Referentinnen: Antje Rickert, Christina Hilmer

The European East-Enlargement and the German-Polish border region of

Frankfurt(on Oder)-Slubice

How does the borderlands` population feel about it?

Contents• Introduction

• Method• Results

• Conclusion

Introduction• 1st May 2004: 10 Eastern

European countries became members of the EU (one of them Poland)

• (Abschaffung) of a traditional European border

• Decisive role of border regions

• New European position• Importance of the people`s

good will

Politician`s thoughts

•  •  

• Helmut Kohl: „For us Germans the Enlargement of the Union towards the Middle and Eastern Europe is singularly important. It once more provides political security for the revolutionary change of the years 1989-90 and is a distinct sign for the final overcoming of the seperation of Europe.“

• Manfred Stolpe: „ We want to bring our Brandenburgian home with ist bridges to the East and to the West as well as with ist proud tradition of tolerance ... In a Europe, that is growing together.“

Inhabitant`s thoughts

• (Zeitungshintergrund)• Positive: „I see the whole thing in a positive way. In regard of world

economy only a strong Europe can stand its ground against the USA and Asia“ (female inhabitant of Frankfurt)

• Worries: Polish Taxi driver: „Europe is a good idea, but when we belong to the EU, prices will move upward.”

• „We don`t like the foreigners to slop over and to work for a wage per hour of 4,50 Euro and to take away jobs belonging to the Germans.“(13 years old inhabitant of Frankfurt)

Expectations/Presumption• Fears and worries dominate on

both sides • Germans are more pessimistic

than Pole• What attitude dominates?

Method

• interview• 53 test persons• 4 categories: Polish inhabitants/

German inhabitants and Polish/German students

questionnaire

 Inhabitants Frankfurt/O.

Inhabitants Slubice

Polish students

German students

         

number total 19 17 10 6female 9 8 5 4

male 10 8 5 2

unknown 0 1 0 0

         

age under 25 4 3 9 5

age 25-45 10 7 1 1

age over 40 5 6 0 0

age unknown 0 1 0 0

Demography

How do you value the East-Enlargement?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

morepositive

morenegative

indifferent

InhabitantsSlubice %

InhabitantsFrankfurt/O. %

Polish students %

German students%

Influence of Poland`s accession on...

020406080

100

Europ

ean U

nion

Poland

Borde

r reg

ion

Perso

nal li

fe

no in

fluen

ce

InhabitantsSlubice in %

Polish students in%

Intensification of exchange?

0102030405060708090

100 InhabitantsSlubicein %

InhabitantsFrankfurt/O. in %

Polish students in%

German studentsin %

Feelings

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100

InhabitantsFrankfurt/O. in %

German studentsin %

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100

Inhabitants Slubice in %

Polish students in %

German hopes

• I. Polish labours could fill out the gaps• II. Europe will become bigger and

stronger• III. New markets cause economic

growth• IV. Cheap production possibilities • V. More stability and peace• VI. Cooperation with Poland /East-

German enterprises more competitive. • VII. The citizens will move closer

together• VIII. Prejudices reduced countries will

approach one another• IX. Cultural variety/ real exchange• X. Frankfurt/O. as turnstile between

Poland and Germany / higher attraction.

0

20

40

60

80

100

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X.

Inhabitants Frankfurt/O in%

German students in %ö

Polish Hopes

• I. There will be a larger product supply.• II. It will be possible to find work abroad.• III. The wages will increase.• IV. Qualified labours get better career-

possibilities.• V. More stability and peace.• VI. Poland`s influence on the world-

politics.• VII. Poland will bring catholic and family

values into the EU.• VIII. Living standard will increase in

Poland.• IX. The support through EU-money will

stimulate trade and industry in Poland.• X. Foreign investments.• XI. The citizens of Frankfurt/O. and Slubice

will move closer together.• XII. Prejudices will be reduced.• XIII. Cultural variety.

0

20

40

60

80

100

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII.

Inhabitants Slubice in %

Polish students in %

German fears

• I. Unemployment will increase.• II. The wages will decrease in

Germany.• III. Illegal immigration will

become easier.• IV. Important EU-money support

will cease to flow to Germany.• V.Polish agriculture will cause

problems.• VI. The EU will have to bear a too

big burden because of the integration.

• VII. Poland will achieve a right of co-determination, that is too big.

• VIII. The criminality–rate will increase.

• IX. The competition will increase and cause a shutdown of many small germ enterprises.

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100

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X.

Inhabitants Frankfurt/O in %

German students in %

Polish fears

I.  Poland will lose its independence and sovereignty.

II. Polish tradition and culture will be undermined and weakened.

III. Prices will increase.IV. Tourist will stay away.V. A massive sellout will take place.VI. The Polish agriculture will break down.VII. Poland won’t achieve a real right of co-

determination.VIII. Unemployment will increase.IX. Poland will become a sort of “subject of

Germany”.X. Only the old EU-countries will get

economical advantages.XI. The EU won’t support Poland’s

development sufficient.XII. Polish labours will be only employed for

unpopular jobs.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Inhabitants Slubice in%

Polish students in %

Conclusion• Optimism and hope on German side

bigger than expected, but still sceptic• Fears and doubts of Poles more

existant than supposed, although accession is mostly welcomed

• Differentiated way of thinking