In a recent interview with Niezalezna.pl, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, former Member of the European Parliament and one of the key negotiators of Poland’s accession to the European Union, painted a stark picture of the challenges facing the EU. Amid new tensions over border controls, questions about membership contributions, and the broader consequences of energy and climate policies, Saryusz-Wolski argues that the cracks in Europe’s unity are growing. He also warns that the EU’s ambitious Green Deal could leave Brussels isolated on the global stage.
Emerging Cracks: Schengen Under Strain
According to Saryusz-Wolski, the decision by Germany to reintroduce border checks—effectively suspending free movement under the Schengen Agreement on selected frontiers—is symptomatic of deeper fractures within the EU.
“Schengen is no longer functioning smoothly; individual countries prioritize their own interests over maintaining open borders,”
he observes.
While there have also been rumors that France might suspend its EU membership payments, Saryusz-Wolski remains skeptical, noting that this “seems rather improbable” and that he has heard no credible confirmation of such plans. Still, he concedes that doubts about key EU mechanisms—and pressure to re-evaluate them—are on the rise.
Competing Visions for Europe
On one side, there are strong pushes for further centralization—a federalist vision of the EU. On the other, signs of possible fragmentation are becoming clearer. Saryusz-Wolski predicts that these “two opposing vectors” will continue to pull the EU in different directions. He also hints that external factors—such as the influence of the United States—could intensify these tensions.
“The ‘unified EU super-state’ model has long been the aim of what I call the ‘EU deep state,’” he says. “But we’re also seeing more and more cracks emerge.”
A Faltering Economy and Half-Hearted Solutions
A major fault line, in Saryusz-Wolski’s view, is the EU’s “economic downturn.” He cites a report by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, which, he explains, spurred the European Commission to develop a “competitiveness compass”—essentially a roadmap for reviving growth. However, he labels Brussels’ proposed remedies as “partial and insufficient.”
The problem, Saryusz-Wolski insists, lies in “over-regulation and excessive debt.” The EU strategy of adding further regulations and injecting money—often borrowed—only exacerbates these issues. By contrast, the United States and other global players continue outpacing Europe economically.
“The EU is now about half the size of the U.S. economy. Years ago, we were at par,” he stresses. “We are falling behind, and more regulations won’t solve that.”
The Green Deal Dilemma
One of the heaviest burdens on the EU, Saryusz-Wolski maintains, is the Green Deal and the accompanying Emissions Trading System (ETS). He accuses Brussels of clinging to costly policies—like the Green Deal and accommodating high levels of migration—that he says the bloc “cannot sustainably finance all at once.”
“We want to keep our living standards, increase our military capabilities (in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), pursue ambitious climate goals, and maintain expensive migration policies. We simply can’t fund everything,”
he argues.
In his view, the EU is setting itself up for conflict with other global powers—especially the United States—if it refuses to adjust. He draws a parallel to the Trump administration’s position on international climate efforts, arguing that if Washington abandons its own green commitments, the EU could be left alone with its Green Deal—“like Himilsbach with English,” a Polish saying that implies being stuck with something that no longer serves its purpose.
Potential Rift with Washington
Saryusz-Wolski notes that while some areas of transatlantic cooperation remain strong—particularly regarding shared security concerns—other aspects of U.S. policy could contradict EU priorities. Proposed American tax reforms, or selective trade strategies, may undercut the EU’s unified trade policy.
“There’s a sense that the U.S. might increasingly deal with individual European states instead of with the EU as a whole,”
he says, suggesting this approach could undermine the EU’s coherence from the outside.
He also points to plans to repair the Nord Stream gas pipeline and potentially resume Russian gas imports as another point of tension, given that Washington may prefer a strategy of “strangling the Russian economy” through low energy prices and robust sanctions.
A Critical Crossroads
For Saryusz-Wolski, the EU now stands at a crossroads, pulled between further federalization and the risk of deeper fragmentation—both scenarios aggravated by an underperforming economy and strategic disagreements with the U.S. and within Europe itself.
“Without political courage to suspend the Green Deal or cut back on costly migration policies, we face a ticking time bomb,”
he warns.
Despite ongoing debates, the core challenge remains: how to finance all the EU’s ambitions—climate, defense, migration, and social welfare—without overburdening the economy or undermining the bloc’s unity.
In sum, Saryusz-Wolski’s remarks reflect a broader sense of uncertainty in Europe—about its borders, its economy, and its role on the global stage. As EU institutions grapple with calls for both tighter integration and greater flexibility, the ability of Brussels to adapt swiftly and decisively will be tested in the months and years ahead.
