Macron is setting Poland's brains straight. mission Impossible
On February 4, French President Macron’s two-day visit to Poland ended. This was the first visit of the head of the Fifth Republic to Warsaw, from which both sides expected serious progress.
It must be said that after the “ultra-conservatives” from the Law and Justice party (PiS) came to power in Poland in 2015, relations between the two states did not develop well, to put it mildly.
The French leadership has accumulated many complaints against Poland. For example, the political attachment of the Polish elite to the United States is too strong, although the “little eastern brother” relies heavily on European subsidies.
Poland’s disruption in 2016 of a three-billion-dollar contract for the supply of fifty Eurocopter EC725 Caracal (H225M) helicopters by Airbus Helicopter, produced in France, did not contribute to the warming of bilateral relations.
The worst part of the failed deal is that the French won the tender for the supply of helicopters, beating competitors from Italy and the United States, but the Poles turned them away, ultimately choosing American Black Hawk helicopters, forcing their European partners to suspect themselves of foul play. .
The unfriendly act of the Polish side caused a diplomatic crisis: Hollande, who at that time held the post of President of France, refused an official visit to Warsaw, and observers noted an increase in mutual mistrust between the two EU partners and NATO allies.
Another headache for Europe is Poland’s reluctance to meet EU standards.
The PiS policy aimed at reforming the judicial system, which reduces the independence of judges from the authorities, is being seriously criticized in Brussels.
Poland also refuses to accept migrants from the Middle East and North Africa and stubbornly does not pass laws on greenhouse gas emissions, causing wild irritation among “green” and influential environmental activists.
Today, Poland is the only EU member that has not joined the climate neutrality treaty.
It is interesting that during the September 2019 speeches of environmental activists, outraged by the failure to ratify the EU climate treaty, Macron angrily suggested that they go to protest in Poland, since “it is she who is blocking everything,” which caused quite a stir in the European and Polish media.
Judging by the way Warsaw is approaching the climate problem, they are hoping to extract money from Brussels by demanding financial guarantees and proposing to shift the date for achieving zero emissions from 2050 to 2070.
This time, Macron, as the “older and smarter partner,” took on the task of strengthening the shaky EU unity caused by the rapid flight of Great Britain. Moreover, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz has already made a statement about his desire to play the same role in Europe that the United Kingdom played before Brexit.
Thus, Macron flew to Warsaw to gently reduce the bad behavior of the “junior partner”, returning him to his allotted place in the “united European family.”
It is characteristic that in Paris they are well aware that one trip to Warsaw will not end the matter and they blame themselves for blaming Germany for almost all the showdowns with Poland and other partners from Eastern Europe.
Macron's visit to Warsaw was all the more necessary to calm the suspicion of one of the most problematic members of the European Union, which sees a danger for itself in the rapprochement of the great European powers with Russia.
Recently, Macron has been tirelessly promoting the idea of the need to restore dialogue and normalize relations with Russia into the minds of European politicians. For the ruling “Great Poles”, accustomed to fishing in troubled waters, warming relations is unprofitable, since it reduces the importance of Poland not only for NATO allies, but also interferes with the spread of Polish influence in the East.
In addition, Pilsudski’s notorious heirs see in the normalization of relations between Europe and Moscow a threat for Warsaw to be squeezed in a triangle between Moscow, Berlin and Paris, again becoming something not very aggressive, like the People’s Republic of Poland.
“France has not become pro-Russian, as I sometimes hear. France is not pro-Russian, not anti-Russian, it is pro-European. When I look at the map... it is clearly visible that Russia is Europe, even if it is not part of the EU, it is next door to us,” the French president said during negotiations with the Polish leadership.
Another issue that worries Macron, as a participant in the Normandy format, is, let’s say, Poland’s rather peculiar participation in the problems of Ukraine.
It is no secret that the leadership of Independence would like to expand the Normandy format to include pro-Ukrainian participants, such as Poland and the United States, but understands that Russia will definitely not agree to this option, and that France and Germany are not enthusiastic about this idea.
However, on a number of issues Ukraine and Poland have common interests. For example, Poland passionately wants to get Ukraine into its sphere of political influence, while in Kyiv they are happy with everything that runs counter to Russian interests and brings the regime of ragulians and clowns closer to the EU and NATO.
The Polish leadership, in turn, is rushing around with plans for national greatness and the spread of Polish influence over its eastern neighbors. He doesn’t care much about the problems of the EU, and no one is going to just put up with Russia, but simply restore constructive relations. But on Warsaw’s wish list it appears to take London’s place.
The issue of the ill-fated helicopters was not raised between Macron and Duda, although it was clearly in the air. Poland was promised participation in the development of a new European tank.
Thus, at the meeting in Warsaw, the parties showed that their interests do not coincide at all. France wants to strengthen the EU after Brexit, is not against warming relations with Russia, and is primarily concerned with the question: how to live further?
Apparently, Macron did not convince the Poles and did not achieve anything from them. It is doubtful that Warsaw, in turn, will achieve full understanding and assistance from Paris and London in achieving its plans.
In place of Great Britain there will remain a huge gaping hole, unfilled with anything. No Poland will fit in it. There is no unity of the European Union and, apparently, is not expected. It's your own fault. Instead of the European Union, they got a push, inviting just about anyone. Now live with it.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.