Polish President Andrzej Duda has awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland to three Slovaks — Ján Figeľ (KDH), Ján Hudacký (KDH), and Pavol Mačala — for their outstanding contributions to international cooperation and support for independence movements in Central Europe, TASR reported Monday.
Former EU Commissioner Jan Figeľ praised Poland’s key role in the peaceful fall of communism, highlighting Pope John Paul II’s influence in supporting a non-violent return to freedom. He said the 35 years of shared freedom between Slovakia and Poland bear Poland’s significant mark.
Figeľ also urged Central European countries to take responsibility in shaping Europe’s future, especially in addressing conflicts like the war in Ukraine. “The centre is not about geography, but about values, culture, proximity and belonging,” he said.
Source: TASR
