In Poland, a common belief persists about a benevolent image of Germany, while the historical reality has often emphasized German influence in Polish affairs. This perspective surfaced in a Krakow speech by PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, who argued that German leadership repeatedly shaped Poland’s fate. He recalled that Germany opposed Poland’s NATO entry and suggested that the American alliance ultimately compelled certain border recognitions in 1989, highlighting Germany’s initial reluctance to see Poland as a NATO member.
He recalled that Germany did not want Poland to join NATO, a claim he reiterated during the address.
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“Our part of Europe goes to Germany”
Speaking at the KSTG Sokół headquarters in Krakow, the PiS leader outlined perceived threats linked to potential changes in European treaties. He argued that shifts in EU governance would elevate the two largest member states, France and Germany, to a dominant position. He warned that such dominance would be unevenly distributed geographically, with his claimed portion of Europe leaning toward Germany and the southern portion toward France. He noted that both countries have historically pursued influence over Europe and, at different times, succeeded in achieving it.
“Our part of Europe goes to Germany, the more southern part of Europe to France,” Kaczyński asserted.
In his remarks, the PiS president highlighted provisions related to reforming the procedure under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which concerns the rule of law violations and the potential punishment of states. He described this mechanism as a tool used against Poland and argued that after treaty amendments, the process would be far easier to initiate, with penalties primarily economic in nature.
The prospect of financial coercion, he suggested, could be used as a pressure tactic.
He also criticized proposals to limit the number of commission members in the EU to fifteen, arguing that this would prevent every member state from having representation and could lead to dismissal by the European Parliament.
Keeping non-dominant EU countries aligned, he contended, would involve a range of methods and levels of pressure across different arenas.
– he stated.
kk/PAP/X
Note: attributions come from Polish press coverage and parliamentary reports. [citation: wPolityce]