Confrontation between Nausėda and Duda: In a dispute with the EU, the President of Lithuania sided with Poland

The country’s head, A. Duda, who is on an official visit to Lithuania, is visiting here at a difficult time: he has been searching for ever-diminishing allies in Europe for some time. In Poland (and beyond), with ongoing protests over the Constitutional Court (CC) decision paving the way for extremely strict regulation of abortion options, Warsaw has gone beyond strict rhetoric.

Such a decision of the CC was condemned by the Council of Europe, but alone. The previously criticized CC reform and other decisions by Polish rulers regarding human rights and freedom of the media have forced the EU to include a provision in the 2021-2027 period. The community budget in the hundreds of billions. EUR support is linked to respect for the rule of law. As a result, the criticized Poland, along with Hungary, has already threatened to block the EU budget and thus lead to an unprecedented crisis in a Europe already shaken by the coronavirus.

How should Lithuania behave? Even in an effort not to damage relations with both Brussels and the strategic partner, a clearer statement between support for the neighbor and respect for declared values ​​can lead to many, and the importance of the word weighed several times will inevitably show what Lithuania supports.

Unpleasant Questions for Presidents

That dilemma, and not the strategic partnership issues that have prevailed so far in recent years, dominated if not at the meeting of A. Duda and G. Nausėda, which was not mentioned at least on the president’s Twitter account. from Lithuania, at least after the press conference.

🇱🇹 & 🇵🇱 put all efforts to fight the second wave of # COVID-19. @prezydentpl and I met to discuss a coordinated response 🇱🇹🇵🇱 to coronavirus, vaccination strategies and testing. Security and defense, @NATO Y #I, bilateral relations are also on the table. pic.twitter.com/36mjlFwQi1

– Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) November 17, 2020

It is true that just before the press conference, G. Nausėda admitted to having spoken on such easy subjects.

“Inevitably, as good friends, we talk about difficult issues, including human rights,” G. Nausėda announced on Facebook on Tuesday after the meeting.

“My position is clear: I have always spoken and will continue to speak in favor of the promotion of human rights and freedoms and of an impartial dialogue with the public. I also follow this attitude when it comes to women’s reproductive health in Poland.” , said.

The Lithuanian leader said he hoped Poland, being “one of the oldest democracies in Europe”, would seek “a constructive dialogue with all sectors of society.” Mr. Nausėda spoke with Mr. Duda, among other things, about the European Union budget and the Recovery Fund, its faster approval.

When asked about Lithuania’s support in future negotiations and a possible veto of the EU budget, which would mean that Lithuania’s interests in receiving the necessary support funds from the EU during the pandemic would suffer, Poland’s attitude is really different from the rest of the EU members.

“There can be no provisions that are not based on the EU Treaty. We do not agree with any dictates, this is our unequivocal position,” said the Polish president, who initially pointed to the coronavirus situation as one of the main “problems. ”And stressed that bilateral relations did not depend on problems within the two countries.

In Mr Duda’s view, should Poland veto the EU budget, even if it means that Europe will have to wait longer to fight the pandemic and how much will it cost the Polish economy? This question initially ridiculed Mr. Duda.

“We hope that all the legal solutions that are not covered by the EU treaties, which will not be agreements, will be clear and not endangering.” Poland’s position is clear and articulate. I think the EU understands it well, “said Duda, adding that no room should be left for interpretations and violations of the honor of states.

“We believe that this is not only in the interest of Poland, as it leads to a situation that could also be dangerous for other EU countries.” As a large country that pays taxes in the EU, Poland works for the EU. And now we are trying to change decisions, the cruise would become a trap for some EU countries, it is not allowed ”, said A. Duda.

For his part, the Lithuanian president added that the negotiations, which dragged on in July, were an attempt to break through a keyhole and reconcile the interests of all EU members, while Poland unequivocally supported that dialogue was easier to achieve than breaking hands.

