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Poland and the Nordic States

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A Modern Nordic Saga : Politics, Economy and Society

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Abstract

The prospects of cooperation between Poland and the Nordic countries are based on significant economic compatibility and convergence of political interests within the frame of the European Union, with the notable exception of the relations with the Russian Federation. Given the import and potential of the regional cooperation, the relations between those countries may exhibit alongside convergence and common interest also a significant divergence of interest as a result of economic competitiveness.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For example, in 1617 the parliament in Őrebro sanctioned severe penalties for contacts and relations with Poland. The intention was to isolate “the Papists” from the South until King Sigismund III Vasa relinquished the claim to the Swedish throne,

  2. 2.

    S. Noreėn, the former Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden in Warsaw.

  3. 3.

    See: Chap. 10.

  4. 4.

    It is a two-way street as the relations of the Republic of Poland and the biggest states of Europe and the world will also determine our possibilities of influencing the region; see also: M. Lasoń, Priorytety polskiej polityki zagranicznej 2012–2016- strategiczną wizją na drugą dekadę XXI wieku? pp. 341–352.

  5. 5.

    The Swedes, for example, have not experienced war for over 200 years.

  6. 6.

    It was mainly Sweden and Finland, which deciding to remain outside any military alliances, are still open for cooperation with NATO in many areas of security, without limiting the cooperation to Europe only.

  7. 7.

    At the same time, the Swedes pointed out that Poland needs to accelerate the pace of structural reforms, particularly as regards to Europe’s high environmental protection targets and standards.

  8. 8.

    The goal of the program was further development in the relations not only in the political and economic dimension, but also in the regional sense. Poland reciprocated with the program “Polen.nu” in 2003.

  9. 9.

    More on the subject in: R. M. Czarny, Szwecja w Unii Europejskiej. Studium polityczno-prawne, pp. 105–226.

  10. 10.

    The matter was the initial reserved attitude towards the idea presented by Germany and an unclear position of the former USSR.

  11. 11.

    More on the subject in: B. Huldt, Dekada aktywności małych państw: Zmiany w regionie Morza Bałtyckiego po zimnej wojnie, pp. 467–85.

  12. 12.

    Three referendums ended in a negative result and the lack of current public opinion polling on the sentiments towards joining the EU seems to indicate that Norway will not become a member soon, if ever.

  13. 13.

    Iceland has officially started the EU accession process which is ongoing.

  14. 14.

    After nearly 18 years, the advancement of the European integration and the EU enlargement have brought the situation where “…the bigger family finds it more difficult to make a decision that would satisfy everyone. Especially smaller members may have a problem to have their voice heard. It is often so that the big ones dominate. Hence, in order to increase their influence, it is only natural for smaller members to seek partners and alliances among those who happen to share their attitudes and points of view.” J.-E. Enestam, Tiden mogen för nordisk röst i EU. More and more often, there comes up a view that Norden states should act jointly and speak in one voice in the EU. It seems the time has come to build “a Nordic bloc” in the European Union, which should also give an opportunity for Iceland and Norway (formally outside of the EU) to be heard more attentively.

  15. 15.

    More on the subject in: Bezpieczeństwo międzynarodowe czasu przemian. Zagrożenia – Koncepcje – Instytucje.

  16. 16.

    Polityka zagraniczna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w roku 1991.

  17. 17.

    See: www.msz.gov.pl.

  18. 18.

    The Baltic Sea region is still a region “in the making” which differentiates it from other regions of Europe with already fully shaped forms of cooperation. One could say that it is not clearly defined by natural geographical boundaries, which is evidenced by the fact that it might be referred to also as the Baltic Zone or Baltic Europe. Geographers emphasize the importance of the Baltic Sea drainage basin (in this sense, the participating countries are: Sweden – 24.38 %, Russia – 18.82 %, Poland – 18.11 %, Finland – 17.65 %, Belarus – 5.17 %, Lithuania – 3.78 %, Latvia – 3.76 %, Estonia – 2.64 %, Denmark – 1.91 %, Germany – 1.62 %, Ukraine – 0.79 %, Norway – 0,78 %, the Czech Republic - 0,45 %, and Slovakia – 0.14 %). In terms of the population, Poland is the top country (44.86 %), then comes Russia (11.96 %), followed by Sweden (10.02 %).

