Poland
German-Polish relaxation
They were regarded not just as a friend of Germany: the Polish Minister-President Beata Szydlo. During your visit to the Chancellery in Berlin, it was nevertheless surprisingly harmonious.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed their Polish colleague Beata Szydlo with military honors
It was friendly, Yes conciliatory tones, which hit the Polish Minister-President Beata Szydlo at the joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Multiple Szydlo, “the love Angela thanked” for the good cooperation between the two countries. And they praised the open-mindedness of the Chancellor in those questions which are still unresolved, for example, in the refugee policy.
The governments of Germany and Poland were not in the past few months, often an opinion that is no secret. It is boss is for the two Government but also no obstacle, the relations in the 25. To deepen the year of the groundbreaking German-Polish neighbourhood Treaty. Szydlo came up with a great part of your Cabinet to Berlin, met with the Federal government to the so-called government consultations, a particularly close Form of cooperation with friendly States.
Hard in the thing, authentic in tone
“There are many issues that separate us, but a lot more issues that unite us,” stressed Szydlo, who is a member of the national conservative party law and justice (PiS). “Anything other than, of course,” is it that Germany and Poland have worked together as good neighbors, added Merkel. Germany had loaded a “lot of guilt” in the “very complicated” history of the two countries. The will now be worked up in a common history book, whose first volume, the two foreign Ministers present today.
Representatives of the Polish and the Federal government at their Meeting in the Chancellery in Berlin
A topic that has been discussed in the past few days in Germany controversial, is the deterrence policy of NATO towards Russia. While Poland was that NATO, with the large-scale maneuvers “Anakonda” your country, strengthened the back, warned German foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) in front of it, “by loud sabre-rattling and War cries to inflame the situation further”.
The coalition partner, the Union, he triggered sharp criticism of the Polish Minister-President, too? The thanked Merkel for Germany to Warsaw “for the strengthening of the Eastern flank” support. Deterrence and dialogue with Russia – both pillars are important, stressed Angela Merkel. For you, this is not a contradiction.
In addition, the Federal government had decided by consensus that Germany takes part in the NATO manoeuvre “Anaconda”. The Bundeswehr will in future take on additional tasks in Lithuania to strengthen NATO allies in North-Eastern Europe, which feel that Russia is threatened.
More controversial: The refugee policy
Even if Merkel and Szydlo little room were the differences in the joint press conference, they were not mentioned: The government in Warsaw wants more Polish language lessons for the many poles living in Germany, and in the public schools. For this requirement, the Chancellor showed understanding.
Some of the dispute over Merkel’s generous refugee policy, which is seen in Warsaw, very critical is defused. Through the agreement with Turkey Szydlo sees the course of their government, the EU-to protect the external borders to limit the immigration of refugees.
Poland has practically not taken in any refugees. “With regard to the European distribution mechanism, we have different positions,” admitted the Chancellor. But there are also many similarities, as regards the fight against the causes of Flight, or the gangs.
On a line Merkel and Szydlo are on the subject of “Brexit”: Both wish strongly that the UK remains a member of the EU. But of course, it was up to the British to decide about it on Thursday in a Referendum.