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Bielecki, Jedrzej
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Ukraine has wasted four years
Dziennik newspaper criticises Ukraine for having frittered away in the gas dispute the trust the West had placed in it. "Ukraine has missed the opportunity to leave the Russian sphere of influence and integrate into the West in the foreseeable future. The gas crisis has brought home to the EU and the US the worrying state of the Ukrainian economy and the chaotic political situation in the country. Clearly Ukraine has wasted the four years that have elapsed since the Orange Revolution. They have lost the sympathy they had built up in the West. 'As opposed to in the last gas war in 2006, today no one in Brussels has the intention of siding with Kiev in the confrontation with Moscow. The credibility of the political elites in Ukraine is at around zero', says Katinka Barysch, an expert at London's Centre for European Reform."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Energy, » Ukraine, » Russia
The different definitions of terrorism
Jedrzej Bielecki notes with dismay that whether somebody is branded a terrorist and described as good or evil differs from country to country and is a matter of perspective. Bielecki points out that Chechen groups feature prominently on Russia's list of terrorists, while Hamas and Hizbullah don't even appear. For China, on the other hand, the Tibetan freedom fighters are the main terrorists. "Following the September 11 attacks, it seemed that the top priority of the great powers was keeping terrorists from getting their hands on weapons of mass destruction and causing even greater catastrophes. Now, even in such issues entailing major threats, specific political interests appear to have gained the upper hand." Bielecki goes on to warn that "drawing up a list of illegal organisations is not an end in itself: the effectiveness of the war on terrorism depends on it… For this reason it's imperative to draw up a joint international list of terrorist groups and thereby create a definition of terrorism that is valid for all."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Global
EU funding for the Baltic Sea pipeline
It's likely that construction of a natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany will receive EU funding, against the strong objections of Poland and the Baltic countries. Jedrzej Bielecki comments: "Today we have learned that Poland will participate in the investment – albeit unwillingly and without having any say in the matter. This is because it's highly likely that the pipeline will be financed with credit from the European Investment Bank, in which Poland is a partner, and also by the EU budget, to which Poland contributes. Decisions on EU-financed investments require a simple majority. No one has veto power. Even with the support of the Baltic states, Poland has no chance of pushing through its position." Bielecks adds, if the Warsaw government doesn't start being more cooperative within Europe, it can expect more such "unpleasant decisions".
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Poland
An American defence system for Poland
The US wants to set up a missile defence system in Poland similar to the one it plans to set up in the Czech Republic. Jedrzej Bielecki supports the idea: "The Polish government is facing one of the most difficult foreign policy decisions it has seen for years. Meeting the demands made by the Americans would mean that soldiers over whom Poland basically has no control would be stationed on Polish soil for the first time since the withdrawal of the Red Army. But sending the Americans away would be just as risky as accepting their conditions, because this is the first real opportunity to truly strengthen Poland's security. In view of Russia's increasingly authoritarian tendencies and the political crisis in the EU, this should be one of the Polish government's top priorities."
» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Poland
Nuclear Energy makes a Comeback
Twenty years after the disaster in Chernobyl, a renewed "enthusiasm for nuclear energy" is starting to spread over the continent, Jedrzej Bielecki writes, looking back on the gas crisis of recent weeks. "Germany and Britain are reconsidering the closure of their nuclear power stations, while the French and Ukrainians are building new ones to avoid dependency on Russian gas supplies. The Finns were the first to react, perhaps because they're closest to Russia." Bielecke goes on to voice his fears that the majority will follow the example of the Finns, who are currently building a state-of-the-art power station in Olkiluoto, and that Poland will also follow suit and extend its nuclear facilities.
» more information (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Economy, » Europe
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