Editor's note: The revolution rolls on
Now, after the Orange Revolution, in which Poland supported its neighbor in its struggle for democracy and escape from Russian dominance, the time has come for economic revolution. Poland is opening up to Ukraine; it is extending its helping hand and fully carrying out its strategy of becoming an open Eastern gate to the European Union.
In this context, last week's Polish-Ukrainian summit was an important event for Polish political life and the economy. Presidents Kwaśniewski and Yushchenko, representatives of both governments and over 100 businessmen, were for two days, let's not fear that phrase, doing business.
Ukrainians bought the Polish Częstochowa Steelworks and the FSO production plant based in Warsaw. The success of these transactions is based on shaky ground but it is worth testing.
The most important matter, though, is the plan to let emigrant workers from the East come to Poland on a massive scale. As stated by Rzeczpospolita, the Polish government is planning to sign an agreement with Ukraine thanks to which the practices that had been an obvious fact for many years will now become legal. Thousands of illegal workers from the East have been working in Poland for years - housekeepers, babysitters, construction workers and other manual laborers.
In a country where almost one-fifth of the inhabitants are unemployed it might seem rash - but there's a method to this madness. Poland wants to be Ukraine's advocate and promoter in the European Union. A politically and economically strong Ukraine is in our best interests. On one hand, it is a natural expansion market for our entrepreneurs. The more the economy is liberalized, the less there are ambiguous regulations and corruptible customs officers, the easier and safer it is to invest behind the Eastern border. On the other hand, Poland is not forgetting about its role. Poland is a new member of the European Union that has to fight for its rights. We want other EU members to let Polish citizens work legally in their countries. By setting this important example of support for Ukraine, we create a new argument in the discussions around the opening of new labor markets for Poles.
Eliza Durka
Editor-in-chief
In this context, last week's Polish-Ukrainian summit was an important event for Polish political life and the economy. Presidents Kwaśniewski and Yushchenko, representatives of both governments and over 100 businessmen, were for two days, let's not fear that phrase, doing business.
Ukrainians bought the Polish Częstochowa Steelworks and the FSO production plant based in Warsaw. The success of these transactions is based on shaky ground but it is worth testing.
The most important matter, though, is the plan to let emigrant workers from the East come to Poland on a massive scale. As stated by Rzeczpospolita, the Polish government is planning to sign an agreement with Ukraine thanks to which the practices that had been an obvious fact for many years will now become legal. Thousands of illegal workers from the East have been working in Poland for years - housekeepers, babysitters, construction workers and other manual laborers.
In a country where almost one-fifth of the inhabitants are unemployed it might seem rash - but there's a method to this madness. Poland wants to be Ukraine's advocate and promoter in the European Union. A politically and economically strong Ukraine is in our best interests. On one hand, it is a natural expansion market for our entrepreneurs. The more the economy is liberalized, the less there are ambiguous regulations and corruptible customs officers, the easier and safer it is to invest behind the Eastern border. On the other hand, Poland is not forgetting about its role. Poland is a new member of the European Union that has to fight for its rights. We want other EU members to let Polish citizens work legally in their countries. By setting this important example of support for Ukraine, we create a new argument in the discussions around the opening of new labor markets for Poles.
Eliza Durka
Editor-in-chief
