Central and Eastern Europe is an region, which includes Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Ukraine. It is one of the fastest growing economies in the EU. Poland is part of the Visegrad Group of countries which includes Hunagry, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Together these countries consist of an important voting block in European institutions. Israel ties with Eastern Europe continue to grow politically and economically.

The painful history of the Holocaust continues to have a significant impact on bilateral ties, including the recent controversy over Poland’s Holocaust law. In recent years, bilateral ties have grown and Jewish cultural revival in Poland has flourished. Many Israelis and Jewish communities around the world trace their roots to Poland and travel there to participate in educational programs.

Israel and Poland share substantial strategic interests, including a close relationship with the United States and cross-border security concerns. This shared outlook translates into close defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, joint military training and exchange of technology and expertise.

Trade relations between the two countries has grown rapidly, amounting over $1 billion in 2017 – a 10% increase over 2016. A growing number of Israeli companies and investors are active in the Polish economy, while Polish companies are forging partnerships in Israel’s high-tech economy.