In Nancy, a symbolizing city-through the person of King Stanisław Leszczyński-historical good Polish-French relations, Donald Tusk and Emmanuel Macron signed a treaty on strengthened cooperation and friendship between Poland and France.
This high -level contract – France has so far concluded treaties so far only with the strongest European countries and its neighbors – Spain, Italy and Germany. Before signing the French-Polish agreement from the Elysee Palace, the message came that it was a repair of unjustified neglect in relations with “the second very important European partner”.
What is in the contract with Nancy and what does it matter?
Polish-French Treaty: Mutual defense in the event of an attack
As Emmanuel Macron emphasized in Nancy, the treaty has the treaty “send a very bright signal” by introducing a clause with mutual defense and assistance “as part of joint obligations under NATO and the European Union “. The French president is counting on building an” integrated partnership in the field of defense “together with Warsaw.
Specifics? Double -sided economic forum, annual high -level dialogue on nuclear energy for civil purposes, strengthened industrial coordination, especially in defense and transport areas. And Macron's clear declaration during the signing ceremony of the contract: If Poland is attacked, France mobilizes the army within 30 days. Too prime minister Donald Tusk stated that the clause with mutual military assistance is treated “deadly”.
In addition, both sides of the treaty have committed themselves to increasing cooperation and interoperability of their armyand also to create a common strategic culture. This is to be used by, among others Joint exercises of the Polish and French armed forces, as well as the cooperation of both armies in purchasing military equipment or developing new military technologies. Both countries are also to promote the cooperation of their defense sectors to contribute to strengthening the European technological and industrial base in the area of defense.
Symbols and hard specifics
There were also in the words of both symbolic leaders references to history. – We close the dark card Open in the 1930s, when in Western Europe we believed that the Nazi expansion did not apply to us and we did not intervene – said Macron. He also mentioned the iron curtain, which took away from Central and Eastern Europe “the prosperity to which she had the right”. He also admitted that even after pierceston 1989 and the attachment of the countries of the former communist block to the EU, the differences between the West and the east of Europe remained.
– Perhaps we did not see Russia as the same existential threat – admitted the French president, adding that “Recent years have reconciled us”.
Donald Tusk, clearly moved by the reception in Nancy, noted that “it is not just about repeating good spells about friendship and a common history.”
– History taught us – not only when it comes to our countries, but about Europe – that with good intentions, friendship and trust between the leaders hard specifics must also go – said the Polish prime minister. He mentioned not only mutual military guarantees, but also about the cooperation of defense and technological industries, including nuclear. He also noted that the Polish-French treaty “certainly It will also strengthen the Weimarski triangle“.
Macron's leader in the EP with the “common road” of Poland, France and Germany
Three days before signing the treaty, answering the questions of Deutsche Welle in the European Parliament, French MEP Valerie Hayer also drew attention to this format of Polish-French-German cooperation.
– We are dealing with a very strong will to cooperate between France, Germany and Poland – said the leader of Promacronowska, the Liberal Renew faction. In her opinion, Donald Tusk, from returning to power, restores Poland to a European game.
According to Hayer, the French-Polish treaty is of great importance in the European context, including also economicand today there are circumstances conducive to its strategic awakening.
– Emmanuel Macron's position on building the strategic autonomy of Europe has long been known. Friedrich Merz is in favor of making independence from the USA and questioned the reduction of debt to finance defense expenditure. Donald Tusk is also very determined in these issues. So we have a common path, ambition and convergence between these three poles – she summed up for DW Hayer.
In the context of nuclearnegodkregice repellation, she had long said that “the vital interests of France have been beyond its national borders.”
ECFR expert: The treaty will change the dynamics of the Weimar triangle
Paweł looks, an expert from Parisian offices The European Foreign Affairs Council (ECFR) believes that “potential Europeanization of the French nuclear deterrence potential is no longer the topic of only a small group of experts.”
– France's nuclear doctrine says that her arsenal is used to defend its vital interests. But where do these life interests end? – he asks and estimates that from Macron's statements regarding Wars in Ukraine
– This treaty increases the certainty that it really is – says in an interview with two. As he explains, it would not necessarily be signed, Were it not for the war of Russia with Ukraine.
-There would be no excuse or context-the fact that France has changed the perception of Russia and has been trying to open to Central and Eastern Europe for several years. The treaty with Poland is a visible sign of reorientation on the French side – he says. He adds that the choice of Donald Trump as president of the USA is also an important context.
– Like France, it needs an instrument that will make its reimbursement in Eastern policy, so Poland can now soberly assess that based its security only on the USA is not the best insurance policy – indicates the ECFR expert. But he emphasizes that according to his knowledge It was France who was the driving force of the treaty negotiations. For three – in his opinion – reasons.
-The treaty sets the dynamics of the Weimar triangle completely differently, which historically had two sides-Polish-German and German-French, and French-Polish practically did not exist, which was quite convenient for Germany. This agreement gives France and Poland Strong instruments of influence on the new chancellor Friedrich Merzto keep his word in terms of military expenditure and building the defense force of Europe – he explains.
Another reason is the opinion that if Trump could lead to peace between Russia and Ukraine, Poland needed to build a European Safety leva could weaken. Meanwhile, success in the form of a treaty and economic cooperation with Polish Macron could discount on the national political scene.
The article comes from the website Deutsche Welle