Mr Juncker and Europe’s timid leaders should learn to run their countries half as well as Poland, and Europe would not be in such a mess. Poland transformation-remains and grows, Poland has seen its economy grow since the collapse of communism by more than any other in the EU. It was the only EU member to avoid a recession during the financial crisis. And it has managed to have more cordial relations than ever before with its two big neighbours (and former occupiers), Germany and Russia—or it did at least until Russia annexed Crimea earlier this year. It is hard to think of any country in Europe, rich or poor, that can’t learn something from Poland. How did Poland do so much better than central Europe’s stars Poland fought harder than Romania, Bulgaria and its Visegrad peers against corruption, especially in public procurement, and has a decent record of using structural funds as a result. The EU has rewarded Poland’s probity by making it the biggest recipient of its funds (a whopping €102 billion, or $139 billion) between 2007 and 2013. The country will once again get the biggest chunk (€106 billion) in the next multi-year budget from 2014 to 2020. Radek Sikorski, the foreign minister, calls the Polish-American alliance “worthless” and mocks Britain’s prime minister. The government seems likely to tough the scandal out. But even if Polish ministers lose their jobs, Mr Juncker and Europe’s timid leaders should not miss the main point. If they had run their countries half as well as Poland, Europe would not be in such a mess.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:25:16 +0000
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