German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on a farewell visit, amidst tensions over World War II reparations and migration policies.
The visit comes as center-left Social Democrat Scholz prepares to transfer his duties to conservative Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz, following a snap German election in February.
Olaf Scholz is a German politician who has served as the Chancellor of Germany since December 2021.
Born on June 6, 1958, in Hamburg, Germany, he previously held various positions, including Minister of Finance and Vice-Chancellor.
Scholz is known for his commitment to social democracy and has been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since 1975.
He played a crucial role in shaping Germany's economic policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
German Chancellor ‘Olaf Scholz‘ is set to meet with Polish Prime Minister ‘Donald Tusk’ in Warsaw on Wednesday on a farewell visit. The state of German-Poland relations, Ukraine, and European security are expected to be some of the major topics of discussion on the visit.
Germany and Poland have a complex history, with periods of cooperation and conflict.
The two countries share a border over 450 km long and have significant economic ties.
However, their relationship has been marked by disputes over territory, particularly the city of Danzig (now Gdańsk) and the Polish Corridor.
Following World War II, Poland became a Soviet satellite state, while Germany was divided into East and West Germany.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 led to improved relations, with Poland joining NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.
Challenges in German-Poland Relations
Relations between Germany and Poland have faced challenges during Scholz’s time as chancellor. One major sticking point is the issue of German compensation for Polish victims of World War II. In 2022, Poland’s former right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government formally demanded €1.3 trillion in World War II reparations from ‘Scholz’s’ government.
Germany has proposed providing €200 million to living Polish victims of World War II, but this offering was viewed as too low by Tusk, a member of the center to center-right Civic Platform. Another major issue of contention between the countries is migration. The Polish government had provided work visas to migrants from Asia and Africa in return for thousands of dollars, prompting criticism from the German government.
Diverging Stances on Ukraine
Scholz’s approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also differed from that of Poland. Scholz has refused to provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles fearing an escalation in the conflict. In contrast, members of ‘Tusk’s’ government, such as Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, have voiced support for Taurus deliveries to Ukraine.
Located in Eastern Europe, Ukraine is a country with a rich history and culture.
It borders Romania to the west, Hungary and Slovakia to the southwest, Poland to the northwest, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the northeast.
With a population of over 42 million people, Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe by area.
The capital city is Kyiv, which has been an important cultural and economic center for centuries.
A New Era for German-Poland Ties?
Friedrich Merz is expected to be elected as Germany’s next chancellor on May 6. After he assumes the role, Merz is expected to visit both Poland and France in his first foreign trip. While it remains to be seen how Merz will approach these issues, Piotr Buras, the head of the European Council of Foreign Relations office in Warsaw, believes that ‘people in Warsaw are looking forward to Merz. After Scholz, they believe things can only get better.’
Merz’s positions on some issues are closer to those of Poland than Scholz. He has suggested he is open to providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles, in coordination with European allies. However, Russia has criticized Merz over his comments on the Taurus issue.
As ‘Olaf Scholz‘ prepares to leave office, his farewell visit with Tusk marks an important moment in German-Poland relations. The future of these ties remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: a new era is beginning for Germany and Poland.
