern Sentry. The French were among the first to respond to NATO’s call, sending three Rafale-B aircraft to Poland. When they arrived at the base in Minsk Mazowiecki, it turned out that these were not just any fighter jets. Paris opted for aircraft from the special 2/4 La Fayette unit, whose planes are adapted to carry nuclear weapons. According to experts, this is no coincidence.
Paris may also be interested not only in presenting itself as a responsible ally, but also in winning a contract for submarines as part of the Polish “Orka” program. Approximately PLN 10 billion is at stake. Paris’s decision may also have
THE FRENCH WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO RESPOND TO NATO’S CALL, SENDING THREE RAFALE-B
AIRCRAFT TO POLAND
Donald Tusk & Mark Rutte
Karol Nawrocki & Emmanuel Macron
been influenced by the strategic cooperation treaty signed by Poland and France in May.
Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom also responded to Russia’s provocation. Poland’s western neighbors announced that they would increase the number of their aircraft patrolling Polish airspace from two to four. Denmark will add two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate with an air defense system, while the Netherlands will add two Patriot missile launchers. London has also opted for aircraft, sending a team of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters (probably about four aircraft), a Voyager air tanker, and 400 support personnel to Poland.
The Czechs have sent three Mi-171S helicopters to Poland, along with 150 soldiers. These machines have been specially adapted to the needs of special forces and equipped with Gatling Minigun multi-barrel machine guns, designed to combat drones.
“The Russian provocation has caused an awakening and acceleration. Now no one should have any doubts that an anti-drone wall must be built across the entire European Union. And this is another benefit for Poland, as it is no longer just a Polish issue, but has become a matter for the whole of NATO,” Gen. Roman Polko, former commander of the Polish elite Grom commando unit, commented.
Portugal has also declared its support for Eastern Sentry. For now, individual countries are mainly sending aircraft to Poland, rather than systems dedicated to combating low-flying objects. According to the Ministry of Defense,
these are to be included in the Eastern Shield that is currently being built.
During his subsequent September visits to Berlin and Paris, Karol Nawrocki thanked Germany and France for their quick response and allied assistance after the drone attack on September 10, reminding them that Poland is part of NATO and that the incidents affect the entire eastern flank of the alliance.
Security issues were also one of the main topics of the Polish president’s earlier talks in the US. During his meeting with Nawrocki in the Oval Office, Donald Trump declared that American soldiers would remain in Poland. “We will deploy more of them if the Poles want us to. We have never even considered withdrawing our troops from Poland,” he assured. Trump also noted that “Poland was one of two NATO countries that spent more money on defense than was required.”
“I can reveal that during the plenary talks, we discussed expanding the American military presence in Poland,” Nawrocki noted. “US soldiers are now part of Polish society. This is a signal to the world, including Russia,” he said. “For the first time in history, we are happy to have foreign soldiers in our country,” he added.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has confirmed that Poland will be the country receiving the largest amount of funding in Europe for the purchase of military equipment. The European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan program has turned out to be a huge cash injection for the
Karol Nawrocki & Donald Trump
Polish arms industry. It is a completely new financial instrument that the European Union decided to launch in May. It is the first pillar of the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 program, which is expected to cost a total of EUR 800 billion.
“We’ve got it! The European Commission has announced that EUR 43.7 billion from the SAFE program will go to Poland! Nineteen member states have submitted applications to the EC for a total amount of EUR 150 billion. This will also support strategic capabilities, critical infrastructure protection, military mobility, and cyber-space,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz wrote on social media.
SAFE is EUR 150 billion in loans that will be taken out by the European Commission on behalf of member states. The idea is that these will be quite attractive loans with an interest rate of 3.3%, taken out for 45 years and with the possibility of a 10-year grace period for principal repayment. The money can be used to purchase ammunition, artillery, drones, air defense systems, as well as maritime and space equipment, and to invest in the cyber security industry.
The condition for using these funds is that 65% of the components purchased must be manufactured in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, or Ukraine. Some projects must meet more stringent eligibility criteria, requiring contractors to have the ability to modify equipment as needed, without restrictions outside the EU.
SECURITY ISSUES WERE ALSO ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF THE POLISH PRESIDENT’S EARLIER TALKS IN THE US.
DURING HIS MEETING WITH NAWROCKI IN THE OVAL OFFICE, DONALD TRUMP DECLARED THAT AMERICAN SOLDIERS WOULD REMAIN IN POLAND
The Deputy Prime Minister did not specify the specific programs to be financed by SAFE, revealing only that the money will be allocated to “air and missile defense, artillery systems, purchases of ammunition, drones, and anti-drone systems.” There are many indications that Poland will be keen to support mainly its domestic military industry. This includes, among other things, the purchase of Borsuk (Badger) heavy infantry fighting vehicles and the ordering of further Piorun (Lightning) anti-aircraft systems. Experts estimate that obtaining such significant support will allow for annual financing of arms purchases amounting to 0.9% of GDP. The SAFE program will remain in force until 2030, which is a challenge for the industry, which will have to fulfill very expensive orders in just five years.
NEW STRATEGY, BUDGET READY, MONEY FROM EC, BUT RATING DOWN
The government has included in its document “Strategy for Poland’s Development until 2035” an announcement of a greater role for private companies in stimulating the economy. GDP growth is also to be supported by large public investments, mainly in infrastructure.
Stimulating the economy, alongside national security and demographics, is one of the three priorities identified in the document, which is intended to shape the direction of Poland’s development for the next 10 years.
“We want to mobilize private capital to a large extent so that public capital is not the only source of investment,” said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy. At the same time, she pointed out that public investment will play a very important role in stimulating the economy in the coming years. The Strategy refers to several key “investment packages,” such as the Central Transportation Port (CPK), ports, inter-modal terminals, a nuclear power plant, energy networks, and defense technologies.
However, the government wants to focus strongly on the development of private companies. The goal is that by 2035, “at least half” of the 100 largest companies in the country will be private entities. This means a twofold increase in the number of private companies among the largest economic entities - currently only 24 companies meet this condition.
The model of state support for private entrepreneurs is to change. “Support for companies is to take the form of preferential loans rather than subsidies,” announced Pełczyńska-Nałęcz. Loans would be granted by public entities, including Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), Polish Development Fund (PFR), and venture capital funds.
The Strategy for the Development of Poland until 2035 is an inter-ministerial concept, in the creation of which all ministries, as well as representatives of regions and experts, were involved. The document has been submitted for public consultation, which is to be completed by the end of Octo-
ber. In total, the strategy contains a description of almost 370 measures that the government plans to take to support the socio-economic development of Poland.
Meanwhile, Poland has joined the „trillionaire club”a group of countries whose GDP exceeds one trillion dollars. “There are twenty such countries in the world, out of 195 countries,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the government meeting. “This is certainly not our last word. It will be up to all of you to decide whether we will continue this march so effectively,” he added, addressing the ministers.
The country with the largest GDP in the world (approx. USD 30 trillion) is the US. The GDP of China, the world’s second-largest economy, is just under USD 19 trillion. The “trillionaire club” also includes Germany, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands.
COMPARED TO THE LARGEST ECONOMIES, NOT ONLY IN EUROPE, POLAND IS UNRIVALED IN TERMS OF GROWTH RATE, AT 3.4%
“Compared to the largest economies, not only in Europe, Poland is unrivaled in terms of growth rate, at 3.4%,” Tusk continued. “But one statistic is really striking and probably of interest to everyone. It is the statistic of who has the highest growth in their wallet per capita. That is, in which country people are gaining money in their wallets and at what rate. This is called real disposable income per capita, i.e., the income available to each citizen. In Poland, this growth is absolutely record-breaking, we are beating everyone else, and this is the period from the end of 2023 to the end of the first quarter of 2025. So this coincides almost exactly with the time of our government. People (in Poland) have seen a record increase in the amount of money in their wallets compared to all other developed countries,” he argued.
The budget for 2026 has been approved. The budget deficit limit is to amount to PLN 271.7 billion, announced Finance Minister Andrzej Domański. It will amount to 6.5% of GDP. The current budget bill sets the deficit limit for 2025 at PLN 288.8 billion, which, as stated in the explanatory memorandum, corresponds to 7.3% of GDP.
“Revenues are forecast at PLN 647 billion, which means an increase of nearly PLN 44 billion compared to the 2025 forecast. This forecast has been lowered due to lower-than-expected inflation,” Domański noted. Based on the figures he provided, it can be estimated that the expected revenue gap this year compared to the current budget law will amount to approximately PLN 30 billion.
The spending limit for 2026 will be PLN 918.9 billion, which means a nominal decrease of nearly PLN 3 billion compared to the plan for 2025. Next year, the government will allocate PLN 200 billion to defense. PLN 247.8 billion, PLN 25 billion more than this year, is to be spent on healthcare.
POLAND INTENDS TO SEND BRUSSELS ITS SIXTH AND SEVENTH PAYMENT REQUESTS AT THE TURN OF 2024 AND 2025. TOGETHER, THEY WILL AMOUNT TO APPROXIMATELY PLN 61
BILLION
“This will be a budget for security, investment, and supporting citizens,” declared the minister, emphasizing that the government plans to maintain social spending such as the “Active Parent” program, widow’s pension, 13th and 14th pensions, and child benefit 800+.
The public finance sector deficit, calculated in accordance with European Union methodology, is also expected to amount to 6.5% of GDP next year. Just a few months ago, the government announced that in 2026 the deficit would be below 6% of GDP.
