Warsaw on the Way to Kerneuropa? Germany as Poland’s Bridge to the EU’s Center

Abstrakt: Against the backdrop of shifting geopolitical and geostrategic considerations shaping the increasingly multi-speed European Union (EU), this paper examines the prospect of possible future closer cooperation between Poland and Germany. It is argued that a deeper German-Polish alliance in the EU could hinder the process of Warsaw being pushed to the political periphery of the Union. By focusing on Berlin, Poland could use it as a bridge to Kerneuropa, or the core of the EU. An alternative this article considers is the prospect of Poland enhancing its ties in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and especially with the Visegrad Group (V4) of countries. In this scenario, the V4 might want to counterbalance German dominance in Europe.

Bibliografia:

Balcer, A., Blusz, K., ‘Changing course? Foreign policy in Poland after the elections’, ECFR, 23 November 2015, http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_changing_course_foreign_policy_in_poland_after_the_elections5025[2017-04-28].
Bartkiewicz, A., ‘Jarosław Kaczyński w „Gazecie Polskiej”: Donald Tusk łamie zasadę neutralności’ [Jarosław Kaczyński in „Gazeta Polska”: Donald Tusk breaks the principles of neutrality], Rzeczpospolita, 7 March 2017, http://www.rp.pl/Wybor-przewodniczacego-RE/170309175-Jaroslaw-Kaczynskiw-Gazecie-Polskiej-Donald-Tusk-lamie-zasade-neutralnosci.html [2017-04-28].
Bartkiewicz, A., ‘Beata Szydło w Przemyślu o Europie Karpat’ [Beata Szydło in Przemyśl about the Carpathian Europe], Rzeczpospolita, 29 January 2017, http://www.rp.pl/Rzad-PiS/170128853-Beata-Szydlo-w-Przemysluo-Europie-Karpat.html [2017-04-28].
Bault, O., ‘Angela Merkel’s visit to Poland marks a Turning-Point in Bilateral Relations’, Visegrad Post, 15 February 2017, https://visegradpost.com/en/2017/02/15/angela-merkels-visit-to-poland-marks-a-turning-pointin-bilateral-relations/ [2017-04-28].
Bertrand, P., ‘Macron causes Polish outrage after claiming a Kaczynski and Le Pen alliance, Euronews, 2 May 2017, http://www.euronews.com/2017/05/02/macron-causes-polish-outrage-after-claiming-a-kaczynski-and-le-pen-alliance [2017-05-15].
Bieńczyk-Missala, A., ‘“Dobra zmiana” w polityce zagranicznej RP‘ [The “good change” in Poland’s foreign policy], Rocznik Strategiczny 2016/17,Vol. 22, 2016, pp. 222-235.
Cienski, J., ‘Macron Sparks Polish-French war of words’, Politico, 28 April 2017, http://www.politico.eu/article/macron-sparks-polish-french-warof-words/ [2017-04-28].
Do Rzeczy, ‘Ambasador Przyłębski: Złe stosunki polsko-niemieckie to wina Berlina’ [Ambassador Przyłębski: Bad German-Polish relations is Germany’s fault], 20 April 2017, https://dorzeczy.pl/obserwator-mediow/27510/Ambasador-Przylebski-Zle-stosunki-polsko-niemieckie-to-wina-Berlina.html [2017-04-28].
Duszczyk, M., ‘Periphery, or perhaps already the centre? The impact of ten years of membership in the European Union on the position and perceptions of Poland’, in: Magone, J.M., Laffan, B., Schweiger, C., Core-Periphery Relations in the European Union. Power and Conflict in a Dualist Political Economy (E-Book), London & New York: Routledge, 2016.
Dudek, B., ‘German-Polish relations are in free fall’, Deutsche Welle, 11 January 2016, http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-german-polish-relations-arein-free-fall/a-18972591 [2017-04-28].
European Commission, White Paper on the Future of Europe. Reflections and scenarios for the EU27 by 2025, 1 March 2017, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/white_paper_on_the_future_of_europe_en.pdf [2017-06-11].
Friedman, G., The Next 100 Years. A forecast for the 21st Century, New York: Doubleday, 2009.
Fröhlich, A., ‘Links, Rechts, Querfront – und Brandenburgs Anti-Amerikanismus’ [Left, Right, Querfront – Anti-Americanism in Brandenburg], Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten, 11 January 2017, http://www.pnn.de/brandenburg-berlin/1146993/ [2017-04-28].
Galgoczi, B., ‘The Tale of Two Peripheries in a Divided Europe’, Perspectives on European Politics and Society, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2014, pp. 361-369.
