The Eastern Partnership

1
The Eastern Partnership

• within the context of Polish foreign policy

"Eastern Partnership A Special Relationship in
the Making, Tallinn, 20 November 2009
2
Key isssues

• Polish Foreign Policy
• Tradition / views
• Eastern dimension
• Eastern Partnership why and what for?
• Reasons
• Main obstacles
• Polish EU Presidency in 2011
• Risks / opportunities

J. Kapusta, RP
3
Polish Foreign Policy

• Fundamentals
• EU Euroatlantic ties
• Strong Eastern dimension
• Historical / geopolitical burden
• Based on Polish emigration ideas (Giedroyc,
  Mieroszewski)
• ULB concept
• Jagiellonian vision of foreign policy idealism
  vs. realism

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1619 (wikicommons)
4
Polish Foreign Policy

• Main goals/ambitions within the Eastern dimension
• Promote democracy development
• Being an advocate of the East
• Promoting Ukraines (Georgias) euroatlantic
  goals
• Since 2004 become an expert on the East within
  the EU

5
EaP why and what for?

• Main reasons behind the project (1)
• Dissapointment with the ENP
• East European Neighbours
• South Neighbours of Europe
• Counterbalancing Sarkozys UfM
• Attempt to place traditional objectives of Polish
  foreign policy within the ENP
• Pragmatic interests question of energy, etc.

6
EaP why and what for?

• Main reasons behind the project (2)
• Polish PR campaign
• Expert on the East
• Desire of success on the EU forum
• EaP as a positive brand-building after series
  of failures

Foto RP
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Poland, EaP, Russia and Belarus

• Russia
• Polish-Russian relations not easy
• Sikorski EaP key to relations with Russia
• EaP open for co-operation with Russia and not
  directed against anybody
• Russian perception in geopolitical terms -
  hidden agenda

• Belarus
• Polish-Belarussian relations even more
  complicated
• Lukashenkas regime
• Outsider in Europe
• Strong internal opposition in Poland
• Question about the future relations and
  participation in the EaP

8
EaP a solution for all?
Current membership
EU members
EaP partners
Poland, the Baltic States, Hungary, Slovakia
YES
Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova
EaP
Czech Rep., Sweden, UK
Future EU membership
Austria,Belgium, Germany, Netherlands
Azerbaijan, Armenia
NO
France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus,
Malta, Ireland...
Belarus,
9
Polish EU Presidency in 2011

• July December 2011
• 2010 Spain and Belgium
• 2011 Hungary
• As a co-author Poland responsible for further
  development of the initiative
• EaP as one of the main priorities
• Chance to show up in Europe

10
Polish EU Presidency in 2011

• Risks
• Low priority of EaP for Spain / Belgium
• Problems with Presidency Trio partners
• Possible EaP fatigue
• Opportunities
• Swedish impetus / influence
• Hungarian presidency (but Danube Process)
• Like-minded states group

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Polish EU Presidency in 2011
Main goal Ensure the priority/ development
during 2010/11

• What should be done now
• Work on the fundamentals
• Co-operation with Sweden on December European
  Council
• Start with flagship initiatives / platforms
• EaP in the new European Commission

• During the Presidency
• New Financial Perspective (Increasing the
  financial support?)
• Strengthening the bi-lateral co-operation
• Other projects (flagship initiatives, platforms,
  groups)
• Being active on all forums related to the EaP

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Conclusions

• EaP a key priority for Poland in the EU
• EaP success Polish success
• EU Presidency in 2011
• Chance for qualitative change in ENP
• Balance b/w South and East
• Prerequisites good start gaining the whole EU
  support and interest of EaP partners less blury
  visions and clear answer to major problems
• Parallel development of EaP and EU-Russia
  co-operation

13
Thank you
The views expressed in this presentation are
those of the author and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Pulaski Foundation or
the official position of the government of Poland.