The continuing imbalance in public finances also means a higher public debt path. The debt calculated according to EU methodology is expected to reach 66.8% of GDP next year. In the deficit reduction plan approved by the EU, the government assumed a debt level of 60.9% of GDP.
As Domański emphasized, the debt would be lower if it weren’t for the loan component of the National Reconstruction Plan (KPO). Adjusting for the KPO would bring the debt down to 63.7% of GDP. The current constitutional debt
limit of 60% refers to “public debt,” which does not include special-purpose funds such as the COVID-19 Counteraction Fund or the Armed Forces Support Fund.
The Polish economy is also preparing for a solid financial injection. Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Jan Szyszko announced that the European Commission has agreed to transfer another PLN 26 billion under the KPO. The Commission will complete the payment procedure by November 11. Then, within two weeks, the money will arrive in Poland. Szyszko added that the funds will allow for continued investment “in cheap Polish electricity, our hospitals, infrastructure, and economy.”
The approval of the PLN 26 billion payment is a consequence of the payment requests that Poland sent to the European Commission. At the end of 2024, Warsaw submitted its fourth and fifth requests for payment. Poland has already received a total of PLN 67 billion from the previous three requests: PLN 27 billion in April 2024 from the first request and PLN 40 billion in December 2024 in two subsequent tranches.
Poland intends to send Brussels its sixth and seventh payment requests at the turn of 2024 and 2025. Together, they will amount to approximately PLN 61 billion.
This means that Poland is taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the KPO and is striving to maintain the liquidity of financing for strategic reforms and investments. The government assures that the money will not only stimulate development but also translate into a real improvement in the quality of life of citizens - from cheaper energy and better healthcare to modern roads and infrastructure.
Despite all these successes, the Fitch rating agency has confirmed Poland’s rating at A- (for long-term foreign currency bonds), but has downgraded its outlook to negative. Fitch had already warned that it might downgrade Poland’s rating or outlook “in the event of a failure to consolidate public finances, which would undermine the agency’s confidence in the government’s ability to stabilize public debt in the medium term at a level close to the median of countries in the A rating basket.”
The agency currently forecasts that in 2027 the debt-toGDP ratio will grow further, to 68.3% of GDP (with a median for “A” category countries of 53.7%). “Fitch anticipates a further increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio in the absence of additional consolidation measures,” the agency wrote, adding that it also expects debt servicing costs to rise from 5.1% of government revenue in 2024 to 7.2% in 2027.
“Risks to Poland’s public finances have increased since our last assessment. Significant fiscal loosening in 2024 and 2025, with an average deficit of 6.7% of GDP , greater political difficulties in implementing consolidation measures, and the lack of a credible fiscal strategy will make it difficult to significantly reduce the deficit before the next regular parliamentary elections in 2027,” the agency’s economists wrote in a statement following the decision.
In its draft budget for 2026, the Ministry of Finance has proposed, among other things, an increase in CIT for banks and a higher excise duty on alcohol, while the President’s Office has expressed skepticism about these moves. “Since the beginning of August, the president has vetoed various bills, publicly expressed his opposition to tax increases and proposed tax cuts,” Fitch noted.
Jan Szyszko
Andrzej Domański
“In a highly polarized environment, the political influence of domestic political calculations on decisions may increase ahead of the next parliamentary elections in October 2027. This may limit the scope for implementing politically difficult measures before 2028, including measures supporting fiscal consolidation,” the agency wrote.
It should be emphasized that Fitch still recognizes the strong fundamentals of the Polish economy. “Poland’s rating is supported by a large, diversified, and resilient economy, a history of sound macroeconomic policy anchored in EU membership, solid external finances, and a higher and more stable government revenue base than its peers [countries in the “A” rating basket],” the statement said. It added that these factors offset high fiscal deficits, rising public debt, and lower revenues and governance indicators than in “A” countries.
In its commentary, the agency emphasized that Poland’s rating (or its outlook) could deteriorate if the debt-to-GDP ratio does not stabilize in the medium term, e.g., due to the inability to implement consolidation measures, lower growth, or a significant increase in debt financing costs. In any case, the revision of the outlook from stable to negative is already a “yellow card” for the government and a half-step towards a rating downgrade. A significant deterioration in
RISKS TO POLAND’S PUBLIC FINANCES HAVE INCREASED SINCE OUR LAST ASSESSMENT
the medium-term economic growth outlook (e.g., due to a decline in competitiveness or a weaker external environment) could also be negative for Poland’s rating.
On the other hand, the agency presented reasons for a possible improvement in Poland’s rating outlook. It is clear: increased confidence in Poland’s ability to implement consolidation measures sufficient to stabilize the debt-toGDP ratio in the medium term.
Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domanski commented on Fitch’s downgrade of Poland’s rating outlook to negative. He noted that President Karol Nawrocki is to blame for this decision. He admitted that he was not particularly surprised by this decision. As he explained, rating agencies note that Poland’s debt is gradually increasing, but “at the same time, everyone sees the sources of this, namely growing defense spending, growing spending on health care, and accelerating investments. The 2026 budget contains all three of these items.”
“Fitch’s statement clearly pointed to the president’s vetoes, indicating that he is announcing further vetoes on bills presented by the government, that he is announcing increases, increased spending, and tax cuts in his projects. So the president is planning actions that will increase the deficit, not reduce it,” Domanski assessed.
“This makes me all the more surprised by the president’s false concern about the state of public finances, which he expressed before the start of the Cabinet Council. On the one hand, he says he is concerned about the state of public finances, and on the other, he proposes bills that would significantly worsen the state of public finances,” he added, mentioning, among other things, the bill introducing a bank tax, which, according to announcements by the President’s Office, may not be signed by Nawrocki.
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz
THE
International Chopin Competition
The main competition of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious music contests, is scheduled to take place in Warsaw from October 2 to October 21.
It will open with a concert featuring four laureates of previous editions, who will perform with the National Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Andrzej Boreyko. Bruce Liu will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major. Francis Pou-
lenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra will be performed by Yulianna Avdeeva and Garrick Ohlsson, and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto for Four Pianos will feature Yulianna Avdeeva, Bruce Liu, Garrick Ohlsson, and Dang Thai Son. The gala will begin with an orchestral version of Frédéric Chopin’s Polonaise in A major. Competition auditions will begin the following day, October 3, and will continue until October 20.
The event, organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, will feature 66 pianists, who qualified for the first round of the finals. They were selected, from amongst more than 160 pianists from 28 countries, during the preliminary auditions in May at Warsaw’s National Philharmonic before a live audience and an international jury chaired by Poland’s Piotr Paleczny, a laureate of the 1970 Chopin Competition.
The first round contestants will also include 19 pianists who are exempt from the pre-selection stage due to their successes in international music contests, such as the ones in Leeds, Miami, Bolzano, Tel Aviv and Hamamatsu. The jury will be headed by USA’s Garrick Ohlsson, the winner of the 1970 edition and a juror in 2015.
The largest group of competitors will be from China (29 participants). Poland and Japan will each be represented by 13 pianists. Other participants come from the USA (5), Canada (5), South Korea (4), Taiwan (3), Italy (3) and the UK (3). There are also individual pianists from Georgia, Bulgaria, Spain and one competing under a neutral flag (born in Russia).
The competition’s first three rounds will be held on October 3-16 and the finals on October 18-20. The announcement of the results will followed by prize winners’ concerts on October 21-23 . Later, the winners will embark on a world tour across Europe, Asia and the Americas, organised by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in partnership with the Liu Kotow agency.
All stages of the competition will be fully broadcast on Polish Radio, TVP Kultura TV channel, and available via live streaming and VOD in 4K quality online.
The preliminary round participants were selected from as many as 642 pianists representing more than 50 countries who submitted their video recordings to a selection panel. This marks an all-time record, with one hundred more candidates than in the previous event held in 2021.
Established in 1927, the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw is among the world’s oldest events of its kind. Its past winners include such world-renowned pianists as Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, Garrick Ohlsson, Krystian Zimerman, Rafał Blechacz, Seong-Jin Cho, and Bruce Liu.
BUZZ Works of street art superstar under one roof
Starting October 10, Warsaw will become the site of a one-of-a-kind artistic event - the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to Banksy, a street art icon, whose provocative works appear in public spaces worldwide.
Entitled The Mystery of Banksy - A Genius Mind, the exhibition will be held at the Soho Art Centre. This spectacular undertaking, showcasing dozens of works by one of the most enigmatic and influential artists of our time, is a treat not only to street art enthusiasts but also to anyone moved by his bold, uncompromising vision of the world. It offers a unique opportunity to experience up close the phenomenon that has permanently changed the face of contemporary art.
Bristol-based artist Banksy has achieved international fame while remaining a mysterious figure. His work, straddling the line between graffiti and painting, continually challenges the norms of the traditional art market. The first exhibition dedicated to his work took place in Munich in March 2021. Since then, it has attracted thousands of visitors in cities around the world, becoming one of the most important events in the world of street art.
The exhibition serves as an extraordinary journey through the artist’s entire career. It presents over 150 inspiring street art motifs - graffiti, photographs, sculptures, video installations and prints on a variety of materials including canvas, fabric, aluminium, FOREX® and Plexiglas - all meticulously selected and assembled specifically for this extraordinary exhibition. The carefully planned exhibition environment offers a comprehensive overview and deep insight into the work of this brilliant and extraordinary artist. In line with Banksy’s credo “Copyright is for losers” ©TM, the exhibition and the works presented therein are not authorised due to the anonymous status of the artist.
