One Year On in The EU - The Death and (re-)Birth of Poland

Poland & the EU- Mutually enriched?

The Topic of our May 2005 Consilience Forum meeting at Pasta Cafe was presented by Joanna K. The title of her talk was "Poland and the EU, or Something Like it" -- during the presentation, we explored questions, as Joanna puts it, touch upon '...where the geographical borders of Europe are and how deep can the integration process go?' Very important, and so very relevant today...(the following comments are not Joanna's - they are intended to add to the topic) Read a report on the meeting at PolBlog (re: United in Their Differences).

A year has passed since Poland joined European Union, and there are some summaries to be made. What has hanged during that time? Are we different - as a member state - from the country that was aspiring to that membership? Who are we now? Who were we?

First of all, it seems, that Poles understand now more what European Union is - and what it is not. Many of our rather exaggerated expectations, and fears, from a year ago seem ridiculous, when confronted with rather prosaic reality. Poles feel that - to a degree - they know what to expect from the Union in the nearest future and, whether EU-enthusiasts or Euro-sceptics, they take the matter more at ease.

We had our great moments together, we had difficult ones. Polish leaders were able to show political weight of our country on the European arena at some occasions, and quite unable - at others. By now, an average Pole seems to be used to the fact, that the matters out there are running at their rather inert pace, and being a major player takes time, lot's of grunt work/groundwork, and it won't happen overnight. Most of the EU political storms roll over the far horizon nowdays. Unless, of course, they are connected to the - alays close to everybody's hearts - money matters. But then it's a domestic politician that usualy takes the beating.


Jigsaw Puzzle or Humpty Dumpty?

That does not mean, that the EU spares us interesting times to live in. The major attraction on the news is the new Constitution, and it's fate - doomed(?), it seems at the moment. What exactly will it mean to Polish people in the short, and in the long run, we haven't decided yet. But the crisis is grasping our attention, despite many matters being decided on the home turf as well. The question of who speaks for Poland is also important, should Warsaw have the loudest voice in this debate?

We're in the Union to stay, and share its fate - for better or for worse. It would be nice to know that we're also able to shape it.

Some questions come to mind: What exactly is European about Europe, and for that matter what is European about the EU? How will varied alliances and diplomatic postures toward the USA among member states play out within the EU itself (is more cohesion/division promised?) Is to European to be anti-American?

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