European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss the country’s request to join the European Union.
During their meeting, von der Leyen told Zelensky that the commission’s assessment of Ukraine’s EU candidate status would be finalized “by the end of next week,” according to reports by Reuters.
The European Parliament is reportedly set to recommend granting candidate status to Ukraine, with an announcement rumored to coincide with the next European Council summit on June 23-24.
Presidents of 10 EU countries have already come out in favor of Ukraine’s swift entry to the EU, including Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
According to Reuters, “all 27 EU governments would have to agree to grant Ukraine candidate status, after which there would be extensive talks on the reforms required before Kyiv could be considered for membership.”
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters
A major retrospective of work by Polish-British director Paweł Pawlikowski opened in Italy on Friday, courtesy of the Polish Institute in Rome and the ‘Piccolo Cinema America’ film association.
In addition to his documentary work, the retrospective includes Pawlikowski’s feature films: The Last Resort, My Summer of Love, The Woman in the Fifth, Ida, and Cold War.
“Ida” won the 2015 Academy Award for Foreign Language Film, the first Polish film to do so, while “Cold War” earned Pawlikowski the Best Director Award at the Cannes Festival in 2018.
The retrospective, which lasts until mid-July, can be seen as part of a series of free outdoor cinema screenings in Rome.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
The 11th Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition finished yesterday evening in Warsaw with the grand prize and EUR 15,000 going to Juliana Grigoryan of Armenia.
South African soprano Nombulelo Yende won the top prize in the female vocalist category, while Polish baritone Szymon Mechliński and Ukrainian bass Volodymyr Tyshkov shared the second-place prize in the men’s category. No first-place prize was awarded for best male vocalist.
Twelve singers from nine different countries competed in the final round of the competition, including three singers from Ukraine, two from Poland, and individuals from Croatia, Armenia, China, South Africa, the United States, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Contestants were required to sing two arias, one each from Polish and non-Polish repertoire, performed with the accompaniment of the orchestra of Warsaw’s National Opera.
The Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocal Competition has been held every three years for the past 30 years. Named after Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko, the “father of Polish national opera,” it is considered Poland’s largest and most prestigious vocal competition.
For a complete list of winners, visit the competition website at teatrwielki.pl.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, teatrwielki.pl
After a disappointing loss to Belgium last week, Poland’s national football team earned a hard-fought 2:2 draw against the Netherlands last night in their UEFA Nations League match.
Although Poland started out ahead with goals by Matty Cash and Piotr Zieliński, the Dutch national team managed to even the score in the second half, with Poland struggling to keep the match to a draw.
Poland is currently ranked third in their 2022/23 UEFA Nations League group, with four points from three matches. The Netherlands top the table with seven points.
Poland now faces a return match against Belgium in Warsaw on Tuesday.
Source: Radio Poland
Today marks the 35th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Gdańsk.
Jan Paweł visited Gdańsk for the first time as Pope in June 1987, where he met with Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa and conducted an open-air mass for one million people in the district of Zaspa.
The Parafia Opatrzności Bożej w Gdańsku (al. Jana Pawła II 48) will be hosting a special Holy Mass today at 13:00 in honor of the Pope’s historic visit. After the liturgy, residents are invited to a festival beginning at 16:00. The program will include competitions, sports demonstrations, a meeting with Gdańsk highlanders, and a concert featuring Bernard Dornowski of the band Czerwone Gitary.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be a mix of sun and clouds, with a slight chance of rain in the late afternoon and a light breeze coming in from the northwest. Temperatures will peak around a high of 22°C, or 71°F, dropping to an overnight low of 13°C or 55°F. Cooler, wet weather is expected for tomorrow, with a chance for more sun returning midweek.
Elizabeth Peck/ua