In the world of street art, no name causes such a sensation as Banksy - arguably the most famous and at the same time the
most mysterious graffiti artist around the globe. A Briton in the 45-50 age range, he successfully keeps his identity deeply hidden, while his works gain recognition not only on the streets of global metropolises, but also at prestigious auctions. He is considered one of the most expensive contemporary artists.
Banksy, who moves people with his ironic, political, yet always poetic works, is an underground hero of street art. In 2009, when the people of Bristol were deciding whether Banksy’s works should remain in public spaces, a whopping 97 percent voted against their removal. Banksy is a star whose shine extends far beyond the standards of the art market. In 2010, Time magazine included him for the first time in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world, alongside figures such as Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Lady Gaga.
Warsaw haunted by Beetlejuice
Warsaw’s Syrena Theatre started a new season on September 13 with the premiere of the spooky musical “Beetlejuice”, with music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, based on Tim Burton’s film from 1988 of the same name.
The authors of the musical perfectly managed to bring Burton’s blend of whimsy and comic horror to the stage. So perfectly, in fact, that they were nominated for Tony Awards, musicals’ equivalent of the Oscars, for their work.
The musical tells the story of a deceased couple who try to haunt the new inhabitants of their former home and call for help from a devious ghost named Betelgeuse (pronounced Beetlejuice). One of the new inhabitants is a young girl, Lydia Deetz, who is dealing with her mother’s death and her neglectful father.
“’Beetlejuice’ is a film from my childhood, so when I started working on it, I felt incredible joy and excitement,” said Jacek Mikołajczyk, translator and director of the musical and artistic director of the Syrena Theatre.
“What surprised me about the Broadway version is its incredible relevance. Of course, there are ghosts, ghouls, falling heads, and creaking floors. There’s brilliant, captivating music and a great show, but there’s also a moving portrayal of the loss of a teenage girl who has to cope with the loss of her mother,” he added.
The musical Beetlejuice had its world premiere at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 2018. It then transferred to Broadway, where it officially opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on April 25, 2019, where it played until the shutdown in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show then moved to the Marquis Theare reopening on April 8, 2022, and concluding its run on January 8, 2023. It is set to return to Broadway’s The Palace Theatre from October 8, 2025.
The Polish version was co-produced by Syrena and Rozrywki Theatre in the southern city of Chorzow, where it will premiere in May, 2026.
”Prome theus” premieres a t the Wielki Theatre
The Wielki Theatre - National Opera inaugurated its new season on September 13th with the premiere of the ballet “Prometheus,” choreographed by Krzysztof Pastor, with Ryota Kitai taking the title role.
The production was set to music by Philip Glass (two movements of the 11th Symphony and “Mad Rush”) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. The orchestra is conducted by Patrick Fournillier.
The ballet in two acts depicts the fate of humanity, from its creation by Uranus and Gaia, through Prometheus’s stealing of fire from the Gods, which allowed civilisation to develop. Inspired by ancient myth, this work is a poetic, deeply symbolic reinterpretation of the Promethean myth, set in the context of contemporary civilisational challenges. Pastor not only address-
es the theme of noble rebellion and individual sacrifice, but also highlights the dark side of progress - environmental destruction, humanitarian crises, and global catastrophes. His Prometheus, as he says, is a story about the dual nature of fire: a creative and destructive force that today leads mankind towards both development and destruction.
The performance is based on a highly evocative musical layer. In the first part, the audience will hear Glass’s dynamic and dramatic Symphony No. 11, interwoven with the piano piece “Mad Rush” - music that emphasises the mythological tension and metaphysical dimension of the story. The second part of the ballet features Mozart’s Requiem – a masterpiece that, in Pastor’s interpretation, becomes a space for reflection on contemporary threats and a symbolic conclusion to the dramatic story.
Polish and Belgian precursors to Surrealism
The exhibition “Black Carnival \ Ensor/Wojtkiewicz” at Warsaw’s National Museum confronts the works of two significant artists from the late 19th and early 20th century who explored the themes of masquerade, theatre and circus, dreams, eroticism and death.
James Sidney Ensor was a Belgian painter, graphic artist, writer, and composer, known primarily as a pioneer of Expressionism and Surrealism. His works frequently feature grotesque motifs, carnival masks, spectres, and skeletons, and his style evolved from realism, through impressionism, to a unique, symbolic-fantastical style. Witold Wojtkiewicz was a Polish painter, illustrator, and graphic artist, a representative of Symbolism and early Expressionism
with some considering him a precursor of Surrealism. The two painters were deeply rooted in their respective cultures and art circles - the modernist milieus of the Young Belgium and the Young Poland periods in visual arts.
Ensor evoked the traditions of Dutch art, with its bawdy humour, defiance and didacticism, of folk theatre troupes and of the animated street carnivals of Flanders. Wojtkiewicz, submerged in a world of fairytales and dreamlike visions, drew from phenomena such as cabaret, the comedy theatre Zielony Balonik and Cracow’s folk nativity scenes.
The Warsaw exhibition presents works of these two individuals, usually treated as peculiar, isolated cases, in a playful juxtaposition. It is organised by key themes that correspond to major
areas in Ensor’s and Wojtkiewicz’s imaginaria, and visualize universal problems in turn-of-the-century art, literature and theatre: Bohemianism; Masqueraders of the Abyss - the Carnival, the Theatre, the Circus; Fairytales and Childhood Fantasies; Thanatos. The idea of carnival represents life-as-spectacle, the world turned upside-down, madness, anarchy, chaos, a freedom from norms and conventions.
This is the first project by the National Museum in Warsaw realised in cooperation with Belgian partners. On display are also marionettes, carnival costumes and masks as well as paintings, drawings and prints by other Polish and Belgian artists who were the two protagonists’ contemporaries.
On view till January 11, 2026.
Skłodowska-Curie up clo se and personal
The Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum, which chronicles the life and work of a Polish physicist and chemist, winner of two Nobel Prizes and pioneer in the study of radioactivity, has staged a new temporary exhibition titled “Who are you, Maria?” The exhibition presents the figure of this great scientist both through the prism of fame and rejection which, despite her undeniable successes , she experienced as a woman who broke the limitations of her professional work and the conventions of her private life.
The project explores the diverse roles Skłodowska played in her life. Varsovian, daughter, wife, student, researcher, mother, and community activist, to name just a few. It seeks answers to the following questions: What informed her discoveries? How did she balance her professional and personal lives? How did she cope with adversity? How did her approach transcend the times she lived in?
The museum at 16 Freta Street is housed in the 18th-century tenement house in which Skłodowska was born. The permanent exhibition consists primarily of her personal effects and those of her father Władysław Skłodowski, and her husband Pierre Curie. The collections are displayed in glass showcases and arranged to resemble fragments of former interiors. Among them are photographs, stamps, medals, letters and documents. The exhibition also shows her epochal scientific discoveries in Paris, in the former laboratories of the Radium Institute.
Synth-pop legend brings 80s vibes to Warsaw
The iconic German synth-pop and new wave band
Alphaville will perform at Warsaw’s EXPO XXI exhibition hall on November 29, as part of the “Forever Young” tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album and the timeless hit song “Forever Young”.
Alphaville was founded by Marian Gold (lead vocals), Bernhard Lloyd (keyboards and backing vocals) and Frank Mertens (keyboards and percussion) in Münster 1982. Since then, the band has left an indelible mark on the history of music and influenced generations of fans with their distinctive sound that com-
bines electronic music with profound lyrics. Having reached the height of their popularity in the 1980s with such songs as “Big in Japan”, “Sound Like a Melody” and “Forever Young”, the band has continued to create music of a nostalgic yet timeless quality that has made them a staple of pop culture.
The Warsaw concert will be a tribute to the band’s iconic career and the audience will hear a mix of classics and selected new pieces. The gig promises to be not only a musical but also a visual spectacle that revives the essence of the 80s while creating a connection to the present day.
Angelic voice beloved by whole generation
TOne of the most popular voices of the early 1980s and 1990sScottish vocalist Maggie Reilly, famous for collaboration with famed electronic composer Mike Oldfield, will perform at the Progresja club in Warsaw on October 1, as part of her “Moonlight Shadow Tour”.
Reilly’s career began in the early 1970,s when she recorded her first single, “Imagine Me.” Shortly thereafter, she formed with the keyboard player Stuart MacKillop the band Cado Belle, which quickly became a phenomenon on the Scottish folk-rock scene.
For the next decade, she worked as a session singer becoming an highly respected and sought-after artist, as evidenced by her joint music projects with Morrissey Mullen, Hamish Stuart, and Kokomo. However, she is best known for her collaboration with Oldfield, who was captivated by her crystal-clear, soothing vocals, combined with her calm and composed stage presence. He invited Reilly to sing on his album “QE2” and she subsequently contributed to the recordings of “Five Miles Out” and “Crises.” They together recorded such evergreens as “Moonlight Shadow,” “To France,” “Foreign Affair,” and “Family Man,” for which she won an ASCAP Writers Award in 1984.
In the 1990s, she embarked on a solo career and in 1991 released her album “Echoes,” with such songs as “Everytime We Touch,” “Wait,” and “Tears in Rain” which were certified gold in many countries.
