The Russian invasion of Ukraine has not only brought about profound shifts in the geopolitical landscape of Europe, requiring a judicious yet resolute response from the European Union member states, but also reinforced the need for close cooperation and dialogue between the key actors responsible for shaping the future of Eastern Europe.
Czechia and Poland distinguish themselves from most EU and NATO members by virtue of their economic, historical and political ties with the Eastern Europe, Russia as well as the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The future of these states will determine the course of the European Union and the world order as a whole. Thus, the unique characteristics of Poland and Czechia, coupled with the complexities of the current geopolitical situation, apart from placing an increased responsibility on both countries, constitute an opportunity for them to utilise their expertise and experience in order to actively shape the political developments in Eastern Europe and Northern Eurasia.
The change of government in Poland, following the parliamentary elections held in October 2023, provides an opportunity to re-establish dialogue with key European partners. Polish foreign policy should focus not only on fostering relations with Berlin, Paris and Brussels, which have been deteriorating over the last eight years, but equally on facilitating dialogue between Western and Eastern European states. In light of these developments, a report by Adam Balcer and Pavel Havlíček entitled “Czech-Polish Cooperation on the Cusp of New Horizons: Reinvigorated Partnership in Eastern Europe”, analyses the five most important fields of Polish-Czech cooperation requiring intensified activity on the part of political decision-makers. A tightened partnership between Czechia and Poland would provide both countries with powerful instruments to shape the future of Eastern Europe and the other regions of Northern Eurasia and strengthen their position on the international stage.
The authors analyse the key issues: security and energy, which have become fundamental for Europe after Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine as well as the challenges resulting from the events of recent months. The report draws particular attention to three new dimensions that require enhanced cooperation. Poland and the Czech Republic should develop a joint stance towards the institutional reform of the European Union, closely linked with the EU’s future enlargement (including Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), and engage effectively in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine.
The report was published in cooperation with Association for International Affairs (AMO) and co-funded by Czech-Polish Forum.
