Why are people predicting a great political future for the mayor of Wroclaw?

WROCLAW — Cracow and Wroclaw are in competition for the title of Poland’s most beautiful city. So far Poles prefer Cracow, which, unlike Wroclaw and Warsaw, escaped the destruction of World War II and managed to preserve its original beauty. Nevertheless, Wroclaw wants to become a trendsetter in the sphere of innovation and technology, and not just in Poland but Europe as well.

How does Wroclaw view its competition with Cracow, and how can it become a more famous and attractive city? What advantages did Wroclaw receive after Poland joined the EU? These and other questions are raised in The Day ’s exclusive interview with the mayor of Wroclaw Rafal Dudkiewicz, who was elected as an independent candidate in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. Some Polish observers say that he has a great political future ahead of him. They even predict that he will become the president or prime minister of Poland.

Mr. Mayor, in your brief speech at the opening of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Journalists’ Forum called "Changing Regional Cooperation in Europe" you mentioned that in granting Cracow the title of Free City after Wroclaw, the Polish king was emphasizing that life in Cracow should not be conducted the same way as in Wroclaw. Does this mean that even today Wroclaw is not conducting itself properly?

"Two aspects can be singled out here. First, both Cracow and Wroclaw are very beautiful cities. Second, there is a psychological difference between Cracow and Wroclaw. If we talk about society, the one in Cracow is older and has deeper traditions. Wroclaw’s community is younger. The explanation for this is that the city was destroyed and therefore its identity is quite new and fresh. From the point of view of mentality, there are also differences between these two cities. We are all Poles and we speak Polish. But Cracow is a much more famous city, while Wroclaw is kind of a crazy city."

What are you planning to do in order to make your city more famous in Europe?

"The most important thing is that we should raise the standard of living. I am responsible for this. At the same time, we are trying to maintain certain spiritual values. We have to build and improve roads and infrastructures, but culture as well. Where Europe is concerned, this question is more complicated. From our point of view, we have a long way to catch up because there is still a big gap between Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe. We are developing at a good pace, but there is still a gap.

"Second, we are facing two challenges. Europe should become more innovative in order to be able to compete with the US and Asia as well as with other economically stronger regions. The second challenge is more complicated. We are aging. The average European family has fewer than two children. This is an extremely important question, and I know what solution can be found and how to boost the birth rate. I have certain ideas on how to create innovations, how to become more creative, and how to secure economic growth. But what should one do in the sphere of demography? This may be the most important question if we are talking about the future of Europe."

Can you explain some of your ideas for innovations?

"To produce innovations, one should be creative and have a proper level on which to develop science. There should be cooperation between business and academic circles. We need openness because the more creative a society is the more complex it is. We should have a complex identity. There should also be a combination of the features mentioned above because for innovations people should be concentrated in certain places. They have to exchange ideas. But they must first have these ideas. The presence of many cultures and languages can be helpful. Europe has a powerful potential from this angle."

Will Europe recognize Wroclaw as a center of innovations? Newspapers in Poland have reported that the European Institute of Innovation and Technology will be established in Budapest.

"Yes, that is very likely. But the final decision will be approved on June 18. There is a plan to place this institute in Budapest. We are proud that we are in second place among five European cities, including Vienna, Barcelona, and Budapest. So, everything is okay. But there is a high possibility that the headquarters of this institute will be located in Budapest. But we are still hoping to derive some advantage from this process. One of the future institutes will be located in Wroclaw. This is important. We are an honest European city, the first to submit its application immediately after Jose Manuel Barroso publicized this idea. In addition, Poland has the strongest public support for this project."

Compared to Hungary...

"Budapest is a very beautiful city. I don’t have anything against it. But this is just a government project where Budapest is concerned. But 250,000 Poles signed a petition in support of our idea to place the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in Wroclaw. This is very good."

What benefits did Wroclaw receive after Poland joined the EU?

"Many. First of all, we are truly proud of being a member of the European family. Second, we get European funding. This is the second Marshall Plan for Europe. I am speaking about our part of Europe. We could not take advantage of the Marshall Plan after World War II. Now we are receiving something. I am talking about the creation of a bigger market, Poland’s accession to the European Union, gaining access to the European market, and the move of many companies from Eastern to Western Europe. Frankly speaking, it is cheaper in our country, and this creates new jobs and faster economic growth. In general, the whole process is very positive. I am a great supporter of the EU, although it should be admitted that the European Union is an institution, and each institution has both positive and negative features. I want to emphasize that this decision was really great for us."

Are you certain that your country will do a good job of the preparations to host the Euro- 2012 soccer championship?

"I have no doubt that everything will be done, and we will prepare for this soccer event in a normal way. This is a European project, and it is important both for Ukraine and Poland. Poland may be better prepared for it than Ukraine in terms of infrastructure. But Ukraine is better prepared in terms of stadiums. But I have no doubt that soccer players will compete in Poland and Ukraine in 2012."

You mentioned stadiums. When will they be ready in Wroclaw?

"We will build a new stadium. The construction will begin at the end of this year and will be completed by late 2010. The company that is going to build the stadium will be determined by a special tender. The city will finance the construction of this stadium."

A Ukrainian weekly recently published an article stating that Gdansk, unlike Wroclaw, does not have a good system of cooperation with Ukrainian cities with regard to the preparations for Euro-2012. What is your general assessment of the cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian cities?

"I don’t know anything about the situation in Gdansk. We are cooperating with Lviv, which is a beautiful Ukrainian city, in my opinion. This city is closely linked to the Polish culture. Many residents of Wroclaw have families in Lviv. We have received from Western Europe things that we can continue to pass on to Ukraine. Ukraine is a sovereign state; therefore we are continuing to give it something. And finally, we have to be open; otherwise life won’t be as interesting."

What experience can you, as the mayor of Wroclaw, share with your Ukrainian colleagues?

"First and foremost, mayors should cooperate with Europe. We must create a great Europe that maintains traditional values and Christianity. I feel strong tendencies in Ukraine for becoming a part of Europe. But they should be developed, and you should profess these values."

What is the secret behind your popularity?

"I would say: no matter what you do, think about people. Take care of people. This is the most important thing. And this does not depend on your place of work, whether it is Wroclaw, Cracow, Lviv, or Kyiv. Everything that we do should be dedicated to people."

What is your recipe for re- election?

"This is my second term. It will end in 2010 and then I will see. I have no idea what I will be doing in the future. In 2010 I will make a decision on whether to run for mayor again. At the moment I have no idea."

Maybe you will become prime minister?

"I don’t know. At the moment I am devoting all my time and energy to Wroclaw."

Mr. Mayor, what is your impression of Kyiv?

"I’ve been to Kyiv only once and stayed there for two days. It is a big city; life goes on there nearly 24 hours a day. There are nice restaurants and beautiful people. But I spent too little time there to say more."