Reilly continues to perform and record to this day. The Warsaw concert will feature her biggest hits and signature songs.
The new exhibition at Zachęta National Gallery of Arts opens the gallery’s archives to revisit the networks of global artistic relations forged during the communist rule in Poland.
Contemporary artists confront these histories with the present, asking what remains of the “internationalist friendships” from before 1989, and how they might shape our understanding of a shared past.
Entitled “What Are Our Collective Dreams? Global Connections - Abandoned Friendships”, the project showcasing contemporary art and archival materials critically examines a forgotten chapter of cultural policy from the Polish People’s Republic, focusing on the role of Zachęta, then the Central Bureau of Art Exhibitions (CBWA), and the function of cultural institutions today.
The show explores Poland’s artistic relationships with regions and countries of the global majority, including Latin America, India, Vietnam, and Palestine. The curators turn to the past not to idealise it, but rather to consider what it can reveal about our present times and the possible scenarios for a shared future.
Together with invited artists and activists, the curators raise questions about the role of cultural institutions in the context of Poland’s growing ethnic and national diversity, and in a time of intensifying xenophobia, exclusion, and discrimination. They invite audiences to see contemporary Poland as a space open to a multitude of voices, languages, identities, and experiences; a place where diversity is not a problem to be solved, but the very foundation of a shared life.
Contemporary artists taking part include Aravani Art Project, Arpirellas, Oliwia Bosomtwe, Oksana Bruchovetksa, Minerva Cuevas, Galas (Vladyslav Gryn), Nadira Husain, Hamlet Lavastida, Marysia Lewandowska, Ibrahim Mahama, Amy Muhoro, Marina Naprushkina, Thuc Linh Nguyen Vu, Ahmet Öğüt, PUNTO ESPORA | La Ciudad Abierta, Alicja Rogalska, Laila Shawa, Janek Simon, Marta Romankiv and Weronika Zalewska.
Exhibition runs from October 17 to February 8, 2026.
Poland’s international artistic ties under Communist regime explored
WARSAW RANKS HIGH AMONG CITIES WITH THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE
According to the “Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025” report by analysts from the recruitment company Remote, which assessed 60 cities around the world, Warsaw is one of the cities where this balance is easy to find.
The authors of the report took into account ten factors that have a key impact on maintaining a balance between work and private life, as well as a healthy atmosphere at work: the number of public holidays in a given country, various types of leave, the minimum wage, the average time spent at work, the state of healthcare, the level of public safety and, finally, the life satisfaction index.
Individual factors were weighted according to their importance. On this basis, each city was awarded a score from 0 (lowest) to 100 (highest).
With a score of 65.33 points, Warsaw ranked 17th. The Polish capital was ahead of Budapest, Prague, Stockholm, Athens,
and Rome, and left behind Bern, Tokyo, and wealthy centers in the Persian Gulf, including Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
In terms of safety, the Polish capital ranked fifth, but scored very low in terms of openness to sexual minorities, coming last among the top 20 metropolises.
The authors of the ranking analyzed the number of hours worked per week by the average employee in a given city. In this respect, Warsaw is the clear leader: no other city in the top 20 works as hard, with 38.6 hours per week.
The leader of the entire ranking was Wellington, New Zealand, with a score of 86.86 points. Just behind it on the podium were Dublin and Brussels, which scored 81.17 and 75.91 points, respectively.
OLFACTORY TRIBUTE TO MARRAKECH
Kenza Snoussi and Massimo Di Nardo, the Moroccan-Italian creative couple who founded Marrakech Impérial, the first House of Haute Parfumerie in Morocco spoke to the Warsaw Voice
What is the story behind the first Moroccan niche brand?
Massimo Di Nardo: Six years ago, me and Kenza decided to create a project together, with a mission to tell the fascinating story of Marrakech, the most magical city in terms of sensory experience, through unique fragrances. It was important to start with a strong DNA, which was to create a brand which blends contemporary Orientalism with refinement and sophistication. Our ultimate aim was to capture the essence of this spectacular imperial city, the intense emotions, experience and vibes associated with living in it and then translate them into exceptional olfactory creations. And Marrakech was to be reflected in every aspect of our creation, including the perfume bottle which embodies Moroccan art, symbolism and identity.
It looks like true piece of art, who designed it?
Kenza Snoussi: We did it together and it took us a year. In the design we included eight elements essential to Marrakech and to the whole of Morocco. The shape of the bottle was inspired by the Bab Agnaou. It is a doorway that leads from the new part of the city to the old palatial quarter, Marrakech’s Kasbah, opening another world of the past and connecting tradition with modernity. The shoulder of the bottle is adorned with an ornament depicting natural effects of the wind blowing across the Moroccan Sahara Desert. The cap, reminiscent of the domes of ancient Moroccan palaces, was deliberately cut to give refinement to the bottle and achieve a beautiful harmony.
Our design also features a rosette, reflecting the highclass craftsmanship of Moroccan artisans, maallems, who, in the past, used a unique technique to create true gems of architecture. The rosette depicts palm trees, which are pro-
tected in Marrakech. Arranged in the shape of a fountain, they highlight the important role of water in the life of the city, once one of the most important oases. This element blends with patterns inspired by the art of zellige mosaics and Moroccan weaving.
Then, we have a motif of Musharabi, a decorative wooden trellis covering balconies and windows, so characteristic of Marrakesh, the city of two “universes”, of the day and the mystical night.
Finally, the colour of the bottle was inspired by the hues of Marrakesh, a magical light between amber darkness and the warmth of gold, which can only be seen during the Golden Hour in the Agafay desert.
How long did it take to develop your first collection of fragrances and who was involved in the process?
Massimo Di Nardo: It took us two years to create the seven perfume extraits of the Moroccan Vibes collection as we needed time to perfect them. We decided to collaborate with only one master perfumer Christian Carbonnel, who is more of an artist than a chemist and has the same approach to the creative process as we do. He is the third generation of perfume creators and his family was the first to sell raw materials in the Middle East. So Christian was born with the knowledge and understanding of Arabic identity and culture, although Marrakech is quite unique due to a distinct cultural blend of international influences. Christian also showed a deep passion for our project when we introduced it to him four years ago. He also shares our philosophy to create perfume with as many as possible natural raw materials.
As the first step of our collaboration, we created for Christian a story linked to each perfume plus a brief with some raw
TAKE ME BACK TO MARRAKECH CAPTURES
MOMENTS
materials we wanted to include in it for a desired sensation. It was also important for us to try to avoid an accord that is similar to other perfumes in the market, to have something really unique and something that pays tribute to Morocco’s natural treasures – wood, plants, flowers and aromas.
In each of our fragrances you will find a piece of Marrakech. Morocco produces around 100 raw materials and by using the most exquisite ingredients we translated them into different aspects of the city and gave each creation a sensitivity that reflects the soul of our brand, which was finally launched in March 2024.
What facets of Marrakech can we discover in the Moroccan Vibes collection?
Massimo Di Nardo: The first fragrance, Arabian Leather, is an olfactory interpretation of the perfection and passion of equestrian art and the love for purebred Arabian horses from the Kingdom of Morocco.
Magie Rouge is an oriental spicy fragrance with velvety musk added to give it a specific floral aspect. It celebrates the vibrant and opulent lifestyle of Marrakech.
Les Nuits de Marrakech captures the change of life in Marrakech at night when the city uses candles. It is a very mystical fragrance, difficult, very peculiar, like no other and not for everyone, but it was very important to our DNA in terms of creation.
With the next one, Atlas Wood, we spent a lot of time to develop it as we wanted to create citrus that would be very special and very different to all those in the market.
We managed to achieve this by supporting top and heart notes with an amber woody base.
Oud Kasbah Royal is a tribute to the king of Morocco, as we are very proud of our head of state. We used cognac aroma to give it some character and oud was combined with mimosa to give it a majestic orientation.
Boheme Chic represents l’esprit bohème of Marrakech, born more than 70 years ago when American, French and other European top creators came to the city to live their new experience with oriental culture, bringing international artistic trends.
Take Me Back to Marrakech captures the essence of fleeting moments spent in Marrakech, awakening a desire to relive each of them. It uses the city’s most important raw material – orange blossom, a very popular ingredient of Morocco’s own fragrances. Again, we wanted to have something really unique, so Christian’s idea was to mix orange blossom facet with the green facet, that is the smell of the leaf of the orange blossom tree.
What is the secret behind the acclaimed longevity and strength of your perfumes?
The use of the highest quality raw materials and the right accords to ensure top performance, projection and sillage of our fragrances. For their production we chose Italy, the best country to create the long-lasting perfume. We cooperate with several Italian companies which excel in this regard.
The Moroccan Vibes collection is available on https://perfumeriaquality.pl/en/
BUTIK
Compiled by Marzena Robinson
1/ Elite Treat for Perfume Art Lovers
Privé Rouge and Privé Rose by M.Micallef, are two new fragrances developed as the result of long-time collaboration between the owners and creators of the M. Micallef brand, the French artist Martine Micallef and her husband Geoffrey Nejman, and the Quality Missala Perfumery from Poland. Created by Thierry Romeo exclusively for Quality Missala, in a truly limited edition of just 60 bottles each, they make a unique acquisition for perfume collectors.
Privé Rouge is a contemporary gourmand composition with a twist. The fragrance envelops the skin in an intense, delicious aroma reminiscent of an exquisite dessert.
