Poland

Belgium has just finalized the ratification of the Lisbon treaty after the text was approved by the Parliaments in Flanders and Brussels. This is the 22nd ratification and it should be followed shortly by votes in Spain and Italy before the summer break. Sweden is set to ratify the treaty in the fall. The Czech republic however is waiting for a decision to be made by its constitutional court on whether a referendum should be held. The Czech president who has always shown little enthusiasm regarding the EU is capitalizing on the NO vote in Ireland. Speaking at the European Parliament this week, Nicolas Sarkozy whose country is presiding the EU for the coming six months said he hoped to find a solution for the Lisbon treaty by the end of the year. He is also getting a challenge from President Kaczynski who refuses to sign the treaty in spite of the positive vote of the Parliament. He argues that after the rejection of the treaty by the Irish, the question of whether he signs it has become irrelevant.

The Kaczinski twins of the opposition Law and Justice party are threatening to block the ratification of the Lisbon treaty if the ratification bill to be approved by Parliament does not include special provisions securing Polish sovereignty and guaranteeing that the Polish constitution will remain the highest law in the country. This move is fuelled by fears that Poland will end up being obligated to legalize abortion and gay marriage because of Citizens’ Rights Charter which is made binding by the treaty. Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister had made the ratification of the Lisbon treaty a priority of his tenure, he needs twelve votes from the opposition to reach the two thirds majority necessary to pass the ratification bill. Should the bill die in parliament, Tusk could call for a referendum. He may want to find an agreement with the opposition, be it led by eurosceptic twins rather than launch in such risky business…

The change of government in Poland in November 2007 continues to bring good news. Last week saw Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stating that Poland was in no rush to set up the US missile shield that, according to the US administration, should protect the US and Europe from rogue states such as Iran. Plans that have provoked heavy protests from Russia. Mr. Tusk was supplemented by his Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, saying that Poland is not feeling itself threatened by Iran. Indeed, different words than the discourse that could be heard in pre-November 2007 Poland, when the last name of the Polish PM was Kaczynski. Seen from the other side of the Atlantic the new Polish approach is yet another example of US President George Bush’ increasing status as a lame duck. As the presidentials are approaching Mr. Bush founds himself being a President without much power. In this case, with EU-Russia relations soaring over a number of issues, the new foreign policy signals from Poland are good news.