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Practical Details

European Development Days 2011 took place at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Poland.
Thursday, 15 December 2011 (08.00 - 20.00)
Friday, 16 December 2011 (08.00 - 20.00)


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Getting there

The Copernicus Science Centre is in the centre of Warsaw close to the Wisla River.
Please find below some directions on how to get there:

Air

Warsaw International Airport is approximately 30 minutes away from the city centre and the Copernicus Science Centre (depending on the traffic). We suggest taking bus n°175 to the centre – (bus stop 'Warszawa Centralna') and then changing to bus n° 102 or 444 (final bus stop is 'Pomnik Syreny') or bus n°128 (final bus stop is 'Biblioteka Uniwersytecka'). Alternatively, you can also take a taxi.

Rail

The closest train station is Warszawa Centralna. Walking distance to the venue is about 25 minutes. From Warszawa Centralna you can also take a taxi or bus n°128 (final bus stop is 'Biblioteka Uniwersytecka'), or bus n°102 or 444 (final bus stop is 'Pomnik Syreny').

City transport

There are a limited number of buses passing close by to the venue. The bus numbers are:

  • 105, 118 and 128 (bus stop is 'Biblioteka Uniwersytecka')
  • 102, 125, 162 and 444 (bus stop is 'Pomnik Syreny')

Road

A pay car park should be available in front of the venue along Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie street. You have to pay for your space using the ticket machine.

Taxi

For taxi reservations, please use the details provided below:

  • Wawa Taxi,  (+48) 6 0000 9644 from a mobile, (+48) 22 670 5000 from a landline telephone). If you call from a landline, you should dial 22 670 5000, although some services may require the prefix 0.
  • Ele Taxi, (+48) 22 811 1111). If you call from a landline, you should dial 22 811 1111, although some services may require the prefix 0.

 

Visa

For speakers coming from outside the European Union, please proceed with SCHENGEN VISA applications as early as possible, particularly if they have a connecting flight in the European Union outside of Poland. You will have to request the SCHENGEN VISA from the embassy representing the country of your first entry point in the European Union.
Information freely available online:

Since December 2007, Poland has been part of the Schengen Area, a zone with no internal borders comprising 25 countries. Third-country nationals may cross Poland's external borders if they are in possession of a valid travel document, and a visa.
In order to enable entry to Poland for the purpose of participating in European Development Days, Polish consular posts will issue uniform visas enabling the bearer to travel freely throughout the entire Schengen Area. Uniform visa issuing rules are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (OJ L/243/1 of 15 September 2009).

Filing in a visa application

In order to receive a uniform Schengen visa:

  • the applicant must personally present himself/herself at the consular post to file an application;
  • the application must be filed no later than two weeks and no earlier than 3 months before the planned entry date;
  • in order to file an application, the visa applicant may be obligated to attend a meeting with the consul.

Note: The consul may waive the requirement for the applicant to present himself/herself to the consulate in person if the visa applicant provides the original personal invitation issued by a government administration body.

Support for Speakers

Should you need assistance in securing a VISA for one of your speakers, the European Commission can provide support by signing a formal invitation letter.
Please contact Ms Alina Burcalu (alina.burlacu@ext.ec.europa.eu) for more information.

Support for other Forum participants

Should you need assistance in securing a VISA, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU can provide support by contacting the consular missions abroad.
Please contact Mr Artur Malantowicz (artur.malantowicz@msz.gov.pl) for more information.

Formal requirements

The visa applicant must remember to:

  • file a completed and signed application form;
  • present a travel document, valid for at least 3 months over and above the planned date of exit from the Schengen Area, with at least two blank pages, issued within the previous 10 years;
  • pay the visa fee;
  • present a document attesting the possession of travel health insurance covering a minimum sum of EUR 30 000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) valid in the territory of Poland and the remaining Schengen countries;
  • present the original personal invitation to participate in a conference or other meeting organized by a government body in the framework of Poland's Presidency of the EU Council (the invitation should include: the name of the institution, the type and date of the meeting, contact person data), or a document issued by a parent institution/organisation confirming the participation of the applicant in the delegation taking part in the conference/meeting;
  • in individual cases, the consul may require the presentation of documents confirming a valid hotel reservation, airplane ticket or means of subsistence for the period of the intended stay in the Schengen Area.

Consular jurisdiction

The application shall be filed with and examined by the competent Polish consular post, as per its territorial jurisdiction. The applicant should contact the competent consular post before filing in the application in order to receive the application form and information regarding the visa procedure and fee.
The application will be examined no later than 15 calendar days from the date of submission of the full set of documents. Polish delegations are not present in some countries. In this case, the applicant is obliged to submit the application to the competent Polish consular post in another country.
In order to facilitate the procedure, the institution responsible for organizing travel is advised to contact the competent Polish consular post.

 

Accommodation

We strongly recommend that you book hotel rooms in Warsaw as soon as possible. Please find below a list of some hotels located near the Copernicus Science Centre (distance from the venue is about 20-25 min. on foot):

 

Badges

You will need your badge to access the venue. It is mandatory to wear the badge visibly for the duration of the two-day event.
We are not posting out any badges. Simply bring a piece of identification (passport, ID card) to receive your badge at the tent located near the entrance to the Copernicus Science Centre.
The opening hours to pick-up accreditations are between 07.00 and 20.00 from Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 December.