A Stronger Partner, A Closer Friend
The EU enlargement presents a unique opportunity to make the vision of “Europe whole, free, at peace, and growing in prosperity” - a desire articulated by successive Presidents of the United States - come true. Within the reborn Europe the American dimension will have a chance to be strengthened. The newcomers have brought to the EU the potential of a new gambit for relations between both sides of the Atlantic.
Not a long time ago president Aleksander
Kwaśniewski of Poland, in the midst of a debate between Europe and America on how to
better respond to the threat of Saddam Hussein, was asked by journalists whether Warsaw
preferred to be a closer friend of Washington or of Brussels. And the answer, echoing the
idea of the former Polish Foreign Minister Władyslaw Bartoszewski, followed: do not
expect us to choose between a father and a mother. This reflects the philosophy of a
newcomer but also that of the United States. Let me refer to the famous President Bush’s
Wawel speech: Poland is a good citizen of Europe and Poland is a close friend of
America – and there is no conflict between the two. Sharing the European sensitivity
and understanding the American role in spreading democracy and security in the world
Poland has contributed to the spirit of unity in the transatlantic family. Now one may say
that we should do even more to pass from the community of values to the community of
action – using the expression of our President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. In the
aftermath of September 11 and March 11 it is obvious that there won’t be a separate
peace. Thus, the efforts to create a safer world should be made by both sides, acting
together.
Since yesterday 450 million citizens (one and half more than the population of the United
States) of all 25 member countries have enjoyed traveling throughout the whole European
Union (almost half of the area of the United States) not only without visas but without
passports as well. To flash a national ID is enough, like on the US – Canadian border
for citizens of both countries.
Ambassador Grudziński and his staff
raise the EU flag in front of the Embassy
It is my strong conviction that in a not too distant future the United States should consider creating more favorable conditions for free travel of Europeans to America, so as not to miss the historic opportunity to revitalize the transatlantic bonds. Friends of America should feel welcomed in this country. This would contribute to deepening the awareness of common values and mutually beneficial interests of the whole transatlantic community, especially in the face of terrorist threats. The whole and free Europe should be treated as a trusted friend. Let us translate the new wave of enthusiasm in Europe into a Transatlantic New Deal.
The largest enlargement in the EU history is a complementary process to the latest wave of the enlargement of NATO. The convergence of both confirms the strategic direction of the Europeans - our desire to widen a space of security and peace. Poland as a beneficiary of the process will advocate promoting it further to the East. As a new element in the EU structure my country will spare no efforts to improve the quality of transatlantic relations, strongly believing that this is a key to peace and stability. In that sense the future of Europe and the future of Poland in Europe depends not only on Warsaw or Brussels but on Washington as well. Drifting apart of both transatlantic partners would have disastrous consequences for the future of international relations, reaching far beyond our Western family. As President George W. Bush put it in his speech delivered a year ago at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, Poland: The enemies of freedom have always preferred a divided alliance – because when Europe and America are united, no problem and no enemy can stand against us.
Ambassador Przemysław Grudziński