The heads of government of Poland and Germany held extensive bilateral consultations on Tuesday aimed at giving new impetus to neighborly relations, which faltered under Poland’s previous cabinet.
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholztraveled with 12 ministers and members of the Government, including the Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, for the meeting in Warsaw. “We bring a very clear message: Germany and Poland They are good neighbors, close partners and reliable friends. And we want to create a new dynamic for our cooperation“said Scholz in a joint press conference with the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tuskwhile highlighting the importance of achieving “close collaboration” between the two countries.
The two European leaders met to strengthen ties at a time when support for far-right Eurosceptic parties is increasing in Europe and days after the first round of the legislative elections in Francebrought the extreme right closer to the Government than ever.
“We are sure that, regardless of the result of the second round of the legislative elections in France, the cooperation between the President of France, Donald and I will be very good and will be the basis of the cooperation from our three countries“said Scholz. For his part, Tusk said that “regardless of the election results in various EU countries,” the bloc “should not be left exposed to no excessive turbulence“.
A broad round of bilateral consultations between Germany and Poland had last been held in November 2018. After that, the ultra-conservative government of Law and Justice (PiS) in Poland, which was in power until last year, adopted a hostile attitude towards Berlinaccusing Germany of exerting excessive influence on EU decision-making and focusing on demanding some $1.3 trillion in reparations for the losses the Nazi German occupation caused Poland during World War II.
Cooperation against the Russian threat
He Tusk Governmentwhat took office in December, is taking steps to improve ties. These acquired a special meaning compared to the Russia’s war against Ukrainejust across the eastern border of Poland and the EU, and facing what Poland and the bloc of 27 describe as the pressure of irregular migration from the Middle East and Africa, which they blame on “hybrid war“they say that so much Russia as Belarus wage against Europe.
Tusk, former head of the EU Council, said the security of Poland and the continent was his priority and that “no one should have any doubts about the importance of good cooperation in this area between Poland and Germany.
Tusk added that he welcomed Scholz’s statement that Germany is willing to take on the co-responsibility of the security of the frontera oriental of Poland, through investments in infrastructure and other security needs in the area. The Polish Prime Minister also criticized European countries for their lack of coordination and determination in taking measures for the joint security of the continent, especially in terms of air defense.
Furthermore, Scholz pledged to “take measures to support victims survivors of the attack and german occupation in the years 1939-45” in Poland and to “strengthen the memory and commemoration of our painful shared history,” by establishing a German-Polish house that “aims to be a visible sign against oblivion and a warning for the future.”
