Torun International Studies

9

Authors: Ewa Jankowska

In the article attempts to assess the socio-economic situation of the EU in the period 2004–2011 using the Human Development Index HDI. In the first part of the paper the basic concepts associated with the Human Development Index HDI were presented. Next, the attempt of the analysis of changes in the level of development in both the social and economic situation in the countries of the European Union in the period 2004–2011 was undertaken. At the end, in order to determine the gap between the poorest countries to the richest in terms of the level of civilization development, the author presented the ranking of EU countries according to the value of HDI.

17

Authors: Grzegorz Górniewicz

Public debt is currently one of the biggest economic issue in Poland. In the last few years, its proportions systematically increased. The debt of government as well as local government sector grew. The ministry of finances made various efforts to reduce the public debt by prior buying of liabilities and accounting manipulations.

19

Authors: Katarzyna Kącka

The purpose of this article is to present the institutional arrangements of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, related to the preparation for the time of peace with Germany during and after World War II. These solutions were a rather important element, and determined the activities of the department both during the war and after its end. The study’s main objective is to show in an organized, orderly manner the findings, present in historiography, concerning the activities of Polish Congress institutions in two different historical moments and in different organizational frameworks: firstly, the Ministry of Congress Work during wartime, and secondly – the Bureau of Congress Work after the war ended. Both activities of the Ministry of Congress Work (MPK) and the Bureau of Congress Work (BPK) were devoted entirely to studying materials about Germany and formulating theories – above all, theories about their future as a nation and as a state, and their new place in international structures.