“We are one town in two different countries!”

This series takes a closer look at the German-Polish relationship - one of Europe’s dynamic partnerships. Despite various connections, both countries struggle to move forward towards closer cooperation. Just how crucial is their relationship to the stability and future of the European Union? What does German-Polish friendship mean today? And how can mutual understanding and integration help dismantle the invisible walls that still divide them?

The mayors of the two border towns, Görlitz’s Octavian Ursu and Zgorzelec’s Rafał Gronicz, have built their collaboration around navigating a complex historical legacy and bridging cultural differences. “Both towns organised more than a dozen cultural events, which were attended by residents of Zgorzelec and Görlitz,” explained Gronicz. It was a busy year, given that, “people from both sides wanted to spend time together. They party, discuss and solve their problems together.”

Not only the townsfolk, but also the two mayors, are connected by friendship, said Ursu. Both city leaders agree that their bond extends across multiple work sectors - reaching far beyond the cultural sphere. One key example is their long-standing joint project: developing a climate-neutral district heating system. For Ursu, it’s a great vote of trust in the cross-border partnership.

Where the past meets the present

A bond between the two towns is a rare sight in Poland, where the dark historical past overshadows the German-Polish friendship. Until today, conservative Polish politicians use the anti-German sentiment as a popular tool in forming the anti-EU narrative, claiming that Berlin imposes laws on Warsaw via the EU. Many Poles believe that Germany should do more to ensure that justice is served for the crimes committed by the Wehrmacht soldiers between 1939 and 1945. According to the "Polish-German Barometer" from August 2024, 58% of Poles believe that Germany should pay war reparations to Poland. “It took us a long way to end up where we are”, said German town mayor Ursu. Today, the present and the future are set out to shape the future of the two towns - not the complicated past dividing the countries.

In the wake of the former Law and Justice government’s anti-German politics, both towns stood resilient, showing true transnational unity. “We knew that in the face of this propaganda of hate spreading all over the country, we must be even more committed to our work”, said Gronicz. He added that together with Ursu, by staying united despite the tough political landscape, they showed what is most important to the both of them: “cooperation and united Europe”.

New Chapter for the Polish-German Partnership

According to Ursu, current geopolitical events have to lead to a German dedication towards the East. The war in Ukraine resulted in Poland’s fast-paced rearmament, making it a leading defence power in Europe and a strategic partner for many.

With the new governments in both countries, German-Polish relations are undergoing a grand shift. The CDU/CSU included strengthening the relationship with Poland as a part of the new coalition agreement. The document states that Germany should pursue a direction that would “enhance friendship” with Poland. During a joint conference in May, Tusk warmly announced “a new chapter in Polish-German relations”, additionally expressing the importance of the strong Weimar Triangle partnership to the future of Europe.

Yet, national interests can still lead to some misunderstandings. During his speech, Tusk emphasised the importance of maintaining the effective functioning of the Schengen Area, despite the German controls at the Polish-German border. Rafał Gronicz, the mayor of Zgorzelec, was critical of the controls: “As I’ve said many times, that policy is nothing more than a show-off”. With a reference to the border controls policy of former German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Gronicz expressed disbelief, that “a person who already crossed thousands of kilometres would be stopped by a checkpoint on a bridge, just because they cannot cross a shallow river at the border with Germany”.

The mayor fears that these controls might affect the life of the residents of the borderlands, given that citizens from both towns cross the Polish-German border on a daily basis. As an example, the mayor mentions a case of a pregnant woman in critical pregnancy condition whose doctor was located on the German side of the border. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the movement between the towns was restricted, which significantly affected women’s access to medical care”, recalled Gronicz.

The new restrictions coming on the Polish side of the border worry the borderland’s residents. With around 20,000 Zgorzelec residents employed in Germany, the introduction of additional controls may significantly increase daily commuting times due to heavier traffic at the border.

Poland’s Shift to the Right

However, the friendship between the towns seems strong enough to withstand national disagreements. “Together, we create one town - it’s not Poland or Germany, but Zgorzelec-Görlitz”, praised Gronicz the mutual relations, to which Ursu added they are “one town in two countries”.

In today’s divided and polarised Europe, the people of Zgorzelec and Görlitz are a reassuring example of the success of the European project. Their unity and resilience in the face of eurosceptic narratives sets a great example. Despite an anti-German hate campaign, the residents have upheld their friendship with their neighbours. As one of the key support centres for Tusk’s “Civic Platform”, the town’s electorate showed its political preference by strongly supporting Gronicz, a party affiliate.

With the new conservative Polish president - Karol Nawrocki, tense times are coming ahead. Gronicz recalled the financial restrictions imposed by the former PiS-majority government, given that the higher-ups decide where the money will be allocated. The concerns are justified, as a report from the Stefan Batory foundation’s, showed, that the allocation of governmental support was more favourable towards the PiS-ruled regions of the country. Poland’s shift to the right during the presidential elections reflects the widespread disappointment with Tusk’s internal politics and heightens concerns over the outcome of the 2027 parliamentary election.

Although Trzaskowski achieved a notable electoral success in Zgorzelec, the current pollsfavour PiS and point to the success of the new player - the radical-right wing and eurosceptic Confederation. This suggests that the towns’ residents may be put to the test once again, but it seems that they will pass it with flying colours.