On 30 June and 1 July, the Castle on the Water in Wojnowice hosted the 8th Polish-German Round Table on Eastern Europe. The two days of discussions on the Polish and German perspectives on regional cooperation were officially opened by Martin Kremer, German Consul-General in Wrocław; Jens Althoff, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw; Cornelius Ochmann from the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation; and Małgorzata Kopka-Piątek from the College of Eastern Europe.
Day One – The European Union, Ukraine, Russia
The main discussions began with a panel on the European Union’s relations with Russia, featuring Agnieszka Legucka (Strategy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Michael Nowak (Russia Department, German Federal Foreign Office) and Radosław Fogiel (MP, Law and Justice). The debate was moderated by Laurynas Vačiūnas (KEW). During the discussion, the topic of historical differences in Polish and German-Russian relations was raised. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has unified the European Union’s stance towards our eastern neighbours. However, concerns remain that this unity will not last long. The panel focused on forecasting relations between EU member states once the war has ended. The panellists emphasised that there can be no question of a return to ‘business as usual’, and that the long-term consequences of the war must be reflected in relations with Russia.
The next discussion focused on the economic aspects of cooperation between Poland, Germany and Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Sebastian Płóciennik (Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation). The panellists were Jan Strzelecki (Polish Economic Institute) and Wilfried Jilge (German Council on Foreign Relations). Maria Repko (Centre for Economic Strategy) provided commentary. The discussion took place just a week after the conclusion of the conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction in Gdańsk and the summit in Berlin. The panellists discussed how to build a partnership between the European Union and Ukraine; how to facilitate the exchange of know-how; what mutual benefits could arise from closer military cooperation; and how to better prepare Ukraine for EU membership, including the use of European funds.
Day Two – Cooperation in the Field of Security
On the second day, the focus of the discussions shifted to security. The morning panel on the Weimar Triangle’s cooperation regarding Eastern Europe, featuring Ryszarda Formuszewicz (Institute of Western Affairs), Stephen Bastos (Stiftung Genshagen) and Maria Zolkina (Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation), developed into a discussion on renewing strategic Polish-German-French cooperation in light of events beyond the EU’s eastern border. This agreement has the potential to serve as a model for broader European engagement in the East. The panellists also focused on the SAFE initiative and military cooperation, as well as the potential that needs to be developed to ensure more effective protection of NATO’s eastern flank. The panel was chaired by Jens Althoff (Heinrich Böll Stiftung Warsaw).
The proceedings concluded with a discussion on cooperation between Poland and Germany and the Baltic states. The panellists were Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik (Institute of Central Europe), Thomas Linsenmeier (University of Tartu) and Marija Golubova (Centre for European Policy Analysis, Latvia). The debate was moderated by Maciej Makulski (HBS Warsaw). The security architecture in the Baltic region is undergoing dynamic changes. Issues relating to energy infrastructure, the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ and threats from the mainland formed the basis of the discussion, which had begun the previous day. The experts focused on assessing the involvement of Poland and Germany in safeguarding NATO’s eastern flank in the Baltic region. It was also emphasised that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia do not wish merely to be recipients of the security provided to them, but also to actively help build its infrastructure in the region.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the panellists and guests. We are also grateful to our co-organisers: the Warsaw Branch of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, the German Consulate-General in Wrocław and the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation. The Polish-German Round Table initiative is successfully fostering dialogue not only with our western neighbour, but also with other partners in the region. We are encouraged by the substantive, constructive discussion and our partners’ open approach to exchanging views and advice.
