The Warsaw Voice, Winter 2021, No 1227

Winter 2021 No. 1227

Polexit and Other Not Fully Comprehensible Issues Page 3

Focus on Poland | Published since 1988

Authoritarianism at the Gates Page 8

ISSN 0860-7591

Migration Crisis Threat or Gift?

The situation on the border between Poland and Belarus worries Europe, but is also being exploited in Polish domestic politics

This publication is part of The Warsaw Voice Multimedia Platform in Poland

www.warsawvoice.pl

Table of contents POLITICS AND SOCIETY Polexit and Other Not Fully Comprehensive Issues Authoritarianism at the Gates

3-7 8-11

REAL ESTATE A Sign Of Promising Times For The Office Market In Poland Continued Reduction In New Units Coming Onto Poland’s Residential Market Polish Warehouse Market in Q3 2021

12-13

Winter Attractions at Botanic Garden The best of caricature portrait on show Caravaggio masterpieces on show at Warsaw’s Royal Castle

MOTO Sport Utility Vehicle

24-31

GREAT GEAR | 32-33

14-15 16-17

WARSAW New Bridge On The Vistula River

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BUTIK | 19 THE BUZZ | 20-23 Nikifor - a genius of naïve art Splendor of Power

IN BRIEF| 34-37 Tire Market in Poland and Europe 25 Years of Bosch Brake Systems in Poland 5 Years of Volkswagen Factory in Września Taycan Drives Porsche’s Results Realme in Top 4 of 5G Smartphone Vendors in CEE Region Safety in All Conditions Tourism in Kraków in Times of Pandemic

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POLITICS AND SOCIETY

POLEXIT AND OTHER NOT FULLY COMPREHENSIBLE ISSUES Andrzej Olechowski, former Polish minister of foreign affairs (1993-1995) and in 2001 co-founder of the now opposition Civic Platform (PO), talks to Witold Żygulski.

I

n recent weeks, the Polish government has been boasting of a great and effective diplomatic offensive, while the opposition claims that Poland has no coherent foreign policy at all today; what is your opinion?

Under normal circumstances the main goal of foreign policy is to create the best possible conditions for the country’s security and economic relations. But today we do not know what the goals are. Statements from the foreign minister are extremely rare, his deputies speak only about specific situations and events, not about strategic plans. If we were to judge this policy by its effects, we would have to say that it isolates Poland rather than improving security and good economic cooperation.

What is this isolation about?

If we look at the relations with our neighbors, which, as we know, are the most important in terms of security - a country is safe when it is surrounded by friends - we have bad or at best cool relations with everyone around us. Starting with the west: with Germany, as with other Western European countries, we are currently engaged in a legal and ideological dispute. It concerns fundamental questions of the rule of law and its principles, which today are the cause of an extremely sharp conflict both with the institutions of The Warsaw Voice

the entire European Union and with individual EU countries. Note that the European Parliament’s resolutions that are unfavorable to Poland are passed by a huge majority of votes. Contrary to what the Polish authorities claim, this is not a dispute with EU bureaucrats, but with the nations that make up the European community and with the democratic representatives of those nations.

I CANNOT REMEMBER ANY TIME SINCE 1989 WHEN RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA WERE AS BAD AS THEY ARE TODAY Let us go further along the border. In the south we have an open conflict with the Czech Republic over the Turów mine, practically nonexistent cooperation in the Visegrad Group [Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary]. In the south-east there is Ukraine, with which we had very intensive relations under the previous government, but in recent years Winter 2021

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Andrzej Olechowski, Photo PAP

they were clearly weakened by a very strong anti-Ukrainian lobby existing in Poland. In the east we have Belarus, with which we are in open conflict. We also have cool relations with Lithuania and other Baltic countries, which often criticize Warsaw’s policy. Of course, we cooperate on the migration crisis on our borders, but there have been significant differences here as well: incomprehensibly, Poland wanted to solve this problem on its own, while Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia worked closely with EU institutions from the beginning of the crisis.

In the end, albeit very late, the Polish government decided to internationalize the conflict on the Belarusian border. How would you comment on this situation?

I did not understand why the Polish government tried to create the impression that it would solve the crisis on its own. It was clear from the beginning that international negotiations, talks with Belarus and Russia, were necessary. Today, Poland is not capable of such negotiations: there is no politician in Poland who could establish a constructive dialogue with partners in Minsk or Moscow.

I cannot remember any time since 1989 when relations with Russia were as bad as they are today. Therefore, it was obvious that the border conflict would not be solved without the participation of the EU and big EU countries.

The Polish government’s attitude can only be explained by election-related reasons, an attempt to inflate the patriotic balloon, to consolidate citizens around the authorities in the face of an external threat. To me it was a completely sick idea.

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The problem of the migration crisis internationalized itself, as a result of the actions of Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and European institutions. The Polish authorities simply had to come to terms with this. We still do not know whether the border conflict is not part of a larger operation, a more serious project to regain Russia’s influence in Ukraine. If so, nothing is moving in the right direction. If not, the crisis is likely to be contained soon.

You mentioned a significant deterioration of Polish-Ukrainian relations; what is the reason for this?

Nationalist tendencies dominate Polish foreign policy today.

In such conditions it is impossible to maintain relations based on mutual trust with the Germans, Russians, Ukrainians or Belarusians. Polish nationalist circles are convinced that a German, a Russian, or a Ukrainian will always be an enemy of the Poles. This thinking is impossible to eradicate, it stems from the ideology of these movements. Poland has thus ceased to be an important ally of Ukraine. Of course, if there is a Russian military attack, we and the entire EU will stand in solidarity with Kiev.

How do you assess the current state of Polish-American relations?

Warsaw-Washington relations are best described by the words of Krzysztof Szczerski, former presidential minister and current Polish representative to the United Nations, who said that the Americans had elected their president, the Poles had elected their president, and they might not agree with each other. The Polish government seems to assume The Warsaw Voice

discovery that Poles have two faces. Today’s face of Poland is foreign to the current U.S. administration. It will be very difficult to change that effectively in the coming years. Of course, we too have seen two faces of the United States, and it remains to be seen whether the one personified by Donald Trump will not return in a few years.

Another minefield for Polish foreign policy is the relations with Israel, the worst in decades; can they ever be repaired in the face of gestures from Warsaw such as choosing Marek Magierowski, former ambassador to Tel Aviv, who is considered persona non grata by the Israeli government, as Poland’s new ambassador to the United States?

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

that as long as the Americans believe that Russia and its actions are a threat to U.S. interests, military and security cooperation is unthreatened. In contrast, the Polish authorities do not care about the remaining political cooperation, believing that the United States under the current administration will be guided by different values and ideology from their own.

As far as economic relations are concerned, the issue of the proposed new Polish media law, which, if enacted, would hit American interests, forcing Discovery to sell its majority stake in TVN, a TV station that is sympathetic to the opposition, has had a devastating effect. Poland’s conflict with the European Union over the rule of law and judicial independence is also of key importance to American investors. It is difficult to expect that an investor would want to operate in a country which proclaims that its internal laws are more important than international agreements. The possibility of unilateral changes in legal regulations effectively deters any company interested in the Polish market. The situation is similar with financing for investments: no self-respecting bank will grant a large loan for operations in Poland if it is considered a high-risk country in the legal field, and if it does, the interest rate will be much higher.

There is also another, more long-term negative consequence of this government’s bad policies: after a period of increasing trust and friendliness toward Poland came the

WE HAVE WITNESSED MANY ANTI-SEMITIC STATEMENTS IN RECENT YEARS, EVEN BY POLITICIANS FROM THE FRONT RANKS OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT

Joe Biden (in the middle) with Andrzej Duda (second from right), Photo PAP

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WHAT PARTICULARLY BOTHERS ME IS THAT I STILL SEE NO PROSPECT OF RESOLVING THIS GOVERNMENT’S DISPUTE WITH THE EU OVER THE RULE OF LAW The crisis in relations with Israel results from what I have already mentioned: Polish foreign policy being dominated by nationalist circles. Polish nationalism is strongly associated with an anti-Semitic subtext, the conviction that, to put it mildly, Jews are not friendly to Poles. We have witnessed many anti-Semitic statements in recent years,

Zbigniew Rau , Photo PAP

even by politicians from the front ranks of the current government. As long as the United Right is in power, an improvement in relations with Tel Aviv is, in my opinion, unthinkable.

Is it even possible to speak of a single center pursuing foreign policy in today’s Poland? Many observers have the impression that there are at least several: the President’s Office, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the headquarters of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party…

Things are similar in almost all European countries today.

The burden of EU policy has moved to prime ministers’ offices, if only due to the fact that meetings of the European Council, which used to be very rare in the past, are now held very often. Difficult issues are therefore decided personally by the heads of government. As for other key elements of foreign policy, in Poland issues of relations with the United States have been moved to the Presidential Palace, while relations with Russia now seem to be in the hands of the dominant figure in Polish politics, i.e. the president of PiS, Jarosław Kaczyński. As regards China, we have no policy at all. As a result of all this, the Foreign Ministry finds itself in a very difficult position. However, this does not preclude a scenario in which a strong, determined personality at the helm of the ministry could bring about the return of the foreign policy coordination center to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But, as I mentioned at the beginning of the conversation, I have not seen any significant statement from Minister Zbigniew Rau so far. The decline in the importance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is dramatic. It cannot be explained by institutional factors alone; unfortunately the weakness of this ministry in terms of human resources has to be underlined.

The picture you have presented is not optimistic. What do you think about the prospects for foreign policy in the coming months and years? Is it possible to strengthen it, to restore its proper importance?

It depends on what the present government’s real objective is. One might build a hypothesis that it is ultimately “Polexit,” Poland’s exit from European Union structures. In such a case, the periods of intensified propaganda against foreigners who are unfriendly to Poland and the mobilization of domestic public opinion in the patriotic spirit would become explainable. We can already see the effects of this, fortunately minor ones as yet; public opinion is softening its support for the European Union. When it comes to the standard question, “Do you want Poland to be a member of the EU?”, positive answers remain impressively high. But when the questions go deeper, we can see growing disillusionment with the EU, growing apprehension. And if Polexit is not the goal of those in power, we are dealing with a nightmarish ineptitude of foreign policy, today conducted in an often truly embarrassing way. I don’t see a way to quick improvement; unfortunately I am a pessimist.