From the get-go, it captivates the senses with juicy Pear accompanied by Coconut and Bergamot. The luscious heart of the blend consists of Pistachio, whipped Cream, Praline and Lavender. The sensual base is built around Musk and Woody Notes.
Privé Rose is an intensely sensual, rich on Rose fragrance for the contemporary romantics evoking memories of carefree amorous encounters. A tribute to the queen of flowers, it merges the finest Rose oils from Bulgaria and Grasse with inspiration drawn from the Polish landscape. The rose’s multifaceted scent gives the composition radiance, allure, depth and a romantic character.
Top notes feature juicy Rhubarb, fresh Lily-of-the -valley, and invigorating Geranium. The heart is a bouquet of sparkling Peonies and mesmerizing Roses. The base combines Rosewood and Heliotrope, adding elegance and longevity to the fragrance.
The flacons, in a classic cube shape, are finished in an antique gold hue and adorned with red (Privé Rouge) or pink (Privé Rose) Swarovski crystals. The hand-engraved name of the composition completes the design, making the bottle a coveted collector’s item.
2/ Olfactory homage to power of trees Opus XVI Timber is a new addition to the Library Collection from Omani perfume
house Amouage. The collection curated with great care unveils some of Amouage’s most audacious and adventurous olfactory creations
Opus XVI Timber, designed as a tribute to nature’s permanence, took inspiration from giant sequoias of California and Frankincense trees of Oman. To capture the spirit of these ancient organisms the perfume was constructed mostly with woods.
The fragrance opens with the bright, woody facets of Cypress, Cardamon Juniper and Pink Pepper which awake the senses with radiant energy. Smoky Frankincense, Lavandin and Fir Balsam introduce their own aromatic qualities at the heart.
Finally, Palo Santo, Sandalwood, Cedarwood and earthy Patchouli in the base ground the whole composition, capturing the raw essence of nature.
3/ Tropical Fruit Energy
The Coro eau de parfum from Xerjoff’s Vibe collection is a vibrant and bold fragrance that will boost your mood and invigorate your energy throughout the day. Its carefully curated composition reveals energising freshness, capturing the essence of sun-soaked tropics, wrapped in luxurious warmth.
Coro opens with vibrant notes of freshly picked tropical fruits, with Pineapple
and Mango giving the scent appealing zestiness. The heart brings to life a delicate touch of Orris, Jasmine, adding a soft floral layer to the composition. Woody undertones gradually come to the fore and the scent settles into a creamy and warm base, where smooth Sandalwood and rich Amber are enveloped by sweet Vanilla and clean Musk, coming together in a subtly gourmand, comforting finish that lingers on the skin for hours.
All perfumes in the Vibe collection come with a silk foulard. Designed by Xerjoff, made by the renowned silk weavers of Como, sprayed and styled by you to match the vibe of an early riser ready to seize the day.
4/ Scent of Parisian Elegance
Odéon eau de parfum by Memo Paris, a niche perfume house which crafts scents inspired by travel, memory, and emotions, will transport you to the magical streets in the creative heart of a Parisian neighbourhood. The fragrance evokes the literary, musical and entertainment past and present of the vibrant cultural and artistic centre of the French capital - Odéon, capturing the spirit of artistry, adventure and sophistication.
This vibrant and evocative composition unfolds with the scent of Turkish Rose, delicately balanced by a candied Rose accord and stirred with exotic touch of candied Dates. As the scent evolves, it is enhanced
by White Sandalwood and Cashmeran essences setting on a creamy base of Tonka Bean Absolute, warm Amber, and Musk with Patchouli Essence, adding a sensual, earthy finish to the whole.
5/ Luxurious Beauty Shield
Diamond Cocoon Sheer Cream and Diamond Cocoon Sheer Eye are two new additions to Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon skincare range designed to liberate the skin from toxins and impurities, shielding it against different kinds of pollutants to prevent premature aging and other skin damage.
Both products contain colouring pigments that blend with any colour of com-
plexion, minimise imperfections and leave the skin fresh, soft and with a natural glow.
Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer Cream provides the skin with a protective barrier against daily environmental stressors, the harmful effects of UV radiation and pollution. Thanks to SPF 30 PA++ sunscreen, it effectively prevents photoaging. A rich formula of nourishing ingredients supports detoxification, has anti-wrinkle, regenerating, intensely hydrating and energising properties. Self-adapting pigments even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of discoloration, and enhance natural radiance. The cream may be used as a day moisturiser, makeup substitute, or makeup base.
Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Sheer
Eye is a lightweight cream which, owing to anti-ageing ingredients, repairs, protects and strengthens the delicate skin around the eyes. It also prevents and counteracts premature ageing caused by modern pollution, blue light (HEV) and stress. Its formula contains vitamin PP, which supports microcirculation and reduces discoloration, and water lily extract, known for its soothing properties, visibly reducing puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines.
6/ Redefine Your Silhouette
The new triple-action Lipo-Gel from Natura Bissé’s Diamond Well-Living collec-
tion was developed to visibly improve the appearance of cellulite by reducing stored deposits of fatty tissue, especially in the glute area. Its formula contains over 90 percent of ingredients of natural origin, proven to reduce accumulated body fat by up to 53 percent.
Natura Bissé’s Diamond Well-Living Lipo-Gel is a non-invasive solution offering ultra-effective body contouring through its TRI-FIT action: sculpting, anti-cellulite and firming. It targets localised fatty tissue, prevents the formation of new fat cells and helps reduce the volume of the treated area. It smooths the skin’s surface and improves its texture. It promotes fluid drainage, visibly
reduces the appearance of orange-peel skin and prevents new cellulite from forming. It improves skin tone and tissue density while stimulating collagen production.
The innovative formula has been fully developed by Natura Bissé’s team of scientists at their Barcelona laboratory, by harnessing the natural power of three key natural-origin active ingredients with proven efficacy: Concentrated Fucus Extract derived from marine algae, Caffeine, known for stimulating skin circulation, and Organic Silicon which stimulates collagen synthesis and helps improve both skin elasticity and firmness.
G REAT
Compiled by Bartosz Grzybiński
1/ Mercedes glasses in collaboration with ic! berlin
TIn 1996, ic! berlin revolutionized the optical industry by introducing a completely new approach: ultra-light frames made of cold-rolled stainless steel combined with patented screwless hinges resulted in a bold and unique aesthetic. ic! berlin glasses are synonymous with lightness and unconventional design combined with the highest precision. All collections are designed, tested, and handcrafted at the ic! berlin factory in Berlin. The company has been part of the Marcolin Group since 2024 and is represented in over 100 countries.
In the new season, Mercedes-Benz, MercedesAMG, and ic! berlin are continuing their successful collaboration. Their sixth joint eyewear collection offers eight exclusive models that combine the iconic aesthetics of the star-branded cars with the minimalist design of ic! berlin. All glasses were designed in close collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG with ic! berlin. They are handmade in the Berlin-based ic! berlin workshop from selected materials and with the utmost precision.
The new collection includes two pairs of prescription glasses and two pairs of sunglasses branded by Mercedes-Benz and MercedesAMG. Two models from the AMG eyewear
collection are made from innovative FLEXARBON carbon fiber - with a new Twill Night pattern inspired by the interior of AMG cars. Photochromic lenses that automatically adapt to changing light conditions – an innovation in the Mercedes-Benz collection. All models are inspired by car design and combine ultra-lightweight construction with the proven durability of the patented screwless hinge. AMG 18 are prescription glasses. This ultra-lightweight model demonstrates the possibilities offered by the innovative FLEXARBON® material: the elongated and curved side of the frame impresses with its striking, three-dimensional look. In addition to the familiar Raw Night design, the collection is enriched with a new Twill Night design, inspired by the luxurious textiles used in AMG car interiors. The small perforations on the temples refer to the AMG logo. Available versions: Twill Night / Gun Metal Black, Raw Night / Gun Metal Orange, Raw Night / Black Venice Green. www.ic-berlin.com
2/ ZTE MF986D - reliable internet on the go
The ZTE MF986D is a mobile router designed for people who value convenience and independence. With LTE category
12/13 support and up to three bands aggregated, you can enjoy transfer speeds of up to 600 Mbps download and 150 Mbps upload - ideal for remote working, video conferencing, streaming, or navigation. Dual-band WiFi 5 allows you to connect up to 32 devices simultaneously.
The practical 1.44-inch LCD screen allows you to quickly check operating parameters and battery level, while the replaceable 3000 mAh battery provides hours of independence on the road. In areas with weaker coverage, TS-9 external antenna connectors allow you to boost the signal. www.zteshop.pl
3/ A gaming smartphone with AI
The Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G is a model with a 6.8-inch OLED screen (120 Hz, 2392×1080), an advanced cooling system using a 4083 mm² vapor chamber, and an improved battery with fast charging. The device is equipped with side gaming buttons, stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra, and a Z-axis vibration motor. At the heart of the smartphone is a UNISOC T9100 processor, supported by 24 GB of RAM (12 + 12 GB) and 256 GB of internal memory.
AI is responsible for performance optimization (NeoTurbo), intelligent power
GEAR
management, and features such as real-time conversation translation and the new virtual assistant Demi. It intelligently identifies specific scenarios in the game, providing timely reminders, celebrating victories, and offering consolation in case of defeats to create an engaging gaming experience. Its sharp lines, the cybernetic style of the Neo series, and dynamic backlighting create a technological and futuristic design.
