<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Translation agency 78 International - We help you communicate better]]></title><description><![CDATA[Articles]]></description><link>http://78international.co.uk/</link><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright Translation agency 78 International - We help you communicate better]]></copyright><generator>sNews CMS</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Purchase of real estate by foreigners in Poland ]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Purchase of real estate by foreigners in Poland   
  
  
  1.     Introduction   
  
  The following study does not constitute a legal opinion, but aims at pointing out general principles governing the purchase of real estate by foreigners in Poland. In case of questions or doubts we provide contact with Polish lawyers – experts in this field.   
  
  The purchase of real estate by foreigners in Poland requires an administrative permit. The range of limitations depends on which country the buyer is a citizen or a resident of.     
  
  If he/she is a citizen or resident of a member country of European Economic Area EEA (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Island, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) or Switzerland, the limitations are of temporary nature and concern only some transactions.   
  
  The citizens or residents of other countries must nearly always obtain permits.   
  
   
  2.     Who must obtain the permit   
  
  The limitations apply to the foreigners, which is to:   
    
              natural persons without Polish citizenship, 
              legal persons with their registered offices abroad, 
           companies of the above mentioned persons with their registered offices abroad,   
             a legal person or a commercial company with its registered office in Poland, controlled by persons or companies enumerated in the previous points. 
     
  
  3.     Which transactions require a permit   
  
  Foreigners from EEA countries and Switzerland   
   
              purchase of agricultural real estate – by 1st May 2016 
             purchase of real estate in forestry – by 1st May 2016 
           purchase of a second house – by 1st May 2009 
   
  A second house means a real estate property designed for residential or recreational purposes which shall not constitute the habitual residence of the foreigner.   
  
  Except for that, these foreigners may purchase real estate in Poland according to the same regulations as Polish citizens. Limitations apply only to the purchase of real estate made directly by a foreigner. If the foreigner desires to buy real estate through a Polish company – it can be done without any permit.     
  
  Remaining foreigners   
   
           purchase of real estate in Poland,   
            taking over control of a Polish company – the owner of the real estate - by a foreigner (e.g. purchasing or acquiring shares, obtaining the right of pledge on the shares)   
           access of a new shareholder – a foreigner – to a Polish company already controlled by foreigners. 
   
  The company becomes a controlled company when, e.g., foreigners hold over 50% of votes or are entitled to appoint and dismiss members of its management.   
   
  
  4. Which transactions do not require a permit   
  
  Foreigners from EEA Courtiers and Switzerland   
   
              purchase of agricultural real estate by its leaseholder – a farmer – after 3 years (in some provinces after 7 years) of the conclusion of the leasing contract, 
              purchase of a second house if the buyer has been legally living in Poland for at least 4 years,   
             purchase of a second house for the sake of performing tourist services. 
   
  All foreigners, irrespective of residence   
  
  Below are shown the most important examples of transactions which do not require a permit:     
              purchase of the living premises or a garage   
              purchase of real estate if the buyer has been legally living in Poland for at least 5 years 
              purchase of real estate if the buyer is a spouse of a Polish citizen and has been living in Poland for at least 2 years   
              acquisition through inheritance (the exemption does not apply to the will) 
              purchase of an urban land by a company controlled by foreigners (altogether not more than 0.4 hectare) 
             purchase of real estate through foreign banks and closed-end investment funds in certain circumstances.   
  If, however, the real estate is situated in the border zone or constitutes an agricultural land of the area exceeding 1 hectare, its purchase always requires a permit.   
   
  
  5. Consequences of lack of permit   
  
  A foreigner who has bought real estate without a required permit is not considered to be its owner. The purchase is void and ineffective.     
  
  
  6. Who issues a permit     
  
  A permit is issued by the Minister of Interior and Administration through an administrative decision.   
  The permit shall not be issued if the Minister of National Defence or the Minister of Agriculture raise their objections.     
  
