TURKPOL · Polish–Turkish Culture and Cooperation Association

Welcome to TURKPOL

TURKPOL advances Poland–Türkiye cooperation through institutional partnerships, governance-led programmes, and accountable public engagement.

Become a memberPartner with TURKPOL

Current affairs

News and events

All news

Official updates

Six speakers seated on stage for the Region Highlight on Poland–Türkiye trade relations at the CEE Trade & Treasury Summit 2026, their names and photos on the screen behind them.

23 October 2026

TURKPOL on stage at the CEE Trade & Treasury Summit 2026

On 20 October in Warsaw, TURKPOL's President Tunç Meriç spoke in the Region Highlight on Poland–Türkiye trade relations, and five members of the association spoke across the summit's two panels on Poland and Türkiye.

Help desk

Living in Poland? Ask us.

Residence, PESEL, work, study, healthcare or housing. Free, answered by a person, in Turkish, Polish or English. No account needed.

Ask a questionRead the guidesTurkish citizens: consular services in Poland

Community help, not professional advice. If we see that your case needs a lawyer, doctor, tax adviser or another professional, we will say so and suggest where to find one.

Episode 5Wojciech Bobowski, or Ali Ufki

New in the video series

Lehistan Stories: Wojciech Bobowski, or Ali Ufki

Istanbul, the 17th century: a young Pole becomes a musician at the sultan's court, writes its music down, and translates the Bible into Turkish.

▶ Watch episode 5Lehistan Stories →

Reading

Stories from six centuries of friendship

Long-form pieces on the history, trade and everyday ties between Poland and Türkiye — written to be read, not skimmed.

All articles
Illustration: a square İznik-style tile lying on a dark wooden table, painted with red tulips, blue rosettes and turquoise saz leaves.

07 September 2026

How to read a çini tile: motifs, colours, and the Polish thread

Ottoman tile has a grammar: two families of motif, a palette set by what survives a single firing, and a Polish chapter of tents, carpets and misattributions. A guide to reading one — and to where to go and see them.

Read
Illustration: layered parchment, a brass seal press and crimson sealing wax on a dark table.

24 August 2026

Six centuries of Polish–Turkish diplomacy, and why 1414 still matters

Poland and Türkiye have exchanged envoys since 1414 — longer than most European pairings. A short history of a relationship built without a shared border, from the first embassy to the Ottoman court to two seats in the same alliance.

Read
Painted illustration of a formal reception hall, an empty chair in the foreground and indistinct seated figures beyond.

10 August 2026

“The envoy from Lehistan has not yet arrived”: a sentence, and what stands behind it

The best-loved story in Polish–Turkish relations is that the Ottoman court kept calling for a Polish ambassador for 123 years after Poland was partitioned. The sentence is hard to document. What it stands for is not.

Read

Institutional mission

Poland–Türkiye cooperation

TURKPOL is a Polish-registered association for dialogue, member clubs, and practical Poland–Türkiye cooperation.

Public partners and board oversight keep briefings, clubs, and secretariat work transparent.

  • Board oversight and disclosure
  • Clubs, summits, and cross-border projects
Explore institutional profile
A circular emblem fusing Turkish geometric ornamentation with Polish folk patterns above the inscription "A Shared Foundation" — symbolising the cultural bond between Poland and Türkiye.

European Union programmes

EU-aligned cooperation

TURKPOL programmes are designed to align with European Union priorities — supporting candidate-country dialogue, civil society, cultural cooperation, and youth mobility under the EU's external relations framework.

Where applicable, our initiatives reference EU programme objectives and acknowledge co-funding partners; project listings will be published here once formal agreements are confirmed.

  • Civil society dialogue and cross-border programmes
  • Youth mobility and academic exchanges
  • Cultural heritage and bilateral cooperation initiatives
Explore EU-aligned programmes
European Union flag emblem — twelve gold stars on Reflex Blue, the symbol of European unity.

Strategic pillars

An institutional platform for sustained Poland–Türkiye cooperation

TURKPOL operates through clearly defined pillars that connect diplomacy, public programmes, and accountable institutional collaboration.

  • Cultural Diplomacy

  • Institutional Cooperation

  • Business And Professional Networks

  • Education And Youth Engagement

  • Public Programmes And Dialogue

Club ecosystem

Specialised member communities with clear mandates

Clubs are the operational communities of TURKPOL. Each club gathers members around a thematic focus and contributes to annual association priorities.

View all clubs
Warsaw · Poland

Business Club

Structured programmes for firms, investors, and professionals strengthening Poland–Türkiye commercial ties, sector briefings, and partner introductions.

Poland

Academic Club

University partnerships, student pathways, and research-oriented exchanges that connect Polish and Turkish students, researchers, and alumni networks.

Warsaw · multi-city

Youth Club

Mentoring, networking, and start-up–oriented programmes for founders and members — training, career days, and empowerment sessions across Poland.

Wide group photograph of TURKPOL members and guests gathered in an auditorium at a bilateral festival, Polish and Turkish flags visible behind the stage.

Membership and participation

Be a Member, Be a Changemaker

Join a structured cross-border network for dialogue, representation, and practical collaboration.

Become a memberPartner with TURKPOL