Contra Mundum: The European Union must seek a Rapprochement with Poland
Date
2023-12-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Relations between the European Union and the Third Polish Republic have grown steadily worse over recent years - to the point where some political commentators have begun to speculate on the future of Poland’s membership. The key issues at hand are those of Judicial Reform, the European Migration crisis and responsibility for the refugees crossing the Polish border from the embattled Ukraine. Polish politicians have argued that the European Union is doing both too much and too little - involving themselves too heavily in the internal politics of the Polish state whilst also stymying aid when Poland needs it most. All of these issues play into broader underlying ideological differences between the European Union and Poland, defined by history, shifts in the priorities of the bloc and the modern Polish conception of its own sovereign independence. Given the historic and contemporary dynamics of Poland’s relationship with the western states, particularly with Germany, both the power and the will for reconciliation rests with the European Union - it must take the impetus in this reconciliation process to prevent any further Polish retreat into isolation within the Visegrad Group.
Description
Keywords
Poland, European Union, Rapprochement, History, International Relations, Europe