Crowe, there's no such 'emerging block' (sic) except in your imagination,
jon, with all due respect on your opinion, you mistaking here. That, or you maybe just underestimate processes that happening in Hungary, Serbia, even in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece and Slovakia. Simple, there are specific interests that leads to collision of interests of these countries and interests of western Europe. Now, Poland, with all Her potentials, represent natural center for these countries. Its just the matter of time when would Poland retake her leading position among countries on the line Baltic-South Eastern Europe and, at the same time, when would Poland understand that EU membership starting to represent obstacle to Poland. To say, holds Poland. i would say, that moment is about to be relatively soon. Hey Man, Poland is center of one entire civilization... So, why would Poland obey to Brussels. Brussels is just too small for potentials of Poland.
support for the EU is strong in Poland
i absolutely agree. But, its temporary. you are blind if you don`t see processes that clearly separate interests of Poland and leading western European countries. jon, there is the deep rift already.
which is one of the larger states and one of the key players,
Poland is not that. Poland is younger partner. Its obvious.
and no noticeable political or societal will to align the country with any so-called Slavic civilisations.
please, don`t vulgarize things.
Poland is center for many Slavic countries but, Poland is also center for many non-Slavic countries on the Baltic-Danube-South Eastern European line.
Poland has a long tradition of facing westwards
yes, since before Grunwald battle, during Grunwald battle and after. With all good and bad things that brings encounters with the west of Europe.
rather than towards the Balkans
Poland has its long tradition of influence on Balkan. What is interesting, Poland`s interests never collided with Russian interests in that region. On Balkan, Poland always competed with Germany and Turkey. Here, to make things understandable, one must say that it was Germany and Turkey that violated realm of Polish interests in the region and not the opposite. Before Turks arrived and Germanics strengthened, there was natural order of things on the Baltic-Balkan line. Poles and Serbs controlled wealth/money flow.