An advanced cooling system, a powerful battery with fast charging, and Gaming Space 3.0 ensure that this device meets the expectations of the most demanding mobile gamers.
The price of the new nubia Neo 3 GT 5G is PLN 1,399. The model will be available on the market in the near future. For the first two weeks, the recommended price in selected sales channels is PLN 1,299. It will be available in popular electronics stores, such as Avans, Media Expert, Electro.pl, RTV EURO AGD, OleOle!, x-Kom, Komputronik, as well as through operators and the manufacturer’s own store, ZTEshop.pl.
4/ A Porsche on your wrist
In 1963, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche created one of the most icon-
ic design objects in modern history: the Porsche 911. Realizing his vision of taking the principles and myth of Porsche beyond the automotive world, he created the exclusive lifestyle brand Porsche Design in 1972. His philosophy and design language are still evident in all Porsche Design products. Every Porsche Design product stands for extraordinary precision and perfection, is characterized by a high level of technological innovation, and seamlessly combines intelligent functionality with purist design. The products, created by Studio F. A. Porsche in Austria, are sold worldwide in Porsche Design stores, exclusive department stores, specialist retailers, and the official online store (porsche-design.com).
Porsche Design continues the success of its personalized watches and is expanding its offering to the Polish market. The custom watch program brings the Porsche car configurator principle to the luxury watch segment, opening up endless possibilities for designing tailor-made watches in the style of the 911 model.
Each custom-made watch can be tailored to the customer’s Porsche 911 or their creative wishes down to the smallest detail. Customers can go directly from
the Porsche car configurator to the Porsche Design watch configurator, where their selected equipment options are automatically transferred to the watch. From the bezel to the dial color, strap, oscillating weight, and engraving, the possibilities for personalization are endless. The lightweight titanium case is available in two versions - sanded or coated in black - and ensures durability and maximum wearing comfort. The dial remains in the typical Porsche Design matte black color, inspired by the look of the 911’s tachometer. The ring around the dial can be configured in 159 original Porsche colors. All Porsche Design movements are COSC-certified and guarantee the highest accuracy. Each watch is handmade at the Porsche watch manufactory in Solothurn, Switzerland, and is made to order. The result is a watch that references the character of the 911 and emphasizes it on the wrist.
In 2020, the made-to-order watch program was first introduced in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and then gradually rolled out in other markets: in Austria and France in 2022, in Canada, Spain, and Portugal in 2024, and now in Poland and Japan.
911 FOR 4?
Porsche Panamera 4
The third generation of the four-door Porsche Panamera sedan is even sportier, even sleeker, and even more reminiscent of the 911 model. If it weren’t for its dimensions and rear doors...
Not everyone knows that at the end of the 1980s, Porsche prepared a prototype of a four-door version of the 911 model, designated 989. The idea was realized, but two decades later. In 2009, the first generation of the Panamera model with the factory code 970 was presented. The name of the car was borrowed from the legendary La Carrera Panamericana car race. The nearly five-meter-long limousine with a fastback body (the rear trunk lid lifts up together with the rear window) and a gently sloping roof, as in a coupe, directly referenced the brand’s sporting genes in its styling and caused quite a sensation on the automotive market. This was all the more so because the brand was entering the already crowded Executive segment with this model. The Panamera, equipped with powerful turbocharged diesel, gasoline, and hybrid engines, two-wheel drive, and fast PDK dual-clutch automatic transmissions, effectively competed with rivals such as the Audi A7, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, and Mercedes CLS.
The second generation of the Panamera, designated 971, was unveiled in 2016. The new Panamera was created entirely from scratch. While the previous version was criticized for its “squatness and sluggishness,” especially in the rear, the second generation, despite its larger dimensions (5.05 m long)
Story and photos by Bartosz Grzybiński
CABIN,
IN THE PASSENGER
LUXURY CAN BE FELT WITH ALL THE SENSES - SIGHT, TOUCH, AND EVEN SMELL
and muscular build, appears to be much lighter. The silhouette of the second generation Panamera is dynamic, with characteristic body creases and a sleek, yet still wide rear. Interestingly, in addition to the fastback body version, a Sport Turismo body, i.e., a shooting brake “station wagon,” was also offered. The entire range of gasoline and hybrid engines was used for the drive, supported by the Porsche 4D Chassis Control system, which synchronized the operation of all systems affecting driving dynamics.
The third generation of the Panamera, designated with the factory code 972, debuted on the market at the end of 2023. This time, it was available in only one body version, as a 5-door fastback. The car is similar in size to the previous version, but the silhouette seems to be even more slender, even more dynamic, and even more similar to the 911 model. Perhaps this is because the focus was on large body surfaces and stylistic minimalism.
Yes, it is definitely a sporty model; the dynamic body is perfectly complemented by the LED Matrix HD headlights and narrow rear lights, also connected by an LED light strip. Especially in the evening or at night, the sight of a Panamera driving through traffic lights is intriguing and delightful. The rear lights have already become a recognizable stylistic element of all new models of the brand.
The interior is spacious. It seats four passengers in bucket seats. Passengers in the rear seats not only have plenty of headroom and legroom, as well as a wide range of seat adjustments, but also a control panel for air conditioning and multimedia located in the center tunnel, and it must be said that the optional BOSE Surround Sound System sounds great.
In the passenger cabin, luxury can be felt with all the senses - sight, touch, and even smell. Natural finishing materials such as leather (in two colors: black and Kalahari Grey), velour, Alcantara, and aluminum are of the highest quality, and the attention to detail and fit of the individual interior elements leave nothing to be desired.
Does the dashboard look familiar? Indeed, its design has been borrowed from the elec tric Porsche Taycan model. The classic visor covering the gauges has been abandoned, and two large multimedia touch panels have been placed across its entire width. Some will like it, others will not. In my opinion, the Panamera has lost some of its stylistic originality, although it must be admitted that it has gained in terms of functionality and readability. The threespoke, multifunctional sports steering wheel fits perfectly in your hands. In front of the driver is a dig ital screen that looks like traditional
Porsche round dials, with the tachometer in the center. As in all cars of this brand, the ignition switch, i.e., the start/ stop button, is on the left side of the steering column, and on the right is the gear shift, no longer traditional, in the center tunnel, but on the dashboard. In the center of the dashboard, there is a beautiful, albeit digital, clock, with a wide touch screen below it, air conditioning vents, and air conditioning control buttons. It looks modern and impressive, although, in my opinion, the first generation Panamera, in which the center tunnel was not touch-sensitive and had ordinary aluminum manual control buttons, was more elegant and ergonomic in this respect. And so, the ubiquitous touch panels have become an indispensable element of the design of modern cars. It’s a bit of a shame...
Passengers have access to a spacious 494-liter trunk. With the rear seats folded down, its capacity can increase to 1,328 liters. Although the trunk has a high loading threshold, it is large enough for the Panamera to successfully serve as a functional family car if necessary. The basic powertrain versions are twin-turbocharged gasoline engines: a 2.9-liter V6 with 353 hp and a 4.0-liter V8 with 500 hp. 500 hp, as well as hybrid drives, i.e., six- or eight-cylinder combustion engines supported by electric motors: 2.9/V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid 470 hp, 2.9/V6 Twin Turbo
IT LOOKS MODERN AND IMPRESSIVE, ALTHOUGH, IN MY OPINION, THE FIRST GENERATION PANAMERA, IN WHICH THE CENTER TUNNEL WAS NOT TOUCH-SENSITIVE AND HAD ORDINARY ALUMINUM MANUAL CONTROL BUTTONS, WAS MORE ELEGANT AND ERGONOMIC IN THIS RESPECT
Hybrid 544 hp, 4.0/V8 Twin Turbo Hybrid 670 hp, and the top version 4.0/V8 Twin Turbo Hybrid, with a total power of 782 hp.
Under the hood of the tested Panamera 4 was a “basic” V6 gasoline engine with two turbochargers, 353 hp, and 500 Nm of torque. Power is distributed electronically to all wheels (with a clear preference for the rear axle) via an 8-speed PDK automatic transmission. The driver can select the driving mode using a small knob located on the steering wheel arm. There are three modes available: Normal, Sport, and Sport Plus. Changing the driving mode
instantly changes the entire characteristics of the engine and suspension. With the optional Sport Chrono package, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 4.8 seconds, and the top speed is 270 km/h.
Driving the Panamera is pure pleasure. Everything that affects this, i.e., the engine, transmission, and suspension, are perfectly tuned to each other, and the optional rear-wheel steering not only makes it easy to maneuver the car in the city, but also allows you to drive smoothly on winding roads.
An attentive reader will have noticed that I have used the word “optional” several times. This word is key in describing virtually every model of this brand. The base version of the Panamera 4 costs PLN 532,000, but optional extras have raised the price to PLN 721,000. On the one hand, we are buying a unique and practical car, which, due to its extensive list of options, is the only one of its kind on the market, but on the other hand, the price we have to pay for this uniqueness is really high.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR MASERATI IN POLAND
Grand Automotive Polska, part of the international UKRAVTO GROUP with nearly 20 years of experience representing Maserati in other markets, presents a comprehensive vision for the brand’s development in Poland.
In addition to the Warsaw showroom, which operates in accordance with the highest 3S standards (sales, service, spare parts), there are plans to open another location in Kraków. Design work will also soon begin on the flagship showroom in Warsaw, which is set to become one of the most modern in Europe - a place where Italian elegance meets the latest customer service technologies.
