Poland’s former foreign minister argues that Berlin needs to lead through EU institutions, not solo, and won’t spill the beans about Oxford’s Bullingdon Club.
@sikorskiradek The #EU seems to be tumbling from one crisis to another. Poor leadership or unexpected events? #i140c
@berlinpolicy Leadership is structurally impossible in the #EU ; nation states too small, EUʼs confederal arrangements too cumbersome.
@sikorskiradek You famously said in a 2011 #berlinspeech that you feared “#Germany’s power less than her inactivity” – still true?
@berlinpolicy Yes, but Germany needs to lead through EU institutions, not solo. Encourage @eucopresident and HighRep, not replacing them.
@sikorskiradek What do you think of #Germany handling the #refugeecrisis?
@berlinpolicy Mistake on procedure and substance. Schengen decisions must be collective; perimeter secured before distribution of migrants.
@sikorskiradek #Poland’s govt has refused to take in more #refugees. Do you support this position?
@berlinpolicy Poland previously declared it would take 7000 but mishandling of the issue by Germany helped elect a nationalist government.
@sikorskiradek Is #Polish #society increasingly anti-#EU?
@berlinpolicy No, but #populism and #nationalism global phenomena, from #US and #France and, above all, #Russia. We are not immune.
@sikorskiradek The #EU started an enquiry into #Polish rule of law. Justified move?
@berlinpolicy The EU will be justified in taking action if the nationalist government fails to implement recommendations of @VeniceComm.
@sikorskiradek You lived in the #UK a long while – will there be a #Brexit?
@berlinpolicy Hopefully not, but a chance event – a terrorist attack or a government scandal – may sway this unnecessary referendum.
@sikorskiradek During your time at @UniofOxford you were a member of the #Bullingdonclub. Would you still join today?
@berlinpolicy Oxford was heaven. Bullingdon matters are omerta but looks like we will have a British PM regardless the result of Brexit 🙂
@sikorskiradek You have moved often in your life. Is there any item in your office that has always travelled with you?
@berlinpolicy I have a silver fountain pen which I have used in all my governmental job.
@sikorskiradek You have just started at @Harvard but we know you as a politician, a skilled diplomat. Do you miss politics?
@berlinpolicy @Harvard So far, no. Because of decline of media and destruction of privacy, politics has become even nastier than before.
@sikorskiradek If you could spend one day with any person of your choosing, who would it be? #i140c
@berlinpolicy I heard @AEI a great talk by Eric Schmidt, head of @Google; I’d love to hear more of his ideas for the future of #technology.
Read more in the Berlin Policy Journal App – March/April 2016 issue.
