The Institute of Central Europe was established on December 20th, 2018 pursuant to the Parliamentary Act on the Institute of Central Europe of the November 9th, 2018. The Institute operates as a public legal entity and is overseen by the Prime Minister. The Institute replaced the Institute of East-Central Europe, established by Prof. Jerzy Kłoczowski. The Institute is headquartered in Lublin.
The Institute conducts research concerning Central and Eastern Europe. The field has been explored in Lublin since the beginning of the 1990s.This field of studies emerged in the course of extensive experience of academic centers in Lublin: Catholic University of Lublin and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University.
The research and analyses of the Institute of Central Europe encompass the states of East and Central Europe: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Studies conducted in The Institute focus on social, political, economic and cultural processes occurring in these countries, international relations among these, relations of the countries with Poland, as well as the relations of the region with its external environment (states and international organizations). The research and analyses of the Institute support the state authorities in initiatives undertaken in Central and East Europe. The Institute’s work specifically pertain to matters associated with communications and energy infrastructure, maritime ports and their use, international trade, and other elements serving to develop relations along the north-south axis.
The statutory operations of the Institute include: analytical activities in support of political actions to develop and consolidate cooperation with the countries of Central Europe and East-Central Europe; research in the fields of social sciences and humanities;
cooperation with foreign actors dealing with international relations, with special focus upon entities located in Central Europe, and on cooperation with domestic and foreign academic, research, analytics-related institutions, and with social organizations;
international promotion of Polish social thought pertaining to international relations, international cooperation, foreign and historical policy; dissemination of research results via seminars and conferences; awareness raising regarding the state and processes of change in the international situation and development of international relations, with special focus upon the countries of Central Europe and East-Central Europe; publishing, especially scientific publications, and training.
The Institute of Central Europe publishes the results of research and analyses in ICE Comentaries (available online), in a series ICE Works, and in ICE Policy Papers (in English), as well as in the monographs on the history of Central and East Europe and on contemporary political, social, economic and cultural situation of states and societies of the region. In addition, the Institute publishes a journal Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe. The journal is included in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of
Poland scientific journals ranking. In 2019, the journal awards 70 points for papers published in it.
The mission of the Institute of Central Europe is to ensure substantive support for the decision-makers in Poland’s foreign policy. The support is ensured in the course of extensive research and analyses. In addition, the Institute aims to deliver to Polish stakeholders reliable information pertaining to social, political, economic and cultural processes in Central Europe and its neighborhood, as well as to offer insights into Poland’s position and role in these.
The Institute conducts its operations with full respect for the freedom of scientific research and dialogue with external environment, both domestic and international.
Owing to the scientific cooperation with international partners, the Institute creates the climate conducive to deepening cooperation between the countries of the region, and to achieving the objectives Poland’s foreign policy.
