Road to EU ‘healing’ is through respect for members’ sovereignty: Polish FM

Speaking at a panel discussion dedicated to common values and common interests of the countries of the Carpathians, Waszczykowski said that states in this region are linked by their “attachment to democratic rules and the international subjectivity of sovereign nations, which is a result of our historical experiences”.

“This is a very relevant issue at the moment, in light of the crises facing the European Union,” Witold Waszczykowski said. He pointed out that the co-operation between Central-Eastern European countries is not aimed against anyone, it is rather aimed at strengthening the institution that they belong to.

“Our regional, Carpathian co-operation is a form of Plan B, not in order to oppose the European Union but something that within the EU helps us optimize our co-operation, our strengths and our ability to have greater influence on European policies, so that our region is important to Western Europe, rather than being merely a periphery for the centre of Europe in the form of the Berlin-Paris-Brussels triangle; a transitory area between East and West,” the minister stressed.

He said that it was not a coincidence that one of the divides within the EU lay between “Brussels bureaucracy usurping various privileges and Central European states – our part of Europe, rooted in the respect of our rights”.

“On balance, we view our membership in the EU as positive for our economy and security, which is why the strategic aim for Polish foreign policy towards Central Europe is a continuation of our presence in the EU and completing its unification process,” Minister Waszczykowski said.

He added that Poland continues to use various forums to remind its foreign partners that the process of uniting the whole of Europe, a Europe that is free and democratic, is yet to be completed. “There are still many countries that are knocking on the gates of European institutions,” the foreign minister said.

“At the same time, we want European integration to remain a project that balances the path to unity with respect for diversity. That is why we expect that the integration process will maintain the balance between the competencies of EU institutions and the prerogatives of member states,” he added.