What particularly bothers me is that I still see no prospect of resolving this government’s dispute with the EU over the rule of law. My impression is that nobody sees one. This issue might be resolved in a way that will hurt Poland for years to come. The situation from the UK is repeating itself, where Brexit depended on solutions with-

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in the governing coalition. Similarly to that situation, the issue of the rule of law in Poland, which is the basis of the dispute with the EU, is a hostage to the crisis within the United Right.

In your opinion, is Polexit really feasible?

Did Brexit seem possible? I do not think that Poland’s possible exit from the EU can take place quickly; it is obviously out of the question in the time horizon of the current parliament and government... or at least we think so. But in the long run I can absolutely imagine it. If someone spent very big money on a well-constructed anti-EU campaign in Poland, wouldn’t we be really nervous before a possible referendum? Look at how the attitude of people in Hungary changed, how George Soros could be made into an enemy of the nation. Public opinion naturally, instinctively, pays more attention to the arguments of those in power than to those of the opposition. That is why the losses can be extremely severe and why we attach such great responsibility to what those in power say.

Are the Polish government’s attempts to create strange alliances, such as the so-called Warsaw-Budapest-Rome axis (the last element denoting Italian nationalists), more of a decoration or a real political plan?

No serious alternative axis can be built among European countries, especially since the financial crisis and later Brexit. On the contrary, there has been a strengthening of cooperation within the EU, not a weakening, as some, especially the Russians, expected. So these are rather exotic alliances and I don’t think that even those in power attach any particular importance to them. The current reason for such initiatives, I think, is a desire to have a stronger voice in the European Parliament by consolidating nationalists from different countries. But the reality shows that such groups do not gain more ground; on the contrary, they lose it, as we have seen in the elections in Germany and elsewhere.

Therefore, I do not think that such a scenario of those in power is possible to realize.

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POLITICS AND SOCIETY

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Photo PAP

In 2001 you founded the Civic Platform (PO), today the largest opposition party in Poland; do you think that there are people within the PO, or, more broadly, the whole opposition, who have a concept for foreign policy and/or who would be able to change this policy for the better?

There are probably many politicians out there who think, and rightly so because of their track record, that they could be very successful foreign ministers. So yes, I can easily imagine a well-composed ministry leadership. Such a leadership would also have good ideas on how to professionally strengthen Polish diplomatic staff, which has seen some very indecent changes in recent years. But the task that these politicians would face would be enormous. I and my colleagues, in those heroic times when we sought EU membership, convinced the world that all the Poles wanted to build a common Europe. Today, after six years of right-wing governments, this appears not to be the case.

So there will be no question of growing trust in Poland as a partner.

WHEN THERE IS SERIOUS TENSION, THE PUBLIC STARTS TO GET NERVOUS. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE CURRENT SENSE OF RELIEF AFTER THE EUROPEAN UNION BECAME INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT ON THE POLISH-BELARUSIAN BORDER It is obvious from what you say that a sine qua non condition for repairing Polish diplomacy and ensuring Poland’s security and partner relations in Europe and the world is a change of the ruling team after the next elections. However, are foreign policy issues considered at all by ordinary voters at the ballot box?

This is a difficult question, but a very important one. From my contacts with voters, even in the provinces, I can see that if we squabble with Russia, people treat this as normal. But when we simultaneously squabble with the United States, things change, anxiety appears. People say to me: “you city people don’t care much, but in the end it’ll be us being called up to the army [in case of a war].” When there is serious tension, the public starts to get nervous. This is evidenced by the current sense of relief after the European Union became involved in the conflict on the Polish-Belarusian border. The tension and interest in the problem decreased, which actually worried Law and Justice, a party that plays on social anxiety. So, in serious situations, Poles are interested in foreign policy. In other situations they are not, because these issues are distant from their everyday life, and besides, they are not fully comprehensible.

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AUTHORITARIANISM

AT THE GATES Professor Roman Kuźniar, a political scientist from the University of Warsaw and a former longtime diplomat, talks to Witold Żygulski.

M

ore than 30 years ago Francis Fukuyama wrote his famous essay “The End of History,” in which he posited that humanity has reached an optimal political form, i.e. liberal democracy with a free market economy. However, the following decades have shown that tendencies toward authoritarianism are even appearing in the developed countries of Europe. Why is this happening?

Fukuyama did not claim that everything would only go in the right direction. On the contrary, he warned of the inevitable emergence of vital and comprehensive atavistic tendencies, including the temptation of authoritarianism precisely, even on the part of great powers. He believed that because the synthesis of liberal democracy and the free market had succeeded in defeating the two greatest threats of the 20th century, fascism and communism, no new dangerous alternative would emerge in the world. And such an alternative has not appeared; what has appeared is an attempt to return to the past. This is nothing new; we have already had to deal with this in history, only in different decorations. However, there also appeared conditions thanks to which the present right-wing-nationalist wave could start moving and find fer-

DEMOCRACY IS NOT A SYSTEM IMMUNIZED AGAINST THREATS COMING FROM WITHIN. THIS IS DUE TO ITS ESSENCE, ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CERTAIN DEGENERATIONS AND EXTREMES 8

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tile ground. Democracy is not a system immunized against threats coming from within. This is due to its essence, its susceptibility to certain degenerations and extremes.

Through the process of globalization generated by the United States and Western Europe, the free world has been creating a new liberal order in the last 30 years. Poland has been a great beneficiary of this process. In many regions of the world, countries have been given a new chance to develop, but they have begun to grow not necessarily according to the Western pattern. China, for example, has benefited enormously from globalization, but liberal democracy is out of the question there. The same can be said of Russia. Both of these powers have turned globalization against its creators and have decided to attack democracy, a clear example of which was Russia’s interference in the U.S. presidential election and the election of someone more to their liking: Donald Trump. Democracy is therefore in a difficult situation in the world; it is extremely fragile today.

What are the reasons for the rising popularity of authoritarianism in countries that seemed to be places of fully established democracy, like Western European countries or the United States?

This was very well described by Samuel Huntington in his book The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, published in 1991. In our good faith and a certain naivety, we believed democracy to be a system that would take hold and develop on different soils, on different cultural, civilizational or religious foundations. Meanwhile, Russia, for example, is less democratic today than it was before World War I. Lenin was able to prepare his Revolution precisely because Russia was relatively democratic in 1917.

Today, Putin would nip the revolution in the bud.

Countries with a developed democracy have difficulties with it today, but they are coping well with them. In Western Europe, right-wing nationalist parties exist, but they are far from dominant and, above all, they do not question democracy, nor are they openly opposed to the idea of the European Union. Take, for example, the history of Jorg The Warsaw Voice

Roman Kuźniar, Photo PAP

Haider’s party in Austria: after he became part of the ruling coalition, a huge row broke out in the EU, sanctions were even imposed on Austria. But the Freedom Party did not at all question the Austrian constitution, EU membership, or the independence of the Austrian Constitutional Court. So, there is little evidence that right-wing nationalist parties in Western Europe are authoritarian.

What was different was the assault on democracy that took place in the United States after the election of Donald Trump. The source of its success was a radical deformation of the social and economic system, resulting from the destructive influence of money. Big capital had gained virtually unlimited access to electoral processes; the election of governors, senators and members of Congress became a process that could be bought. The degeneration of American democracy had been evident for many years. It culminated in the election of a completely anti-democratic, anti-Western, actually anti-American president. Trump might as well have been president of the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Nigeria or Turkey. This is best demonstrated by what happened on January 6 in Washington, where Trump simply wanted to forcibly extend his power for another term, and then probably would have wanted another. The very position of money in the American political system led to all this.

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POLITICS AND SOCIETY

But the real problem with democracy today, unfortunately, is with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Some of them have never been democratic in their history, some regained democracy after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the breakup of its system of satellite states. All are in massive trouble today. Each case is different, but there are similarities in how anti-democratic forces in power seek to wield power with impunity.

Are the authoritarian tendencies of those in power in the CEE region already a threat to the idea of the EU? Definitely yes. The EU was simply not prepared for the emergence of its own member states that are no longer democratic. When Poland began its efforts to join the EU in the beginning of the 90s, it had to accept the Copenhagen Criteria, put forward in 1993, which are a set of democratic principles that EU members are obliged to observe. Of course, Poland met all of these conditions. Later the same was true of all the conditions that were set during the accession process. It never occurred to the founding fathers of the EU or to any of the founding states that a country that was entering the European community as a full democracy could cease to be one. There are no procedures to be followed in such a case. In the principles underlying the United Nations, we have Article 6, which says that if a member country acts in a way that is not in accordance with the principles of the U.N. Charter, it can be expelled. There is no such mechanism in the EU. After all, we are talking about a community of countries that are, in principle, homogeneous in terms of their political system. And suddenly it turns out that Hungary, followed by Poland, is turning its back on democracy. They are introducing a legal system that is completely incompatible with Europe. As a consequence, the other EU countries can no longer respect the verdicts of the completely politicized Polish and Hungarian courts. Such a situation, previously unthinkable, is becoming increasingly dangerous. It turns out that there are member states whose current governments show hostility toward the EU, do not want the community as it is supposed to be, and at the same time do not want to leave it. Poland under Law and Justice (PiS) is behaving like a wayward fare-dodger who gets on a bus and immediately starts a ruckus. He claims that he is entitled to a business class seat and food, but he is neither going to pay nor respect the rules. At the same time, he will not let himself be thrown out. The other passengers are confused, while he is against everything. Today’s EU has no answer to this new and totally unexpected situation. The mills of the EU, like the mills of justice, grind slowly. They are only beginning to squeeze the governments of countries that are moving away from democracy. This process is badly damaging the EU. What might be the methods of this pressure, this persuasion toward countries that openly disregard the community’s democratic principles?

One can imagine several such scenarios. First, from a normal, rational point of view, if these countries are to remain in the EU, something has to change in them. They should return to respecting the commitments they made when they joined the EU and, of course, the already jointly adopted Lisbon Treaty. Its Article 7 deals precisely with the rule of law.

