Poland and Sweden try to direct EU attention eastward

Lukasz 49 | 1746

24 May 2008 / #1

BRUSSELS: Jolted by French plans for new European Union ties with countries to the Continent's south, Poland and Sweden have put forward rival proposals to focus more political effort on eastern neighbors, including Ukraine.

The initiative, which will be discussed by EU foreign ministers Monday, highlights divisions within the 27-nation bloc over where to concentrate foreign policy efforts. It also reflects fears that pro-EU groups in Kiev need more encouragement from Brussels if Ukraine is to be drawn toward the EU, rather than Moscow.

Sweden and Poland share similar views on the importance of engaging with Eastern Europe, and the Polish foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, worked once before with his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, on EU-Ukraine issues. The ministers plan to present a joint paper to the EU's foreign ministers at a meeting Monday in Brussels.

Russia would not be a member but might be invited to cooperate on initiatives involving Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave within the EU.

iht.com/articles/2008/05/22/europe/union.php

Polson 5 | 1767

24 May 2008 / #2

I saw that too. Good thing for Ukraine and maybe Belarus too...
Next time, Sweden and Poland will make a joint bid to host the football World Cup 2018 ;)

OP Lukasz 49 | 1746

26 May 2008 / #3

Well there is Russian German oppostion in this case. We will see what will happen.

We have some support in old EU and we cooperate with Sweden what helps as well.

Of course new members of EU + Finland support this idea.

It would aim to negotiate visa-free travel deals and free trade zones for services and agricultural products, and promote regulatory overhauls, according to European diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans had not been made public

and this unfortunate visas

neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=86962

What I want to add.

in the same time there are talks with Russians about EU-Russia partnership.
In our opinion we need diversify sources of energy so it would be good to include some other iniciatives.

article with more details of this initiative

Diplomats say the EU's larger member states -- who often oppose the smaller "new" states over issues related to the former Soviet space -- are supportive of the Eastern Partnership initiative. France, which will take over as the next EU presidency in July, is motivated by the need to build support for its Mediterranean strategy among the eastern member states. Germany traditionally takes a close interest in the EU's eastern policy, while Britain is traditionally one of the staunchest supporters of continued enlargement.

Instead, Ferrero-Waldner said the Eastern Partnership initiative would need to show it can "add value" to the existing Neighborhood Policy. "In Eastern Europe, indeed, there are some issues which can suitably be addressed at a regional level -- for instance, on energy, transport networks, maybe cooperation on trafficking, [cooperation] against illegal immigration," she said.

lesser 4 | 1311

27 May 2008 / #4

Poland and Sweden try to direct EU attention eastward

So I'm supposed to support them in this aggression? :)

OP Lukasz 49 | 1746

27 May 2008 / #5

you know you can always go to Russians on knees and beg them for merci. :) The most important issue is to try :)

Love strategy towards Russia doesn't work. Look on Bielarus they do what Russians want ... and Russians even in small cases use gas as tool in negotiations ... and they are allies :) Lukaszenko stoped teach their own history and started to teach "soviet" history in schools ofcouse Bilerusian language is forbiden and look what happned ... even thought it doesn't work :) sometimes there is lack of gas in pipeline or prices increase ...

Love strategy and KGB agents ... :) you must be joking.

lesser 4 | 1311

27 May 2008 / #6

you know you can always go to Russians on knees and beg them for merci. :) The most important issue is to try :)

In Russia they talk about 'western threat'. Propaganda must be. :)

Bohdan - | 2

21 Jun 2008 / #7

thank you Poland

Crow 154 | 9631

21 Jun 2008 / #8

Russia would not be a member but might be invited to cooperate on initiatives involving Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave within the EU.

having in mind this situation i hope that Serbia can avoid to be anexed by EU

It would be much batter for Serbia to have good relations with both- Russia and EU then to be part of EU. Same as Kaliningrad, Serbia can be included in regional projects where there are mutual interests for them.

Well there is Russian German oppostion in this case. We will see what will happen.

what Russian-German opposition?

i am more and more fascinated (in negative sense) with Russian-German schemes

Lukaszenko stoped teach their own history and started to teach "soviet" history in schools ofcouse Bilerusian language is forbiden and look what happned

is this truth?

Love strategy towards Russia doesn't work.

i hope Poland can try that strategy with Serbia

ConstantineK 26 | 1298

23 Jun 2008 / #9

We will see what will happen.

Don't bother yourself in this exercises, I could predict the fate of this another "Polish Deed", as always it will be vain...Unfortunately/Fortunately, Poles are constantly incapable to do something worthwhile. Policy, sciences, all this things are not Polish destiny, stop your pitiful attempts. Quick march in your churches, prey for God, this is your fate.

Matyjasz 2 | 1543

23 Jun 2008 / #10

Policy, sciences, all this things are not Polish destiny, stop your pitiful attempts. Quick march in your churches, prey for God, this is your fate.

Are you loosing your nerves ConstantineK? Ohh we must have stiken a cord here .... :)

ConstantineK 26 | 1298

23 Jun 2008 / #11

Certainly no! I just dare to mark that Poland have nothing to oppose to Russia. In XX cent she definitely hadn't had any serious achivements except Pope, whose election had been granted for Poles only as a prepayment for Pole's future disobediens in SU block.

noimmigration

23 Jun 2008 / #12

Poland share similar views on the importance of engaging with Eastern Europe,

Poland IS eastern europe.

dcb

29 Oct 2008 / #13

Czechs durring their EU presudency will try to make Bielrus coser to us. It is good information

lesser 4 | 1311

1 Nov 2008 / #14

Czechs durring their EU presudency

I'm very curious how Vaclav Klaus will influence this period.

Wahldo

1 Nov 2008 / #15

Vaclav Klaus

Why does Poland dislike him so much?

lesser 4 | 1311

1 Nov 2008 / #16

This is not true. Klaus is very friendly towards Poland, while majority of Polish people know nearly nothing about Czech politics. Personally, I really respect him.

Wahldo

1 Nov 2008 / #17

Okay.. seems like he's run through the mud on here sometimes. Just wondered.

Filios1 8 | 1336

1 Nov 2008 / #18

In XX cent she definitely hadn't had any serious achivements

lol... mainly because 'she' was under communist regime. Thanks to yours truly.

Prince 15 | 590

24 Nov 2008 / #19

Politocal situation and crisise in Ukraine can make this initiatve harder but we have some achievements.

It is good that Czechs joned this project. eubusiness.com/news-eu/1233229622.89

EU to launch 'Eastern Partnership' at May summit: source

(BRUSSELS) - European leaders will launch their "Eastern Partnership" to boost ties with six ex-Soviet republics at a Prague summit in May, a Czech EU presidency source said Thursday.

A Czech diplomat said the EU leaders participating in Prague may hold another summit the same day or the following day with countries involved in the "southern corridor" -- a planned energy supply route from the Caspian region, through Turkey and into Europe.

The southern corridor, notably the Nabucco gas pipeline from the Caspian to Austria via Turkey, has become a priority issue following a recent gas payments row between Russia and major transit country Ukraine earlier this month.