  19. 19.

    Littoral countries are one of the determinants of the Baltic region. However, it seems to be more rational to delineate the region on the basis of real political, economic and cultural ties of the Baltic Sea Basin. Within this meaning, the Baltic States should also include Norway (for historical reasons, i.e. the centuries-old personal union with Denmark and later on with Sweden), and Iceland participating in Baltic cooperation due to strong ties with the other Nordic countries.

  20. 20.

    Poland established formal diplomatic relations with z Finland on March 8, 1919.

  21. 21.

    S. Niinisto came to Poland for the Arraiolos meeting in Kraków in 2013, as well as in 2014 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first democratic Polish elections of June 4, 1989.

  22. 22.

    See: the Internet site euractive.com, http://www.euractiv.com/sections/all/news, February 2013.

  23. 23.

    Based on data available at: http://msz.gov.pl/pl/polityka_zagraniczna/europa/stosunki_z_panstwami_europy/finlandia?printMode=true.

  24. 24.

    More on the subject in: R. M. Czarny, High North – między geografią a polityką, pp. 210–222.

  25. 25.

    All data after: http://msz.gov.pl/pl/polityka_zagraniczna/europa/stosunki_z_panstwami_europy/dania.

  26. 26.

    The Polish-Icelandic diplomatic relations were established in 1946.

  27. 27.

    The Protocol adjusting the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) among the European Communities entered into force on December 6, 2005.

  28. 28.

    Berlin is the seat of the Ambassador of Iceland accredited in Poland (since 2002).

  29. 29.

    Retrieved June 03, 2014 from http://msz.gov.pl/pl/polityka_zagraniczna/europa/stosunki_z_panstwami_europy/islandia.

  30. 30.

    Poland established diplomatic relations with Sweden on June 3, 1919.

  31. 31.

    More on the subject in: R. M. Czarny, Partnerstwo Wschodnie: szansa i wyzwanie dla UE. Zarys aktywności Polski i Szwecji, pp. 91–99.

  32. 32.

    Contents of the document retrieved November 23, 2013 from http://www.swedenabroad.com/ImageVaultFiles/id_14611/cf_2/Deklaracja_o_wsp-pracy_politycznej_mi-dzy_Polsk-_a.PDF.

  33. 33.

    The Declaration states among others: Energy and climate. Energy efficiency measures based on alternative energy sources (including waste), environmental technology, innovations, water purification and other Baltic Sea issues are seen as central strategic areas of cooperation that will strengthen growth promotion while also promoting dialogue on climate issues. Close cooperation ahead of this year’s conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be hosted by Poland in November, may also contribute to promoting dialogue on internal EU climate measures. Poland’s becoming a member of the international Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), at the invitation of Sweden and other members, provides a further platform for bilateral and international cooperation in the climate area, linked to air quality. Energy cooperation with secretariats in Poland and Sweden, focus on network building between actors, dissemination and development of knowledge. The cooperation is based partly on work by Swedish municipalities on replacing fossil fuels with renewable fuels and the contribution of the forest industries to energy transition. Cooperation involves: action plan for waste management in south-west Poland, seminars on biogas production in agriculture and sustainable urban development, water purification, cultivation and production of biomass, and waste, as well as project for producing biogas from waste in Zabrze. Cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) concerning possible enlargement to include Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and district heating/energy efficiency measures in Ukraine. Close dialogue with the aim of developing common positions on development of the EU nuclear energy sector (e.g. on nuclear safety and nuclear third party liability). Polish interest in Swedish know-how and legislation on nuclear safety and nuclear waste. Cooperation aimed at sharing experience on waste management in the context of municipal and medical waste.” Retrieved June 11, 2014 from http://www.swedenabroad.com/ImageVaultFiles/id_14614/cf_2/Zaktualizowana_informacja_na_temat_polsko-szwedzki.PDF.

  34. 34.

    The document Strategic cooperation between Sweden and Poland-update of the Background Paper was much developed and extended on October 14, 2013. http://www.swedenabroad.com/ImageVaultFiles/id_14614/cf_2/Zaktualizowana_informacja_na_temat_polsko-szwedzki.PDF.

  35. 35.