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in Poland and Hungary above all. Both of these countries must now be considered to be moving in the direction of authoritarianism: both have authoritarian governments. Hungary is obviously closer to an authoritarian state, basically Viktor Orban’s private state. Poland is not such a country yet. In both cases, change can come in a simple way: their current governments can fall in an election procedure.

The second scenario involves increasing pressure from EU institutions and states, which will lead to the Polish and Hungarian governments having to decide whether to leave the EU, which is possible under Article 50, after all. They may also change their policies, slowing down or halting the process of abandoning democracy, also under the influence of public opposition to the prospect of leaving the EU. I have to admit, however, that in the case of the Polish government such a scenario is unlikely; these are irrational people, completely obsessed with power at any price, power without time and without limits.

A third scenario, which is also plausible, is that the democratic countries of the EU will move forward, integrating more and more, and leaving the recalcitrant free riders on the sidelines. The “dodgers” will therefore not participate in further projects that strengthen integration, nor will they receive funds, which will be particularly painful for those currently in power in Poland. Polish people want to be in the EU. If they didn’t, PiS would have succeeded in Polexit long ago, but even PiS voters are in favor of Poland’s presence in the EU.

Viktor Orban - owner of a private state?, Photo PAP

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But won’t such pressure from EU institutions, which are already criticized in the government media for obliging Poland to follow rules that are against its interest, paradoxically increase the number of votes for supporters of authoritarianism?

I think that only the hard right-wing electorate, that is, 30-something per cent of voters, is susceptible to this big lie served to Poles every day by government propaganda.

Whereas, we are not dealing with communism anymore, when censorship and the lack of present-day mass media technologies enabled such lies to be hidden for a long time and effectively. Today we have free media that make this impossible. That is why the authorities have tried, so far without success, to liquidate or take over private television broadcaster TVN, which is sympathetic to the opposition; it is also why state oil company PKN Orlen bought the Polska Presse network of local printed media. All this is being done to deprive Poles of access to reliable information and diverse opinions. As long as Poles have access to free media, they can choose. For such a state of affairs to change, for the majority of society to believe in the nonsense the government is serving us, something really bad would have to happen on the media market. Those in power are trying, fortunately without success, to convince Poles that there is some kind of war going on with their country. It is hard to be surprised by this strategy because everyone knows that in conditions of war, conditions of external threat, the citizens gather around the authorities, whatever they are. But Polish society is still open and civil and such tricks simply will not work.

The majority will not buy it. Therefore, if today the Polish authorities announced a referendum on EU membership or sent an Article 50 note to Brussels informing the EU about Polexit, we would have a revolt in the country. The government would fall the next day and those in power know this well, so they are not going ahead with it. Therefore, I don’t think that the possible imposition of hard conditions by the EU will bring an increase in the United Right’s popularity.

On the contrary, I think that more Poles would see through it, would notice how harmful Warsaw’s policy toward the EU is to themselves, and that the Polish government is to blame and not the institutions of the European community.

You mentioned an external threat; in this regard, does the current migration crisis and events on the Polish-Belarusian border work in favor of authoritarian governance?

In the short term, yes. Any government in Europe today that would defend its borders against an attack mounted by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who is trying to destabilize the situation in Europe, would enjoy the support of the vast majority of citizens. Thus, Lukashenko’s actions became a special treat, a real godsend for PiS. Hence their current fury after Europe jointly resolved this crisis by diplomatic means and without the participation of the Polish authorities, or at least seems to be on its way to resolving it. This took away PiS’ argument about the steadfast Polish defenders guarding the European border. Hence the visible rage of the prime minister, president and ministers, who are happy with a situation in which people - refugees - are dying on the border, but they can flex their muscles. Besides, the border crisis made it possible to obscure what was going on in the country: rampant inflation, failure to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, new scandals constantly being uncovThe Warsaw Voice

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

Marine Le Pen - a troublesome ally of the Polish right, Photo PAP

ered, etc. Totalitarianisms always support each other; what the Polish government did favored Lukashenko, what he did favored the Polish authoritarian government. But it is over; democracies have this in common that they seek dialogue: conflicts are resolved through negotiation, seeking a compromise. Meanwhile, an autocratic government will never go for such a solution because it is reluctant to compromise by its very nature.

Is it possible today to predict the future of this Polish authoritarianism? What path do you think those in power will follow in the next two years, i.e. until the next elections?

Always before an election, Jaroslaw Kaczyński [the leader of PiS] would suddenly turn into a gentle sheep, good-natured, liberal, and democratic. But the elections are far away, and, in my opinion, many more bad things will happen. This is perfectly obvious when we look at the new bills currently planned by the ruling right wing. Their content shows that PiS wants to rule for many decades, to create a state according to its own rules. Take, for example, the Polish Deal, the new flagship program of economic and social transformation. Soon everyone will come to pay for these sick ideas, and then the next generations will pay. Poles are not aware how expensive these generous gifts from the state will turn out to be, e.g. social spending inflated to unbelievable proportions. Unfortunately, the policy of such handouts brings positive effects for those in power. In a normal country with such a number of scandals revealed on a daily basis, the cabinet would not last long; in Poland, voters clearly do not want to see this, busy counting the bonuses they get today on credit that will be repaid by their children and grandchildren. A certain desensitization has occurred, and the success of this tactic of the government indicates that it will The Warsaw Voice

spoil everything that can be spoiled in the country until the end of its term: the economy, the law, morality...

The quality of the opposition is also a problem; it is not in a particularly good position today in terms of its ability to act, but the fact that it is divided in a way that is dangerous for itself, that it is losing its instinct for self-preservation, is truly difficult to comprehend. The left-wing parties are now doing their best to prevent a conservative-liberal coalition [also in the opposition, stronger than the left wing] from taking power. They seem to directly prefer a situation in which PiS continues to rule. If the whole opposition, not necessarily uniting but running in two or three blocks, ran in the elections against the United Right, there could be a change of the ruling team. But so far there is nothing to suggest this. Therefore, if the next elections were fair and really free, and the opposition behaved reasonably, the system in power today would have to lose. But even so, the toxin after two terms of PiS would remain for a long time, including its representative in the person of the head of state, armed with a pen with which to sign - or not - new laws and regulations serving to reform the state after the rule of the right wing. This reform will be a truly Herculean task. Repairing the demolished legal system or the enormous damage to the economy will take years. At the same time, the defeated PiS will remain in the parliament, in local authorities and in the media, and together with its president will strongly obstruct this repair, which will again cause confusion among voters.

In terms of propaganda, the right wing in power today has proved to be phenomenally effective. Like the Bolsheviks in Russia in the past, however, it has only succeeded in brainwashing citizens and organizing an apparatus of coercion.

It has botched everything else. It is therefore impossible to predict what will happen at the ballot box in two years.

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A SIGN OF PROMISING TIMES FOR THE OFFICE MARKET IN POLAND The Polish office space market situation at the end of Q3 2021 allows for an optimistic view of the sector in 2022. Demand remaining at a similar level to last year and the expected higher absorption of available space are conducive to improving the sector’s performance in the coming months. AXI IMMO analyses the Polish office market at the end of Q3 2021.

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he total stock of modern office space in Poland at the end of September 2021 is over 12.1m sqm. Warsaw remains the undisputed leader (6,159,900 sqm), with Kraków (1,604,500 sqm), Wrocław (1,242,600 sqm) and Tricity (923,500 sqm) traditionally leading the eight largest regional markets. In Q3 2021, developers delivered six new buildings with a total area of 86,900 sqm to the Polish office market. In the capital city, occupancy permits were given to Fabryka Norblina (Galwan and Plater buildings - 39 000 sqm) and Widok Towers (28 600 sqm). In the regions, the greatest developer activity was recorded in Katowice (Kolońska Park, 7,900 sqm, Dzida-Jazgar and Młyńska.6, 2,600 sqm, UBM Development), followed by the second phase of Ocean Office Park A (5,200 sqm, Cavatina) in Kraków. Since the beginning of the year, 439,600 sqm has been delivered to the Polish office market, split between 293,600 sqm (+26% year-on-year) in 12 projects in Warsaw and 146,000 sqm (-47% year-on-year) in 15 buildings in regional cities.

New supply has slightly increased the space available for immediate lease. At the end of September 2021, the Polish office market had over 1.57m sqm. (+27% year-onyear) of vacancy, which accounted for approx. 12.3% of the total stock. The highest vacancy rates were recorded in Łódź (16.8%), Kraków (15.2%), and Wrocław (14.9%), while the lowest in Szczecin (5.8%), Katowice (10.1%) and 12

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Tricity (10.7%). The largest amount of vacant space is in Warsaw (767,800 sqm, approx. 12.5% of its total stock), Kraków (243,200 sqm) and Wrocław (184,760 sqm), while the smallest amount is in Szczecin (10,614 sqm) and Lublin (28,670 sqm). The average vacancy rate for the regional markets is 13.5%, which translates into 805,700 sqm of office space ready to let immediately.

“In the next few months, we expect vacancy levels to decline across Poland. Firstly, many developers are postponing their decisions on the construction of new buildings until 2023-2024, and secondly, the situation will be regulated by the expected increased occupier’s activity. Most compa-

IN Q3 2021, DEVELOPERS DELIVERED SIX NEW BUILDINGS WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 86,900 SQM TO THE POLISH OFFICE MARKET The Warsaw Voice

Bartosz Oleksak, Senior Negotiator, Office Agency, AXI IMMO.

nies already have their own strategies as to when they want to return to the office and on what terms. Hybrid work, the expansion of digital access or the digitalisation of business processes, or still attractively arranged space will be the key to attracting the best talent” says Jakub Potocki, Senior Negotiator, Office Agency, AXI IMMO. From January to the end of September 2021, take-up activity in the Polish office market totalled 777,600 sq m (Warsaw 398,100 sq m, regions 379,500 sq m). Demand in Q3 stand at 262,400 sq m (+6% year-on-year), of which 149,300 sq m (+31% year-on-year) was in Warsaw and 113,100 sq m (-10.4% year-on-year) in the eight major regional markets. During the analysed period, tenants in the capital were most likely to sign new agreements (53.5%) or take advantage of renegotiations and extensions of existing space (42%). Only 4.5% of companies decided to expand. In regional cities, on the other hand, new agreements

REAL ESTATE

WE ARE SLOWLY MOVING OUT FROM THE PERIOD IN WHICH OPTIMISATION WAS THE BUZZWORD. COMPANIES ARE NOW MUCH MORE CAREFUL IN PLANNING THEIR SPACES accounted for the highest share in the demand structure (66%), ahead of renegotiations (26%) and expansions (8%).

