In an address to the people, Andrzej Duda announced the creation of a Department for Polonia and Poles abroad under the Chancellery of the President
"They need stronger contact with Poland, activity from the authorities. In connection with this, I have decided that within the Chancellery of the President there will be a Department for Polonia and Poles abroad – in order to actively address these tasks," Andrzej Duda stated.
According to the president, representatives of Polonia often hold prominent positions in politics and business in some countries. "They think about Poland, feel Polish, want to help. But they need a connection with the country, they need a helping hand and to also interact with them for the benefit of the Republic of Poland," Duda said. The president added that in this group there are many young people who were born in Polish families abroad, but were raised in Polish traditions and feel Polish. "There are also many Poles who, after the border changes decades ago, remained in Eastern Europe. These are also those who were deported there. Many of them would like to return. And this is a historical task for the Polish state. A test of whether we are able to fulfill the huge dream of many of them. Today we need to support Poles abroad so that they can develop Polish culture there so that the youth do not forget about Poland," the head of Poland emphasized.
As reported by Polskie Radio, according to approximate estimates, about 21 million Poles and persons of Polish origin live outside Poland – of them, more than 9 million in the USA, about 2 million in Germany, about one million in France, 900 thousand in Canada, more than 700 thousand in Great Britain, 396 thousand in Belarus, 235 thousand in Lithuania, more than 144 thousand in Ukraine, about 100 thousand in Kazakhstan and Russia.