{"id":6071,"date":"2025-04-03T08:31:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T06:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/?p=6071"},"modified":"2025-04-03T08:31:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T06:31:18","slug":"charismatic-woman-in-europarliament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/charismatic-woman-in-europarliament\/","title":{"rendered":"Charismatic Woman in\u00a0Europarliament"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interview with Miroslawa Nykiel \u2013 Member of the European Parliament, organizer of the Congress of\u00a0Women, educator, social and entrepreneurial woman, grandmother of ten, nominated for the\u00a0title of\u00a0Charismatic\u00a0Woman<\/em> in the category of\u00a0Versatile Woman.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your range of activities is impressive. Could you please share the process of your personality formation?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My resolute character revealed already in childhood. When in elementary school, boys felt respect towards me. Once, one of them scuffled with me, so I treated him the way he later carried my briefcase [laughs]. I had a hunger for reading. I read all the books the school library collected. I was born and raised in the Bieszczady Mountains. During the days of my childhood, no books were kept in countryside houses. I remember my friend\u2019s father received an award for his merits in beekeeping: The Life of Klim Samgin, an unfinished novel by Maksim Gorky, published in six volumes, and took them all up to the attic. I went up there and, as a 13-year-old girl, read those six volumes. My son \u2013 a Polish language teacher \u2013 couldn\u2019t then help but wonder how I got through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also used to be a Polish language teacher\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, in 1984-1990 I taught Polish language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did the course of your higher education continue?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I started with a 2.5-year Pedagogical and Artistic College in Cracow, at Kamienica Pod Baranami. These were my best studies, I made the most of it. I must admit the books absorbed during childhood and teenage years developed a kind of sense of freedom in me and this school further strengthened it. In 1983, I finished my master\u2019s degree at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Arts in Cieszyn, a branch of Silesian University. I had the opportunity to practice my artistic interests as the director of culture centers in Zator and Mied\u017ana. Then I studied business at the French Institute of Management in Warsaw, where I finished all the courses they offered, because of their usefulness. We practised a lot, so I learned management on specific cases. In 2013, I finished the doctoral program at the Economic and Social College of the Warsaw School of Economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How have you ended up in Silesia?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My husband got a job in the local mine, with a large apartment included. It was literally our salvation at the time, for we already parented two children and the third was on the way. So, I have lived in the Silesian province for more than 40 years now. When I started working with the Podbeskidzie Region of the Solidarno\u015b\u0107 (Solidarity) Trade Union and organized strikes, I became fascinated with Bielsko-Bia\u0142a. This city\u2019s my love by choice. Fortunately, the love\u2019s reciprocated, as the residents of Bielsko-Bia\u0142a and Podbeskidzie have been electing me to Parliament for 20 years. An interesting aside is that when I ran for the Senate in 2005, I individually received more votes than the entire parliamentary list of the Platforma Obywatelska political party. That\u2019s because people remembered me from 1980 and knew I was working for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a\u00a0number of years, you were associated with RSW \u201cPrasa, Ksi\u0105\u017cka, Ruch\u201d.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRuch\u201d was the company I spent many years of my life with and went through a whole, one could say, \u2018American\u2019 career path. I started working there in 1974. Then, after the political transformation in Poland, I was chosen to many managerial positions in Ruch SA, including manager of the branch in O\u015bwi\u0119cim, where I saved many employees. In 2000-2001, I headed the board of directors as the first chairwoman in more than 100-year history of this enterprise. At the time, Ruch was a huge company employing thousands of workers and distributing newspapers all over Poland.