Traditionally, Kraków (30,700 sq m), Wrocław (28,500 sq m) and Tricity (20,900 sq m) were responsible for the most activity in regional cities. From the beginning of July to the end of September 2021, the largest transactions were renegotiations signed by three confidential tenants from the banking sector in Atrium Garden (Warsaw) 13,900 sq m, in Wiśniowy Business Park E (Warsaw) 5,700 sq m and Olivia Star in Gdańsk 5,400 sq m. In turn, CMS decided to pre-let 7,000 sq m in the Varso Tower building in Warsaw.

“We are slowly moving out from the period in which optimisation was the buzzword. Companies are now much more careful in planning their spaces. They need to suit current needs and to leave some margin for increased employment. We expect that companies in their new arrangements will try to provide more homely conditions for employees. More greenery in open spaces, larger zones for relaxation and, above all, rooms for quiet work should constitute a more significant percentage of usable office space than before”, adds Bartosz Oleksak, Senior Negotiator, Office Agency, AXI IMMO.

Jakub Potocki, Senior Negotiator, Office Agency, AXI IMMO

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CONTINUED REDUCTION IN NEW UNITS COMING ONTO POLAND’S RESIDENTIAL MARKET For the second successive quarter, developers have attempted to establish equilibrium between units sold and new units coming onto the market.

Rising inflation continues to drive buyers to developers’ offices, with sales for the first three quarters of 2021 exceeding 2020’s annual total.

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he residential market’s third quarter performance was markedly weaker than the first six months of 2021, both in terms of sales and new supply. Developers operating in the country’s six largest markets (Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, the Tri-City, Poznań and Łódź) put 13,800 units on offer, 13% less than the previous quarter. Although sales of 15,000 units were 23% lower quarter-on-quarter, they still exceeded new launches for another consecutive quarter.

The offer available in these cities on the primary market dropped to 36,600, a level 26% lower than a year ago, according to the latest JLL report, Residential Market in Poland - Q3 2021.

Poland’s inflation rate, which continues to rise on a monthly basis, is driving new buyers to sales offices.

While it is clear that the limited offer and rising prices are having an increasingly significant impact on the decline in the number of units sold, developers still sold 54,000 units to individual buyers in the first three quarters of the year, 1,000 more than in all of 2020.

“The pandemic is still affecting - although in a slightly different way than last year - the residential market. On the one hand, it is significantly stimulating demand. Buyers are seeking security for their savings through property purchases, but also improved housing conditions for fear of further pandemic restrictions. On the other hand, disruptions in supply chains have increased the cost of building materials, and inefficiencies in public administrations’ 14

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limited supply. In this situation, it is extremely difficult for developers to plan sales and rationalize financial assumptions, and the attempt to mitigate the risks involved manifests itself primarily in launching projects at ever higher prices”, said Aleksandra Gawrońska, Head of Residential Research at JLL. The market which saw the greatest increase in unit prices in investments launched for sale was in Wrocław, rising 23% on the last quarter. As a result, the average price for all units on offer at the end of September in the city exceeded the PLN 10,000/m2 mark for the first time. At the end of September, the price per sqm in Wrocław was 16% higher than the year before. The biggest annual increase in prices was registered in Łódź (18%) with the smallest rise in TriCity (9%).

However, it seems that more than the increase in prices, buyers are affected by the limited choice of units.

Compared to Q3 2020 data, the number of new properties has decreased across all six largest markets. The offer shrank the most in Wrocław, where only 5,400 units were available for purchase at the end of September 2021, 42% less year-on-year. A large 34% drop was also visible in Warsaw. Given the pace of sales over the last 12 months, the current offering may well have sold out in around five months if new developments had not entered the market.

The key questions are if and where a rapid increase in supply is possible. As emphasized by JLL experts, in terms The Warsaw Voice

the city, from 20% to 40%. In the six largest markets (Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, the Tri-City, Poznań and Łódź), this is reflected by approx. 90,000-95,000 units completed between 2016 and 2020 that are or will be rented out by individual owners. In the same period, just over 6,000 flats in buildings wholly owned by investment funds came onto the rental market across Poland. One third of these flats are in the hands of the Polish Housing for Rent Fund.

Even if we take into account the projects that are yet to be added to their portfolios, their share of the national market would not exceed a few percentage points.

“The numbers we are talking about are 25,000 to 30,000 units in institutional rental, which may, on an annual basis, mean about 4,000 such units in all of the largest markets combined. If we put this annual total against the100,000 to 140,000 units per year built by developers in recent years, this is definitely a small percentage. It is worth noting that foreign funds do not decide on purchasing at prices higher than the current market offer, while a significant proportion of developments that are in the portfolios of institutional investors are on land where residential units, by Polish law, cannot be built (these are usually retail premises sold with 23% VAT)”, Gawrońska continued.

The situation in the housing market in the near future will depend on the scale of supply, i.e. the possibility of obtaining new building permits and launching new investments for sale. In the next few months, however, the key factor will be the level of interest rates.

REAL ESTATE

of the “stock” of units on issued permits, significant differences can be seen between the six largest markets.

“Warsaw is in an extremely unfavorable situation, where reserves have to all intents and purposes been exhausted. Wrocław and Kraków are in a slightly better situation, where their respective reserves do not exceed 30% of their current annual production. In Tri-City, permit reserves are estimated at approx. 40-50% of annual supply, while in Łódź developers have permits to match annual production. On the other hand, a very unusual situation is observed in Poznań, where the surplus of units on permits issued in the last three years over the number of units commenced stands at the near equivalent of two-years’ output, a record for this city”, Gawrońska added.

The problems with new supply are so serious that they have become an important issue in the national discourse.

The blame for the massive buyouts and price rises has been put on investors who want to make money by renting flats to Poles. The authors of the report emphasize, however, that funds have been wrongly blamed as their influence on the market is marginal compared to purchases made by individual investors.

For a sustainable housing market, it is essential to meet the needs of all groups: both buyers and tenants. The latter group can still choose mostly a less than transparent private rental market based on contracts between individuals.

Indeed, supply in this market continues to grow. It is estimated that, in the last few years, the share of investment purchases by individual buyers has ranged, dependent on

Aleksandra Gawrońska, Head of Residential Research at JLL

The Warsaw Voice

Winter 2021

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POLISH WAREHOUSE MARKET IN Q3 2021 AXI IMMO presents the results of the latest report: “Polish warehouse market in Q3 2021”.

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eveloper activity in the Polish warehouse market at the end of September 2021 remains at a high level. Completions in Q3 2021 660,000 sq m increased the total logistics and industrial stock to 22.4m sq m. There are 3.46m sq m under construction, of which over 1.22m sq m (+120% year-on-year) are developments without secured leases. In the period under review, gross take-up amounted to 1.44m sq m (+16% year-on-year), where, as expected, the e-commerce and logistics segments remained the main force. The correlation of strong demand and moderate new supply affects the vacancy rate, which stood at 5.04% at the end of September 2021 (-2.66 pp year-on-year).

The total volume of investment transactions in Poland’s commercial real estate market after adding up the first three quarters of 2021 amounted to EUR 3.53 billion. The warehouse real estate segment is responsible for nearly half (approx. EUR 1.7 billion) of the capital generated during this period, with transactions of EUR 800m in Q3 alone.

Among the largest warehouse investment transactions selected in Q3 2021 was the sale of the Tristar portfolio (160,000 sq m) with properties in Poznań, Wrocław, Warsaw, Czeladź and Gdańsk to Exeter. In turn, Savills IM - ELF3 Fund

Anna Głowacz, Head of Industrial Agency, AXI IMMO

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decided to buy Panattoni A2 Warsaw Park (103,700 sq m) located in Grodzisk Mazowiecki from Invesco Real Estate.

7R was also active in Q3, selling three of its warehouse parks, 7R Park Kowale II (52,000 sq m), to Generali Real Estate. At the same time, CBRE IM became the new owner of 7R Park Poznań East and 7R Park Sosnowiec (totaling over 44,800 sq m).

“The warehouse real estate sector is taking full advantage of its opportunity. After years of domination by office and retail properties, it is now at the forefront of foreign interest. Investors’ greatest attention is focused on large multitenant warehouse hubs, which accounted for more than half of all transactions this year. The rapid development of the urban logistics segment, as well as the increased number of BTS projects, means that these assets are also increasingly being considered as good opportunities to monetize capital”, says Renata Osiecka, Managing Partner, AXI IMMO. From the beginning of July until the end of September this year, gross take-up in the Polish warehouse market amounted to 1.44 million sq m (+16% year-on-year).

During the period under review, tenants were most active in Warsaw, Upper Silesia, the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, Lower Silesia, and Poznań. Transactions for logistics operators and e-commerce dominated the take-up structure in Q3. Both accounted for over 50% of take-up.

The five largest transactions in Q3 2021 included the letting (new deal) of over 104,000 sq m by an international e-commerce company at Hillwood Bydgoszcz, followed by three logistics operators opting to sign new agreements for over 53,000 sq m at 7R Park Goleniów II, 34,000 sq m at Panattoni Park Głogów and 29,700 sq m at Segro LP Poznań Komorniki, respectively. In turn, a company from the tool industry signed a contract for 26,000 sqm at Segro Business Park Gliwice.

The total take-up volume from January to September 2021 in the Polish warehouse market amounted to 4.38m sq m, which translates into an increase of 25% year-onyear. The strongest occupier activity in the first three quarters of 2021 was recorded in Warsaw, Upper Silesia, Poznań, Lower Silesia, and Central Poland. New leases and expansions accounted for 75% of the take-up.

The Warsaw Voice

WE EXPECT THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW SUPPLY IN THE POLISH WAREHOUSE MARKET WILL NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE PREVIOUS AVERAGE Developer activity in the Polish warehouse market in Q3 2021 amounted to over 660,000 sq m (5.6% year-onyear), which translated into an increase in the total stock of modern industrial and logistics space to 22.4m sq m.

