Key components of the Polish position in regard to the Eastern policy of the European Union

Abstract

As early as in the period before the enlargement of the European Union
in 2004, Poland – as a candidate state at the time – took part in the debate
before the European Neighbourhood Policy (formally introduced just a few
days after the 2004 enlargement) was conceived. During the debate, the
key issue was the idea of further enlargement of the EU after adequate
requirements are met. One of the most important elements of the Polish
programme within the EU Eastern policy in the period 2006–2014 was
energy and activities within the Eastern Partnership. After Sweden supported
the Eastern Partnership at its initial stage, Poland gained a lot of positive
experience. A supposed permanent element of the Polish strategy within
the EU Eastern policy was also its consent for the strengthening of common
EU institutions, especially in the internal policy, which might have been
interpreted as promoting the principle of ‘more enlargement for deepening’
for the co-operation within the EU. It can be perceived as an element of
transaction with the member states that were against or sceptical about
enlargement and/or an attempt to strengthen Polish stand within the EU
Eastern policy with the use of common institutions. A specific canon of the
Polish stand within the EU Eastern policy related to the Polish political
thought tradition which has developed over the last 15 years. From the point
of view of the catalogue of Polish targets, one can notice a tendency in the
EU to accept some Polish arguments as common ones – it is seen when the
development of the idea and implementation of the ENP is compared with
what resulted from the Eastern Partnership.