Established 1999

POLE IN BRUSSELS

21 kwiecień 2008

A new player

For 12 years we struggle to achieve membership, making it our first strategic priority and suddenly it turned out that just when we had reached our goal, it released a wave of fear, worry and concern that someone wants to cheat us. This is inconceivable. I can’t understand how parties who proclaim that the EU is a threat to sovereignty receive applause and are listened to. I can’t understand why Polish farmers, who have gained the most, are collectively against membership. It`s not logical – says Dariusz Rosati, deputy to the European Parliament.


Prof. DARIUSZ ROSATI


Deputy to the European Parliament


Paweł Makowski: When you said recently that “Poland is a new player in the European Parliament and a player which has entered the game without a very good reputation,” what were you referring to?
DARIUSZ ROSATI: First and foremost I was thinking about very clearly defined Eurosceptic tendencies in Polish politics and the government’s position. The stance adopted by the government suggests that Poles are supposedly not advocates of deeper EU integration, that we were mainly interested in solutions that allow us to prevent certain decisions from being made. In this way, Poland has earned a reputation as a country that is not prepared to continue the European integration process and has entered the Union in order to put the brakes on integration. This in turn has worried continental Europe, its main core, weakening our initial position.


So our “bad reputation” shouldn’t be interpreted as a criticism of our bad behavior. Our behaviour is simply not accepted enthusiastically by other EU countries?
It is received with surprise. Please remember that not only the Polish government has adopted this stance. The appearances of some of our representatives on the EP forum emphasized the distinctions and expressed primarily fears connected with the EU. This was probably a surprise and if we add low voter turnout in the European elections and a strong showing by opponents of European integration, it creates an image of a country that is not interested in deepening the integration process.


Should we be ashamed of Eurosceptism? Are Poles Eurosceptics because they fear the EU or because we are entering with a weak position?
However, our is a weak position that may be taken advantage of. We are not entering a market where everyone is fighting for their own interests. The Union has a certain culture of compromise since it is built on the principle of solidarity. We would like to maintain that solidarity but at the same time we behave as if the only principle in force in the Union is eye for an eye. If someone wins, then we lose and vice versa. I think that there are two motivations for anti-European attitudes. On one hand, ignorance – unfortunately we didn’t do a good job of presenting Poland’s chances in Europe and the realistic, not mythical threats.


Who failed to present this information?
Those who conducted the accession negotiations, in other words the government and governmental organs. Europeans elites didn’t conduct intelligent pro-European propaganda, which would show how much Poland can benefit. Secondly, in terms of the government’s policy towards the constitutional treaty perhaps, unfortunately pushed by the opposition, the government became embroiled in fierce anti-European rhetoric, which freed all the demons and fears of the past.


Doesn’t this failure to some extent also rest with Europe?
I do not advocate placing blame externally. For 12 years we struggle to achieve membership, making it our first strategic priority and suddenly it turned out that just when we had reached our goal, it released a wave of fear, worry and concern that someone wants to cheat us. This is inconceivable. I can’t understand how parties who proclaim that the EU is a threat to sovereignty receive applause and are listened to. I can’t understand why Polish farmers, who have gained the most, are collectively against membership. It’s not logical. In my opinion, elites didn’t pass the political test because there was a need for a widespread education campaign about what a united Europe means. That campaign, judging by the success of Eurosceptic parties, was rather superficial.


Recently the Tribunal in Strasbourg passed judgment concerning the return of land beyond the Bug river. This is an issue which resulted from the post-war division of Europe. Is today’s Europe ready for historical reflection?
There is a certain crisis in historical as well as political awareness. The problem is most likely caused by the lack of men in Europe with the caliber of Monet, Schumann, Adenauer and other “father founders.” We have politicians who fight to win elections and watch the election polls. We have lost the feeling of joint responsibility for the fate of the continent as a result of historical experiences. I don’t know the details of the Tribunal’s judgment but one thing is certain. This demonstrates the weakness of the Polish justice system, which was unable to deal with the problem of land beyond the Bug river. Common values, which were clearly present in post-war Europe, were disregarded. Maybe that’s because we have lost a generation that was able to rise above short-term interests. With much disappointment and disapproval I observe all the political skirmishes, the virulent disputes during summit meetings between heads of states and governments. The spirit of the European community and the awareness of our common fate have been simply lost in the fire of various bargains.


Taking into account our short-lived independence, I have the impression that, deprived of our first love, we were forced into an arranged marriage. Europe united after the war and there was a certain pathos in their actions. We signed the same contract in an office…
That is a good analogy. There was such a wave of enthusiasm in 1989-90, when there was a lot of talk about historical responsibility. When that atmosphere cooled and only hard bargaining remained, we were left with the impression that the EU is a kind of market where winners buy cheap. There is too little awareness of the common good and common interests.


Thank you.



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


W wydaniu 3, September 2004 również

  1. VIEWPOINT

    Taking money
  2. MAZOWSZE GOVERNMENT

    Big needs
  3. VIEWPOINT

    TV`s democracy
  4. SOCIOLOGY - POLITICS

    The factor of time
  5. POLISH AGRICULTURE

    Poles and land
  6. POLAND - EAST

    History and the present time
  7. PRESS REVIEW

    Come back
  8. DIPLOMACY

    The desperation of terrorists
  9. DIPLOMACY

    Stabilization and peace
  10. FROM THE EDITOR

    Boredom
  11. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

    Licheń basilica
  12. POLITICAL NOTEBOOK

    Is Poland sceptical of the Union?
  13. POLE IN BRUSSELS

    A new player
  14. INVENTION

    A beautiful mind