The former Prime Minister highlights an interview on a Polish portal
A Polish member of the European Parliament, Beata Szydło, drew attention to an interview published on a Polish portal. She quoted Daniela Schwarzer, described as an expert on European affairs, noting that Schwarzer is associated with a German foundation and serves on its board. Szydło questioned why this interview was being promoted on the homepage of the portal and suggested it aimed to sway Polish public opinion on how Europe should be governed and on changes to the European Treaties.
According to Szydło, Schwarzer presents herself as a co-author of draft amendments to the European Treaties that align with proposals already discussed by the European Parliament. Szydło argued that the interview conveys a German-centered view of a centralized European Union in which member states would lose veto power and in which national commissioners would be replaced, with important policy areas such as security and foreign affairs increasingly steered from Brussels.
She remarked that Schwarzer indicated Central and Eastern Europe may understand sovereignty somewhat differently, but did not clarify Germany’s interpretation of sovereignty in this context.
Szydło sees a deliberate effort to shape Polish opinion
The former prime minister warned that Schwarzer’s interview appears to be an intentional effort to influence Polish public opinion regarding amendments to the European Treaties. This, she argued, reflects ongoing German support for a centralized European order.
Szydło also noted that one element of this approach involves promoting the euro as the common currency for all EU members, including Poland, and she pointed out that media coverage is increasingly scrutinizing Poland’s right to maintain its own currency.
Her comments underscore a broader concern about external influence on national policies and public sentiment regarding Europe’s future institutional structure.
Professor Schwarzer’s remarks on sovereignty
Daniela Schwarzer stated that small and medium-sized countries might fear marginalization in a tightly integrated European framework. She emphasized the existence of a sovereignty safety net within the project, noting that if a country believes a sovereignty-related decision affects it negatively, it can refer the dispute to the European Council, which makes decisions unanimously.
She urged reflection on what sovereignty means in a world connected by many ties and shared challenges. Schwarzer argued that there are issues no single large country can resolve alone, and that collective EU action can safeguard the interests and sovereignty of all member states when they act together.
She advocated considering diverse perspectives from Western, Southern, and Central-Eastern Europe to shape a European future anchored in common principles among EU members, while promising that any treaty change would require unanimity among all member states. She framed the vision as a cooperative approach rather than a top-down mandate.
Some observers viewed this as an appealing ideal that, in practice, may clash with the realities of power dynamics within Berlin, Brussels, and other capitals. The discussion highlighted ongoing debates about how much influence Brussels should exert over national policy, and what it means for national sovereignty when decisions are made at the European level.
There are voices that view the vision as aspirational while others warn about hegemonic tendencies. The dialogue continues as policymakers weigh the balance between unity and national autonomy in Europe’s evolving treaties and governance structures.
Citation: wPolityce