Editorial: Appalling table manners

At a recent meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, Poland threatened to block talks with Russia to broaden economic cooperation unless Russia ratified a charter formalizing energy supply rules between the two. This comes as Vladimir Putin prepares to meet EU leaders on November 24 to discuss the deal.

Poland maintained its threats throughout the week, and as WBJ went to press the Finnish presidency of the European Commission was launching diplomatic efforts to salvage the talks.

The EU hopes to bring Russia to the negotiating table and forge stronger ties with the country, which is essential for Europe's future growth. The stakes are admittedly stacked in Russia's favor - it is the continent's largest gas supplier, energy prices are at a high, and the EU has being sounding a more conciliatory tone of late. The EU currently imports 40 percent of its gas from Russia, and this figure is expected to hit 60 percent in 2030.

Why Russia needs the EU

However, the energy issue is a double-edged sword, and Russia needs to sell its gas on the EU market as much as the EU needs to keep buying it. Vladimir Putin is also on his way out, and although his successor will no doubt regularly seek Putin's counsel, it is difficult to imagine the next leader of Russia taking as tough a stance as the former KGB man.

Russia is also chomping at the bit to enter the World Trade Organization. Whether or not the EU supports the Kremlin in this endeavor could prove a deal-breaker.

These negotiations could benefit those on both sides of the table, but Poland could scuttle the whole ship. Although energy dominates relations between the two countries, the issue of agricultural exports is the crux of the matters.

If Russia lifted its ban on Polish agricultural goods, negotiations would almost certainly go ahead. Poland would be happy with the reopening of a market worth EUR 400 (zł.1,520) million per year, and would save the more rancorous battle over energy for another day.

Shrill voices

Poland always promised to be a tough negotiator within the EU, but its voice has grated on the EU's nerves of late. In its calls for a tough approach to Russia, only Lithuania has voiced its support.

The honeymoon period for new EU members is now over. Poland's budget deficit remains alarmingly high and the Finance Ministry here has done little to correct this, prompting grumblings from Brussels in the past week. The euro is a dirty word in government circles and there are increasingly persistent noises from the ruling coalition that there must be a referendum on the issue. The ruling party can have as many referendums as it wishes - Poland is still obligated join the eurozone as a condition of its EU membership.

Straw man

Poland's entry into the eurozone is not an issue for the people to decide - the country already answered that question when it voted in favor of joining the EU.

This is now an issue for economists and financial experts. The ruling coalition has successfully stirred up anti-euro sentiment, and no doubt many would vote in favor of delaying Poland's entry were a straw poll to take place. This would give Poland a political mandate to return to Brussels and plead for more time - time during which it could remain fiscally irresponsible. Brussels should take a dim view of these proceedings. If Poland wants the EU to take a hard line with Russia, it should expect a hard line on its own issues in return.

Poland cannot continue to swallow up structural funds, which it has so far done a lousy job of spending, and then refuse to move towards the eurozone. The country has a poor image abroad, and threatening vetoes and embargoes because a bloc-wide negotiation clashes with its own national interests is tiresome.

The ruling coalition believes itself a tough negotiator. There is a fine line between resilience and intransigence, and Poland has overstepped the mark.

Readers' comments, opinions and letters should be sent to editor@wbj.pl