2019-12-11 20:23 update: 2019-12-14, 10:55
Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. Photo: PAP/Piotr Nowak
Europe's security depends on the strength of transatlantic relations; NATO and the EU should not compete with each other, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said on Wednesday after the 29th Utrecht Conference in The Hague.
Czaputowicz underlined the role of the Utrecht Conference in Polish-Dutch relations, and noted the support given by Holland to Poland during Poland's EU accession talks. He also praised current Polish-Dutch ties in the context of this year's 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Czaputowicz pointed out that Poland and Holland shared similar views on defence, security, Brexit and UN foreign policy, and also mentioned differences in areas like EU enlargement and the EU budget. He also underlined the need to protect the EU single market, which should be free from protectionism, especially regarding the free flow of services.
"We will not build an economically competitive EU if the single market will not be fully realised, especially with regard to the freedom of services," Czaputowicz said.
Commenting on Brexit, Czaputowicz said Poland was for upholding strong relations between the EU and Britain after the latter's departure from the community. He also stressed that in order to raise public trust in its institutions, the EU needed to strengthen the role of democratically elected bodies like national parliaments.
Czaputowicz also stated the importance of continuing talks on EU enlargement with the Western Balkan countries, and called the European Council's recent postponement of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia "a mistake."
Recounting the recent NATO summit in London, Czaputowicz said the Polish government believed that the EU should cooperate with the US and other NATO countries, and stressed that for Poland, European security was based on strong transatlantic ties. He added that NATO and the EU should not compete with each other, but work together.
With regard to the EU budget, Czaputowicz said Warsaw wanted an "ambitious" budget capable not only of financing new projects, but upholding "traditional policies" like cohesion.
Recounting his talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok, Czaputowicz said they revolved around bilateral relations, Russia, relations with the US and China, and current EU affairs, including the new EC line-up. Czaputowicz said Poland was in favor of "a strong EU and a bigger (EU - PAP) budget," and did not agree to "carry the weight of energy transformations on its shoulders."
Regarding energy and the EC's European Green Deal policy, Czaputowicz said Poland had already done much to adjust its energy system, and appealed for more responsibility in the matter on the part of international organisations.
Commenting on Blok's words about the rule of law in Poland, spoken during the Utrecht meeting, Czaputowuicz said he had informed the Dutch foreign minister about Poland's stand in the matter, and stressed that the Polish justice system did not differ from its western counterparts.
Blok observed that the Utrecht Conference was not only a debate platform in the sphere of bilateral relations, but also in areas like security, defence and the single market. Recounting the meeting's main topics, he named "contentuous" issues related to equal rights, democracy and judicial independence in Poland, including Poland's rule of law conflict with the EC.
On Wednesday, Czaputowicz also lit candles on the graves of Polish World War II soldiers in a cemetery in Hoek van Holland.
Inaugurated in 1999, the Utrecht Conference is a series of Polish-Dutch consultations covering bilateral ties and current European issues. (PAP)
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