    The 3rd Polish-Swedish Parliamentary Forum was held in Stockholm in November 2012; retrieved October 01, 2013 from http://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm7.nsf/komunikat.xsp?documentId=ED7138EBBA2E7131C1257AB6004843F5.

  36. 36.

    Retrieved March 04, 2014 from http://www.energyplatform.net/.

  37. 37.

    Some good examples of such contacts include: the official visit to Norway (November 19–21, 2012) of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen. M. Cieniuch, the official visit to Norway (January 15–18, 2013) of Major General Marek Tomaszycki, the Chief of Training in the Polish Land Forces Command, and the latest (March 20–21, 2013) meeting of B. Winid, Polish Undersecretary of State for Security Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Eirik Øwre Thorshaug, State Norwegian Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, and visiting the company Kongsberg Defence.

  38. 38.

    Data after: http://www.amb-norwegia.pl/news_and_events/Dwustronne-stosunki/Norwesko-polska-wspopraca/#.VsBcmvnhDIU.

  39. 39.

    Retrieved July 05, 2014 from http://msz.gov.pl/pl/polityka_zagraniczna/europa/stosunki_z_panstwami_europy/norwegia.

  40. 40.

    All data after: T. Chałupa, Polsko-norweska wymiana handlowa w okresie styczeń-listopad 2015.

  41. 41.

    Among others, see: https://www.google.pl/search?q=Skandynawska+prasa+o+Polsce&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=-njBU6CACIT14QSXnIGQDg&ved=0CCUQsAQ4Cg&biw=1242&bih=612.

  42. 42.

    More on the subject in: R. M. Czarny, Partnerstwo Wschodnie: szansa i wyzwanie dla UE. Zarys aktywności Polski i Szwecji, pp. 91–99.

  43. 43.

    Nic o Polsce bez Polski [Nothing on Poland without Poland], an interview with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.

  44. 44.

    This group includes all the Nordic States.

  45. 45.

    Poland is a signatory to the Spitsbergen Treaty, known also as the Treaty of Paris, which was signed in Paris on February 9, 1920, and entered into force on August 14, 1925. See: Traktat Spitsbergeński, at: http://hornsund.igf.edu.pl/traktat.html.

  46. 46.

    Compare: A. Maurer, The Arctic region – perspectives from member states and institutions of the EU.

  47. 47.

    Polish diplomacy undertakes bilateral initiatives to secure stability in the High North. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, and his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, in the article published by The New York Times on February 2010, called for substantial reductions of tactical nuclear weapons, including the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from the Kaliningrad Oblast and the Kola Peninsula; see: Next, the Tactical Nukes, by Carl Bildt and Radek Sikorski.

  48. 48.

    As Dr. Robert Huebert, a professor at the University of Calgary in Canada, claims: “We are already in an Arctic arms race. The polar region is akin to Europe in 1935.” And he illustrates the statement with the following examples: Russia has 10,000 troops deployed near its northern border. Norway has in recent years bought five new super modern Navy frigates with advanced Aegis weapons systems; Denmark is also increasing military spending to support its polar position. Quoted after: W. Rodgers, War over the Arctic? Global warming skeptics distract us from security risks; compare also: J. Piaseczny, Spory o podział Arktyki.

  49. 49.

    More on the subject in: J. Grzela, Rola i miejsce Arktyki w polityce zagranicznej Polski.

  50. 50.

    See: Regeringens declaration vid 2013 års utrikespolitiska debatt i Riksdagen.

  51. 51.

    It regards in particular to the investments but also other areas like green economy, the principle of sustainable development, innovativeness and creativity. More on the subject in Chap. 7.

  52. 52.

    Z. Brzeziński stated that the said position of Poland “…as easily predicted, will be difficult to achieve without close cooperation with the Nordic countries,” Polska przyszłości.

  53. 53.

    See: P. A. Maciążek, Co się dzieje z Trójkątem Kaliningradzkim?”Trójkąt Kaliningradzki żyje, stał się jedynie mniej medialny.

  54. 54.

    I refer here to the Gothenburg European Council 2001 and a special support of Sweden at Nice.

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  1. Chair of North European Countries Dept., Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland

    Ryszard M. Czarny

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Czarny, R.M. (2017). Poland and the Nordic States. In: A Modern Nordic Saga : Politics, Economy and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42363-0_15

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