Institutions, if they do not change, become dead, because international life is changing radically – said Professor Adam Daniel Rotfeld, former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomat, in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24, referring to the proposals to change EU treaties. At the same time, he stated that “Poland has gained, not lost, its sovereignty as a result of its membership in the EU.” He also assessed that “the Community approach provides incomparably greater benefits.”
European parliament supported the adoption of the report of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, which recommends changing the EU treaties. Contrary to the narrative led by PIS However, this does not mean that the European Parliament has decided to change the treaties itself. As TVN24 reporter Maciej Sokołowski explained, this process is much longer, more complicated and requires the unanimous consent of all member states, and the European Parliament only plays an advisory role in it.
Rotfeld: institutions, if they do not change, become dead
The proposal for these changes was commented on in “Fakty po Faktach” on TVN24 by Professor Adam Daniel Rotfeld, former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomat. He was asked whether the EU needs such changes now.
– Of course, beyond any doubt, if only because institutions, if they do not change, become dead, because international life is changing radically – he replied. – And it is no coincidence that, for example, we say that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is playing an increasingly smaller role. It is considered that UN is actually helpless. Whereas European Union is a kind of a different type of institution, he noted.
He stated that “a great deal of responsibility for the various tensions occurring in the European Union falls on the scientific community and researchers, because they have not developed appropriate semantics that should distinguish what is happening in the EU from what is happening in the European Union.” what happened before.” – And therefore, in the EU, for example, we are constantly talking about federal solutions. In my opinion, these are not federal solutions. These are solutions that, of course, resemble a federation, but they are community solutions, the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued.
Rotfeld: institutions, if they do not change, become deadTVN24
Rotfeld: Poland has gained, not lost, its sovereignty as a result of its membership in the EU
Rotfeld noted that discussions about possible changes to treaties often include the issue of a possible loss of sovereignty. – In general, the word sovereignty is used and abused very often as a kind of threat to sovereignty. No one has the courage to say that Poland has gained, not lost, its sovereignty as a result of its membership in the EU. No one in Poland would ever have any chance to influence decisions regarding relations with China, Africa or Latin America. Who would even take Poland’s position into account if it weren’t for the fact that we are in the EU and, as an integral part of the Union, we have the opportunity to play a global role? – continued the former head of Polish diplomacy.
He added that “for small and medium-sized countries” it is “a wonderful event that this Union has succeeded.” He also assessed that “the Community approach provides incomparably greater benefits.”
Rotfeld on the situation on the Polish-Ukrainian border: these will be photos that will remain forever in the history of Europe
Rotfeld also referred to the carriers’ protest at the border crossings with Ukraine, which began in early November. They demand, among others: introducing commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to transport goods, excluding humanitarian aid and supplies for the Ukrainian army; suspension of licenses for companies established after the explosion war in Ukraine and carry out their inspection. There is also a proposal to eliminate the so-called electronic queue on the Ukrainian side.
– The interests of Poland and Ukraine are both convergent, and very often we will be, by nature, the same competitors in various matters where interests diverge. Just like between France and Spain, but there is never any tension between Spain and France on this matter. French farmers react very badly to cheap production from Spain, farmers in Poland react very badly to cheap production from Ukraine – he compared. He stated that “on the Ukrainian side, steps must be taken informally, but actually and immediately, to stop the corruption that has infected various institutions that we are not talking about because of the war, but which has an extremely negative impact.” – I am convinced that what is happening on the Polish-Ukrainian border is largely inspired, manipulated and corrupt. As a result, we have what we see, among others, on TV – these endless kilometers of waiting transports, (…), it is an amazing story. To be honest, these will be photos that will remain forever in the history of Europe – said the TVN24 guest.
Main photo source: TVN24