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THREAD: Former Polish Foreign Minister & Oxford-educated Anglophile @sikorskiradek published a book on his time in government and there are some tasty bits about UK& #39;s EU policy, Global Britain theories, Brexit, EU-USSR comparisons and his dealings with British ministers.
[1/17]
[1/17]
Sikorski recalls that an unnamed UK& #39;s Europe Minister was the only minister in his seven years in office who attempted forcing Poland to make a specific decision by threatening to block its efforts elsewhere - but he failed and never followed up on the threat
[2/17]
![Sikorski recalls that an unnamed UK& #39;s Europe Minister was the only minister in his seven years in office who attempted forcing Poland to make a specific decision by threatening to block its efforts elsewhere - but he failed and never followed up on the threat[2/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJyHfW4AQaMoV.jpg "Sikorski recalls that an unnamed UK& #39;s Europe Minister was the only minister in his seven years in office who attempted forcing Poland to make a specific decision by threatening to block its efforts elsewhere - but he failed and never followed up on the threat[2/17]")
[2/17]
Sikorski also describes a pre-accession meeting with a senior UK politician who later was a minister in Cameron government who excitedly told him that & #39;together we
(Poland and the UK) can destroy the Brussels empire& #39;.
[3/17]
![Sikorski also describes a pre-accession meeting with a senior UK politician who later was a minister in Cameron government who excitedly told him that & #39;together we(Poland and the UK) can destroy the Brussels empire& #39;.[3/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJzWqXcAEF8BN.jpg "Sikorski also describes a pre-accession meeting with a senior UK politician who later was a minister in Cameron government who excitedly told him that & #39;together we(Poland and the UK) can destroy the Brussels empire& #39;.[3/17]")
(Poland and the UK) can destroy the Brussels empire& #39;.
[3/17]
He ironically notes that Poland and the UK teamed up once before - in the 30s - and Poland (in a free translation) & #39;didn& #39;t end up particularly well& #39; - a reference to perceived lack of sufficient UK support after invasion on Poland in Sept 1939
[4/17]
[4/17]
Sikorski adds that Brits & #39;generally know little about Poland& #39; & & #39;Polish history is completely absent from UK history books& #39;
& #39;We got to be cautious when they praise us, because it means they either want to use us or play to stereotypes that are not necessarily flattering& #39;
[5/17]
![Sikorski adds that Brits & #39;generally know little about Poland& #39; & & #39;Polish history is completely absent from UK history books& #39;& #39;We got to be cautious when they praise us, because it means they either want to use us or play to stereotypes that are not necessarily flattering& #39;[5/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ0TjWwAAmza4.jpg "Sikorski adds that Brits & #39;generally know little about Poland& #39; & & #39;Polish history is completely absent from UK history books& #39;& #39;We got to be cautious when they praise us, because it means they either want to use us or play to stereotypes that are not necessarily flattering& #39;[5/17]")
& #39;We got to be cautious when they praise us, because it means they either want to use us or play to stereotypes that are not necessarily flattering& #39;
[5/17]
Sikorski also comments on some UK politicians making & #39;comparisons between the EU and the USSR - the routine insult of British Eurosceptics - which is offensive not so much towards Brussels, but us, who experienced the Soviet-type integration first hand& #39;.
cc @Jeremy_Hunt
[6/17]
cc @Jeremy_Hunt
[6/17]
Sikorski says that whenever confronted with such comment, he would ask how many deaths is the EU responsible for - and how it compares to the USSR.
"Such a comparison trivialise our history and shows ignorance and immaturity," he comments.
[7/17]
![Sikorski says that whenever confronted with such comment, he would ask how many deaths is the EU responsible for - and how it compares to the USSR."Such a comparison trivialise our history and shows ignorance and immaturity," he comments.[7/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ1IAW4AELHz7.jpg "Sikorski says that whenever confronted with such comment, he would ask how many deaths is the EU responsible for - and how it compares to the USSR.\"Such a comparison trivialise our history and shows ignorance and immaturity,\" he comments.[7/17]")
"Such a comparison trivialise our history and shows ignorance and immaturity," he comments.
[7/17]
Sikorski takes a swipe at Global Britain Brexiteers, saying that & #39;some Brits were guided by romanticised vision of their country, loosely linked with reality& #39; & visions of & #39;free trade XIXc style& #39;, & #39;straight from early XXc books for teenagers& #39;, ignoring British imperialism
[8/17]
![Sikorski takes a swipe at Global Britain Brexiteers, saying that & #39;some Brits were guided by romanticised vision of their country, loosely linked with reality& #39; & visions of & #39;free trade XIXc style& #39;, & #39;straight from early XXc books for teenagers& #39;, ignoring British imperialism[8/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ2FNWkAABe0a.jpg "Sikorski takes a swipe at Global Britain Brexiteers, saying that & #39;some Brits were guided by romanticised vision of their country, loosely linked with reality& #39; & visions of & #39;free trade XIXc style& #39;, & #39;straight from early XXc books for teenagers& #39;, ignoring British imperialism[8/17]")
[8/17]
Sikorski says that back then British Embassy in Warsaw thought we was overstating the strength of British Euroscepticism, but & #39;history proved me right& #39;.
He also talks how he tried to warn Cameron, Johnson and Osborne - all of whom he knew from Oxford - against Brexit.
