Polska i Niemcy wobec Partnerstwa Wschodniego
Polish and German Positions on the Eastern Partnership

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to present the positions of Poland and Germany towards the Eastern Partnership (EaP). The subject of the analysis is primarily the content of the documents, expressing the unique perspectives of the two countries and the resulting divergences. The creation of a common European Union (EU) policy toward EaP countries generated a number of contentious issues between Poland and Germany. The decisions and actions of Poland and Germany differed in terms of EU priorities in the region under study. Poland consistently emphasised the importance of the eastern dimension of EU policy, actively engaging in activities for the initiative and eastern enlargement. These activities were mainly driven by the need to pursue its own interests and ensure national security and stability along the European Union’s eastern borders. For Germany, however, EU policy toward the East was predominantly shaped by an economic agenda, which outweighed political considerations. Thus, it is legitimate to question the positions of Poland and Germany at a time of uncertain and dynamic geopolitical situations in the region. A chronological comparison of the two countries’ policies allows for an assessment of the difficulties in forming a coherent EU foreign policy.

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