  7. Conditions of obtaining a permit   
   
  A permit is issued on the basis of the foreigner’s application, if:     
              the purchase of the real estate will not pose a threat to defensive capability and security of the country nor to the public order, and when social policy considerations or the reasons concerning health of the society are not in contradiction with it; 
              he/she has proved the circumstances confirming his/her ties with Poland, e.g. Polish descent, marriage entered with a Polish national, legal residence in Poland. 
     
  
  8. Which documents need to be submitted   
  
  The regulations state very precisely the documents which should be submitted in order to apply for a permit. They include among others:     
              the application for the permit, comprising: 
-        specification of the applicant and his/her legal status 
-        specification of the real estate to be purchased 
-        specification of the alienator 
-        specification of the legal form of acquiring the real estate 
-        information about the purpose and possibility of the acquisition of the real estate 
-        the type of investment or business to be carried out in the purchased real estate 
-        the origin of financial resources for the purchase of the real estate 
-        data concerning controlled companies, shares and real estates owned by those companies 
              documents confirming the circumstances indicated in the application, including: 
-        in the case of a natural person – a document confirming his/her identity as well as an entry from the right register or records 
-        in the case of a legal person or a company which does not have a legal personality – an entry from the right register 
-        an entry from the Real Estate and Mortgage Register of that real estate or a certificate from the records, 
-        extract from the land registry accompanied by a cadastral map extract 
-        a register of geodetic changes of the land 
-        extract from the land development plan 
-        statement of the alienator expressing the will to sell the property (or shares in a company) to the foreigner 
-        entry from the Polish Company Register (KRS) for the controlled company 
-        agreement or statute of the company with all further amendments 
-        updated copy of share register 
-        documents proving legal status of the alienator of the shares 
            special statement – while acquiring no fewer than 15 properties   
          copy or entry from the Polish Company Register or a certificate from the register of businesses for a Polish subject controlled by a foreigner 
              certificate from the tax office, confirming lack of tax arrears 
             certificate from ZUS (National Insurance Company) confirming lack of insurance contributions arrears 
        documents proving the possession of financial resources for the purchase of the real estate and the possibilities of financing the activity 
   
  Apart from that the Minister may also require further information or documents.   
  
  All the documents in foreign languages should be submitted together with their translations into Polish signed by a certified translator.   
   
  9. Period of validity of the permit   
  
The permit is valid for two years of the date of issue. 
  
  The foreigner may apply for a pledge to issue the permit, hereafter referred to as ‘the promise’ The promise is valid for one year of the date of its issue. In the period of the validity of the promise the permit cannot be refused unless the actual state, relevant to the decision in the given case, has been changed.   
   
  10. How long does it take   
  
  Provided smooth legal service and quick completion and translation of the necessary documents the decision may be obtained within one – two months of the submission of the application.   
  
  Otherwise the procedure may take much longer.   
  
  If the purchase does not require the permit, the time of completing the transaction may be shortened even more.   
  
