Since the beginning of the parliamentary term of the Sejm lower house following the general election in 2007, MPs’ offical foreign trips have cost the tax payer an accumulated 5.8 million zloty (1.4 million euro).

Apart from visiting other European countries, Polish MPs have also been on official visits to Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Tunisia, Syria, South Africa and Taiwan.

Up until July 2010, there were a total number of 636 foreign trips recorded by the Parliamentary Chancellery.

In 2010, Polish MPs observed presidential elections in the Ukraine, as well as parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, as well attended sessions or committee meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, taking place in London, Strasbourg, Paris, Riga, Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Istanbul.

A number of other gatherings were also hosted in a number of European cities by the defence-related Western European Union, of which Poland is an associate member, as well as NATO meets in cities ranging from Washington DC to Sarajevo and Tbilisi.

Apart from political meetings, MPs have also travelled across the globe to draw on know-how and to promote Polish trade ties with a number of countries.

At the end of March, six Polish MPs travelled to Bangkok to meet opposite numbers from the Thai parliament, where talks were held over visa regulations for Polish tourists heading there.

In May, the Polish-Brazilian parliamentary group headed to Rio de Janeiro for an economic forum to increase trade links between the two countries.

Other trips included a delegation to Tunisia, where 200,000 Poles visit each year. Last November three MPs were in Tunis to meet with high ranking officials on trade and tourism ties. A group from Tunisia is expected to visit the mountain resort of Zakopane in the autumn. (jb)

Source: PAP

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