Main focus of Monday, May 26, 2008

A New EU Partnership in the East?

Poland and Sweden have launched their "Eastern Partnership" project for the EU. The initiative is intended to counter Russian influence in countries such as Ukraine and Belarus. At the same time, the idea constitutes a response to French plans for a Mediterranean Union as well as fears of regional imbalance within the EU.

Postimees - Estonia

Ahto Lobjakas sees the emergence of a new Polish-Swedish connection that could give the EU new impetus and represent a counterweight to the Franco-German axis and France's Mediterranean initiative. "The signs that Germany and France support Poland and Sweden's new 'eastern initiative' point to a new division of labour within the EU. The old member states are paying tribute to the ambitions of the new tandem in this region, and in return Poland and Sweden are helping the new EU member states to overcome their aversion towards Russia. The Eastern European EU member states must, however, start thinking about how they want to align themselves regarding this Polish-Swedish axis." (26/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Poland, » Sweden, » Europe
All available articles from » Ahto Lobjakas

Rzeczpospolita - Poland

Polish Foreign Secretary Radosław Sikorski will today be briefing his EU counterparts on his government's initiative for a partnership with Eastern European countries. Jerzy Haszczyński believes the aim must be EU accession for these countries. "To the countries of Eastern Europe, the Eastern Partnership is not a substitite for the prospect of proper membership of the EU - which is its potential weak point. Not even super-privileged status including visa-free travel and a free-trade zone, not even billions of euros that would flow into the East (and that have until now been the stuff of dreams) will replace it. We should not be trying to create a number-two EU, a quasi-EU for the poor and insecure, nor a pseudo-EU for countries which Moscow considers to be within its zone of influence. Let us hope that these fears - which have also been expressed by Ukrainian politicians, albeit in different words - do not prove to be justified. Let us hope that the Eastern Partnership will help Western Europe to gain confidence in its forgotten eastern half. And that Ukraine and other countries in the East (including Belarus) will in the near future be told that they likewise have a place in the union." (26/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Poland, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Jerzy Haszczynski

Lidové noviny - Czech Republic

Lubos Palata is full of praise for the initiative put forward by Poland: "You have to give the Poles one thing; they also focus on things happening beyond the EU's eastern borders. The initiative from Donald Tusk is appropriate. Just as the French consider Tunis, Algiers or Israel to be very close to Europe, this also applies to Armenia and Georgia, not to mention the Ukraine and Belarus. The Czechs should likewise be interested in 'europeanising' the area east of Slovakia and Romania, and not just because Czech companies are currently investing heavily there. ... In order for this and other projects put forward by new EU countries to be accepted, however, the latter need to be trustworthy and dependable member states. It is no wonder that Tusk sought the Swedes as partners as opposed to the Czechs." (26/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Europe, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Luboš Palata

Lietuvos rytas - Lithuania

In Gabriele Peckaite's opinion the initiative from Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has shown him to be an excellent politician who is also capable of defending Lithuanian interests: "Carl Bildt has already proved during the painstaking negotiations with Vilnius on the conclusion of the partnership agreement between Russian and the EU that he is a friend of our country. Lithuania would certainly be prepared to recognise him as a leader of European foreign policy, but only time will show whether the leaders of other member states share his visions." (26/05/2008)

» full article (external link, Lithunian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Poland, » Lithuania, » Sweden, » Europe
All available articles from » Gabriele Peckaite

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