The Grand Automotive Polska team has undergone intensive training at Maserati headquarters to ensure a level of service commensurate with the prestige of the brand. The workshop has a full range of spare parts, and customers can count on comprehensive support – from financing and extended warranties to individual assistance.
“You have made the right choice in choosing this brand - and in choosing to work with us. Maserati is the perfect harmony of style, technology, and emotion. Our service meets the highest standards of the brand: our staff is fully trained and able to accurately diagnose any problem, ensuring that your car is kept in perfect condition.
We have a comprehensive stock of original spare parts for the latest Maserati models, guaranteeing uninterrupted service. We are always at your disposal - and if necessary, we will provide a replacement car. Everything has been designed to ensure that owning a Maserati is nothing but pure pleasure,” says Sebastian Woźniak, General Director of Grand Automotive Polska.
As part of its new strategy, Grand Automotive Polska has prepared a special program for connoisseurs of Italian motoring. One of its elements is an exclusive offer for the Grecale model - an SUV that combines everyday functionality with Maserati’s characteristic sporting spirit. This model, available under special conditions from PLN
343,000, is the perfect introduction to the world of Maserati.
The new showroom at 33 Towarowa Street in Warsaw offers the current range of Maserati models: Grecale - an SUV in GT, Modena, Trofeo, and fully electric Folgore versions; Gran Turismo - a sports car in Modena, Trofeo, and electric Folgore versions; Gran Cabrioa convertible in Trofeo and Folgore versions, MCPURA - the latest evolution of a supercar with a Nettuno engine, available as a coupe and Cielo convertible, and GT2 Stradale - a road-going racing version, an extreme expression of the brand’s sporting DNA.
2025 is a special time for Maserati, as the brand celebrates the centenary of its iconic Trident logo.
NOKIAN TYRES RANKS 98TH IN THE LIST OF THE WORLD’S
MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES
Time Magazine and data specialist Statista have published the second edition of their list of 500 companies from around the world that are particularly committed to environmental and social responsibility. Nokian Tyres ranked 98th.
The criteria used in the ranking of companies included verified commitments to environmental sustainability, such as membership in the UN Global Compact and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets confirmed by the Sci-
Paolo Pompei
ence Based Targets initiative. The results of assessments by organizations such as CDP and MSCI were taken into account, and companies were also evaluated in terms of sustainable business practices, transparency, and responsible management of environmental and social issues.
Nokian Tyres is a pioneer in the development of environmental sustain-
ability in the tire industry. The company is committed to the sustainable development of both its own operations and the entire value chain.
“We make tires that are safe, innovative, and environmentally sustainable. Nokian Tyres has been a pioneer in sustainability in the tire industry for over thirty years, since our factory in Finland
became the world’s first tire factory to receive environmental certification in 1995. We are proud of these achievements and want our sustainability efforts to make a difference. The latest example of this is our new factory in Romania, the world’s first complete CO2-neutral tire factory,” said Paolo Pompei, President and CEO of Nokian Tyres.
VOLKSWAGEN NAMED THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE GROUP
The Volkswagen Group has been recognized as the most innovative automotive group in the world by the Center for Automotive Management (CAM) and received the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award 2025. The award has been presented annually since 2011 by CAM in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, and evaluates the technological and innovative capabilities of international automotive manufacturers and suppliers. Among 30 companies from around the world, the Volkswagen Group achieved the highest score in the main categoryinnovation - ahead of competitors from China and Europe.
CAM also recognized the Group’s brands – Volkswagen Passenger Cars was named the most innovative volume brand, and Audi the most innovative premium brand.
In addition, the Volkswagen Group and its brands took top positions in se-
lected innovation categories. The Audi Q6 e-tron was recognized as one of the most innovative models, and the Ingolstadt-based brand emphasized its leading position in the field of electromobility and connectivity. At the same time, Volkswagen Passenger Cars showed how it makes technological innovations available to a wide audience, taking top spots in the categories “Electric Drive” and “Infotainment & Connectivity.”
“The award for the most innovative automotive group is a recognition of our efforts in recent years. The same applies to the awards received by the Volkswagen and Audi brands. These accolades motivate us to bring more technologies to the road that excite people. Our highly qualified team, our renowned brands, our pioneering technologies, and our close contact with customers are the basis of our success. The Volkswagen Group is shaping the mobility of tomor-
row - focused, sustainable, and with the ambition to set standards through innovation. In this way, we want to become the global technology leader in the automotive industry,” said Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.
In its decision, the Automotive Management Center highlighted several specific achievements of the Volkswagen Group in the field of innovation. In particular, leading innovations in electromobility stood out, such as the new Volkswagen ID.3 GTX drive with a range of 604 km according to WLTP, the highest in its segment. In the area of infotainment and connectivity, the Group’s brands also impressed the CAM, for example with wireless updates that improve charging performance in the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Audi A6’s ability to optimize route planning in real time using collective intelligence data from connected vehicles.
SWEDEN BUYS POLISH PIORUN MISSILES
At the London Defense Exhibition, Mesko (Polish Armaments Group) signed a contract with Sweden for the sale of anti-aircraft systems worth over PLN 1 billion.
The purchase involves at least several hundred Piorun (Lighting) missiles, and the number may even exceed a thousand. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027. Sweden, the youngest member of NATO, is another ally that has decided to make such a purchase. Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, and the United States have already invested in Polish anti-aircraft systems. This product has proven itself well in the war in Ukraine. Simply put, it is a tube (launcher) that a soldier places on his shoulder and fires at a target up to 6 kilometers away. In this way, helicopters can be hit. Piorun missiles are relatively resistant to interference.
However, Mesko has limited production capacity. “Our current production capacity is over a thousand units per year, which is still greater than that of a comparable American product,” explained Adam Leszkiewicz, CEO of the Polish Armaments Group. “Thanks to the improvement of certain solutions, we are able to increase production by 100200 units per year, which will bring us to 1,500. But today we could sell as many as 3,000 units per year. So we will implement further solutions,” he announced.
In total, slightly over 3,000 missiles have been produced so far. The problem is that only the Polish Army is in the process of fulfilling an order for 3,500 such missiles, and it is known that last year Mesko was unable to fully fulfill the contract.
With deliveries of over 1,000 units, the company has secured sales for over three years. Perhaps a second production line for these missiles will be created. Such an investment would most likely involve the construction of a new plant.
A few weeks ago, a production line for small-caliber missiles was officially opened at Mesko. Now, the plant can produce about 250 million of them per year. Attempts are also underway to increase large-caliber production, including 155 mm artillery. In the coming weeks, a strategic partner from abroad is expected to be selected to implement this investment. The Polish Armaments Group has received over PLN 2.4 billion in financing from the State Treasury to increase these capabilities.
DANES TAKE OVER ANOTHER WIND BUSINESS
Danish company Vestas has acquired a factory producing blades for onshore wind turbines in Goleniów near Szczecin. Until now, it belonged to LM Wind Power, part of the American company GE Vernova.
This is the result of an agreement signed on May 15 and the successful completion of all necessary regulatory procedures. The factory was launched in 2009 and then expanded in 2017. It will continue to supply blades for Vestas onshore wind tur-
bines, including the 7.2 MW V172 turbine.
Approximately 400 existing LM Wind Power employees will remain in their current positions, bringing the number of Vestas employees in Poland to nearly 2,000. Vestas also operates an assembly plant in Szczecin, where hubs and nacelles for the 15.0 MW V236 offshore wind turbine are manufactured.
“Together, the two locations strengthen Vestas’ ability to serve both the onshore and offshore wind ener-
gy markets in Europe and globally. The company strongly believes in the potential of the Polish market and remains committed to investing in local production and talent development to support regional energy ambitions,” the company said in a statement.
According to data from the Wind Industry Hub Foundation and the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW), in the case of onshore wind energy, local content, i.e., the share of Polish suppliers, already amounts to 55-65%.
GREEN LIGHT FOR DESALINATION PILOT PROJECT
The program to install desalination plants in mines is expected to cost approximately PLN 5 billion over 10 years. This could improve the situation of the Oder River. Its high salinity level enabled the bloom of socalled golden algae in 2022.
“We have received the green light from the Economic Committee of the Council of Ministers to conduct a pilot project for innovative desalination technology. This is the first step towards implementing the entire investment program, which is crucial for the sustainable protection of the Oder River,” said Urszula Zielińska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment. The pilot project should start later this year. Its results will determine the scale and pace of further actions aimed at improving the con-
dition of the river. The testing of the desalination technology developed by the Wroclaw University of Technology is expected to last until early 2027.
The investment program is only part of the river quality improvement plan developed by the inter-ministerial team for the Oder. The primary operational goal is to reduce the salinity of the Oder by more than 80% in its lower section and by 60% in its upper section. Automatic water monitoring will be handled by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection. The implementation of the plan is intended to reduce the likelihood of another toxic bloom of golden algae. In 2022, it led to the death of millions of fish, mussels, and snails.
Greenpeace is calling for an amendment to the so-called Oder
Special Act. During the consultation process, the organization demanded that fees for discharging sewage into rivers be made more realistic, that plants with increased salinity be required to invest in desalination installations, the introduction of limits on the maximum concentration of chlorides and sulfates in discharges, and an assessment of the cumulative impact of discharges on the condition of rivers and, on this basis, a decision to revoke permits.
