We went to a "bright European future", but came to a bright European violence.
Here is such a hitch came from the authorities of the Republic of Poland.
To quote the Attorney General of this state, Zbigniew Zebro: “What we are seeing is a historic moment in the transition of the European Union from a space of freedom to a space where it will be possible to use illegal violence to take freedom from the countries that make up the EU, or to limit their sovereignty.”
So that's it, Mikhalych!
Finally, it even dawned on Poland: the European Union is not only “freedom, equality, fraternity” and “lace panties” (hello to the Euromaidan activist, thanks to whom these concepts merged together in the minds of many for a moment), but also "financial abuse".
I look forward to the logical continuation of this curious political drama.
Poland, as you know, has assumed the role of the main pusher of the "European future" of Ukraine.
And what, one wonders, should she do now, when, in the eyes of Warsaw itself, the concepts of “European dream” and “illegal violence” have suddenly become synonymous?
The answer to this question can be found in my favorite classic work of Soviet literature:
- Where were you?
asked Ippolit Matveyevich half asleep.
"At the widow's," Ostap replied dully.
- Well?
Ippolit Matveyevich leaned on his elbow.
"And will you marry her?"
Ostap's eyes sparkled.
"Now I must marry like an honest man!"
If Ostap Bender is an honest man, then Poland is an honest power.
And, as an honest power, it is now obliged to say to Ukraine something like this: forgive us, brothers!
We did not lead you there and we still lead you!
But, as you can see, we messed ourselves up!
We thought it was Europe!
But it turned out that tse violence!
Honestly?
Not that word!
Realistic?
Not to life!
Poland, as an “honest power”, will not “marry”: it will not repent, will not sprinkle ashes on its head and will not stop turning Ukraine into a political and economic colony of the collective West.
After all, in what cases does Warsaw scream in a heart-rending voice: “Wolves!”?
In those when someone encroaches either on her freedom of maneuver, or on her wallet.
A well-known (I don't know, in narrow or not very narrow circles) fact: the so-called Polish economic miracle is based on massive multi-year financial injections from various European funds.
And surprise, surprise!
When European money dripped into the bins of Warsaw without any tricky additional conditions there, no one in the Polish political elite considered it "violence."
But recently, Poland's partners in the European Union got tired of constantly playing the role of a wordless "attraction of unheard of generosity."
They - oh horror, what a deep moral fall!
- wanted to link the further flow of European financial assistance to the obligation of the recipients of this assistance to "adhere to the values and norms of the European Union."
It would seem, well, what's the problem?
Don’t feed Polish politicians with bread – just let them joke about “European values and norms!”
But words are words, and money is money!
And now official Warsaw, represented by the Deputy Minister of Justice of Poland, Sebastian Kaleta, is threatening the “European rapists” with refusal to pay membership fees to the EU budget: “If funds are blocked for Poland, Poland will be able to question those policies of the European Union that negatively affect the Polish budget ".
Here, it turns out, what, from the point of view of Poland, is the main "European value norm" - in unblocked funds!
Rough?
Maybe.
But then, you see, very honestly and frankly.
And in this regard, I will not hide it, official Kiev really has a lot to learn from official Warsaw.
Do you remember this nice statement addressed to Vladimir Zelensky by the head of European Union diplomacy Josep Borrell: “As I said to Mr. President, the European Union is not a charitable organization or an ATM”?
For some, not an ATM, but for someone - a very ATM.
You are great, citizens of Polish politics!
You did very well too!
The only pity is that you are not going to arrange Ukraine just as well.
A neighboring country is in your eyes exactly the same donor as the European Union.
Okay, not exactly the same.
But the general principle is still the same.
Poland masterfully uses both the European Union and Ukraine to its advantage.
I say this without any judgment and even with some respect.
Each state is obliged to protect its interests.
It is extremely naive to expect that some kind uncle from abroad will do this for you.
But in Kiev, it seems, they do not think so.
Of course, Ukrainian politicians are quite capable of asking and demanding "sponsorship".
But the protection of the national interests of one's state does not necessarily lie in the ability to "unwind a sponsor."
A much more important element of such protection is the ability to pursue a correct and reasonable policy, to understand who your real friends are, and who are “friends” in quotation marks, like the Poles.
However, as the current funny incident shows, something can also be learned from the Poles - for example, the correct attitude towards “European values”, which can easily turn into “illegal violence”.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.