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Jan Kulakowski
Former ambassador and Chief Negotiator
of Poland’s Accession to the European Union
As Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Chief of the Polish Mission to the European Union from 1990 to 1996 and especially as Secretary of State and Chief Negotiator for Poland during the crucial years leading up to its joining the European Union in 2002, Minister Jan Kulakowski has helped shape the face of tomorrow’s Europe. Formerly active in the trade unions, with positions ranging from Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation to Secretary General of the World Labour Confederation, he is now a member of the European Parliament, representing the Wielkopolska region. Formerly Vice President of the Association France-Pologne pour l’Europe and Vice President of the Supervisory Board of the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation, he now promotes the European Union.
Ambassador Kulakowski’s distinctions include: Commander’s Cross with a Star of the Order of Poland Reborn (1995), White Eagle Order (2002), Officer Leopold II of Belgium Order, Foreign Minister Special Diploma for outstanding merit in promotion of Poland abroad, the Legion of Honor Order (2007) and the National Order of Merit for the contribution to the development of Polish-French relations (2007). He is an honorary member of the Royal Institute for International Relations in Belgium.
As author and co-author of many reports, documents and dossiers on international trade unions and EU-Poland relations, his key areas of interests are social and development policies and the promotion of dialogue and openness. Among his many publications, he is co-author of Bagatela Encounters and The Accession Story: The EU from 15 to 25 Countries.