New Polish-Ukrainian Quality in Europe

Zygmunt Berdychowski, Chairman of the Programme Council and founder of the Economic Forum: It is about all the consequences of the events following 24 February [the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - ed]. Firstly, the reconstruction of security architecture in Europe. We are facing an unprecedented act of aggression, which has not occurred on the Old Continent since 1945. The war which has been wrought on Europeans by the Russian Federation has geopolitical and economic consequences, but also implications for a wide range of policies which, over recent years, have been said to underpin European identity. For example, if we talk about Europe being ‘green’, we have seen the European Commission’s very far-reaching determination to implement a climate policy that was intended to revolutionise not only energy but also our social and economic life. The war has changed absolutely everything. It forces a reflection that has not been present in Europe until now.

What reflection is that?

Some three years ago, the Americans pointed out for the first time that Europe made safe by the United States cannot at the same time do business with countries that are a fundamental threat to the Western world. In particular, the Americans emphasised that doing business with Russia and China might entail far-reaching consequences for Europeans. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, everyone has to put all the pieces of the puzzle, like for example climate policy, back together again. I find it hard to imagine that this policy will continue in its present form. We all know that this is impossible. We must, of course, give ourselves time. Let me remind you that last year we began to discuss the fact that we will be dealing with a green revolution by as early as 2030. This year, we already know that firstly, there will be no revolution, because the departure from coal will not be fuelled by gas as a transition fuel, and certainly not by gas from Russia. Secondly, we have to realise that energy from renewable sources, such as photovoltaic panels, is produced using silicon wafers, 85% of which are made in China. Rare earth metals, which are the basis for windmill blades, are in 90% mined in China. Therefore, especially after the outbreak of war, we need to talk again about ways to build true independence, so that we don’t once again find ourselves in the situation we are in now, relying to a large extent on energy resources from Russia.

During this year’s European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki, you moderated a discussion in which participants leaned towards a Polish-Ukrainian union. Are you in favour of such a solution?

First and foremost, I was enormously surprised that such a proposal was voiced during a very open and official speech. It was put forward by the leader of the Polish People’s Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe), a party which has hitherto been regarded as very restrained about making far-reaching declarations concerning the future of our cooperation with our eastern neighbours. In this context, it was something quite extraordinary. On the other hand, it is part of the discussion currently taking place in Poland. Most of the public understand that the war in Ukraine and the struggle of the Ukrainians is not only a challenge for Poland in terms of providing military or humanitarian aid, but above all a challenge in the political dimension. This is the moment when the partnership that we have been trying to build, and which has always seemed to be an imperfect project, repeatedly pushed back to a later date, is becoming a reality. Poles understand that the Ukrainians are fighting to keep us safe too. On the other hand, the scale of the aid we have decided to provide in this war is unprecedented. From the perspective of the European Union, let’s do everything we can to bolster Ukraine in its march towards Europe and let’s lift barriers wherever we can, so that, as soon as possible, Polish-Ukrainian cooperation can continue to function, but within the EU. Such an agreement would create a completely new quality in Central Europe.

What kinds of potential would it bring?

The potential of a Polish-Ukrainian alliance would be incredible, both when we talk about the potential restoration of the Ukrainian economy, and when we talk about the political significance of a common market that would be a market of almost 80 million people, and thus comparable to the largest EU economies. We are beginning to talk about the fact that together we can achieve much more than if each of us were to try to build our position in Europe on our own. This is in Poland’s national interest.

The Institute for Eastern Studies has played a major role in building Polish-Ukrainian relations, as the long-term organiser of the Poland-Ukraine Forum and the Economic Forum, in which many Ukrainian guests have participated. During this year’s Forum in Karpacz, are you also anticipating a large number of Ukrainian citizens?

The European Congress of Local Governments has already shown that despite the ongoing hostilities, our event was attended by a relatively large number of guests from Ukraine. I believe that the Economic Forum in Karpacz is going to see a huge number of guests from Ukraine, regardless of whether the war continues or not. It is hard for me to imagine a scenario so negative that we would not host a conference where at least several dozen events included in the programme concern the situation of Ukraine and the consequences of the war in Ukraine. What we have shown as the Economic Forum over the past years is a real commitment to the Polish-Ukrainian partnership, aiming to support the pro-European aspirations of Ukraine. There is also no other event in Central Europe where so many guests from Ukraine discuss matters of importance for their country. The presence of the Prime Minister of Ukraine in Karpacz last year was symbolic. What we want to achieve this year is to uphold this standard and to make Karpacz a place where many politicians from the West have the opportunity to experience first-hand what Ukrainians discuss most often.

Now is the time when nominations of the members of the Economic Forum Programme Council for the “Person of the Year” award are coming in. Is the President of Ukraine among the candidates for this title?

The President of Ukraine will certainly be included in this group. This does not mean, however, that we would present the award to him because I would like to remind you that we present awards only to those guests who are personally present at the Forum and directly participate in the debates. We have never departed from this tradition so far. ©℗

Prepared in cooperation with ISW