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:06:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://78international.co.uk/poland-for-investors/purchase-of-real-estate-by-foreigners-in-poland-/</link><guid>http://78international.co.uk/poland-for-investors/purchase-of-real-estate-by-foreigners-in-poland-/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Polish integration in UK communities]]></title><description><![CDATA[    Not an easy journey but there is light at the end of the tunnel     
  For many Poles relocating to the UK the process is smooth and problem free, indeed, for most the UK becomes a place to call home and often a place to set up in business.  However, with hundreds of thousands of Poles coming to the UK year on year it is not surprising that a significant number face obstacles especially when integrating with the UK communities in which they choose to begin their new life.    
  With such vast differences between their old and new lives the variations in culture, employment processes, the law and legal processes, business life and of course the language can prove to be problematic.  As such and in many cases these differences in daily life can become significant barriers to integration.  Indeed, they can prove hard to break and can provide immigrants with a distinct disadvantage in leading a normal day to day life in the UK.  At worst, obstacles to integration can have serious negative effects on groups of immigrants which have the potential to escalate into wider problems and ultimately reduce the quality of life for those involved.  This then becomes somewhat ironic as often the reason for immigrants relocating to the UK is to seek a better life and a more prosperous future than the ones they would have if they stayed in their homeland.   
  Significant survey results on this topic are only just starting to come to light.  The Joseph Rowntree Foundation in the UK for example recently found that one in four migrants spend no time with British people.  Also, researchers from Oxford and Sussex universities recently spoke to migrants from Poland and their findings provided an interesting insight into the experiences and attitudes of migrant workers as a whole.  For example, they showed that the UK government should value migrants as more than simply an economic resource and that ministers must continue to place importance on ensuring their integration into wider British society, even when their stay is expected to be temporary.   Importantly, it is now becoming more widely recognised that both new migrants and more settled communities can face challenges when migration patterns change.   
  When questioned about their experiences in Britain, two-thirds of a recent survey did not know how to register with a doctor and almost half had received no information about conditions attached to their immigration status.  What's more, 40% said Britons treated them as equals however a notable 30% said they did not.  Only one-third of the sample had taken English classes and many felt they had only limited contact with British people.  Indeed, it is almost an accepted part of life in the UK that Polish migrants tend to live and work together and so often they create a sort of bubble, and  venture outside of that bubble only when really necessary.  It can be argued that consequently this then makes successful integration even more difficult for Poles (  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6699363.stm  ). 
As such, it is necessary to look into the various ways in which everyone involved can deal with the main obstacles to integration so that migrants can go about their daily personal and business lives in a more harmonious and integrated way.  For example, a report by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion will soon put forward proposals on ways to improve integration, such as employers providing English lessons for staff and more information in foreign languages, such as Polish.  However, there are examples of successful schemes already in place and they are setting high standards for others to follow.   
  
  For example, plans to run Polish language lessons for police officers and staff in Berkshire have proven to be so popular that a second course is already fully booked.  Such results are a great illustration of many UK staff being more than willing to take advantage of opportunities to go the extra mile and to give a better service to local people.  In turn, such schemes should give Polish residents greater confidence in the UK's public services (  http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/bcu/berkshire_east/hp-news7.htm  ). 
Various community safety partnerships around the UK have evolved to specifically support their Polish communities also, for example, the Open Door Project in Wrexham which is now specifically directed towards local Poles.  It was set up after it became quite clear that it is those from Poland who make up the largest group of European Union member states who can choose to move to the UK and find work.  Its priority is to improve access by the Polish community to information concerning personal safety, road traffic legislation, environmental health and other important matters affecting day to day living.  Essentially, the scheme provides a "virtual" help centre where individuals can contact both English and Polish speaking staff via mobile phone, email or SMS texts to seek assistance or advice on any of the services available.  Such is the success of the scheme that it has expanded to include a "drop in" cafe once a week and whilst this scheme is specifically directed at those from Poland, staff have found it reassuring to have been contacted by members of other EU nations such as Hungary and Lithuania, and even migrants living locally from countries as far away as China (  http://theopendoor.project.googlepages.com/home  ). 
Recently, in an attempt to achieve greater community cohesion the Reading Chronicle newspaper printed 5,000 copies in Polish, an experiment in catering for the large number of Poles living there.  This project was an attempt to embrace the sizeable Polish community in Reading and to build bridges between the indigenous population and the ever growing numbers of immigrants.  Importantly, to support integration and not to discourage it the paper was described as a Reading paper for Polish people, not a Polish paper for Polish people.  Community cohesion is a huge topic up and down the country and many people may argue that immigrants should be able to speak English at least when living here if not before they arrive.  Whilst most immigrants would wholly agree with this argument the UK needs to accept that this isn't going to happen overnight and as such both the UK and its immigrants need organisations like this to begin building bridges between communities.  The BBC reported how both Polish residents and UK nationals described the project as a fantastic idea and one which should have been done long ago.  Regarding the barrier of language to integration, many people in Reading pointed out that a lot of Poles in the UK can speak English but if they can read news in their own language then it will be comforting to them and may give them an extra boost in confidence when communicating in English therefore assisting with their integration.  The idea certainly caught the media's attention with many people saying they wouldn't be surprised if other regional papers and even some of the national papers follow suit (  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6045568.stm  ). 
  
    ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:33:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://78international.co.uk/poles-in-the-uk/polish-integration-in-uk-communities/</link><guid>http://78international.co.uk/poles-in-the-uk/polish-integration-in-uk-communities/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Polish Immigration and Foreign Direct Investments to Poland add the ‘Oomph’ to British Economy]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The number of Poles migrating to the UK seems to be growing algebraically every year.  Great Britain’s open door policy is one contributing factor to the 1.5 million and growing portion of the 60 million people in the country recently topping the 60 million mark.  But the UK government does not seem to fear the future problem of overpopulation and seems to still be encouraging its open door policy perhaps owing to its advantageous effects on the country’s open market system and economic development.     
  
  
The Characteristics of a Typical Pole Consumer and Tips on Marketing   
  Much of Britain’s immigrant population consists of Poles.  Moreover, Poles wield a considerable amount of purchasing power and disposable income and are good target markets of any British business.  To effectively market your goods and services to Polish communities, whether in Britain or their homeland, a guaranteed strategy that is sure to hit home is to entice the Pole identity.  In other words, incorporate into your marketing plans signs, symbols, images, and what not that hint at their culture and history because most Poles, if not all, harbor strong nationalistic attitudes.  This has been a strategy adapted and is still currently employed by Britain’s leading supermarkets: J Sainsbury, Tesco and Asda. What they did was to include in their usual aisles, new products that specifically cater to the Polish population especially recipes and ingredients that Poles love: pickled cabbage, sauerkraut, and other native delicacies. In addition, Poles have very well-established and fortified family ties and are also very religious.  Appealing to this aspect of the Polish identity by finding ways for them to obtain access to their relatives abroad is a sure way to get the Polish consumer population riveted to your business.  According to The Times,  
  “Polish migrants undertake a strategy of keeping options open, taking a ‘wait and see approach’ and adapting as life goes on, not excluding going back, bringing families to the UK, travelling the world and moving to the US or Australia”.  
  Good advertising does not stop here and expensive flashy marketing mediums won’t always guarantee optimal Pole consumer responses and return of investments.  In fact, background studies regarding Pole communities in the UK state that Poles prefer advertisement via referral.  Hence, effectively marketing to a few Poles will inevitably result to a ripple effect.  
  Though Poles are very loyal to their homeland, most Poles especially the young ones, are attracted to high-quality, expensive, and trendy Western goods.  Young poles also have the tendency to be engrossed with products that are advertised humorously.  
  
  The Role of Language  
  It is believed that more than 70% of Polish immigrants in the UK are skilled professionals and graduates.  As a result, they are quite knowledgeable and independent.  However, most Poles do not wield excellent command of the English language and may still be very much attached with their mother tongue.  Subscribing your business to Cooltura, a UK Polish language publication may help you reach out and communicate with the Polish market.  In addition, the publication has informative lists on money transfer firms, call cards and travel tickets to their home.  The magazine also reveals a list of firms who can act as intermediaries between you and the Polish consumer.  Still, there are language translation and interpretation services that span both the real and virtual markets. In fact, because the Polish portion of British population is a very promising market, some banks like those in Scotland have made Polish versions of banking literature and are highly on the lookout for staff members fluent with the Pole’s language to increase their hold on the Polish consumer market.    The ability to communicate with language to the Polish market is key to earning and maintaining the population’s trust, support, and loyalty.  Furthermore, professional translation helps them with necessary documentations that consequently speeds up any business transactions.   
  

