ENP from the Polish perspective. Core aspects of Polish eastern neighbourhood policy Presentation scheme: 1. Political debate: (new dimension of neighbourhood, official statements and comments) 2. Public debate – media and Polish eastern policy, media and ENP a) opinions on ENP: b) selected aspects of ENP c) Poland’s eastern policy and ENP d) Postulates concerning polish eastern policy and ENP 3. Academic research (ENP shortcomings and advantages) 4. Postulates concerning Polish eastern policy and ENP in Polish debates

Political debate  New dimension of neighbourhood  Official statements and comments on ENP  Euroenthusiasm and optimism  Achieve Poland’s FP goals (by means of ENP or by searching an ally?)  Achieve EU’s FP goals  Influence EU’s foreign policy and actively take part in its creation  Relations with Ukraine and Belarus

Public debate – media and Polish eastern policy, media and ENP  EU’s positive connotation in the East  Little presence of the ENP in the media  Opinions on ENP:  In general ENP as a program is not being criticized (ENP compared to Partnership for Peace)  ENP is an evidence of EU’s greater interest in the East (until recently southern dimension was the most important)  Caucasus – inclusion of three Caucasus countries in ENP is being praised

Public debate – media and Polish eastern policy, media and ENP  Selected aspects of ENP:  Membership prospects for Ukraine (demanding approach & modest approach)  Individual approach for Ukraine  Poland’s eastern policy and ENP  How can Poland make use of the ENP to achieve its own goals?  ENP as means of strengthening Polish position in the EU  Work for leveling EU’s southern and eastern dimension Searching an ally  EU’s eastern policy  Polish eastern policy: Ukraine and Belarus

Public debate – media and Polish eastern policy, media and ENP  Conclusions:  Little mention given to ENP  Very general terms  No profound analysis of recently taken steps and actions within the ENP

Academic research (Batory Foundation, East European Democratic Centre, Centre for Eastern Studies)  ENP shortcomings:  General terms  Great aspirations and limited offer  Is EU’s vision adequate to challenges?  Founds  Neighbours’ interest in future accession  EU Unwillingness to share the costs of transformation  Asymmetrical situation and unequal treatment  EU-Russia conflict of interests over Eastern Europe  ENP – too narrow for democratic Ukraine

Academic research  ENP advantages  ENP as an end to marginalization of post-Soviet Eastern Europe countries  Flexibility  Possibility of a very active EU’s engagement  Less ambiguity as far as accession is concerned

Postulates concerning Polish eastern policy and ENP  More responsibility from Poland (Ukraine and Belarus)  More active Polish engagement  More coordination  ENP: less words more action  ENP: should be directed to achieving clearly measurable progress  ENP needs to be backed up by substantial financial support

Discussion Question: Could Poland become a bridge between Western and Eastern Europe?  after EU access Poland is border country of EU,  Poland have to cope with illegal immigrants from Eastern countries, possibilities of terrorism,  Polish government should try to build neighbourhood relations with non-EU countries based on EU-policy, own experience on historical issues in Affairs with Eastern neighbours.