During my aforementioned studies at the French Institute of Management, I sought confirmation of my actions in theory. It turned out that my earlier moves were a \u201cshot in the arm.\u201d In 2003-2005, I got involved in business, becoming the owner and CEO of the Educational Business Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inauguration of the Podbeskidzie Regional Women’s Congress 2025 at the Animated Film Studio in\u00a0Bielsko-Bia\u0142a. In the photo from left: with the ladies from the Amazonki Association, who inspire with their determination and providing help in the most difficult situations for women. he Podbeskidzie Regional Women’s Congress has been operating continuously since 2010. It lasts all year round and includes cultural, educational and charity events. Thousands of women have taken part in these events. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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When did social activities start?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Actually, since 1980. I wasn\u2019t interested in politics at that time, but I joined Solidarno\u015b\u0107, a huge social movement, bringing together 10 million Poles, and organized strikes. People wanted me to become chair the movement. They convinced me, saying I had courage, could listen, and was a fast learner. I focused on action. When something had to be done, I did it. I often wondered what it meant to be charismatic: maybe it was that I thought less about myself and more about others. I would meet people and see that they needed to be helped, then I would help. I constantly had some ideas. My husband was surprised and asked why I did it. However, he partnered me from the very beginning. I got married at 20 on condition to keep my freedom and desire to grow, and he respected this and constantly supported me. My sons are also partners to their wives, that\u2019s how we raised them; we shared household chores to couch together in the evening. Even my daughter-in-law recently thanked me for this. I\u2019ve always had that social spark in me and couldn\u2019t imagine not working for the benefit of others. These were the motives that drove me when co-founding the Academy of Entrepreneurship and Success, and the Regional Congress of Podbeskidzie Women. I\u2019m a zodiac Libra, and I think that striving for justice is one of the main features of this sign. My blood rushes inside me when I encounter obvious injustice, even if it\u2019s not in my interest. The Congress I founded is working and developing all the time. We publish calendars, organize exhibitions, award \u201cPer\u0142y Podbeskidzia\u201d (Pearl of Podbeskidzie) and other distinctions to extraordinary women, whose actions measurably change the surrounding world. In the Sejm and Senate, exhibited women fighting breast cancer. Ania Wyszkoni joined us and became the exhibition\u2019s face. In mid-May, we are showing it in Brussels. Two groups of 50 people will go there from Bielsko-Bia\u0142a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The work of a politician is, above all, being close to people. Listening to their problems, representing them. A large part of my work is getting involved in women’s issues.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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As a\u00a0politician, Senator and Member of the Polish Parliament, you have focused your activities on three main areas: energy, small and medium-sized enterprises and support for women. You have chaired many committees. What achievements do\u00a0you consider the most important?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

My functions have been combined with social activities and intertwined all the time. For example, I\u2019ve recently achieved legislative success while still in the Sejm, namely, I\u2019ve led the law on the construction of a nuclear power plant and earned everyone\u2019s support for it. On my initiative, women entrepreneurs were invited to create laws for the SME sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I have always invited men to join the\u00a0activities of the Women’s Congress, who fought with us for a common cause. One of these men is Professor Jerzy Buzek, on whom I can always count \u2013 both in\u00a0politics and in social activity.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What are you tasked with in the European Parliament?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I sit in the most important and numerous (consisting of 90 members) Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Committee on Women\u2019s Rights and Gender Equality. We have lots of meetings in working groups, in various committees. People from all over Poland and beyond turn to us with their problems. A serious economic issue is that the price of energy is too high in relation to prices in the US and China, the European economy is uncompetitive. At the end of the year, we elected a new European Commission, composed of experts, whose task is to set the course of action for the next 5 years, but also in a broader perspective. Another important matter we should emphasize is security. Poland spends 4.7% of GDP on armaments, which is a lot. Countries that haven\u2019t lived through a war don\u2019t understand that Europe can\u2019t pretend it doesn\u2019t care, because it belongs to NATO. We\u2019re persuading our colleagues in other countries to spend more on armaments. We are living in interesting times for Europe and for Poland. We\u2019ve taken over the presidency of the Council of the European Union as Poland, and this means that a good time is approaching and much will depend on us. We\u2019ve defended ourselves against populism, which has taken the world over and is seriously dangerous. The time has come for the entire European Community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you most proud of?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, of my children and grandchildren. Family has always been my support and spending time with them in just a few free moments \u2013 my respite. When it comes to social and political activities, I\u2019m also proud of the creation of the Podbeskidzie Women\u2019s Congress and the fact that I won the trust of the people of the Silesian region and represent them in the European Parliament. This achievement crowns my whole activity. I feel very comfortable in the Europarliament, because of the possibility of a substantive discussion and exchange of ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Animals have always been an important part of my life.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How do\u00a0you spend your free time?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I\u00a0read books. I\u2019m still passionate about it. My 10 grandchildren: 5 girls and 5 boys \u2013 are great escape for me. They call me Minia. I\u00a0love travelling and recently returned from a\u00a0road trip in Mexico. I\u00a0love animals. There have always been animals in my house, both dogs and cats. Once, I\u00a0went down to the basement and there I\u00a0was surrounded by a\u00a0bunch of cats. I\u00a0took them all home \u2013 that\u2019s how my adventure with animals began. In the backyard I\u00a0have squirrels and a\u00a0colourful bird frequently comes, walking on the windowsill and knocking on the window. Oftentimes, I\u2019m also visited by neighbourhood cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your wishes for Europeans and Poles?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First of all, I\u00a0wish you all peace and finding a\u00a0happy medium so that the climate is not completely destroyed and the European economy is saved. The point is to protect the Earth. After all, we have children and grandchildren\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dorota Kolano
Beata Seku\u0142a<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Interview with Miroslawa Nykiel \u2013 Member of the European Parliament, organizer of the Congress of\u00a0Women, educator, social and entrepreneurial woman, grandmother of ten, nominated for the\u00a0title of\u00a0Charismatic\u00a0Woman in the category of\u00a0Versatile Woman. Your range of activities is impressive. Could you please share the process of your personality formation? My resolute character revealed already in childhood. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1124],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6071"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6083,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6071\/revisions\/6083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}