Perspectives from Poland (Warsaw)

Atlantic Perspectives Interview Report, nº. 13

The concept of a new pan-Atlantic system of relations emerging in the Atlantic space beyond the traditional North Atlantic alliance and the North-South dependency has captured the Atlantic space. Polish interviewees from Warsaw viewed the idea with a measure of scepticism. Although there was no unanimous opinion, many interviewees from various sectors in Warsaw appeared to be sceptical about this potential scenario stating that the lack of a unified EU and Europe could prevent this idea from forming. The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and their Warsaw based office used their networks to interview the relevant actors based on their professional and academic expertise. The overall main concerns regarding the current state and future of the Atlantic region included, amongst others: the current and future state of transatlantic relations, the future of the TTIP trade negotiation between the US and the EU, the lack of a cohesive “Atlantic” security approach, the U.S.’s shift towards other regions, and the lack of a cohesive energy and climate and environmental policy both within the EU and the Atlantic space.