“We are in a difficult and unpleasant situation in which we have to say: do we move forward or do we stop? I understand that the European Parliament is an institution that plays an important role, so the situation has changed somewhat, including the exercise of the rule of law. This principle is not directed in any way against Hungary, Poland or any other country, it applies to all EU countries. I would ask them to come back to the negotiating table to resolve all the remaining disagreements, not have to go to the veto, otherwise we will all suffer ”, warned G. Nausėda, inviting the disagreeing parties to mediate.

Polish decisions on the abortion ban, which sparked mass protests, also did not distinguish between the positions of G. nausėda and A. Duda.

“In Poland, human rights comply with all international standards. I want to emphasize that the protests were a consequence of the CC’s ruling. This was not a consequence of my decision,” emphasized A. Duda, adding that amendments to the law are already being prepared , that they should calm the protests as a compromise At the time, the Lithuanian president called the mass protests in Poland “a discussion that takes place in the streets.”

“Lithuania is unconditionally and unequivocally in favor of the implementation of human rights, but this does not mean that countries cannot have practices that do not contradict the laws of that country and the principles of EU common law,” said G. Nausėda , adding that abortion regulation is different in different countries. “What’s been going on lately, I think, is an attempt to find a compromise, and if that turns into a protest, we need to find a legal way to make sure there are no protests.”

However, even in the EU there is no unity over the Warsaw decisions. In summer in the Netherlands, a court in Amsterdam set a precedent in a case involving the extradition of two Polish citizens under a European arrest warrant.

Doubts arose about the fairness of the Polish judicial system in Warsaw, and the Poles threatened the Dutch to respond at the same time, not to extradite people to the Netherlands at their request. And although this was an exceptional case, when asked how Lithuania would behave in such a case if Polish citizens applied for asylum, if they felt persecuted, G. Nausėda ignored this issue and A. Duda simply ignored it.

Is there a threat to bilateral relations?

According to experts, Lithuania cannot afford to ruin relations with its neighbor, but even before the meeting of A. Duda and G. Nausėda, statements had already been made by high-ranking Lithuanian politicians, whose tone was threatening. Acting Prime Minister S. Skvernelis declared that Lithuania could damage relations with Poland, especially after the Conservatives returned to power in Lithuania.

“It just came to our notice then. We are getting angry with the Latvians. The conservatives, who have not yet come to power, have sent letters and threats to the Latvians and other neighboring states. Since we have no relations with Russia and Belarus, it remains to be angry with the Poles and we will be like citizens surrounded by neighbors with whom we do not communicate. Then there are risks, “explained S. Skvernelis.

According to him, the question of the rule of law, which is disputed between Warsaw and Brussels, is only a “propaganda cliché”.

“As for Poland, I suggest that those who know a few phrases – ‘rule of law’ – dig deeper (…) Using the propaganda cliché, ‘rule of law’ alone, we will not get far,” Skvernel said.
He similarly commented on the decision, which had sparked huge protests in Poland, to further toughen the abortion law.

“Due to the protests that are taking place for possible violations of women’s rights and self-determination (laws – ELTA) in Poland again … There is no unilateral right. There are arguments on both sides. Maybe you need to listen. Apparently, we will have the opportunity to hear the position of the President of Poland (…) You cannot just touch the propaganda cliches and say that now we will take the propaganda rooster and apply it. Let’s think about what Poland is for us, what is Latvia for us when there are no other neighbors. Do we want to be alone? S. Skvernelis asked rhetorically.

At the time, Gabriel Landsberg, the leader of the Conservatives accused of spoiling the relationship with Poland beforehand, expressed two sides of the dilemma. In the Seimas, he acknowledged that Poland is indeed a strategic partner of Lithuania, but he does not pretend to be blind to the human rights problems that exist in the neighboring country.

“A state that places high demands on its neighbors, I mean Belarus, about the serious human rights violations that are taking place there, should apply the same to itself,” Landsbergis said. A similar position was expressed by the new president of the Seimas, the leader of the Liberal Movement Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, who later had to meet with A. Duda.

“Through our efforts, the Liberal Movement, reproductive health issues were included in the ruling coalition’s agreement as one of those that need to be addressed, this issue is very important to us,” said V. Čmilytė-Nielsen. “As partners, as friends, as friends, we cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening in the neighboring country,” he said.