Sarkozy arrives in Warsaw to hammer out a partnership

French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Warsaw today after months of delay. The main goal of the visit is to sign an agreement on strategic partnership between Poland and France.

On the eve of the visit, the French media leaked news of France's intentions to open its labour market to the 10 new EU countries, which is a symbolic end to Jacques Chirac's policy of reserve towards the newcomers.

In exchange, Sarkozy expects Polish backing for the French project to establish a uniform, restrictive law on immigration from outside Europe. However, "We have different interests. We need workers from abroad, France has too many. But we will try to be flexible," said Mikołaj Dowgielewicz, Minister for European Integration.

Both countries will defend the common agricultural policy from Germany and the UK, and want to build the foundations of a European army during French leadership of the EU.

Sarkozy will also declare support for the Polish project of integration with former USSR countries, called the Eastern Partnership. President Sarkozy will meet President Lech Kaczyński and later PM Donald Tusk.

Source: Dziennik