Poland’s President Andrzej Duda has written to other European leaders proposing a five-point recovery plan for “bold decisions and effective action” that will rebuild and reshape the continent once the coronavirus crisis has passed.
His proposal, which is outlined in more detail below, includes the creation of a European medical security system, the better enforcement of international law, a more just and effective division of European funds, and stronger environmental protection.
“I believe that the time has come to consider together what the world and international cooperation will look like after the defeat of the coronavirus pandemic,” writes Duda in the letter. “I would like 2020 to go down in history not only for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also as a turning point for a new international policy.”
“This unprecedented situation has shown that, in the event of global crisis, geographical distance, wealth and military strength are not the only way to sufficiently protect our citizens and countries,” he continues. “We also lack effective global tools for global crisis management.”
The Polish president did, however, say that the crisis “has shown that, when the first shock caused by the outbreak of the pandemic passed, we were able to cooperate in solidarity…saving lives thanks to donated medical equipment and assistance.”
He now calls for further “cooperation, openness and emphasis on values that unite us” through policies that “do not stigmatise anyone, do not send negative messages and [which] seek agreement, not division and exclusion, tension and competition.”
Duda’s words mark something of a contrast to earlier criticism of the European Union by himself and the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party from which he hails. In March, he complained that Poland has been left “alone, completely without external help” during the pandemic
Earlier this month, he warned of a “need for deep reforms” of the EU after the end of the crisis. However, rather than proposing more integration or cooperation, Duda suggested that the “voice of nation states is stronger”. His language was echoed in the words of the prime minister, who said that “in difficult times like this, it is nation states that are most important”.
In 2018, Duda called the EU an “imaginary community which is of little relevance to Poles”, telling Brussels to “leave us in peace and let us fix Poland”.
President Duda’s five-point plan for the post-coronavirus world sent to European leaders is outlined below. “Poland will be looking for partners to implement these proposals,” he writes.
- The creation of a European medical security system
The president stresses the need to increase the effectiveness of national health systems, but at the same time calls for the creation of a European medical security mechanism. Duda envisages the coordination of key medical equipment production and distribution as well as joint research in biotechnology and other fields related to tackling epidemics.
Duda’s letter does not mention the fact that the EU has already coordinated scientific programmes and that, during the current crisis, it launched common tenders for medical equipment – which last month Poland missed out on after missing the deadline to join the first round of orders.
- Fair and effective distribution of financial resources and boosting production
Post-pandemic Europe should “ensure not only high GDP growth, but also sustainable development of countries in other aspects, including the fair and effective distribution of financial resources among those in need,” writes Duda. This should be achieved through the “direction of [existing] EU funds or the creation of a special, additional investment instrument that would combine development and cohesion goals”.
The letter does not specify who “those in need” are or any methodology for defining them. Since joining the EU, Poland has been the largest net recipient of EU funds in absolute terms, and the government hopes to protect its position in ongoing negotiations over the 2021-2027 budget.
The president also writes that “Europe must once again become a great, innovative production workshop suited to modern requirements”. This should involve “stimulating production” and “shortening supply chains”, he says.
- Enforcement of international laws
“This testing time should not make us less vigilant on issues that have hitherto been a priority for us,” writes Duda. “An example is the need to further enforce international law as a tool to build a secure and peaceful world of free nations without spheres of influence.”
The president’s words seem to be a reference to Russia and its attempts to exert influence over neighbouring countries in violation of international law. Duda and the Polish government have, however, themselves faced accusations of violating EU law, in particular in their overhaul of Poland’s courts.
Yesterday, on the same day as Duda’s letter was published, the European Commission launched its latest infringement proceedings against Poland in response to a new disciplinary regime for judges that the commission says undermines judicial independence and violates the supremacy of European law.
- Building military security
“We cannot afford, especially now, for strategically short-sighted and dangerous ‘savings’ in defence policy,” writes Duda. “Unfortunately old threats such as terrorism and imperial temptations remain in place.”
Under the leadership of Duda and PiS, Poland has placed great emphasis on modernising and strengthening its military forces, in particular against the threat of Russia. It has sought to forge an even closer relationship with the US, including purchasing American military equipment and hosting larger numbers of troops.
- Protecting the environment
“We should jointly find a way to reconcile climate policy requirements with elements of social and development policy,” writes Duda in the final section of his letter. “We must especially avoid a situation where climate protection measures could be used to gain economic advantages or cause social tensions.”
His remarks again reflect a longstanding position of the current Polish leaderships, which says that it recognises the necessity to tackle climate change but argues that any such EU policies must recognise the individual circumstances of member states. In Poland’s case, this means taking account of the fact that transitioning away from coal, which produces 80% of the country’s energy, will be economically and socially disruptive.
In December, Poland was the only member state not to sign up to the EU’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, with the government arguing that it required “significantly larger” funding from the EU budget to help with the costs of transition.
Main image credit: prezydent.pl
Agnieszka Wądołowska is deputy editor of Notes from Poland. She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza, Wysokie Obcasy, Duży Format, Midrasz and Kultura Liberalna