During the period under review, most new supplies were delivered in Western Poland, followed by Poznań, Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia. In the case of Western Poland, a significant accumulation resulted from the completion of the Panattoni BTS project in Świebodzin (over 200,000 sq m of usable area) for Amazon.

In the first three quarters of 2021, 1.77m sq m of new space was delivered to the warehouse market, similar to the reference period a year ago. During the period under review, most new supplies were delivered in Western Poland, Upper Silesia, and Warsaw.

Good forecasts for the development of the warehouse market and high-demand influence developers’ robust activity. At the end of September 2021, there were 3.46m sq m under construction, of which 35% is space built under the speculative model. The volume of developments without secured leases is 1.22m sq m, increasing over 120% on last year. The largest warehouse parks under construction include GLP Lędziny (111,500 sq m), Hillwood Bydgoszcz (104,300 sq m), Panattoni Park Głogów (73,000 sq m) and two projects from 7R - 7R Mysłowice (50,770 sq m) and 7R City Flex Katowice II (41,100 sq m).

“In the next few months, we expect that the developers market will face some challenges related firstly to the securing and availability of investment land, secondly to rising labour costs and the extension by about 2-3 months of project implementation. Limited investment alternatives The Warsaw Voice

make it difficult to negotiate with investment landowners, who expect higher starting rates”, adds Głowacz.

The high level of development activity, together with continuing demand, is driving down vacancy levels. At the end of Q3 2021, there was around 1,129,000 sq m of available space in Poland as a whole, approx. 5.04% (-2.66 pp. yearon-year) of the total warehouse market stock. The highest vacancy rate among the analyzed markets remains in Upper Silesia (7.6%), Central Poland (6.6%) and Warsaw (5.2%).

There is virtually no space available for immediate lease in Szczecin and Eastern Poland. The relation of demand to supply did not significantly influence the changes in offer rents in the last quarter, which remained at the current level.

“We expect that in the coming months, the performance of the new supply in the Polish warehouse market will not differ significantly from the previous average.

Nevertheless, one should bear in mind the increasing challenges related to the availability of investment land and the shortage of employees. The large volume of speculative investments should soon impact the adjustment of average rental rates and satisfy the rapid demand for space from the two most active tenant groups, e-commerce and logistics operators. On the other hand, at the threshold of activities connected with limiting the sector’s impact on climate change, we forecast a deepening trend related to introducing green solutions to warehouses, in which certification will be one of the standards”, sums Osiecka.

REAL ESTATE

“We are on the best way to equal or beat last year’s take-up result in the Polish warehouse market. Breaking the limit of 5.2m sq m is very realistic, which reflects in the excellent results for the first three quarters of this year and a 25% increase in tenant activity compared with last year’s take-up rates. The development of e-commerce and supporting industries is driving the market. The activity of courier companies, which have announced that they will introduce same-day delivery services in selected cities by the end of 2021, should also be monitored closely. Nevertheless, we expect the greater regionalization of supply chains to intensify trends such as nearshoring and cross-border” says Anna Głowacz, Head of Industrial Agency, AXI IMMO.

Renata Osiecka, Managing Partner, AXI IMMO

Winter 2021

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WARSAW

NEW BRIDGE ON THE VISTULA RIVER New bridge, 452 meters long, will be built in over 2 years in Warsaw. It will be the first bridge in the capital accessible only for pedestrians and cyclists.

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t will be the longest crossing of this type in Poland. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge will connect the banks of the Vistula at the level of Karowa and Stefan Okrzei streets. It will bring Praga closer to the new, green city center. The works will begin immediately, so that Warsaw residents can use it already in 2024. It will be one of the landmarks of the capital city”, said Rafał Trzaskowski, the Mayor of Warsaw.

On November 23, a contract with Budimex for over PLN 120 million was signed. The company’s offer was nearly PLN 60 million cheaper than the initial investor’s cost estimate which amounted to PLN 176 million.

The single-level bridge is to be supported on seven reinforced concrete pillars. On the left bank, before the last pillar, the crossing will widen. It will then split into two ramps, which will be placed over the boulevards at the level of the Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie sidewalk. Between the ramps a two-staircase with a landing has been planned. They will be built into the boulevard terrace. The bridge will be made of steel coated with paint that imitates the color of corten. This material and coating is more suitable due to the high humidity of the river.

The new structure will stretch 452 meters between the banks. It will be 127 m longer than London’s Millennium Bridge, one of the most famous structures of its kind in the world. The width of the Warsaw construction, bent in the shape of lightning, will vary. At its narrowest point it will be 6.9 m, and 16.3 m above the river. Pedestrians will cross the bridge in 6 minutes, and cyclists in 2 minutes.

The bridge will be a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists, and it will also have resting places. Illumination of the structure will be provided by light sources placed in the railings. The bridge will be monitored.

The bridge will connect the New Centre of Warsaw with the revitalized Old Praga. The right-bank part of the city will become closer to the university and leisure part of Śródmieście district. A pedestrian route will be created between Ząbkowska Street and Powiśle district and Krakowskie Przedmieście street. The bridge will be integrated with the existing and planned system of bicycle infrastructure on both sides of the Vistula River. A bicycle corridor connecting Praga and Targówek with Powiśle, Śródmieście, and even Wola districts will be created.

Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski signs a contract with Budimex

“We are building the New Centre of Warsaw. I want these changes to be mostly ready by the end of my term of office. Praga also deserves similar changes. That is why we are revitalizing this district. We are renovating new tenement houses and building new subway stations. We have recently commissioned the new Wybrzeże Helskie and Wybrzeże Szczecińskie streets with infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, which will be connected to the bridge route. I want Praga and downtown sides to form one functional area. The pedestrian and bicycle bridge will be the first stage of changes that await Praga in the coming years,” added the Mayor.

The design of the new crossing was completed in early 2021. It was prepared by the Schuessler-Plan Engineers studio, which was selected in an international architectural competition. The form of the bridge will be aesthetically pleasing, yet resistant to the forces of nature.

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The Warsaw Voice

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Compiled by Marzena Robinson

BUTIK

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1/ Fill your home with fragrance An elegantly-designed, refillable rattan diffuser, launched by the Parisian perfume house Memo, is a timeless home accessory that will continue to enhance the space with scent.

The set includes a smoky brown glass vessel crowned with two large rattan stems shaped like leaves, one perfume refill of 250 ml and a funnel.

The stems absorb the perfume and then slowly release the fragrance from a major ingredient chosen amongst three MEMO fragrances: Amber from African Leather, Cedar from French Leather and Incense from Lalibela.

2/ Instant rescue eye treatment Menard, one of Japan’s leaders in the field of innovative research in the field of cosmetology has developed Embellir Eye Cream, specially designed to strengthen the structure of the eye contour. It deeply The Warsaw Voice

hydrates, protects against cellular aging, visibly reduces wrinkles and expression lines, and softens the skin around the eyes, providing a lifting effect.

The formula contains four main active ingredients such as red reishi extract, black reishi extract and BRG-N, which activate the metabolism and regenerate the skin, as well as licorice flavonoid which helps to prevent the eye muscle from weakening.

The cream has a smooth and light texture and a very mild sensorial mystical scent that gives a very relaxing feel.

Embellir is a proprietary product lineup containing the results of many years of research on extracting the power of the rare Red and Black Reishi Mushroom used in medicine for their exceptional incredible regenerative properties.

3/ Perfume for connoisseurs Epic 56 Woman is a new oriental-woody

scent launched by Amouage luxury fragrance house in 2021 under exceptional extraits collection. Inspired by the eternal legends of the ancient Silk Road from China to Arabia, this iconic and extraordinary creation uncovers a deeper story of the critically-acclaimed Epic Eau de Parfum.

It is a sublime union of an extended, close to five-month fragrance aging with an extreme 56% perfume oil concentration.

Opening with silken top notes of cumin, pink bay and cinnamon, it pervades to a bouquet of delicate and dewy damascene rose, geranium and jasmine accentuated with tea at the heart. The sumptuous base notes of sweet amber, vanilla, frankincense and orris balance the more masculine essences of patchouli and oud in the intriguing finale.

All the products are available now on www.missala.pl Winter 2021

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Nikifor - a genius of naïve art A new exhibition at the State Ethnographic Museum (PME) in Warsaw, “Nikifor - A painter unlike any other” showcases the output of one of the world’s most famous naïve painters.

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n display are 135 Nikifor’s works from the PME’s collection made on paper in many techniques including watercolor, gouache, pencils and crayons.

The presentation covers all topics taken up by the painter: landscapes, urban and fantasy architecture, railway stations, interiors of temples and shops, and figures of saints.

Nikifor’s paintings reflect the influence of the Greek Catholic religion in which the artist grew up, the Lemko culture and the atmosphere of his hometown Krynica, located in Beskid Sądecki mountains.

The exhibition also features rarely displayed Nikofor’s works from Alfons Karny’s collection, which “ have retained their unique ‘Nikifor’ color - deep, almost velvety, where subdued colorus intertwine and the combination of shades is unusual,” according to a press release from PME. “The phenomenon of Nikifor’s art manifests itself in an extraordinary sensitivity to color, the ability to extract the subtlest shades, and intuition that allows for the effect of luminosity and brilliance,” the press release said.

Nikifor - Epifaniusz Drowniak was born in Krynica in 1895.

Due to a speech impediment, people perceived him as disabled.

He began to paint early, treating pictures as a form of contact with the world and a way of earning money. In 1930, the artist Roman Turin from Lviv, as well as painters from the circle of Colorists, became interested in Nikifor’s works. As early as 1931, an exhibition was organized in Lviv, and the following year, Nikifor’s works were shown at a collective exhibition in Paris.

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His work was appreciated by many eminent Polish artists, including Zygmunt Waliszewski, Tytus Czyżewski, Jan Cybis, and after World War II Alfons Karny, and recently Edward Dwurnik. The populariser of Nikifor’s painting, Aleksander Jackowski wrote, “Over a thousand articles have been written about Nikifor, four films have been made, and a few books have been published - more than about any Polish painter and probably more than about any creator of naïve art.”

On view through February 27, 2022.

The Warsaw Voice

BUZZ Splendor of Power An exhibition “Splendor of Power.