The amendment to the special act is being prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure. According to the ministry’s announcement, the final draft should be ready in Q4. However, the original version did not mention an increase in fees for brine discharges.
PLN 100 BILLION FOR TRANSPORT IN 2026
The largest amount of money for transport investments in 2026 will be spent on the construction of expressways and the modernization of railway tracks. Finally, the construction of the S10 route, which is to connect Szczecin with Warsaw, will begin in earnest. The entire railway line from Kraków to Limanowa, Nowy Sącz, and Chabówka is also to be built.
The total amount of expenditure on transport infrastructure in 2026 will be PLN 42 billion higher than in 2023, according to Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak.
Of the planned PLN 100 billion, about one-third is to come from the state budget. The rest will come from sources not included in this pool, such as the National Road Fund and the National Reconstruction Plan (KPO).
According to the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways, as in this year, approximately PLN 20 billion is to be spent on the construction of expressways, motorways, and ring roads. Important projects are being prepared in the northwestern part of the country.
Once the building permit has been obtained, the construction of several sections of the S10 expressway with a total length of 100 km between Szczecin and Wałcz is to begin. In 2028, it will be possible to comfortably reach the capital of Western Pomerania by expressway from the northern part of Wielkopolska. Thanks to the completion in 2027 of the S10 section from Bydgoszcz to Toruń, in about three years’ time, a free alternative route to the existing A2 and S3 routes will be created on the way from Warsaw to Szczecin.
Next year, as part of a “design and build” contract, the construction of the Szczecin Western Bypass is also to begin, which will include the longest tunnel in Poland, 5 kilometers long, under the Oder River. This investment is to be completed in 2032.
PKP Polish railways is planning investment expenditures at a level similar to that of road builders next year. “Provided there are no significant delays at the stage of protests in the proceedings being resolved, we plan to achieve
a turnover of PLN 18-19 billion in 2026,” said Marcin Mochocki, vice-president of PKP PLK. The company assumes that in 2026, construction will begin on the last missing sections of the PLN 14 billion project, which provides for the construction of a railway shortcut from Kraków to Nowy Sącz and Zakopane. After completion of the works in 2030, the journey from the capital of Małopolska to the Nowy Sącz region will take one hour instead of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
In 2026, the entire 201 line from Bydgoszcz to the Tri-City will also be rebuilt. In addition to the conversion to two tracks and an increase in speed, electrification is also planned there. The route is intended not only to improve passenger traffic, but also to facilitate the delivery of goods to the
port in Gdynia. PKP PLK also wants to start the reconstruction of the junction in the Tri-City, which includes improving the capacity of the congested Gdańsk-Tczew section.
In 2026, nearly PLN 5 billion is to go to the Government Road Development Fund, which provides subsidies to local governments for the construction and reconstruction of local arteries. Among the major transport investments in 2026 is PLN 11 billion for investments by the Central Transportation Port (CPK) company. The funds are included in the government’s multi-year plan until 2032. According to the assumptions, the construction of the Warsaw-Łódź high-speed line is to begin next year. The first works on the construction of the airport will also start.
Dariusz Klimczak
THE MILITARY IS PURCHASING POLISH RADARS
Unique passive location radars will be supplied by a consortium of companies belonging to the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ). Unfortunately, deliveries will not begin for another five years and will end in 2038.
During the International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce, the Armament Agency signed a contract for the purchase of 28 Passive Location Radars for PLN 3.9 billion gross. The option provides for the purchase of another 18 units. These radars will be part of an integrated multi-layered missile and air defense system, which consists of the Vistula and Narew programs.
“These funds are invested in the PGZ, in a Polish champion. This is Polish technological thought, this is an investment in the Polish economy,” explained Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“Passive location radars see a lot, but they don’t show that they see. I would like to thank the companies from the PGZ-Narew consortium for being ahead of the market,” said Konrad Gołota, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets, which oversees PGZ. “In a year’s time, our Armed Forces will have even more Polish equipment,” he added.
However, it may be worrying that deliveries of this equipment will not begin until 2030. This is mainly due to the limited production capacity of the companies that are to manufacture this equipment. The PGZ-Narew consortium includes PGZ, Huta Stalowa Wola, Jelcz, Mesko, and PIT-Radwar.
The agreement is structured in such a way that the radars will be delivered in increasingly newer versions - what the army will receive in 2032 will differ from what will be delivered to soldiers
in 2035, for example, and the older versions will be updated later.
“Passive Location Radar enables continuous surveillance and reconnaissance of space independently of active radars, without emitting electromagnetic radiation, thanks to which radar stations remain undetectable to enemy systems,” informs the Armament Agency, which is responsible for this purchase. This involves, among other things, detecting signals generated by aircraft onboard transmitters, such as radars and communication links.
During the Kielce Exhibition, an agreement was also signed for the purchase of 23,000 MSBS Grot assault rifles. The agreement is to be implemented in 2027-28. Its value is over PLN 300 million. In total, approximately 250,000 rifles of this type have been ordered for the Polish Army to date, and over 100,000 of them have already been delivered.
AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR CGR-080 MISSILES
The WB Group and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture. The new company will manufacture CGR-080 missiles. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028. Depending on the ammunition, K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery modules can strike enemy targets at a distance of 80 and almost 300 km. The Polish Army has purchased 290 such sets, with deliveries scheduled to be completed in 2029. Currently, there are already over a hundred of them in the army. They are equivalent to the American Himars, of which there are 20 in service. The problem is that Poland currently has to purchase ammunition from South Korea and the United States, respectively.
“This is a breakthrough moment, because until now we did not have this kind of technology in Poland,” said Piotr Wojciechowski, CEO and main shareholder of the WB Group. It is also important that missiles with a significantly greater range are to be developed jointly with the Koreans.
“We are gaining the ability to produce missiles for the Homar-K launcher, which is an extraordinary moment,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. “We will become increasingly independent industrially. We are not only buying weapons, but also bringing production to Poland,” he added.
The location of the new plant has not yet been disclosed, but it is known
that only two sites are currently being considered. The entire investment is expected to cost around PLN 1 billion, and the new plant will employ around 200 people. Currently, the WB Group employs around 2,500 people in Poland.
According to statements by politicians and the PGZ management board, in 2028, PGZ’s production capacity should be approximately 180,000 pieces of large-caliber ammunition, including 155 mm artillery ammunition. This plan seems very ambitious; just two months ago, the Ministry of State Assets signed an agreement to provide PGZ with PLN 2.4 billion in funding to create production capacity for large-caliber ammunition.
SMALL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN WŁOCŁAWEK
Orlen and Synthos have signed an agreement on the operation of OSGE, paving the way for the construction of Poland’s first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant. The investment will be carried out in Włocławek.
The agreed terms include new content of the agreement of the company and the shareholders’ agreement, in which Orlen and Synthos each hold a 50% stake. The changes equalize the rights of the partners and give Orlen greater control over key corporate issues. The second element of the agreement is a license agreement giving OSGE full access to the BWRX-300 reactor technology developed by the American company GE Vernova. A special purpose vehicle controlled by Orlen will be responsible for the construction.
“Poland will be home to Europe’s first small nuclear power plant BWRX-300. We are building the energy of tomorrow. This is the meaning behind the decision taken by the Supervisory Board of the Orlen Group, which approved the content of the agreement on this matter.
We spent over a year negotiating the terms to secure Orlen’s interests, ensuring our joint venture with Synthos direct access to American technology enabling the implementation of SMR projects,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of Orlen, quoted in a press release.
The agreement also introduces a rotation mechanism for filling key positions at OSGE. Orlen and Synthos Green Energy will take turns appointing the chairman of the management board and the chairman of the supervisory board every three years. Orlen will have priority in selecting the chairman of the board, while Synthos will appoint the first president of the management board.
The new agreement also provides for the establishment of a Steering Committee, whose role will be to supervise the implementation of the project and make decisions regarding the day-to-day operations of OSGE and the special purpose vehicles established to build subsequent reactors. The BWRX-300 reactors have been included in Orlen’s “Energy of Tomorrow
Starts Today” strategy. The company plans to have at least two SMRs with a total capacity of 0.6 GW by 2035.
Small Modular Reactors are a new generation of nuclear power plants that differ from traditional ones primarily in their scale and construction method. Each module has less power than a classic nuclear unit, and their design allows for serial production and transport to the installation site. This makes the investment process shorter and the technology itself more flexible, as the reactors can be started individually or combined into larger units depending on energy demand.
SMR technology is being developed in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Reactors of this type are seen as a solution supporting the energy transition. They are expected to provide stable, low-emission electricity and heat, complementing renewable energy sources. According to estimates, the first commercial SMRs in Europe may start operating in the 2030s.
POLISH LABORATORY TO BE LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT
Poland is taking another step into space - following the flight of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, it is now time to launch its own research satellite. The project is backed by the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
The SPARK (Satellite Platform for Advancement of Research and Knowledge) project aims to develop and launch an experimental research satellite into orbit and to test Polish
technologies in space conditions. This is a strategic project implemented by the Łukasiewicz Research Network, the Institute of Aviation, the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, and the Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements.
The project is expected to cost approximately PLN 15 million. The creation of the so-called orbital platform is to be a driving force
for the entire space and research sector in Poland. The satellite will be a space laboratory where various technologies, including avionics, will be tested in micro-gravity conditions. This will allow scientists to conduct various advanced experiments without having to travel abroad. According to the schedule, the satellite will be launched into orbit within two years.
