Editor's note: Supply side economics

What are we afraid of? Exactly the same thing that preoccupied us for the last few centuries. We are scared that our powerful neighbors - Russia and Germany - are once again striking a deal behind our back.

The last 300 years of Polish history witnessed a series of attempts to break free from German and Russian occupation and domination. It is a history of Poland being treated instrumentally and its national interest being traded.

It is all about a contract between two energy concerns from Germany and Russia to build a pipeline through the Baltic Sea that will later be used to transport Russian gas to Germany and further West.

And even though the contract is of a purely commercial nature and was made by private companies, it was still signed in the presence of the two heads of states. Putin and Schroeder stressed that for both countries it is a matter of tantamount significance.

One cannot shrug off the impression that the sudden haste to sign the agreement stems from the fear that Angela Merkel, who is poised to win the elections and take over the reins of power, would not let such a contract come into force.

We, the Poles, want to believe her when she says that after she gets to govern, she will not let the "strategic partnership" of Germany, Russia and France continue behind Poland's back.

However, Poland's problem is that - whatever the outcome of the elections - the contract signed last week cannot be cancelled. Some politicians say that the German-Russian deal results from our hesitation and lack of initiative. Whether they are right or wrong, one thing is sure - we cannot afford to be hesitant about assuring alternative gas supply sources any more. It should become one of the strategic priorities of the next government.

Eliza Durka

Editor-in-chief