The House of Wettin on the Throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth”, staged at the Palace on the Isle in Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki park, presents precious works of art collected in Dresden during the reign of Augustus II and Augustus III, Electors of Saxony and kings of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

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he project is an attempt to promote knowledge of the common Polish-Saxon history, the legacy which, in the present times, can still be seen both in Dresden and in Warsaw. The exhibition depicts Augustus II and Augustus III as conscious art collectors and connoisseurs who, in a period of 66 years of the Polish-Saxon Union, amassed one of the most important and magnificent art collections in 18th century Europe.

Around 200 masterpieces displayed in Warsaw are the most outstanding examples of the Wettin House’s cultural policy.

They include such valuable historic objects as: The Crosses of the Order of the White Eagle with ruby and emerald ornaments, a gilded Mask of the Sun with the image of Augustus II, which is one of the few surviving testimonies of the late Baroque court culture of celebration, a German sabre set with turquoise and emeralds, a ceremonial dress of Augustus II made of gold and silver fabric with diamond buttons, a jewel with a miniature portrait of Frederick Augustus II, which is a masterpiece of jewellery and sculpture art, impressive products of Meissen porcelain, including the over-metre-high Ara parrot and the ostrich-shaped cup with gold and porcelain ornaments, as well as the beautiful “Venus” by Jacopo Palma Vecchio, one of the gems of the royal and electoral painting gallery.

The Warsaw Voice

The presented items tell a story about the crucial events from the times of the Polish-Saxon Union and the building of international position of the Polish state.

The exhibited works come from Dresden and Polish collections, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Sächsische Hauptstaatsarchiv Dresden, The Museum of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the National Museum in Warsaw, the Print Room of the Warsaw University Library, the Wawel Royal Castle, the Pauline Monastery in Jasna Góra and the Museum-Castle in Kórnik.

On view in Warsaw till January 30, 2022.

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Winter attractions The best at Botanic of caricature Garden portrait on show Warsaw’s Botanic Garden has opened to the public in winter, first time in over 200 years. Visitors can admire illuminated sculptures inspired by the most interesting plants and botanical phenomena, as well as by fairy tales and legends.

„Faceformation”, an exhibition at the Eryk Lipiński Museum of Cartoon Art and Caricature presents works of the most outstanding Polish creators of portrait caricature, including Andrzej Stopka, Edmund Mańczak, Edward Ałaszewski, Edward Głowacki and Izabella Kulczyńska.

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mong them are glowing sculptures, fairy-tale ferns, the legendary mandrake, plants and animals known from Polish forests, meadows and gardens as well as an impressive, prehistoric surprise waiting for visitors next to one of the few gingko trees growing in Poland.

“Most of the illuminated sculptures have never been presented in Poland, some were made by artists cooperating with Lumagica - the European creator of light gardens,” according to a press release from the Botanic Garden.

The illuminated display, dubbed as “Magic Botanic”, is also chance to walk the secret winter paths of the Botanic Garden, which before remained inaccessible.

“Evening activities organized in the Botanic Garden have enjoyed great interest for a long time so we decided to follow this path and, along with Lumagica, propose to discover our collections in an unusual, magical, night scenery”, said Marcin Zych, director of the Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw.

“Magic Botanic” is open till February 27, 2022.

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he face has fascinated artists for centuries. It can express countless emotions and one can find a multitude of meanings in its expression. The exhibition focuses on the phenomenon of creating caricatures by an artistic process of transforming and deforming faces. The way in which the characteristic features of a given person are captured and shown, especially in the case of a portrait caricature, opens the field to many interpretations related both to its protagonist and the artist’s intentions.

“Caricature is characterized by great variety. At times it exaggerates the features of a person’s appearance and physical weaknesses, and at other times it is aimed at the flaws of their character,” the information accompanying the exhibition reads.

“While the first type is often only the artist’s game, the second can become a weapon aimed at specific people, social groups and institutions,” it adds.

The works on display feature caricature portraits of wellknown people, frozen in a grimace or making faces. Among them are those representing Polish writers Stanisław Lem and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, actors Krystyna Janda and Zbigniew Cybulski, as well as Poland’s former communist strongman Wojciech Jaruzelski and former presidents Lech Wałęsa and Aleksander Kwaśniewski.

On view till April 3, 2022.

The Warsaw Voice

THE BUZZ A new art exhibition “The Time of Caravaggio” at the Royal Castle in Warsaw features two famous masterpieces by the brilliant Baroque Italian painter - Boy Bitten by a Lizard, and Narcissus.

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he former is dated to the artist’s early period. Caravaggio’s very naturalistic treatment of detail and astonishing handling of light convincingly capture the moment when, bitten by a lizard, the frightened youth suddenly withdraws his arm.

Narcissus, one of Caravaggio’s later canvases, dating from around 1599, is one of only two known of his paintings on a theme from classical mythology. It is permanently housed at the Palazzo Barberini in Rome.

Michelangelo Merisi, called Caravaggio, one of the most innovative Baroque artists, was active between 1593 and 1610 in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily. In 1599, thanks to the support of Cardinal Francesco Maria Bourbon del Monte, Caravaggio

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Caravaggio masterpieces on show at Warsaw’s Royal Castle received a commission for paintings for the Contarelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. Two of his works completed in 1600, The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and The Calling of Saint Matthew, were an immediate sensation.

The innovation of Caravaggio’s painting consisted in emphasizing the oscuro (shadows) in chiaroscuro (the effect produced by light and shade). While chiaroscuro was known before, it was Caravaggio who applied such strong contrast, nearly obscuring some elements of the painting in the shade and exposing others in dazzling light. This was accompanied by an insightful observation of the sitters’ physical and psychological features.

Caravaggio’s style paved the way for a new generation of painters.

A trend known as Caravaggionism developed. His followers include Carlo Saraceni, Bartolomeo Manfredi, Orazio Borgianni, and Valentin de Boulogne. Caravaggio’s short stay in Naples contributed to the formation of a local circle of Caravaggionists, which included Giovanni Battista Caracciolo and Jusepe de Ribera. The trend made its way to northern Europe thanks to a group of artists from Utrecht, e.g.

Gerrit van Honthorst and Dirck van Baburen, who travelled to Rome in the early 17th century. The Warsaw exhibition also features more than 40 paintings by Caravaggio’s followers and artists who throughout the 17th century remained under the influence of his original style, including van Baburen, de Ribera, Lorenzo Lotto, Battista del Moro, Domenico Fetti and Matthias Stomer.

All the paintings on display at the Warsaw exhibition come from the collection of Roberto Longhi in his Florentine home, the Villa Il Tasso. This Italian academic, art historian and curator had a special research interest in the work of Caravaggio and his followers. Longhi immediately recognized the revolutionary influence of Caravaggio’s painting and hailed the artist as the first painter of the modern era.

On view until February 10, 2022.

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SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE Attractive design, rich equipment, functional interior and above-average driving qualities - these are the main advantages of SUVs. Thanks to these qualities, SUVs have been a real sales hit for many years.

Story and photos by Bartosz Grzybiński

O

ne of the fastest growing segments not only on the Polish market is the SUV segment (Sport Utility Vehicle). No other segment records such dynamics.

What makes these cars so popular? There are many reasons. Starting with the appearance and driving characteristics (often including four-wheel drive), through the spacious and multifunctional, yet well-equipped interior, to the enormous variety in terms of size. Suffice it to say that two-box SUVs can be found in the city car segment (B) as well as in the compact class (C), the medium class (D), the upper medium class (E) and even in the luxury class. Because of the large number of models on offer, cars with smaller dimensions and single-axle drive have even begun to be distinguished among them, creating their own sub-segment - the crossover.

In the first part of the report in the Autumn 2021 issue, I selected a few crossovers and compact SUVs from among dozens of models available on the market. Today, the models are larger, both in terms of body size and spaciousness of the passenger compartment, which in many models (thanks to the third row of two seats hidden in the trunk floor) can accommodate up to seven passengers. The models, most of which have four-wheel drive, are even better equipped in terms of active and passive passenger protection, even more comfortable, even faster and even more expensive.

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MOTO

RENAULT ARCANA E-TECH HYBRID R

enault Arcana is a mid-range (D) SUV debuting on the European market this spring. The Arcana is a global model. Renault corporation, having factories in Russia, Ukraine and South Korea, introduced this model two years earlier on the Russian market, and then on the Far Eastern and South American markets under the names Megane, Conquest or Samsung XM3. The European version differs in many aspects of design, technical and stylistic from the Russian or Far Eastern versions and is prepared for the tastes of European drivers. The body with a length of 4.57 m. and a wheelbase of 2.72 m. has a fashionable coupe shape with a gently sloping roof. The brand’s characteristic “stubby” C-shaped headlights and narrow rear lamps running the

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full width of the trunk have been retained. The sleek and legible cockpit is borrowed from the Capture model. Five passengers share a trunk capacity of 513 l. The Arcana is powered by a turbocharged 1.3 Tce four-cylinder petrol engine producing 140 or 160hp, and a 1.6 E-Tech Hybrid petrol engine specially developed for Europe, with a total power output of 145hp. Drive is transmitted via a dual-clutch 7-speed EDC automatic in the petrol versions, or a Multi-mode MMC automatic transmission in the hybrid.

The model is available in three trim levels: Zen, Intens and R. S. Line. The cheapest petrol version in basic Zen equipment level costs about PLN 114,000. The best equipped hybrid version with R.S. Line equipment package costs almost PLN 145,000.

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ALFA ROMEO STELVIO TI Q4 T

he Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a five-seat mid-engined (E) SUV that made its market debut in 2016. Last year, the model received a minor facelift to the exterior and interior. The compact, sporty body of the car is 4.68 m. long, with a wheelbase of 2.81 m. The cockpit resisted the trend for large displays and remained old-fashioned for today’s times. The highlights are the round speedometer and tachometer clocks. Five passengers can travel in the Stelvio. They have a trunk capacity of 525 liters at their disposal. If necessary - by folding the rear backrests - this can be increased to 1,600 l. Only petrol engines are used: a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder

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with 200bhp or 280bhp, and a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre six-cylinder V6 with 510bhp. This modified Ferrari engine (model 154), allows acceleration to 100 kph in just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 283 kph. All-wheel drive (Q4) in all versions of the Stelvio is provided by an 8-speed automatic transmission, with a manual shift function. The Stelvio is available in eight equipment variants, all of which can be complemented by additional packages. The cheapest version Business with 200hp engine costs about PLN 180,000. The TI version with 280hp costs about PLN 240,000. The most expensive and the most powerful Quadrifoglio version with 510hp 2.9 V6 engine costs around PLN 440,000.