Gnauck, G., ‘Merkel making “last chance” visit to Poland’, Deutsche Welle, 6 February 2017, http://www.dw.com/en/merkel-making-last-chancevisit-to-poland/a-37433305 [2017-04-28].
Hyde-Price, A., Germany and European Order. Enlarging NATO and the EU, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000.
Jarczewska, A., ‘Stany Zjednoczone – historyczny zwrot ku niewiadomemu’ [The United States: A historic turn to the unknown], Rocznik Strategiczny 2016/17, Vol. 22, 2016, pp. 134-152.
Kelly, L., Rinke, A., ‘Poland promises to fight idea of multi-speed Europe at EU summit’, Reuters, 20 March 2017, http://www.reuters.com/article/uspoland-eu-kaczynski-idUSKBN16R1NJ [2017-06-11].
Kelly, L., Rinke, A., ‘Isolated in EU, Poland seeks better ties with Germany behind the scenes’, Reuters, 21 April 2017, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-germany-idUSKBN17N20T [2017-04-28].
Kelly, L., Rinke, A., ‘Kaczynskis Geheimvisite bei Merkel – Ringen um Partnerschaft’ [Kaczyński’s Secret Meeting with Merkel – Fight for Partnership], Reuters, 25 April 2017, http://de.reuters.com/article/deutschland-polenmerkel-kaczynski-idDEKBN17R0KD [2017-04-28].
Krupa, M., Wefing, H., Ladurner, U., ‘Wie gefährlich sind diese Männer für Europa, Herr Timmermans? (Interview mit Frans Timmermanns)’ [How dangerous are those men for Europe, Mr. Timmermanns? (Interview with Frans Timmermanns)], Die Zeit, 3 May 2017, http://www.zeit.de/2017/19/polen-ungarn-eu-kommission-frans-timmermans-viktor-orban-jaroslawkaczynski[2017-05-03].
Krzyżanowska, E., Cedro, M., ‘Minister Witold Waszczykowski interviewed by the Polish Press Agency: Poland no longer has to look for a promoter in the world’, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 November 2016, http://www.mfa.gov.pl/en/news/minister_witold_waszczykowski_interviewed_by_the_polish_press_agency__poland_no_longer_has_to_look_for_a_promoter_in_the_world [2017-04-28].
Lamers, K., Schäuble, W., ‘Überlegungen zur europäischen Politik’ [Considerations on European Politics], CDU/CSU-Bundestagsfraktion [CDU/CSU parliamentary group], 1 September 1994, http://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Downloads/schaeuble-lamers-papier-1994.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1 [2017-06-10].
Lemmen, D.J., ‘Up-coming breaking points in the Polish-German relations?’, Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2016, pp. 95-112.
Magone, J.M., Laffan, B., Schweiger, C., Core-Periphery Relations in the European Union. Power and Conflict in a Dualist Political Economy (E-Book), London & New York: Routledge, 2016.
Maliszewski, N., ‘Sondaż: Polacy nie chcą przyjmować uchodźców’ [Poll: Poles do not want to receive refugees], Onet, 11 September 2015, http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/sondaz-polacy-nie-chca-przyjmowac-uchodzcow/q8tht5 [2017-04-28].
Matthijs, M., ‘The Three Faces of German Leadership’, Survival, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2016, pp. 135-154.
Mausbach, L., ‘German Priorities are now to Hedge the Damage of Brexit and to keep the EU together’, Visegrad Insight, 6 April 2017, http://visegradinsight.eu/german-helplessness/ [2017-04-28].
Nič, M., ‘Prediger in der Wüste. Die „Ent-Orbánisierung“ der Visegrád-Gruppe hat begonnen’ [Preacherman in the Desert. The “De-Orbanization” of the Visegrad States has just begun], Internationale Politik, 1 March 2017, https://zeitschrift-ip.dgap.org/de/ip-die-zeitschrift/archiv/jahrgang-2017/maerz-april/prediger-der-wueste [2017-04-28].
Onet.pl, ‘Sondaż dla „Rzeczpospolitej”: Polacy nie chcą wyjścia z Unii Europejskiej’ [Poll for “Rzeczpospolita”: Poles do not want to leave the European Union], 13 March 2017, http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/sondazdla-rzeczpospolitej-polacy-nie-chca-wyjscia-z-unii-europejskiej/vz4zzwv [2017-04-28].
PAP, ‘Premier Beata Szydło: musimy zrobić wszystko, żeby nie doszło do kolejnych „Brexitów”’ [Prime Minister Beata Szydło: We have to do everything to avoid future “Brexits”, 8 February 2017, http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/premier-beata-szydlo-musimy-zrobic-wszystko-zeby-nie-doszlodo-kolejnych-brexitow/zvqj845 [2017-04-28].
