Skip next section Tusk: Germany, Poland to cooperate on European Sky Shield initiative, defense
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
Tusk: Germany, Poland to cooperate on European Sky Shield initiative, defense
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that there was “no doubt” that Poland and Germany will cooperate on bilateral initiatives and the European Sky Shield initative.
The .
Tusk said that Warsaw and Berlin would work together despite differences on how defense projects should be financed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Poland and Germany should expand transport routes between the two countries, as this was also important for the military.
“They are a key issue, not only for economic development and for the mobility of citizens and residents from both countries, but also when it comes to military mobility, one of the prerequisites for ensuring common security,” Scholz said during his visit to Warsaw.
Berlin has announced its intention to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank amid .
A German-Polish action plan seen by the Reuters news agency said it aimed to reinforce the alliance along the eastern flank as well as provide additional assistance to Ukraine, including on repairing and maintaining Leopard 2 tanks.
“We will endeavour to ensure transatlantic political unityand an optimal military presence of the North American allies in Europe, including the eastern flank,” the text said, according to Reuters.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hlkr
Skip next section PiS politicians accuse Tusk of supporting ‘German leadership’ in EU
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
PiS politicians accuse Tusk of supporting ‘German leadership’ in EU
Politicians from the opposition nationalist criticized Prime Minister Donald Tusk for his meeting with Scholz, accusing the Polish leader of representing German interests.
The reactions were in response to a post by Tusk on the platform , in which he said: “Today Europe needs strong leadership and a common position on security questions. Welcome to Warsaw, chancellor.”
PiS lawmaker and former Minister for European Affairs Szymon Szykowski vel Sek claimed that the post amounted to an admission that Tusk’s government supports “German leadership” of the EU.
“That honest about the expectation of strong German leadership in the EU? Still, it’s a surprise…” he said.
Piotr Muller, who served as a government spokesperson under former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and is currently a member of the EU parliament, echoed the comment in an X post.
“We thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for the moment of honesty. Although Poles had thus far not doubted that the leadership of Germany is the most important thing for you,” he said.
In the run up to the October 2023 parliamentary election and claimed Berlin was aspiring to “global power” status.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hleD
Skip next section Germany to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
Germany to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank
The talks come as EU member states face increasing security challenges linked to the war in Ukraine.
Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung daily reported on Monday that Berlin would propose a package that will include .
Poland borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as .
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marek Prawda told the Reuters news agency that Warsaw and Berlin would discuss increasing the EU’s military capabilities
“Because we have a geopolitical turn in the world, the EU is no longer a factory of rules, but is becoming a community of fate, and we have to respond to this change with at least some policy of increasing military capabilities,” he said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been a vocal proponent of common EU financing for defense projects.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hlb9
Skip next section Last consultations held under nationalist PiS government
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
Last consultations held under nationalist PiS government
Today’s meeting on German-Polish consultations comes several months after the conservative nationalist was ousted from government by a coalition of centrist and center-left parties in October 2023.
PiS had governed for eight years in a period characterized by heightened tensions with Brussels over the rule of law. and has advocated for a “stronger and more sovereign” EU.
Poland’s government under PiS was vehemently apposed to EU plans to redistribute arriving refugees evenly throughout the bloc, while Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to assume joint responsability fro the .
, with PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski labeling Tusk a “German agent.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4hlRV
Skip next section Legacy of WWII to loom over talks
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
Legacy of WWII to loom over talks
During Scholz’s visit, Germany is expected to present a financial package that could include compensation payments for living Polish victims of occupation of Poland from 1939 to 1945.
Funds will also be provided to the German-Polish House in Berlin, which intends to commemorate the shared history of the two countries and create a remembrance for Polish victims of World War II.
. Berlin has argued that the matter was resolved in 1953, when Poland renounced claims against .
At the start of the year, . Poland’s claim was then reiterated by .
https://p.dw.com/p/4hlUn
Skip next section First German-Polish consultations in 6 years
07/02/2024July 2, 2024
First German-Polish consultations in 6 years
is in Warsaw for a meeting with .
This are the first government consultations between Germany and its eastern neighbor since 2018.
Scholz’s delegation included 12 federal and state ministers.
Germany and Poland are expected to agree upon an action plan including several joint projects.
sdi/fb (AFP, dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4hlHI
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