[9/17]
![Sikorski says that back then British Embassy in Warsaw thought we was overstating the strength of British Euroscepticism, but & #39;history proved me right& #39;.He also talks how he tried to warn Cameron, Johnson and Osborne - all of whom he knew from Oxford - against Brexit.[9/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ3IfXgAAZhcB.jpg "Sikorski says that back then British Embassy in Warsaw thought we was overstating the strength of British Euroscepticism, but & #39;history proved me right& #39;.He also talks how he tried to warn Cameron, Johnson and Osborne - all of whom he knew from Oxford - against Brexit.[9/17]")
He also talks how he tried to warn Cameron, Johnson and Osborne - all of whom he knew from Oxford - against Brexit.
[9/17]
He also debunks some UK myths about the EU: that UK-EU trade less important than global; EU imposing some human rights laws; costs of UK paying into the EU; EU has excessive bureaucracy; EU produces red tape; EC promotes socialism; social charter & work time regulations.
[10/17]
[10/17]
Sikorski writes about his frustration with & #39;unnecessary & sadly historic& #39; referendum, saying he& #39;s never given an example of what the UK would want to do but couldn& #39;t because of the EU.
& #39;Almost all answers were either unrelated to EU law or compliant with EU regs,& #39; says.
[11/17]
![Sikorski writes about his frustration with & #39;unnecessary & sadly historic& #39; referendum, saying he& #39;s never given an example of what the UK would want to do but couldn& #39;t because of the EU.& #39;Almost all answers were either unrelated to EU law or compliant with EU regs,& #39; says.[11/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ4g9W0AA64yI.jpg "Sikorski writes about his frustration with & #39;unnecessary & sadly historic& #39; referendum, saying he& #39;s never given an example of what the UK would want to do but couldn& #39;t because of the EU.& #39;Almost all answers were either unrelated to EU law or compliant with EU regs,& #39; says.[11/17]")
& #39;Almost all answers were either unrelated to EU law or compliant with EU regs,& #39; says.
[11/17]
In this part he discusses some popular myths about EU member states not being able to deport foreign criminals or introduce charges for using public health care - two common arguments in Brexit referendum debate - and confirms both things can be done even within the EU.
[12/17]
[12/17]
In probably the key part of the book, Sikorski admits that & #39;even he didn& #39;t anticipate the full consequences of Brexit& #39; with UK having to replicate several agencies & renegotiate hundreds of international agreements - and being & #39;a genuine pig& #39; of the A50 process
[13/17]
![In probably the key part of the book, Sikorski admits that & #39;even he didn& #39;t anticipate the full consequences of Brexit& #39; with UK having to replicate several agencies & renegotiate hundreds of international agreements - and being & #39;a genuine pig& #39; of the A50 process[13/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ58WW4AAV-h1.jpg "In probably the key part of the book, Sikorski admits that & #39;even he didn& #39;t anticipate the full consequences of Brexit& #39; with UK having to replicate several agencies & renegotiate hundreds of international agreements - and being & #39;a genuine pig& #39; of the A50 process[13/17]")
[13/17]
Sikorski: & #39;if (the UK) succeeds, other may follow, but if it fails then in dozen or so years from now - when a younger generation that voted against Brexit takes over - it may apply for readmission, with its tail between its legs, this time aware of its real weight& #39;.
[14/17]
![Sikorski: & #39;if (the UK) succeeds, other may follow, but if it fails then in dozen or so years from now - when a younger generation that voted against Brexit takes over - it may apply for readmission, with its tail between its legs, this time aware of its real weight& #39;.[14/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ62yWkAAlUyt.jpg "Sikorski: & #39;if (the UK) succeeds, other may follow, but if it fails then in dozen or so years from now - when a younger generation that voted against Brexit takes over - it may apply for readmission, with its tail between its legs, this time aware of its real weight& #39;.[14/17]")
[14/17]
He says Brexit should make Polish politicians aware that & #39;setting people against the EU is not without consequences& #39;. & #39;If you engage in political point scoring on real & imagined faults of the EU then the public may fall for this propaganda & vote against our interests& #39;
[15/17]
![He says Brexit should make Polish politicians aware that & #39;setting people against the EU is not without consequences& #39;. & #39;If you engage in political point scoring on real & imagined faults of the EU then the public may fall for this propaganda & vote against our interests& #39;[15/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ7x3XgAEyCMz.jpg "He says Brexit should make Polish politicians aware that & #39;setting people against the EU is not without consequences& #39;. & #39;If you engage in political point scoring on real & imagined faults of the EU then the public may fall for this propaganda & vote against our interests& #39;[15/17]")
[15/17]
On this note, he also calls for a deeper understanding of the EU and Poland& #39;s geostrategic role in the Union - particularly for after it will become a net contributor to the budget.
[16/17]
![On this note, he also calls for a deeper understanding of the EU and Poland& #39;s geostrategic role in the Union - particularly for after it will become a net contributor to the budget.[16/17]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ8vAWkAEa4c8.jpg "On this note, he also calls for a deeper understanding of the EU and Poland& #39;s geostrategic role in the Union - particularly for after it will become a net contributor to the budget.[16/17]")
[16/17]
Right, that& #39;s it for now, just a quick summary typed on my phone over a morning coffee after checking the text for any references to the UK - the book is officially out (in Polish) next week, so those interested in the full thing can order it online.
[17/17, ENDS]
![Right, that& #39;s it for now, just a quick summary typed on my phone over a morning coffee after checking the text for any references to the UK - the book is officially out (in Polish) next week, so those interested in the full thing can order it online.[17/17, ENDS]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpTJ9lhXUAAd64e.jpg "Right, that& #39;s it for now, just a quick summary typed on my phone over a morning coffee after checking the text for any references to the UK - the book is officially out (in Polish) next week, so those interested in the full thing can order it online.[17/17, ENDS]")
[17/17, ENDS]
Always happy to help!
