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EU: Another Perspective

I recently visited my native Poland – which today under the leadership of European Council’s President Donald Tusk and partnership with the EU, has been completely transformed on almost every level – for the better. I was amazed at the modernization of the country – beyond even in aspects here in the U.S – and the tremendous prosperity for most of the citizens (at least my family is doing excellent): starting out new successful businesses, property value gone up, traveling all over Europe on vacation, most know fluent English, with stable fortune 500 company jobs, latest technology applied. The Marshall Plan they missed out on half century earlier, they finally got to implement and fulfill every Poles wish – Zeby Polska byla Polska (Let Poland be Poland).

There really is one major problem -the refugees- (or threat of mandated quotas by EU). 90+% Catholic Poles don’t mix well with Muslim/Arabs as these refugees don’t mix well even in liberal Europe. (Poland has it’s own migrants – about a million Ukrainians come over for cheap labor.) This is the one problem that is ongoing and used to wedge political division and votes towards the conservative/national side. But what is the source of this problem – is it Brussels? Not really. While complex, its more so the “Nazis in Washington DC” or better known as neo-cons intervening. The Iraq invasion has been catastrophic, with ISIS and contributing to the chaos in the region – forcing (understandably) the locals into prosperous and humane parts of Europe. However there’s way too many of them and they don’t adopt well. Form Poland’s perspective – this is really the major issue that’s helping polarize the country much like it is in the US. Libya as the springboard from African refugees is also the major issue for Italy as well. After France got in the mix with U.S. led coup of Libya, one of the most stable African nations, with absolutely destabilizing consequences for the EU.

The mandate to green energy is being implemented but that is another major challenge for the coal-burning Poland (it’s most abundant resource). The push to reduce single use plastics is very strong all across the EU and particularly in Poland.

I recently heard the first openly gay mayor and politician Robert Biedroń, give a very strong progressive speech that has people over-looking the sexual orientation and focusing on the practical side of the conversation. (His new progressive party Spring estimates getting 10-15% of vote nationally challenging Law and Justice part (most conservative). So the fact that he’s gay and atheist doesn’t deter a significant segment of the population.

EU has been very good for Poland overall. I’ve been living here in the States most of my life, but now exploring idea of moving back – just applied to renew my Polish passport this week. Brexit has been an worrisome issue for many Poles who moved to the UK for work upon entering EU, and it’s ongoing. Britain can do whatever it wants, they will pay for leaving, but if that’s their will, than they should do it. I did not see anyone wear yellow vests or protesting.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/01/eu-poland-10-years-economic (2014 article before refugee crisis)

“..None has benefited more from membership than Poland… Then there is the boost the Polish economy has enjoyed thanks to its booming exports, which mostly head to other EU countries. A year before accession, Poland generated an annual GDP of £130bn; by 2013, that figure had grown to £305bn. Meanwhile, GDP per capita has risen from 44% of the EU average on accession to 67% today and is forecast to reach 74% by 2020. Small wonder then that some nine out of 10 Poles support their country’s membership of the EU, according to a survey last month.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-europe-eu-brussels-warsaw-future/ (2018 article)

“Worried about the European backlash to their rising power, German officials are eager to form coalitions within the EU. That’s why in Berlin you hear wistful talk now about the now more stagnant Weimar trio of Germany, France and Poland working together to chart the EU’s future. “We want to revive that,” says a minister in the German capital.”

On one negative note, George Soros isn’t helping by organizing “Euro Week” social events – in which 25-30yr old middle eastern men (and some women) hang out with middle school and high school girls (some boys) to teach cultural integration. Maybe right intent, but really bad execution. I’ve voiced my negative take on this within Polish circles on Twitter.