European Congress of Local Governments. We will help prepare for the crisis

The Polish Red Cross will participate in the European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki. The event, which attracts local government officials, experts, decision-makers, and business leaders, presents an opportunity to showcase our experiences and offerings in the field of population protection and civil defense.

This year's Congress is accompanied by the motto “Local Government in Times of Uncertainty - Local Responses to Global Challenges.”Not without reason. Thanks to the closeness to residents, it is local authorities that more quickly recognize the real needs of their communities. This allows for the implementation of flexible and effective solutions where central actions may be delayed. Global challenges require local strategies based on cooperation and innovation, and local governments play a key role in their implementation.

During the congress, we want to show that social organizations, such as the Polish Red Cross, can help in this and be valuable partners in "times of uncertainty."

The congress will be an opportunity for the official presentation of the report prepared by the think tank of the Polish Red Cross, "Implementation of the provisions of the Act on Population Protection and Civil Defense in Local Government Units in Poland."

The unfortunately worrying conclusions drawn from it - including the most important: over 75% of municipalities and 60% of counties are unsure of their readiness for crises, and over 20% of municipalities and counties openly admit a lack of readiness - will be discussed during a panel led by PCK specialists.

March 2, 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM - PCK DISCUSSION PANEL - OLiOC System in Practice – success or fiction? Results of PCK research that cannot be ignored.

Moderator: Kamil Raczyński - Specialist in Population Protection, Polish Red Cross

Panelists:
Jakub Jakubowski - Mayor, Radzyń Podlaski City Office;
Robert Klonowski - Director of the Department of Population Protection, Ministry of Interior and Administration;
Ilona Dąbrowska - Doctor, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin;
Marcin Kowalski - Member of the Main Board, Polish Red Cross;
Wojciech Wróblewski - Director of the Security Department, Caritas Poland.

March 2, 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - PRESENTATION – Sustainable Cities – how to build effective partnerships for the economy of the future?
Among the panelists: Katarzyna Mikołajczyk, General Director of PCK.

March 2, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - DISCUSSION PANEL - Charity – How local governments cooperate with NGOs.
Among the panelists: Marcin Kowalski , Member of the Main Board of PCK.

The congress will also be an opportunity to present the offer of courses, trainings, and services of PCK. We will talk about them at our booth. At the request of local governments, we can conduct certified training in population protection preparing residents for action in emergencies, such as natural disasters, infrastructure failures, prolonged power outages, or the need for sudden evacuations.

The Polish Red Cross is authorized to conduct trainings in the field of population protection and civil defense based on the decision of October 10, 2025 issued by the Fire Academy. It also offers specialized, proprietary training and services for local government staff, as well as training and courses for residents.

The XI European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki is the largest and most important local government event in Poland in 2026, providing a space for the exchange of best practices and building and deepening cooperation among local governments.

The Congress program includes over 250 events – plenary sessions, panels, debates, workshops, presentations, and author meetings – divided into eight thematic areas. They will gather over 3000 participants.

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