Statement of Purpose
European Union Visitors Programme
Tomasz Bańka, preferred month for visit - January 2015
1. Current Professional Responsibility
I am working for the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation, a leading pro-European NGO in Poland with its roots in the Solidarity movement. It has been founded, inter alia, by the first post-Communist Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki (who still holds office here), as well as Piotr Nowina-Konopka, Rector of the Collège d’Europe in Warsaw. Also the former Chief EU Negotiator, Minister Jan Kułakowski, holds office here. The Schuman Foundation is highly active in preparing Polish society to accession to the EU. I am Director-General of the Foundation, as well as Member of its Management Board. I am personally responsible for planning, co-ordination of plans’ implementation, financial and operational management, fundraising, reporting, supervision of 15 people staff, as well as for legal representation, lobbying, analysing and consulting on behalf of the Foundation.
As a representative of the Foundation, I am Founder and Member of the Board for Representation of Polish NGOs to the European Union. This is a federation of about 20 NGOs. The Representation delivers information, and looks for partners and lobbies in Brussels for its members.
My second activity is a non-profit participation in missions to the Balkans on behalf of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. I used to keep positions of Election Services Supervisor, Election Observer and International Polling Station Supervisor.
2. Themes of the Trip
EU enlargement and the creation of its new structure are the most important issues nowadays. These two topics are of great interest to me. I am also interested in finding long-term possibilities of co-operation between the European Commission and NGOs, like the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation, after Poland joins the EU. Additionally, I would like to concentrate on the EU’s attitude towards the Balkans. Therefore, I would like to discuss the following topics:
A. Enlargement:
· Preparation and co-ordination of a common EU position for candidate countries. How EC officers negotiate with member states to be ready to negotiate with candidates. What are formal and informal ways of consultations? What are lobbying instruments?
· The process of ratification of accession treaties. How is it planned? Is there going to be an information/promotional campaign for MPs of EU member states? How the EC co-operates in this field with national governments, both of member and of candidate countries?
· Added value coming from enlargement for EU external policy. Is membership to the EU of Central European Countries going to change priorities of common external policy? In which fields of external relations will new members cause problems and in which fields will they help to find new and better solutions? How will relations with the USA be effected?
· New clerks in the EU institutions from candidate countries. What will the process of recruitment look like? What are the requirements for candidates? Are new member countries going to be offered the same rules as old members? What are the general expectations and fears in view of the arrival of new officers?
B. The Balkans:
· Enlargement to the Balkans (with the exception of countries that have already started negotiations). Have any serious steps been taken, aimed at any of these countries, to start negotiations? What steps are to be taken? Is the EU ready for this enlargement?
· EU strategies for countries from the Balkans. I would like to discuss in detail the policy towards the following countries: Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. Regional co-operation of former Yugoslav Republics: is the EU able to stimulate this regional co-operation?
· Democratisation of the Balkans. EU monitoring of elections and justice in these countries. The third sector and its independence from the government and international institutions. Reasons of distrust for democracy in the region.
· The Dayton Treaty. Is the treaty still advantageous for Bosnia and Herzegovina? Is the EU going to propose the replacement of it? Are any steps being taken to do this?
C. The European Convention:
· Institutional framework. Is the legal basement going to be a new, high-quality treaty or will it be a compliance of old treaties? In case of the first, what are the changes that are acceptable for nations/societies and governments? How persuasive will the Convention’s final document be for the Council of the EU?
D. The European Commission’s Information Policy:
· Co-operation with NGOs in member countries in the field of information on EU policies. Does the EC have a special role for NGOs in its information policy? Are there any special programmes designed for this purpose?
3. Appointments
I am not familiar with names of representatives. However, I wish to meet experts from the following institutions:
· For A – DG External Relations, COREPER, DG Personnel and Administration;
· For B – DG External Relations, MEPs specialising in the Balkans, ECHO, Europe Aid;
· For C – Secretariat of the European Convention;
· For D - I have no suggestions;
and
· Any other person interested in one of the themes mentioned above.
Tomasz Bańka
Warsaw, May 2014
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