TIRANA, April 30 – As the countries of the Western Balkans are progressing on different speeds towards EU membership, Poland represents a success story of both post-communist transition and of post-membership benefits that EU integration brings forward. While the 2004 Big Bang accession into the EU of 10 new members ─ mostly from the ex-communist space ─ even today proves EU’s enlargement policy as one of the most successful, Poland is a frontrunner in terms of economic development and political influence. The country has gone a long way these 10 years and further aims at a wider influence within the union, in order to promote solidarity and abolish current and future differences of development within the EU, according to Poland’s Ambassador to Albania, Marek Jeziorski, who spoke at the at the fourth Foreign Policy Forum 2014, organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies — “10 years of EU membership: Reflections from Poland.”
AIIS Executive Director Albert Rakipi defined the Polish experience as “rising from tragedy to triumph,” introducing the Polish ambassador, who made his remarks in Albanian, a language in which he is fluent.
Ambassador Jeziorski made two key inserts in his remarks: one from the everyday Polish citizen’s post-accession experience and the other from the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski’s speech in the occasion of Poland’s 10th membership anniversary.
Membership experience and its effects for Poland
One of the main points of Mr. Jeziorski’s speech was related to the rise of Poland as an important economic player within the EU and beyond. He argued that today, as in the past ten years, Poland has managed to have a stable and constantly rising economic growth, with a GDP that was 4 times higher in 2012 compared to 1990. At the same time Polish exports have increased along with a stronger banking system, higher investments of foreigners in Poland and of Polish companies outside of Poland, as well as a wider and more active market of capital. Moreover, Warsaw Stock Exchange is becoming one of the most important in Europe. EU funds and subsidies before and after accession have certainly been a helpful in developing the Polish economy to this degree, despite the current economical crisis.
Furthermore, EU membership’s positive effects were present in the Polish administrative and long-term strategic planning. Thus, the budget was planned and managed in a more efficient way at both national and local level. At the same time, the application of EU practices in important reforms was helpful for transferring these know how to Poland and developing its administrative capacities further, despite the fact that the Polish School of Public Administration had already been a milestone in producing well-trained and talented officials that helped EU integration.
The main directions of Polish European policy
Poland has pursued a very proactive and ambitious European policy according to Mr. Jeziorski. The country has tried to be a contributor rather than just a resource consumer. Poland has long been active at a political level: in the European Parliament given this institution’s increasing influence within the EU and especially in talks about the Treaty of Lisbon. Poland has constantly been pushing for a long-term political integration within EU although, Mr. Jeziorski was clear in emphasizing that this should not be interpreted as Poland pushing for a big EU state. At the same time, the country is very active in fighting protectionism policies and pushing for cohesion and solidarity. With the country being of an increasing importance ─ one of the Big 6 of EU given its size, an emerging economic potential and part of an important cooperation within the Visegrad group ─ the Polish agenda within the EU is expected to become a very influential one.
The main trends of the EU enlargement policy
According to Mr. Jeziorski the future success of EU’s enlargement policy will depend extensively on the respect of two main principles: trust and conditionality. The EU’s most successful policy ─ the enlargement policy ─ will be moving through some main trends from now on. First, the intergovernmental character of decisions on enlargement will be probably emphasized further (today countries decide unanimously on enlargement issues). Second, the political aspect of the process will be increasingly defined by a subjective approach of member states toward candidate countries. Third, the technical side of the process will be emphasized (documents and procedures will become crucial). Fourth, conditionality will continue to be stressed for the future member states, especially in relation to sensitive issues. Fifth, the economic and financial aspect of candidates and potential candidate countries’ preparations will become highlighted with time. Sixth, eventually unresolved bilateral problems between members and candidate countries will represent some serious obstacles to the enlargement policy, thus harming part of the process. This last point will bring forward the need for better equilibrium between member states interests, a more constructive regional policy, as well as a national consensus and cooperation within candidate countries to address sensitive issues.
Energy security in the EU
A final point stressed by Mr. Jeziorski was related to energy security within the EU and in the EU neighbourhood. The European Council conclusions on the 20-21 March emphasized the need for energy security and diversification of energy sources in the EU. Mr. Jeziorski said that there was a need for the creation of a European Energy Union composed of these main pillars: stronger solidarity in case of crisis, a common negotiations of conditions for new suppliers outside of EU, co-financing of energy infrastructure, maximal use of existent sources, search for alternative energy sources and new suppliers, as well as provide more security to neighbours such as Ukraine, Moldova, South-Eastern Europe, etc.
Beyond ‘Poland and the EU’
During the questions and answers session, Ambassador Jeziorski had the chance to touch upon some other issues, such as Albania’s candidate status, TAP project and bipartisan consensus over integration issues. In relation to the first and third issues he emphasized the fact that countries should work at their full potential to achieve strategic goals such as EU membership and the case of Poland could serve as an example to Albania and beyond. In relation to TAP he stressed the fact that the project was beneficial for the region, including Albania.
