A HEAD IN SAND

MIROSŁAW PIOTROWSKI

Where is Tusk? This question is heard more and more frequently not only in the European Parliament, but is formulated on pages of foreign newspapers. It concerns two most important events on which the European Union is concentrated – the so-called grexit, that is, a possibility of leaving the community by Greece and the war in Ukraine. With an attempt of solving two urgent issues, the newly-elected chairperson of the European Council, called the ‘president of Europe’ in an exaggerated way, is invisible. Nearly three months ago, just after his election, there appeared opinions, that nomination of Tusk would strengthen the eastern direction of the EU, would tease Putin’s Russia, because it is obvious that the politician from Poland will be doing everything in order to get engaged in matters of his region. However, there is silence and emptiness. Only those can be disappointed by the attitude of Tusk, who took his incoherent narration seriously. First, he denied being interested in any post in the Union, so as to state after the election for the most lucrative post of the chief of the Council, that ‘presence of people from our region is needed by EU, especially that in the last months the situation around Europe changed’. He assured that the Union needs not only his experience but also energy. He said that he had arrived here with ‘a strong sense of a mission’. He announced bravely: ‘Polish style will be reflected in what Europe will be doing in the future’. Was he aware then that he would be given a role of an invisible but well-paid figurehead, approving of all moves of his supervisor? It is just the chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, with the support of the president of France Francois Holland playing the second fiddle, who took over the initiative completely. This duet on behalf of all EU countries decides about the political future of this region with the authorities of Russia and Ukraine. The chairperson of the European Council does not even assist them. Poland, bordering with both countries, was ‘logged out’ from the talks. The mentioned four countries – Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France – were defined as the so-called Normand format, whose decisions are supported by the chairperson of the Council blindly. Tusk, struggling with criticism on his passivity, argues publicly, that Germany and France are consulting moves with him and is informed about them early enough. In Brussels very few people believe it. Nevertheless, when in the eastern flank of the Union there is a serious fight for influences spheres, Tusk, hiding his head in sand, not only devotes the community interest, but taking on this position, is somehow forced to expose another part of his body.

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„Niedziela” 9/2015

Editor: Tygodnik Katolicki "Niedziela", ul. 3 Maja 12, 42-200 Czestochowa, Polska
Editor-in-chief: Fr Jaroslaw Grabowski • E-mail: redakcja@niedziela.pl