On 19 and 20 November 2025, the Polish-German Round Table on the eastern policy of both countries met for the seventh time at the Castle on Water in Wojnowice. The meeting was attended by diplomats, representatives of foreign ministries, the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland, experts, journalists, academics and non-governmental organisations from Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
US-Russian relations and dimensions of European security
On the first day, the debate focused on the challenges to European security now and after the end of the war in Ukraine. An important question in the discussion was how to transform European security infrastructure in the face of declining American involvement in Europe on the one hand and an increasing number of hybrid attacks from Russia on the other. Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin also remains a challenge for Europe. The transactional approach and expressions of support by the American administration for European populist and far-right parties further undermine the cohesion of the EU and NATO. In view of these problems, the EU’s most important objectives are to provide economic, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, to maintain the accession process, to strengthen military cooperation between EU Member States in order to achieve defence autonomy, and to enable Ukraine to be integrated into the security structures being created.
European challenges facing the Black Sea region and Ukraine
On the second day, the attention of those gathered shifted to the Black Sea region and Ukraine. Particularly worrying is the authoritarian and pro-Russian course of the Georgian government, which rejects integration with the EU contrary to the expectations of society, radically restricts civil liberties and makes it almost impossible for the third sector and the opposition to function. The Georgian government and political scene are infiltrated by Russian services, undermining the credibility and sovereignty of the state. Another case is Moldova, which has recently become the leader in integration with the European Union among the Eastern Partnership countries. The panellists highlighted the considerable efforts made by President Maia Sandu and her party, which have managed to maintain Moldova’s pro-EU course. Moldova has also made significant progress in making its energy network independent of Russian raw materials.
The closing topic of the meeting was Ukraine’s difficult path to the European Union. The challenges delaying Ukraine’s accession to the EU are both external and internal. While waging war against Russian aggression, Ukraine is simultaneously trying to implement reforms to bring the country into line with EU standards. Among the greatest challenges are judicial reform and the effective fight against corruption. On the Polish, German and EU side, the challenge will be to prepare the Community to accept such a large country and to find a compromise between the interests of individual countries.
The round table was organised by KEW in cooperation with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Warsaw, the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation and the Regional Centre for International Debate in the Lower Silesia and Opole provinces. The event was also held under the patronage of the German Consulate General in Wrocław.
