Niemcy i Polska wobec Europejskiej Polityki Zagranicznej, Bezpieczeństwa i Obrony Unii Europejskiej
Germany and Poland vs. European Union’s Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP)

Summary/Abstract: In the 1990s, following the conflict in the Balkans, the European Union began implementing the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). In 1999 the first steps to build common defensive capacity which was to be of autonomous character, were begun. This lead to conflicts and disagreements in the triangle USA - NATO - EU, as there was no agreement on the division of competences and tasks. Together with France, Germany under Schroeder/Fischer were considered the main promoters of the CESDP. When Poland joined NATO in 1999, the country sought principal guarantees for its security in the North Atlantic Treaty, and it was not without major resistance that she agreed to the development of the CESDP. Such a position provoked conflicts with Germany, whose apogee came at the time of Iraqi crisis and the international intervention on its territory.The Federal Republic of Germany opposed the American action, believing that to the peaceful means of pressure on Iraq had not been exhausted, while Poland diplomatic support for the American action and participated in the stabilization mission on its territory. Poland’s accession to the European Union in May 2004 automatically forced Poland to support more strongly EU’s security and defense efforts. An opportunity to find a common platform of understanding for the European Union and NATO arrived after the normalization o f American-German relations that resulted from the coming to power of the CDU/CSU-SPD Alliance with A. Merkel at the helm. The strengthening of the North Atlantic is a live interest Poland, much like the active participation in the development of the CESDP and close cooperation with Germany in this field.

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