"The opinions and interests of Eastern European countries are simply ignored in Berlin and Brussels. As we can see, to the detriment of all of Europe. If Berlin and Brussels took into account the opinion of our part of the continent, Europe could avoid many bad decisions," says Jan Parys, the former defense minister of the Jan Olszewski government.
"It is worth thinking about what the relations between Poland and Germany are like and which country is hindering these relations. It is also worth thinking about whether a good relationship with Germany is possible today, and which government should change its behavior in order to improve our relations," began his thoughts in a lengthy opinion piece by former Polish Defense Minister Jan Parys, who added that, as we know, the Germans behave quite differently against Poland. Many Poles believe that because of their crimes in our country, they have no right to teach us about democracy and the rule of law. In Berlin, even 80 years from now, no one can behave like this towards the Poles. The Germans don't have to like us. They can support our policy or they can remain silent about it, Jan Parys declared, and then turned to the faulty political relations between the European Union and Germany. According to him, EU policy has been based on the dictates of decisions made in Berlin for years. "Every EU citizen can see how this will end for Europe.
It is enough to remember the Greek crisis, the migration crisis, the Brexit problem, climate policy, policy towards Russia, energy policy, security policy. It's no wonder that more and more people in Europe (not only in Poland) think that Germany's dominant role in the EU is a disaster for Europe," says the former head of the ministry. He noted: “This is also harmful for Poland.
The opinions and interests of Eastern European countries are simply ignored in Berlin and Brussels. As we can see, to the detriment of all of Europe. If Berlin and Brussels took into account the opinions of our part of the continent, Europe could avoid many bad decisions.
He added: None of these problems, which were decided in Brussels under pressure from Germany, could be effectively solved. On the contrary, they were and are the cause of new disputes and further crises. It is clear that German politicians are pushing ill-conceived solutions in Brussels that do not take into account the needs of all countries."
According to the former defense minister of the Jan Olszewski government, Germany has done a lot in recent years to make an alliance with Poland impossible. Parys recalled that in July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke openly about the centralization of power in Europe in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The full article of Magyar Nemzet can be read here.
Picture: PAP
