Poland and Sweden try to direct EU attention eastward

BRUSSELS: Jolted by French plans for new European Union ties with countries to the Continent's south, Poland and Sweden have put forward rival proposals to focus more political effort on eastern neighbors, including Ukraine.

The initiative, which will be discussed by EU foreign ministers Monday, highlights divisions within the 27-nation bloc over where to concentrate foreign policy efforts. It also reflects fears that pro-EU groups in Kiev need more encouragement from Brussels if Ukraine is to be drawn toward the EU, rather than Moscow.

Sweden and Poland share similar views on the importance of engaging with Eastern Europe, and the Polish foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, worked once before with his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, on EU-Ukraine issues. The ministers plan to present a joint paper to the EU's foreign ministers at a meeting Monday in Brussels.

Russia would not be a member but might be invited to cooperate on initiatives involving Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave within the EU.

It would aim to negotiate visa-free travel deals and free trade zones for services and agricultural products, and promote regulatory overhauls, according to European diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans had not been made public

Diplomats say the EU's larger member states -- who often oppose the smaller "new" states over issues related to the former Soviet space -- are supportive of the Eastern Partnership initiative. France, which will take over as the next EU presidency in July, is motivated by the need to build support for its Mediterranean strategy among the eastern member states. Germany traditionally takes a close interest in the EU's eastern policy, while Britain is traditionally one of the staunchest supporters of continued enlargement.

Instead, Ferrero-Waldner said the Eastern Partnership initiative would need to show it can "add value" to the existing Neighborhood Policy. "In Eastern Europe, indeed, there are some issues which can suitably be addressed at a regional level -- for instance, on energy, transport networks, maybe cooperation on trafficking, [cooperation] against illegal immigration," she said.

Poland and Sweden try to direct EU attention eastward

So I'm supposed to support them in this aggression? :)

you know you can always go to Russians on knees and beg them for merci. :) The most important issue is to try :)

Russia would not be a member but might be invited to cooperate on initiatives involving Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave within the EU.

Well there is Russian German oppostion in this case. We will see what will happen.

Lukaszenko stoped teach their own history and started to teach "soviet" history in schools ofcouse Bilerusian language is forbiden and look what happned

Love strategy towards Russia doesn't work.

We will see what will happen.

Policy, sciences, all this things are not Polish destiny, stop your pitiful attempts. Quick march in your churches, prey for God, this is your fate.

Are you loosing your nerves ConstantineK? Ohh we must have stiken a cord here .... :)

Poland share similar views on the importance of engaging with Eastern Europe,

Czechs durring their EU presudency

Vaclav Klaus

In XX cent she definitely hadn't had any serious achivements

EU to launch 'Eastern Partnership' at May summit: source


(BRUSSELS) - European leaders will launch their "Eastern Partnership" to boost ties with six ex-Soviet republics at a Prague summit in May, a Czech EU presidency source said Thursday.

A Czech diplomat said the EU leaders participating in Prague may hold another summit the same day or the following day with countries involved in the "southern corridor" -- a planned energy supply route from the Caspian region, through Turkey and into Europe.

The southern corridor, notably the Nabucco gas pipeline from the Caspian to Austria via Turkey, has become a priority issue following a recent gas payments row between Russia and major transit country Ukraine earlier this month.