A meeting of the European Sector of IOV-World was held in Pruszków (Poland) between 15-18 January 2026. Its primarily aimed at planning activities of this organization for 2026 and skill-sharing by representatives of IOV National Sections in Europe.
The first day of the event encompassed the arrival of foreign participants, their registration, social integration and official dinner. It offered an opportunity for making first contacts and informal conversations between IOV members from various countries.
The second day started with the official opening session. The opening addresses were presented by the leaders of IOV Poland: the Chair prof. dr hab. Anna Brzozowska-Krajka, and the Vice-chair for Folk Dance Groups and Festivals Mr. Piotr Witaszczyk, as well as the Vice-mayor of Pruszków Mr. Michał Landowski. They were followed by official speeches delivered by representatives of IOV-World: Vice-President Mr. Günther Lippitz, Secretary General Mr. Fabrizio Cattaneo, and Secretary Ms. Jarmila Mrnuštíková. Besides, the IOV-World Secretary General read the congratulatory letter of the IOV-World President professor Emma Chen Ping on remarkable achievements of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe, headed by prof. dr hab. Anna Brzozowska-Krajka, and a report by IOV Executive Secretary for Eastern Europe Ms. Lidia Vernyhor.
The platform for IOV Poland was formulated by the Chair prof. dr hab. Anna Brzozowska-Krajka: she outlined the principal types of activity of this national section and guidelines for its activities in the subsequent year. She was followed by IOV Poland’s Vice-chair Mr. Piotr Witaszczyk who presented the programs of festivals to be organized by the Section in Poland.
The next session focussed upon the role of science and research in IOV with reference to the activities and achievements of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe led by its long-time Chair prof. dr hab. Anna Brzozowska-Krajka. Her report was supplemented by communication about the forthcoming 18th IOV European Conference of Folk Culture to be organized in Vilnius (Lithuania) in 2027 by professor Rimantas Astrauskas, a member of The Steering Committee of IOV Science and Research Commission for Europe. Subsequently, IOV-World Secretary General Fabrizio Cattaneo made a general presentation of the structure and mission of IOV World. Unfortunately, the Meeting in Pruszków did not succeed in working out a platform for IOV Youth Commission for Europe. Later on the same day the participants in the Meeting took part in a tour of the vantage point Warsaw Tower and of the Old Town in Warsaw, which gave them an opportunity to stronger socialize.
The third day of the Meeting encompassed official presentations of IOV National Sections and representatives of various European countries: Austria, Hungary, Kosovo, Romania, Czechia, Italy, Albania, Moldova, Turkey, Lithuania, Slovakia, Armenia, Bulgaria and Poland. Reports by IOV National Sections in Europe were made by Zoran Šijaković (Austria), Teszáry Miklós (Hungary), Piotr Witaszczyk (Poland), Besnik Rustemi (Kosovo), Gabor Andrei (Romania), Jarmila Mrnuštíková (Czechia), Fabrizio Cattaneo (Italy) and Gezim Alimehmeti (Albania). Speeches made by delegates from European countries included also those by Ion Bencheci (Moldova), Murat Erdem (Turkey), Rimantas Astrauskas (Lithuania), as well as other IOV members from Turkey, Slovakia, Armenia, Romania, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Poland.
On January 17th the proceedings were concluded with a concert of the Folk Dance Group „Pruszkowiacy” which additionally highlighted the essence of the Meeting and the fundamental importance of folk traditions in the activities of IOV. It was a significant element of integration and socializing of the participants and was well received by them.
The last day of the Meeting encompassed free time, tours, and the participants’ departure. The Meeting of the European Sector of IOV-World in Pruszków strengthened international co-operation, skill-sharing and formulated principal directions of IOV activities in Europe in 2026.
In conclusion: we owe a debt of gratitude to the organizers of the Meeting for their professional and efficient arrangements, especially to Mr. Piotr Witaszczyk, Mr. Piotr Grządkowski and Mr. Łukasz Chojnacki, whose work made the Meeting very significant, valuable and productive.
Piotr Witaszczyk