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PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPE TURBO S E-HYBRID

T

he Porsche Cayenne is a sporty SUV from the upper-middle class (E) segment. The model debuted on the market in 2002, causing consternation in the automotive world. Years later it turned out that this was a bull’s eye, because thanks to this model the brand not only expanded its portfolio, but also gained considerable profits and new fans. Since 2010, the second and since 2017, the third generation of the model is on the market. In 2019, the Cayenne also made its debut in a Coupe body style. The sporty silhouette with a drooping roof and retractable rear spoiler is 4.93 m. long and has a wheelbase of 2.89 m. The Coupe version has four seats and a slightly smaller trunk. It is powered by the most powerful turbocharged gasoline and hybrid units. The gasoline model of the Cayenne Coupe S has 340hp, while the

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hybrid E-Hybrid version has its power increased to 462hp.

The gasoline version of the Cayenne GTS has 460hp, but the Turbo S version has 550hp already. The gasoline Turbo GT model has 640hp, and the most powerful hybrid version of the Cayenne E-Hybrid Turbo S has as much as 680hp. All versions have four-wheel drive, transmitted through an 8-speed PDK automatic transmission. The cheapest Cayenne model costs about PLN 380,000, but in the Coupe body version prices start from PLN 423,000 for the Coupe S gasoline version. The most powerful hybrid version in the Cayenne Coupe Turbo S model costs PLN 883,000. The most expensive is the gasoline model - Coupe Turbo GT with 640hp – it costs PLN 963,000.

These are the starting prices, because the list of optional equipment can increase the purchase amount even by half.

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HYUNDAI SANTA FE HYBRID H

yundai Santa Fe is one of the forerunners of the SUV segment. It appeared on the market back in 2000. In 2018, the fourth generation of the model, which is classified for the upper-middle (E) class, debuted, which underwent a facelift last year. The most distinctive change is the front fascia, in which attention is drawn to the large grille structure and the double strip of LED driving lights and headlights forming a T-shape. Also, the rear part of the body has been slightly changed as far as the trunk lid or the rear lamps are concerned, which are now connected to each other by a light strip. The body is 4.78 m. long and the wheelbase is 2.76 m. The functional interior is spacious and can accommodate up to 7 passengers. The capacity of the trunk in the 5-seater version is 831 l. The cockpit is clearly and ergonomically laid out. The powertrain uses

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a diesel engine and two hybrid units - a classic HEV hybrid and a plug-in PHEV version. The 2.2 CRDi diesel model has 202 horsepower, transmitted through an 8-speed automatic to all wheels. The 1.6 T-GDI HEV hybrid model with a total output of 230hp. equipped with a 6-speed automatic is available with front-wheel drive or both 4WD. There is also a PHEV plug-in version with 265hp., with a 6 or 8 speed automatic transmission. The richly equipped model is available in three equipment versions Premium, Executive and Platinum. The cheapest HEV version with front-wheel drive and Premium equipment costs about PLN 166,000. (For 4x4 drive you have to pay extra 10,000). Diesel version costs about PLN 237,000.

The most expensive model Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI PHEV with 265hp., all-wheel drive and automatic transmission with 8 gears in Platinum equipment version costs about PLN 245,000.

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KIA SORENTO ECO PLUG-IN AWD T

he new fourth iteration of the Kia Sorento was officially unveiled last spring. The Korean SUV with a body length of 4.81 m. belonging to the segment of the medium-high class (E) was created on a completely new platform, which allowed the introduction of a version with a hybrid drive. The advantages of this model, in addition to economical engines, include high comfort, solid assembly, a spacious (7-seat) interior with a trunk capacity of 821 l./2011 l./max. and extensive standard equipment in four equipment levels: M, L. XL and Prestige Line.

There are three power sources to choose from: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and turbodiesel. In the hybrid variant, power can go to the front or all wheels, while the plug-in version and the diesel variant only come with

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a two-wheel drive. The 1.6 T-GDI HEV hybrid has a combined output of 230hp. and an electric range of about 50 kilometers, the 1.6 T-GDI PHEV version has 265hp. and a range of up to 70 kilometers, and the 2.2 CRDI SCR turbodiesel has 202hp.

The cheapest HEV hybrid version, with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive, costs less than PLN 160,000 in the basic equipment version, and the model with two-wheel drive (AWD) costs less than PLN 170,000. The prices of the Plug-in Hybrid start at around PLN 196,000 for the basic version, and go up to just under PLN 240,000 for the Prestige Line equipment version. The model with a diesel engine can be bought for less than PLN 190,000, and with complete equipment in the Prestige Line version for less than PLN 240,000.

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VOLVO XC90

T8 AWD RECHARGE C

lassified in the upper-middle (E) class, the Volvo XC90 debuted on the market in 2002.

The second generation was presented in 2014. It received a minor refresh two years ago. Volvo XC90, is not only the largest SUV by Volvo, but one of the largest models in the segment. The athletic body is 4.95 m. long with a wheelbase of 2.98 m. The passenger cabin is spacious and luxuriously equipped. Optionally, it can accommodate 7 passengers. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 709 l. or 649 l. in the plug-in hybrid version. Under the hood, you will find only 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines - gasoline and diesel (using mild hybrid system support) and plug-in hybrid. This version can drive a distance of about 50 kilometers on electricity alone. The

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gasoline units, designated B5 and B6, have engines with 250 or 300 horsepower (with an additional 14 horses of soft hybrid). The diesel engine has 235hp (+14) and the T8 plug-in hybrid has a combined 400hp. All units are mated to an 8-speed Geartronic automatic and have all-wheel drive (AWD). The model is available in several equipment versions. The cheapest, petrol version B5 AWD (2.0/250+14hp) with Momentum equipment costs about PLN 318,000 and about PLN 340,000 (Inscription and R-Design), and B6 AWD (2.0/300+14hp) - about PLN 350,000 (Inscription and R-Design). The T8 eAWD hybrid variant (303+87hp) is priced at PLN 350,000 with Inscription equipment and over PLN 370,000 with R-Design equipment.

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FORD EXPLORER PLUG-IN HYBRID AWD T

he Ford Explorer is the largest SUV in the brand’s European range. The sixth-generation Ford Explorer debuted in the United States in 2019, and it also hit European markets last year. Despite its sizable size (5.05 m. length and 3.02 m. wheelbase), this mid-engine (E) hybrid SUV handles very confidently, and thanks to its electric backed - gasoline V6 unit, it never lacks power. The spacious interior easily accommodates up to 7 people and offers generous equipment and user-friendly handling.

The minimum volume of the luggage compartment (with all passengers on board) is 240 liters, but when 5 people are travelling in the car, 635 liters of cargo space is

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available. After folding all the seats in the 2nd and 3rd row we can pack up to 2274 l. of luggage. On the Polish market, the Ford Explorer is only available as a plug-in hybrid with a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. The electric range is limited to 48 kilometers. Power goes to all wheels. The hybrid powertrain consisting of an electric motor and a gasoline “six” 3.0 V6 EcoBoost Plug-In Hybrid has a combined output of 457hp. The Explorer with a 10-speed automatic transmission accelerates to 100 kph in 6.0 seconds and can go a top speed of 230 kph.

The 2020 model year Ford Explorer costs respectively: 366,000 (with ST-Line equipment version) and 367,500 (with Platinum equipment).

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GREAT

Compiled by Bartosz Grzybiński

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3

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1/ Present watch, and old military plane Polish watch from G.Gerlach firm, model PZL P.11c with their style refers to the fighter plane of the same name, which was an essential element of the defensive struggle in September 1939. The watch has the well-known and well-liked shape of the case with a rotating ring and stopwatch buttons. The interestingly designed dial features the graphics of the PZL P.11c plane, and the case back has engraving showing the P11 in flight, in a somewhat comic-book silhouette. The watch strap has a specially designed buckle - stylized as the wing of the PZL P.11c plane. www.odczasudoczasu.pl

2/ Video DVR The Mio MiVue 886 4K UHD is the perfect gift idea for any driver. The video re32

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corder has a discreet 3-inch LCD screen, records in 4K resolution at 120 FPS and has built-in HDR. The model has a slow motion mode, a dedicated night mode Mio Nigt Vision ULTRA. All this ensures that even in poor visibility it will produce crystal clear footage with license plates visible. It also has a host of features that are useful to the driver while on the road.

The Mio MiVue 886 informs you about speed cameras on the road and allows you to drive safely and without a ticket on a sectional speed measurement route. www.mio.com/pl

an octa-core Snapdragon 870 processor with 5G, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in memory. The 6.6-inch Amoled display with 120 Hz refresh rate renders colors perfectly, and the 5,000 mAh battery allows for long usage. Thanks to the SuperDart 65W charger - the battery can be recharged in just 36 minutes. Photography fans will find the triple 64 MP camera with street photography mode useful.

The smartphone is available in three colors; green, blue and black. www.realme.com/pl

3/ Gaming smartphone

The realme Pad tablet is another device launched by the brand. The LCD IPS display, has a resolution of 2000 X 1200 pixels and occupies 82.5% of the front. With a diagonal of 10.4 inches, this translates

GT Neo2 is the latest novelty from realme.

The smartphone has parameters that will satisfy gamers and fans of modern technologies. The device is equipped with

4/ Elegant tablet

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GEAR 4

6 5

into a good sharpness of the displayed image. In the housing there is also room for four stereo speakers. On the plus side is the weight, which is only 440 grams.

The whole device is made of metal and looks very elegant. The heart of Realme Pad is processor MediaTek Helio G80.

The operating memory is 3RAM/32GB or 4RAM/64 GB. The models come with WiFi and LTE. The advantage of realme Pad is the battery life without charging.

