On May 1, 2004, Poland found itself among friends at home. The hopes associated with that day have been more than fulfilled, emphasized Radosław Sikorski, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the 20th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU. The minister also spoke about the fight to ensure that “bad people who attack our values do not prevail.”
On the occasion of the anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU, Sikorski participated in a ceremony in Słubice on Wednesday, alongside the head of German diplomacy, Annalena Baerbock.
During a joint press conference, Sikorski emphasized that on May 1, 2004, Poland found itself where it belongs - “Among friends, among allies, in Europe, at home. Generations of Poles fought for this,” he stressed. According to the head of Polish diplomacy, the hopes associated with that day “have been more than fulfilled.”
Sikorski recounted the story of his son, who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced closed borders within the EU for the first time.
“This is exactly what we are fighting for—so that the experience of borders does not return, so that the bad people who attack our values, who again want to return to nineteenth-century ways of conducting politics, do not prevail,” emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During a joint press conference, Baerbock emphasized that the expansion of the Union to the East was a wonderful moment. “We, as countries, societies, as Europe, found in ourselves the strength to overcome the division of Europe and thus ultimately became a community of peace. For all of us, not just the new member states, it was a moment of becoming stronger and safer. And we see this today,” she noted.
Baerbock pointed out that European integration “does not fall from the sky” but requires responsibility, strength, and courage. “And that’s what connects us here today. That’s why today, as current foreign ministers, we are between Poland and Germany, because we believe that today we again need this brave responsibility. To turn our union of economy and trade into a union of security. And here, cooperation between our countries is most important. Europe must become a union of security,” she emphasized.
In this context, she drew attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine and asserted that we cannot afford to have gray zones in Europe.
“The EU must be reformed so that it is stronger in security policy, so that it speaks with one voice, and at the same time accepts those countries that also want to become part of this union of freedom and security,” she assessed.
During a joint press conference, Sikorski emphasized that on May 1, 2004, Poland found itself where it belongs - “Among friends, among allies, in Europe, at home. Generations of Poles fought for this,” he stressed. According to the head of Polish diplomacy, the hopes associated with that day “have been more than fulfilled.”
Sikorski recounted the story of his son, who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced closed borders within the EU for the first time.
“This is exactly what we are fighting for—so that the experience of borders does not return, so that the bad people who attack our values, who again want to return to nineteenth-century ways of conducting politics, do not prevail,” emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During a joint press conference, Baerbock emphasized that the expansion of the Union to the East was a wonderful moment. “We, as countries, societies, as Europe, found in ourselves the strength to overcome the division of Europe and thus ultimately became a community of peace. For all of us, not just the new member states, it was a moment of becoming stronger and safer. And we see this today,” she noted.
Baerbock pointed out that European integration “does not fall from the sky” but requires responsibility, strength, and courage. “And that’s what connects us here today. That’s why today, as current foreign ministers, we are between Poland and Germany, because we believe that today we again need this brave responsibility. To turn our union of economy and trade into a union of security. And here, cooperation between our countries is most important. Europe must become a union of security,” she emphasized.
In this context, she drew attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine and asserted that we cannot afford to have gray zones in Europe.
“The EU must be reformed so that it is stronger in security policy, so that it speaks with one voice, and at the same time accepts those countries that also want to become part of this union of freedom and security,” she assessed.
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