Poland's role in the development of an 'Eastern Dimension' of the European Union

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. The ‘Eastern Dimension’ of the European Union

1.2. Problem

1.3. Structure

2. Explaining Poland’s role with theoretical concepts

2.1. Intergovernmentalism

2.2. Supranationalism

2.3. Intergovernmentalism vs. Supranationalism

3. Poland’s foreign policy after 1989

3.1. Principles of Poland’s foreign policy

3.2. Poland’s Eastern Policy

3.3. Eastern policy and regional cooperations

4. Poland and its Eastern neighbours

4.1. Ukraine

4.1.1. 1991 to 1994: Polite declarations and mutual commitments

4.1.2. 1994 to 1998 Poland’s integration in the Western structures

4.1.3. 1998 to 2004: Poland’s way in the EU

4.1.4. From 2004: The ‘Orange Revolution’ and beyond

4.2. Belarus

4.2.1. 1991 to 1994: Belarus’ decline under independence

4.2.2. 1994 to 1996: The begin of Aleksander Lukashenko’s presidency

4.2.3. 1996 to 2001: International isolation

4.2.4. From 2001: Belarus as the last dictatorship in Europe

4.3. Russia

4.3.1. 1989 to 1994: Poland’s Russia-centered policy

4.3.2. 1994 to 1999: Russian vs. Polish interests

4.3.3. 1999 to 2004: Slight normalisation of the relations

4.3.4. From 2004: Poland as a member of the EU

5. Poland and European foreign policy

5.1. From an Eastern policy to a ‘Wider Europe’

5.1.1. Poland’s contribution to the European Neighbourhood Policy

5.1.2. ‘Eastern Dimension’ vs. ENP: similarities and differences

5.1.3. The ENP in practice

5.1.4. Countries included in the ENP

5.1.4.1. Ukraine

5.1.4.2. Belarus

5.2. The EU and Russia

5.2.1. Russia and the ENP

5.2.2. Poland, Russia and the EU

5.3. ‘Eastern Dimension’, ENP and theoretical concepts

6. Conclusion

Objectives and Topics

This master's thesis examines Poland's role in shaping the European Union's foreign policy toward its Eastern neighbours. It specifically investigates the divergence between Poland's proposed "Eastern Dimension" and the actual European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) adopted by the EU, analyzing the extent to which Polish interests were integrated into the European framework.

• Theoretical analysis of Intergovernmentalism versus Supranationalism in EU foreign policy formation.
• Evaluation of Poland's foreign policy principles and regional cooperation efforts after 1989.
• In-depth study of bilateral relations between Poland and its Eastern neighbours: Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
• Comparison of Polish proposals for an "Eastern Dimension" with the implemented ENP.

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Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Outlines the geopolitical shifts for Poland after EU accession, defines the problem of establishing an Eastern policy, and provides an overview of the thesis structure.

2. Explaining Poland’s role with theoretical concepts: Discusses the theoretical frameworks of Intergovernmentalism and Supranationalism to analyze how national interests interact with European decision-making processes.

3. Poland’s foreign policy after 1989: Details the principles of Polish foreign policy, the evolution of its Eastern strategy, and participation in various regional groupings.

4. Poland and its Eastern neighbours: Provides a detailed analysis of Poland's bilateral relations with Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, highlighting the differing challenges with each country.

5. Poland and European foreign policy: Compares the development of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) with Poland's specific "Eastern Dimension" proposal and assesses Poland's influence on the process.

6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings regarding Poland’s impact on EU Eastern policy and provides an outlook for future developments.

Keywords

Poland, European Union, Eastern Dimension, European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), Foreign Policy, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Intergovernmentalism, Supranationalism, Regional Cooperation, EU Enlargement, Geopolitics, Strategic Partnership, Transformation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The thesis explores Poland's role and influence in developing an "Eastern Dimension" of European Union foreign policy and analyzes its relationship with the officially implemented European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

What are the primary themes analyzed?

The work covers Poland's post-1989 foreign policy, theoretical approaches to integration (Intergovernmentalism vs. Supranationalism), regional cooperation efforts, and the specific bilateral relations with Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

What is the main objective of the research?

The study aims to understand why the Polish proposal for an "Eastern Dimension" was not fully realized and whether the ENP framework is sufficient to meet Poland's strategic policy goals regarding its Eastern neighbors.

Which scientific method is applied in this work?

The thesis uses a qualitative analysis approach, contrasting theoretical concepts of European integration with empirical developments in EU foreign policy and examining specific policy documents and proposals.

What topics are discussed in the main part of the thesis?

The main sections cover the historical context of Poland's foreign policy, detailed breakdowns of relations with Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, and a critical, document-based comparison between Polish non-papers and EU strategy papers.

How are the key terms of the thesis defined?

The key terms include "Eastern Dimension" (Poland's regional proposal) and "European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)" (the EU's broader common framework), alongside political theories like Intergovernmentalism and Supranationalism.

How does the author evaluate the "Eastern Dimension" versus the ENP?

The author argues that while they share common principles, they follow different geographical scopes and approaches to membership, with the "Eastern Dimension" being more regional and demand-driven compared to the broader, assistance-oriented ENP.

What is the significance of the "Orange Revolution" in this context?

The "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine is highlighted as a critical juncture where Poland played a significant role as an advocate for Ukraine, testing the effectiveness and limits of the EU's common engagement strategies.