The battery with a capacity of 7100 mAh, according to the manufacturer is expected to last for 65 days of standby, or 12 hours of work. www.realme.com/pl

5/ Innovative tire The Continental WinterContact™ TS 870 uses a V-shaped tread pattern that The Warsaw Voice

model is called Cool Chili. www.continental.pl

6/ Roof Box has already been adopted by many tire manufacturers. However, the innovation is that the main V-shaped grooves move towards a wavy central groove running around the tire. By combining the Hydro Grooves and the center groove, the designers have achieved even faster water displacement when driving in the rain.

This provides more effective aquaplaning protection and improved braking performance on wet roads. Another factor that helps to achieve short braking distances is the newly developed tread compound, which like the previous

Performance and everyday usability - two seemingly contradictory attributes that Porsche has always successfully combined in its products. This also applies to the newly developed Performance roof box from the Porsche Tequipment range. The box passed a comprehensive program of endurance and aerodynamic tests - including driving at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Measuring 212 cm long, 92 cm wide and 44.5 cm high, the box has a capacity of 480 liters. The maximum load is 75kg. The lid opens from both sides for easy, even loading. The box can be mounted comfortably and quickly on the crossbars of all roof transportation systems. www.porsche.pl Winter 2021

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IN BRIEF

Compiled by Bartosz Grzybiński

TIRE MARKET IN POLAND AND EUROPE THE MARKET FOR SUMMER passenger car and light truck tires in the period from January to August 2021, compared with the same period last year, grew by almost 14 percent in Europe, and in Poland by more than 16 percent. In the category of winter tires, the growth in Europe was 12 percent, while in Poland it is 40 percent. Significant increases in sales were recorded in the segment of multi-season tires.

In European markets in the first eight months of the year, the increase in sales of multi-season tires was 43 percent compared to the same period last year.

In Poland, the increase was 70%. In European markets, an increase of more than 24 percent in sales of Ultra High Performance tires with a seating diameter of 17 inches or more was recorded.

Dariusz Wójcik

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In Poland this trend is almost twice as high and amounts to 46 percent, and the share of UHP tires in total sales amounted to 34 percent. The increase in the premium segment compared to the previous year amounts to 39 percent.

“Last year’s drop in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic was smaller in Poland than in the markets affected the most - for passenger tires at the level of the European average, while for truck tires the declines were less significant.

This year, the tire industry is in a very fast growth trend, mainly driven by market demand. In Poland, this growth is even more dynamic than the average for the European countries, especially in the category of winter tires”, comments Dariusz Wójcik, General Director of Continental Opony Polska.

25 YEARS OF BOSCH BRAKE SYSTEMS IN POLAND THE BRAKE SYSTEMS FACTORY of Bosch in Mirków near Wrocław celebrates its 25th anniversary. Owned

by Bosch since 1996, the plant is now a comprehensive production and research center.

On the area of over 33 000 m2, a team of more than 900 specialists is responsible for development and production of components for braking systems used in vehicles of leading automotive corporations. Over the last quarter of a century, more than 37 million components have been manufactured on the production lines of the plant near Wrocław and delivered to 5 continents.

“Components produced in the Bosch plant in Mirków ensure the safety of millions of drivers and passengers around the world. For 25 years we have managed to build a strong position in the concern. Today, the factory near Wrocław is responsible for the production of the most innovative components of braking systems offered

by Bosch”, says Rafał Rudziński, president of Robert Bosch in Poland.

Bosch has already invested over one billion zlotys in the Polish factory.

High quality of work and commitment of the team convinced the concern to further investments near Wrocław.

This autumn, the factory was to be expanded by 25% by the end of 2022.

New automated production lines will also be launched. The company is also developing a competence center with a range of central functions to support Bosch’s global business operations.

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IN OCTOBER 2016, THE FACTORY in Września owned by Volkswagen Poznań was officially launched. Erected at a cost of nearly one billion euros, the plant is one of the largest foreign investments in Poland in the last decade and the only one in the world where Volkswagen Crafter and its fully electric version eCrafter are manufactured.

The surface area of the entire plant is 220 ha. On the grounds of the factory there are modern body building hall, paint shop, assembly hall and suppliers park, special cars department and pilot production department.

The plant in Września employs over 3,000 people, and the work in the factory is done in three shifts. In total, since the beginning of production, 350,000 cars have left the production line in Września. More than 70 percent of the production consists of vehicles with special bodies, meeting the specific needs of customers. The flexible organization of the production line makes it possible to assemble Crafter in as many as 69 body versions and six engine versions.

“Manufactured exclusively in Poland, the Volkswagen Crafter is an eco-

IN BRIEF

5 YEARS OF VOLKSWAGEN FACTORY IN WRZEŚNIA nomical, large delivery van, offering transport solutions tailored to customer needs. The Crafter meets the requirements and needs of various user groups and in this respect is one of the best in its class. The highest quality of production at the Września factory, careful workmanship and excellent durability of this model minimize its operating costs. Efficient drives - both diesel and electric - make the Crafter a reliable companion for everyday work”, says Magda Piekarczyk - Olszak, Manager of Marketing Communication and PR Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

TAYCAN DRIVES PORSCHE’S RESULTS FROM JANUARY TO THE END OF September, Porsche delivered 217,198 cars to customers worldwide. This is 13% more than in the first nine months of last year. If not for the crisis caused by chip shortages, the sports car manufacturer would have been able to sell even more vehicles - the order books are filled to a satisfactory degree. Particularly noteworthy is the steady increase in demand for the Taycan all-electric sports car. Between January and the end of September 2021, 28,640 units were delivered.

“The Taycan is a very innovative car that is very popular among our customers. Our early transition to an electromobility strategy is paying off here,” says Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche AG. The Warsaw Voice

“The strong demand for our models shows that we are in an ideal position - thanks to Porsche’s attractive product range,” adds Blume.

The Taycan model is also attracting increasing interest in Poland, despite poorly developed supporting infrastructure, a small number of electric car charging stations and a lack of fiscal incentives from the government to buy cars with alternative drives. According to data from the Automotive Market Research Institute SAMAR - a company which monitors the automotive market - from January to the end of October this year, 150 units of this electric Porsche model found buyers on the Polish market.

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IN BRIEF

REALME IN TOP 4 OF 5G SMARTPHONE VENDORS IN CEE REGION ACCORDING TO STRATEGY Analytics Central Eastern Europe 5G Smartphone Vendor Share Q3 2021 report, realme ranked fourth among the largest 5G smartphone vendors in the CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) region. The fastest growing smartphone brand in the world, it expanded its market share to 7.2% in Q3’2021 from 0.9% in the same quarter last year. The growth dynamics of 700% noted in the Strategy Analytics report shows that the manufacturer does not slow down and successively strengthens its position in our part of Europe.

“At realme, we believe that every smartphone user in Europe deserves to be able to use a 5G device. By leading the democratization of 5G technology not only in this region, we will be

able to guarantee the best experience in this segment to more and more European consumers with our smartphones. Realme’s position among the 4 key 5G smartphone brands in CEE in Q3 2021 is a testimony in itself and shows our commitment. This achievement highlights the fact that our smartphones are widely appreciated and well received by users,” comments Madhav Sheth, President of realme International Business Unit. realme’s high position among the leading providers of 5G smartphones underlines the manufacturer’s commitment to popularize the fastest mobile communication standard.

Making modern technology available to a growing number of users in Europe and around the world is one of the key commitments of the brand for

the coming years. Soon, further 5G devices from realme will appear on the European market, which are likely to change the current order among mid-range smartphones.

SAFETY IN ALL CONDITIONS NOKIAN TYRES WINTER TIRES ARE DESIGNED TO perform in snow, ice, slush and dry conditions, helping drivers to overcome the challenges of the winter season.

In response to the growing need for safety in the harsh Nordic winter conditions, Nokian Tyres developed the world’s first winter tire back in 1934. This groundbreaking innovation - called the “weather tire” (Finnish for “Kelirengas”) - was developed for trucks and buses, and two years later, a version for passenger cars was created - the “Snow Hakkapeliitta”. This marked the start of a revolution in winter driving safety that has had a major impact on the automotive industry.

Right from the start, Nokian Tyres has been creating the safest tires for every driving situation. This is made possible, among other things, by intensive tests under real conditions. The “White Hell” test center behind the Arctic Circle in Ivalo, Finland, is world famous. It is a place where tires are tested in harsh winter conditions. What’s more, the latest facility in the Nokian Tyres test network is the new state-ofthe-art center in Santa Cruz de la Zarza, Spain. The “Hakka Ring”, as the facility is called, enables even more rigorous testing and provides excellent conditions for testing both summer, all-season and winter tires. Conditions simulating Central European summer and winter ensure that all Nokian Tyres products are subjected to relentless testing under authentic European climate conditions. All Nokian Tyres winter and all-season tires are marked with the 3PMSF symbol, which means that they are suitable for winter driving.

The tires from the Finnish manufacturer are able to withstand the harshest conditions without making any compromises when it comes to their performance on both wet and dry roads.

The Warsaw Voice

KRAKÓW HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE LEADERS on the Polish tourism market. It is one of the most recognizable and popular destinations when it comes to both private and business travel. According to the Kraków Convention Bureau, far more people are coming to Kraków for one day only 47.4% in 2020 compared to 27.8% in 2019. The guest profile has also changed, there are more domestic tourists who travel with their families. This trend has meant that city hotels, which previously focused mainly on business tourists, have had to adapt their offer to the needs of families with children.

The hotel chain Vienna House, which for years has been friendly to families with children and has a favorable price policy (children under 13 stay free), did not have a problem with it. Since September, both hotels of the chain in Kraków

IN BRIEF

TOURISM IN KRAKÓW IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC - Vienna House Easy Cracow and Vienna House Andel’s Cracow - have seen a certain uptick in business tourism.

However, business events are definitely smaller in scale than before the pandemic.

“The year 2020 was a breakout year on the tourism and hotel market, also in Kraków. The number of visitors fell by more than 43%, and if we consider only foreign travelers, the drop was 74%. The year 2021 is better, but we still have to wait for the statistics of 2019 to return”, admits Tomasz Piórkowski, regional director of Vienna House. “Thanks to the government’s investments in infrastructure - such as the expansion of the S7 route or the launch of new air connections, as well as the promotional activities undertaken by the city, Kraków is becoming more and more popular on the domestic tourism market,” Piórkowski adds.

Vienna House Easy Cracow

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