Why Poland Matters

Author comments on the potential impact of the reforms being introduced by the new PiS government in Poland following its victory in the October 2015 election.

The author suggests that Poland will be a big loser unless PiS can reconcile its strong nationalist, patriotic, and Catholic weltanschauung with an EU anchored on openness and tolerance.

The big winner if PiS turns away from the EU will be Russia. A strong and united EU is not in Russia’s interests.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Poland willing to trade British EU reform demands against boosting NATO http://www.europeansources.info/record/poland-willing-to-trade-british-eu-reform-demands-against-boosting-nato/

ESO: Background information: Polish parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/polish-parliamentary-election-2015/

ESO: Background information: View from Poland: New government, new tone http://www.europeansources.info/record/view-from-poland-new-government-new-tone/

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what?: EU alarmed by Poland's reforms http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2016-01-eugegenpolen/

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