Łukasz Moll: The 'Old Federalism' is Retreating

Do we really want more Europe, integration and solidarity? Or should we perhaps first ask exactly what ‘more Europe, integration and solidarity’ should look like? The results of the European elections in Poland show that ‘old federalism’ is retreating. - Łukasz Moll in the Green European Journal.

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Bartłomiej Kozek: Polish and European ghosts of the past

Polish history is shaped today by remembering the failed attempts in regaining independence. This leaves less and less space to tell different, more nuanced stories. This explains why Poland has an ambivalent memory of the First World War. In 1914, it was part of different empires. The end of the war was also the return of its independence. Strengthening alternative narratives may be crucial in opening Poland to stories linking its inhabitants to wider, European history. - Bartłomiej Kozek in the Green Europeam Journal.

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Leokadia Oręziak: Private pension funds in Poland – the risk goes to the pensioner

In mid-2013 the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, announced plans for reform of the country’s pension system. Private pension funds will no longer be allowed to buy governmental bonds, which led to the growth in the levels of public debt. The bonds they acquired earlier will be put back to the public pension system. The obligation to have a private pension fund, which was the second pillar of the pension system, will be lifted, and people will be able to shift their savings to the public insurance company. This reform has sparked much controversy and was fiercely opposed by neo-liberal economists and think-tanks. Professor Leokadia Oręziak rebuffs these criticisms and shows the devastating effects that the partial privatisation of the pensions system had on public debt in Poland.

Read the interview with Leokadia Oręziak in the Green European Journal.

Greens and Pirates: in search of a new majority for the commons

Ever since their emergence within the political landscape, Pirates have been perceived by Greens both as rivals for voters’ support and potential allies in a common cause. The Pirate movement has articulated its distinctive political vision and, in several countries, succeeded in creating a new constituency of voters. Whereas on the level of national politics in various countries Pirates pose for the Greens more or less of a challenge, in the European Parliament, they work together, on a daily basis, on issues such as data protection, network security or intellectual property reform. Is it a result of a contingent overlapping of Green and Pirate agendas, or is it a sign of a deeper affinity, or complementarity, between the two movements?

One of possible answers has been developed by Michel Bauwens, a thinker, a peer-to-peer theorist and the founder of P2P Foundation. Michel Bauwens advanced the idea of a “grand alliance” for the commons. Such an alliance would bring together Greens, Pirates, movements for social justice (trade unions, farmers’ associations), and small entrepreneurs – to protect natural (environmental) and cultural (digital) commons.

I talked to Michel via internet in August 2013, a couple of days before the conference Europe from Below, co-organised by Polish Green Party, Polish Teachers’ Union, and National Union of Nurses and Midwives. Michel took part in a panel discussion on “Internet and digital citizenship.”



Adam Ostolski

Read the interview at the Green European Journal.

Bartłomiej Kozek: Poland doesn't give a damn

Until COP 19 started, everything looked quite promising. Intense preparations for heated debates, new and interesting publications on politics of climate change, even some social mobilisation could be felt in the air. Quite surprisingly for myself even the Lutheran church, to which I went, greeted international delegates from the Climate Summit with a sermon on God’s creation, presented by a protestant bishop from Norway. A chance to (finally!) discuss and question the stance of the Polish centre-right government on climate and energy issues on a broader scale seemed possible.

Well, think again... - writes Bartłomiej Kozek in the Green European Journal.


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Adam Ostolski: Miners and Greens, unite!

In November 2013, we shall witness another climate conference (COP) – this time in Warsaw. It’s not hard to see the plan of Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk: it’s stopping the possibility of a global agreement that would force Poland to switch to renewable energy sources. Is there a chance that we can stop this? Yes, but only if we create a broad alliance against neoliberalism and for a just energy transition. In this endeavour, a crucial partner for ecologists could be miners.

Climate policy is the one policy area in which Donald Tusk’s right-wing government is impeccably consistent. Poland vetoed plans for a more ambitious climate policy of the European Union, is hesitant to implement the EU legislation on green energy or energy efficiency, and hampers global agreements regarding this issue. Talking climate to the Polish government is a Sisyphean task.

There is a good side to this – ecological circles seem to now understand that there is no use in trying to make the government change its mind. In effect they are starting talks with the miners. One striking example was a conference held in March 2012, called Black-Green Round Table, organised by Zielony Instytut (Green Institute) and the Trade Union of Miners in Poland (ZZG). Experts from both sides talked about Poland’s climate policy – a discussion which achieved some common points.

[read the full article in the Green European Journal]

Bartłomiej Kozek: Triumph of the German Mother

My friends tend to be surprised with the fascination that I share with one of my friends on social media. He regularly sends me pictures of the German Chancellor in everyday, yet funny, situations. Our enthusiasm explodes when we see photographs of her cutting meat for a traditional Turkish kebab or receiving a statue of a golden hen from her faithful electorate. We also analyse every colour of her two-piece suits and the energy that we feel emanating from her famous rhombus-shaped hands that featured in her CDU party’s election billboards.

Just to be absolutely clear – we feel that this in no way contradicts our progressive, green political views.

So are the political opinions of some of my friends, which in recent days surprised me with their appraisal of Merkel and the sense of stability she supposedly brings to Germany. Many analysts look with envy on the German economic model, its labour market reforms and the presence of a strong industrial base. If there is any criticism in the media for the CDU it is because of the perceived irrationality of the energy transition of our western neighbour. From time to time we therefore hear about people going to the woods to fetch some lumber, because the energy from wind or the sun it told to be extremely high. But – then again – the Germans are rich because of their protestant work ethic, which Merkel’s a symbol of, so they can afford to be extravagant (ecological awareness in a coal-based country is considered as such), can’t they?

[read the full article in the Green European Journal]

Bartłomiej Kozek on the precariat's world

While Poland presents itself to the outside world as a country untouched by the economic crisis, the reality is far different for an entire generation of Polish people. Rather than face up to the structural difficulties in the job market, the Government ignores the problem and remains committed to the doctrines of the neoliberal model.

- writes Bartłomiej Kozek in the "Green European Journal", vol. 4.

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