   Polish Immigration and the UK work force  
  With millions of Poles living and projected to still migrate to Great Britain, the country has access to fill up any industry experiencing problems with labor force scarcity. Labor availability for blue and white collar jobs remains abundant from extreme ends of the industrial meter.  Moreover, Polish labor is generally affordable because most immigrants are vigorous and do not mind working for minimum wage.  And since 70% of the immigrants are educated and are professionals,  they contribute considerably to high-skilled and technical jobs such as those in the IT and engineering industries. Thus, the problem of inflation is kept at bay. Consequently, the British pound is strengthening and maintaining its relation to other European currencies. The Polish work force also did wonders to Great Britain’s dormant and unproductive businesses.  With their vigor and number, production became fast-paced leading to expansions in industries.    As compensation, the British government took measures in maintaining and keeping the Polish work force and communities happy.  The country’s government actually coordinated with the Polish government abroad to eliminate the immigrants problem of double taxation which happened in earlier years.  Another measure taken by the British government is the emphasis and maximization of benefits delivered to the Polish work force.   
    ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:31:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://78international.co.uk/poles-in-the-uk/polish-immigration-and-foreign-direct-investments-to-poland-add-the-oomph-to-british-economy/</link><guid>http://78international.co.uk/poles-in-the-uk/polish-immigration-and-foreign-direct-investments-to-poland-add-the-oomph-to-british-economy/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Poland - General Overview]]></title><description><![CDATA[    HISTORY    
    
  
The history of Poland has been as varied as the conquerers who overran the land at various times during the centuries. During the 16th century, the states of Poland and Lithuania formed a strong and independent Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was the second largest country in Europe. Although by the late 1700's, the Commonwealth had ceased to exist and Poland was partitioned amongst neighbors three separate times. Poland was not only the center of the European continent geographically, but politically as well. Although Poland regained its independence in 1918, the invasion of the country by Germany signaled the beginning the of the Second World War and Poland's government remained in exile until the country ended up as a satellite nation under the Soviet Union following the close of World War II. By the late 1980's, the Solidarity movement under Lech Walesa spearheaded the peaceful transition from Communism to a free and democratic state. Poland is now an important member of the European Union. 
  

    GEOGRAPHY     
Moving clockwise around the borders of Poland from the Baltic Sea in the north, are the countries of Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Germany. The only usable harbors on the Baltic are at Gdansk and at Szczecin. The northeastern quadrant of the country is sparsely populated and has few resources either of agriculture or industrial importance. The vast plains extending across most of the southern third of the country.   

  The highest point of the country is at Mount Rysy, 65 miles south of Krakow with an elevation of 8200 feet. Most of the country doesn't reach more than 1600 feet in elevation. In fact, the average elevation of the country is only at 500 feet.   

    POPULATION     

Poland has a population of over 38 million residents, of whom over 96.7% claim to be Polish in nationality. Ukrainians and Lemkos make up the next largest national groups residing in Poland. As many as half a million Polish residents speak Kashubian at home, although only a few thousand claim to be Kashubian. Other major national groups in Poland include, Belarussians, Jews, Lithuanians, Germans and other small national groups. Poland's nationalities are so diverse due to the many border changes and forced deportations and migrations under the Soviets and earlier conquerers as well.   

    NATURAL RESOURCES     

Natural resources found in the country of Poland include coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber and arable land. Coal and lignite are the most plentiful of the products of Poland. Approximately 100 million tons of coal are produced annually, a significant portion of the world's supply. Power production in Poland is basically coal based, leading to problems with air quality control and difficulty in meeting European Union standards. 
  
  About 3.3% of the world's copper comes from Polish resources. Natural gas deposits meet about 30% of Poland's use of the product, while oil deposits are almost negligible. Mining for silver, sulfur and lead accounts for another portion of Poland's exportable resources. 
  
