In the context of the intensification of political debates on the European integration of the Republic of Moldova, IPN News Agency asked a number of resident EU ambassadors in Chisinau to state their views and recommendations related to the state of affairs, starting from the experience of the own countries on the road to the EU. Our interlocutor today is His Excellence Ambassador of Poland to Moldova Artur Michalski.
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Poland’s Ambassador in Chisinau Artur Michalski follows the rapprochement between Moldova and the European Union and believes the fact that the Republic of Moldova achieved two important results on this path should not be neglected, namely that it associated itself with the EU, which means regular contact and communication, and is for now the only Eastern Partnership country whose citizens can travel visa-free in the European Union. On the other hand, the fact that a part of society does not feel the effects of this process should also not be overlooked.
Artur Michalski said the European integration process is a long-lasting one and requires political will and consistency in doing reforms. “It’s not a secret, and all the European ambassadors here speak about this, that there is no such consistency as some of the Moldovan politicians abused the confidence given by the European Union and didn’t implement reforms for the benefit of society, but took care of the own interests. This thing influenced society’s perception of this process. The doctor should not be penalized for prescribing incorrect medicines when the patient does not follow the treatment. I think the Moldovan administration now has this feeling that effort should be made to regain the society’s confidence. They should do reforms. The course was set. The Association Agreement was signed and I think we will advance in this direction,” stated the diplomat.
Poland was one of the states that pleaded for forming the Eastern Partnership and the diplomat wants this partnership to bring about better results. It is a mechanism that directed the attention of the whole European community to its Eastern neighborhood. It is in the interests of the European Union and European community in general, but especially in the interests of Poland and the states from Eastern Europe, for the Eastern Partnership member states to modernize, become richer, freer and more democratic. All these lead to a higher security level. The population in these states becomes more confident and optimistic as many problems appear because of lack of confidence etc., which also influences the security of the state, said the Polish ambassador.
Poland is a strong advocate of Moldova in the rapprochement with EU
Artur Michalski noted that Poland has been a strong advocate for the Republic of Moldova in the process of coming closer to the EU from the very beginning. As to the new problems in the EU and the older ones in Moldova, the diplomat said all the states face difficulties, but each of them has the right to decide the own fate, as the citizens of the UK decided, for example. The society in the UK is divided, but most of the people there voted for leaving the EU.
“We have good relations with the UK and this decision does not influence our solid relations in all the areas. Evidently, we do not want the situation to worsen and are for the European Union to keep its unity and diversity. Each country has an own perception of things and distinct features, but this does not mean that we cannot be united and I think it will be like this in continuation,” stated Artur Michalski.
As regards the issue of migrants, the ambassador said not only Poland, but also other member states of the Visegrad Group center on the safety of the own borders and provision of the necessary assistance to citizens in their countries of origin as it is impossible for all the migrants to come to Europe.
Consistency of reforms is very important in European integration process
Asked about the actions that need to be taken in the European integration process to maintain the enthusiasm of society for this long-lasting process, Artur Michalski said that consistency is needed and the goal that must be achieved should be realized very well and this is very important. “We were lucky because we (Poland – e.n.) at the start of the 1990s and then during a long period of time maintained a consensus on the foreign policy, namely the direction we want to follow. Society’s acceptance of reforms is also important because the reforms are like surgery and cannot be endured easily. But when they realize that there are chances of recovery as a result of this operation or it will be worse otherwise, these measures are necessary. We took such measures and were lucky. Surely, in any democratic society there are differing opinions about aspects related to Poland’s position inside the European Union, but Polish society is one of the most optimistic and wants the EU to be consolidated,” added the diplomat.
In the same connection, Artur Michalski said patience is also needed in the European integration process, but it is easy to say and hard to do it, while the experience of the Polish people showed that each society can solve the problems as they consider appropriately. Consistency in doing reforms brings about positive results. At the same time, Moldova needs to take action in the area of identity as it faces a series of problems here. “I will soon leave Moldova. During the four years I spent here, I ascertained that the communication with those that have another perception of the history and the past than the rest of society, because the perception of the future derives from the perception of the past, is one of the biggest problems. This is a common problem of many states, while Poland’s experience in this regard is rather interesting. Moldovan society should realize that no one will solve their problems. The partners can only help. There should be an own perception of things and, if reforms are done, consistently in needed in the process. Reforms should not be done because someone gives orders as, based on such an approach, positive results are not usually achieved,” stated the ambassador.
He also said that the reforms produce results only when the people understand that these have sense and, if these were successful in the case of other people, these will definitely be successful for them too. Poland covered this path and experience shows the results are different if, for example, a student knows that he learns to build a future or just because the teachers tell him to do so.
There are similarities and differences between Moldova and Poland. The history of a Communist system makes them resemble, but Poland was outside the Soviet Union, while Moldova was inside it and this thing changes perspectives a lot. They said Poland was the most independent country in that area and there are three essential differences here. One: Poland has always had private property and the private companies could work individually. Two: the notion of peasantry wasn’t lost despite collectivization. The resistance put up by the population didn’t allow this to expand too much. Owing to this, the people knew how to cultivate own crops. When the stage of political and economic freedom was reached, these persons found it easier to adjust to the European integration process and enter the European market. The position of the Church is the third, distinctive factor. In Poland, the Catholic Church served as a refuge for those who were against the Communist policy. It was an independent environment and an area of freedom.
Alina Marin, IPN
