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Poland: the Fear of the Void, by Monika Wohlfeld
Poles favour the existence of a European security identity with a strong Nortb Atlantic component, which ultimately should include Central Europe but not the destabilised and increasingly assertive Russia. Polish leaders fear the intensifying tensions pertaining to institutional development within the Euro-Atlantic cornmunity, which could make Central European countries pawns in a political debate. The delays in the creation of a coherent Western response to Central Europeans' security needs cause feelings of insecurity and unrequited affection, and may strengthen political forces which oppose the Western direction of security and defense policies.

Germany and Central Europe, by Monika Wohlfeld
The litmus test for an united Germany's foreign policy whose parameters have heen swept away by the end of the Cold War remains, due to both geographical proximity and 'demons of the past', its relationship to CEEC. These states constitute actual or potential allies, markets and suppliers. But Germany is also probably the EU country most directly affected hy the difficulties of transition. Therefore Germany must maintain a policy directed at stabilization of these countries. In order to avoid any Germany's 'reluctant return to power', Bonn needs support and hurden sharing — German pressure for enlargement of EU and NATO follows this logic.