  The value of Poland's supplies of amber have been well known since the time of ancient trade routes. Deposits are estimated at 12,000 tons.   

  The country of Poland has the last remaining stands of the dense forests which one covered most of Europe.   



    INDUSTRIES     

Sawnwood, wood products, paper and furniture are significant industries in Poland with extensive exports in all area. Most of the timber resources are state owned and managed. Hide and leather industries were more extensive in the years surrounding World War II, but have steadily declined, largely due to lack of supply. The fur industry has suffered the same fate, with most exports going to the former Soviet Union countries to the east of Poland.   

  Leading industries since the turn of the millennium include textiles, shipbuilding, glass, coal, chemicals, metals and metal products, fuel and food processing. Although there has been fluctuation in the amount of industrial production over the years, much can be blamed on the cost of developing private business and making the transition from communism to capitalism.   

    CULTURE     

Poland's location between Latin and Byzantine cultural groups and the cross fertilization of the many surrounding nations who sometimes overran the Polish borders have led to a cultural heritage that is as rich and varied as anywhere in the world. Poland's culture tended to take the best from its neighbors and incorporate the strains into a harmonious whole. Great Polish artists, musicians, poets and writers portray the best of Poland. Chopin, Matejko, Potocki, Reymont, and Polanski reflect just a few of the greats in several artistic fields who have achieved world renown.   

    RELIGION     

World War II essentially transformed Poland into a land with a single religion--Roman Catholicism. Approximately 95% of Poles claim Catholicism as their religion, with 80% regularly attending Mass and other church activities. Over half a million Poles claim Eastern Orthodox and Jehovah's Witnesses number over 100,000. The balance are various Protestant and Eastern religions.   

  Prior to the war, over 3.5 million Jews lived in Poland. It is estimated that only 300,000 were left after the horrors of the Holocaust. Emigration furthered reduced the numbers to an estimated 15,000 in Poland at present. Of course, many Jews prefer not to refer to themselves as a national group, but as a religious and cultural minority rather than as an ethnic one.   


    GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS     

The government of Poland consists of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The Prime Minister holds executive power. Legislative power is exercised by the government and two parliamentary houses, the Sejm and the Senate. The Judiciary branch of government is independent of the other two branches.   
  
Parliament is elected by proportional representation and must occur every 5 years. Currently six parties make up the Parliament. Non ethnic minority parties must gain at least 5% of the national vote in order to be seated in parliament.   

  The President is the Head of State and must run for reelection every 5 years. This position is largely representative, although he can veto Parliamentary legislation.   
  
The judicial branch plays a very minimal role in the politics of Poland, although it can annul laws which violate constitutional freedoms.   ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:29:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://78international.co.uk/poland-for-investors/poland-general-overview/</link><guid>http://78international.co.uk/poland-for-investors/poland-general-overview/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In house positions]]></title><description><![CDATA[  Please send your CVs and cover letters to our   recruitment department  .  

    London:    

By the end of September due to expansion of our office in London we are going to have opening for the position of a part time project manager. Successful candidate must be fluent in English and have experience in managing translation projects. 
  
    Poznan:    
Due to development of our back office in Poznan we are going to have following vacancies:    
Part time project manager serving our clients from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Necessary requirements include fluent comment of English, computer literacy - experience in work with MS Windows and Office, experience in handling translation projects.    
Part time sales manager with fluent commend of German, this position will involve creation of new marketing leads and relationships with new corporate clients from the German speaking countries in Europe.    
Full time, in house English-Polish translator, successful candidate must have a degree in translation and minimum 2 years of experience.    
  ]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 05 Aug 2007 17:01:57 +0000</pubDate><link>http://78international.co.uk/recruitment/in-house-positions/</link><guid>http://78international.co.uk/recruitment/in-house-positions/</guid></item></channel></rss>