Piątek, T., ‘Mamy autorytarny reżim. Trzeba odejść od komputera i wyjść na ulicę’ [We have an authoritarian regime. We have to leave the computer and go out onto the street], Gazeta Wyborcza, 14 April 2016, http://wyborcza.pl/1,75968,19920486,mamy-autorytarny-rezim-trzeba-odejscod-komputera-i-wyjsc-na.html [2017-04-28].
Radio Poland, ‘Polish-German ties doing “very well”: FM Waszczykowski’, 19 April 2016, http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/249396,PolishGermanties-doing-very-well-FM-Waszczykowski [2017-04-28].
Sepos, A., ‘The centre-periphery divide in the Eurocrisis. A theoretical approach’, in: Magone, J.M., Laffan, B., Schweiger, C., Core-Periphery Relations in the European Union. Power and Conflict in a Dualist Political Economy (E-Book), London & New York: Routledge, 2016.
Schwabe, A., ‘Kartoffelkrieg mit Polen. Die „taz“ legt nach’ [Potatoe War with Poland, TAZ piles the fire up], SPON, 12 December 2006, http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/kartoffelkrieg-mit-polen-die-tazlegt-nach-a-452424.html [2017-04-28].
Schweiger, C., ‘The EU’s multiple cores and the CEEs: A threat or an opportunity?’, Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe, Vol. 11, No. 5, 2013, pp. 27-46.
Schweiger, C., Magone, J.M., ‘Differentiated Integration and Cleavage in the EU under Crisis Conditions’, Perspectives on European Politics and Society, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2014, pp. 259-265.
Sieradzki, S., ‘Niemcy wypłacą Polsce reparacje wojenne? Mec. Hambura: „Deklaracja o zrzeczeniu się reparacji z 1953 roku nie dotyczyła RFN”’ [Will Germany pay war reparations to Poland? Mec. Hambura: „The 1953 declaration of renunciation of reparations did not concern FRG”], wPolityce.pl, 21 February 2016, http://wpolityce.pl/swiat/282490-niemcy-wyplacapolsce-reparacje-wojenne-mec-hambura-deklaracja-o-zrzeczeniu-siereparacji-z-1953-roku-nie-dotyczyla-rfn-nasz-wywiad [2017-04-28].
Simon, Z., ‘Orban Says He Seeks to End Liberal Democracy in Hungary’, Bloomberg, 28 July 2014, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-07-28/orban-says-he-seeks-to-end-liberal-democracy-inhungary[2017-04-28].
Staszak, K., Mizuro, M., Cyraniewicz, M., Majewski, P., Litka, P., ‘Sikorski dla Spiegla: Niemcy powinny przewodzić, nie dominować’ [Sikorski for Der Spiegel: Germany should lead, not dominate], Rzeczpospolita, 13 May 2012, http://www.rp.pl/artykul/874603-Sikorski-dla-Spiegla–Niemcypowinny-przewodzic–nie-dominowac.html [2017-05-13].
Sydoruk, T., Tyshchenko, D., ‘Positions of the Visegrad Four Countries and the Baltic States on the Russian Ukrainian Conflict’, The Torun International Studies, Vol. 1, No. 9, 2016, pp. 17-30.
Tomaszewski, W., ‘Ilu Polaków chce islamskich uchodźców? Ten sondaż nie pozostawia złudzeń’ [How many Poles want Islamic Refugees? This poll leaves no illusions], wolność24, 9 May 2017, http://wolnosc24.pl/2017/05/09/ilu-polakow-chce-islamskich-uchodzcow-ten-sondaznie-pozostawia-zludzen/ [2017-05-11].
Wieliński, B.T., ‘Po co Angeli Merkel spotkanie z Jarosławem Kaczyńskim? By dowiedzieć się, czego prezes PiS właściwie chce od świata’ [Why does Angela Merkel meet with Jarosław Kaczyński? To find out what the PiS leader wants from the world], Gazeta Wyborcza, 15 January 2017, http://wyborcza.pl/7,75968,21248093,po-co-angeli-merkel-spotkanie-z-jaroslawem-kaczynskim-by-dowiedziec.html [2017-04-28].
Wnendt, D., ‘Borowski und das dunkle Netz’ [Borowski and the Darknet], Tatort, ARD, Germany 2017.
Završnik, G., ‘We don’t want to dismantle the EU, says Poland’s ruling party’, Politico, 13 March 2017, http://www.politico.eu/article/we-dont-want-todismantle-the-eu-says-polands-ruling-party/ [2017-04-28].

PDF: Pobierz