Disputes, divisions disrupt begin of Polish EU presidency By Reuters

By Marek Strzelecki and Lili Bayer (OTC:)

WARSAW (Reuters) – Poland launched its presidency of the Council of the European Union on Friday, mired in a diplomatic row with Hungary that underscored a rising sense of political disunity throughout Europe even because it faces to a sequence of main world challenges.

Battling a slowing financial system, the EU is getting ready for Donald Trump’s return to the White Home this month on an “America First” agenda and the attainable imposition of U.S. tariffs on European exports.

It additionally faces deteriorating commerce relations with China and Russia’s bitter struggle in Ukraine, all at a time when the EU’s two principal powers, France and Germany, are distracted by home political upheavals.

The Polish authorities mentioned Hungary’s envoy was not welcome at a ceremony marking Warsaw’s takeover of the six-month rotating EU presidency, a really public snub that follows months of political exchanges between the leaders of the 2 nations.

Hungary infuriated Poland final month by granting political asylum to a former Polish deputy justice minister who’s below investigation in his nation for alleged misuse of public funds, which he denies . Warsaw referred to as the transfer a “hostile act” opposite to EU rules and recalled its ambassador to Budapest.

Hungarian Overseas Minister Peter Szijjarto referred to as Friday’s snub “infantile”, information website HVG.hu reported. The Polish choice has solely added to the rising variety of indicators of European discord.

Slovakia, which together with Hungary seeks to keep up some ties with Russia, threatened retaliation in opposition to Ukraine on Thursday after it reduce off transit flows of Russian gasoline, whereas on Friday negotiations on the formation of a brand new authorities in Austria suffered a serious blow when a key occasion resigned. the talks.

POLISH AMBITIONS

On this darkish context, Poland seeks to play a number one function within the improvement of European coverage, notably when it comes to safety.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hopes to “lead a realignment throughout the EU in the case of constructing a coalition round assist for Ukraine and a significant peace that may profit Kiev, not Moscow,” mentioned Edit Zgut-Przybylska, assistant professor on the Institute of Philosophy. and sociology on the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Tusk, a former president of the European Council and former chief of the center-right European Folks’s Celebration, is a well-connected determine on the European scene.

However as European capitals face robust selections on points corresponding to how you can enhance and finance protection spending, analysts say it’s unlikely Warsaw will be capable of take the lead by itself.

Piotr Buras, head of the Warsaw workplace of the European Council on Overseas Relations, mentioned that the present challenges going through the EU exceed the capability and time horizon of a six-monthly presidency.

“This can be a key second for Europe, particularly given the arrival of Trump and the scenario in Ukraine, but in addition points associated to the broader financial system, competitiveness and doubtlessly the commerce struggle, with a simultaneous weak spot of management and a second of transition throughout the EU itself,” Buras says.

Poland additionally has its home distractions. Regardless of his huge European ambitions, Buras mentioned, Tusk’s primary aim within the coming months shall be to make sure victory for his centrist, pro-European camp in Poland’s presidential election scheduled for Might.

“Think about the discussions on sending European troops to Ukraine or on commerce relations with Ukraine in Might – they present the boundaries of Poland and the sensitivity of the nationwide agenda in comparison with the European agenda,” he mentioned. Buras mentioned.

On Europe’s collective safety and assist for kyiv, some analysts say Germany, Europe’s largest financial system, may play a much bigger function after the Feb. 23 nationwide elections, which conservatives are at the moment tipped to win .

“The one hope is that the brand new German leaders determine to take a way more energetic and assertive stance,” mentioned Peter Bator, former Slovak ambassador to NATO and now chief analyst for the opposition Progressive Slovakia occasion. .