"Poles raise war dead before EU summit"

Hmmm - could have been phrased a little better !

John Newbury, Calne, UK

To their eternal credit, the Poles have just broken the cardinal rule of European politics, that unless you are waxing lyrical about fifty years of peace and prosperity allegedly brought to Europe by the EU, don't mention the war. The reality is that the EU is creating the conditions for a fresh European conflagration, especially if this "constitution", better to say "straightjacket" is imposed on the nations of Europe.

Christopher Gillibrand, Brussels, Belgium/ Europe

Poland is not correct to play this "history card". They were far from saints in the history of Eastern Europe; ask the Jews, Ukrainians, Germans, and Lithuanians etc. about it! They lost in WWII but so did many peoples, which is exactly why Europe must integrate further and hopefully mix and intermarry. This insular thinking so common in Europe will only lead to yet more wars and strife. Poland and the UK may feel like big players in the context of Europe but against powers such as Russia, USA, China, India, etc. they appear as tiny, increasingly irrelevant nations.
But then as Arnold so classicaly stated of the British mentality "why should we change now".

James, Vancouver, Canada

Why don't the poles give back the billions the have sucked from the EU? The they can go back to hating gays and tele tubbies.

No one forced Poland to join the EU and no one is asking them to stay.

rum agent, aalborg, denmark

Regardless of international law one of the conditions of Poland joining the EU was to provide compensation for "nationalised" land. Presumably this was not enforced because they did not have the money and Poland met enough of the other criteria to satisfy the EU.

My point was that it is a bit rich of Poland to bring WW2 into precedings. Regardless of your 20 year property comment Krzysztof , compensation will move forward in time when it becomes convenient for other member states to apply pressure to Poland. The question is whether the EU or Poland pays for it.

Nobody is questioning what happened in Poland during or after WW2.

Paul, York,

From Mark Boss' comments it seems that some Germans see the EU as yet another means of securing European dominance for the Fatherland after two previously insuccessful attempts in the last century. What have the Germans done to compensate the Poles for their general awfulness to them 60 years ago anyway? Plus Britain has been a bastion of individual freedom in Europe for many centuries - why should we change now?

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

To M from Toronto.

Yes, we were naive. We were fooled by Brithish who claimed to support Poland with it's struggle against Nazi Germany.

Was it really polish choice seing what happened to countries within a few years before war? Saara and German-French border. Austria - swallowed easily without any sign of reaction from the rest of Europe. Czech Republic - the same, being sliced off piece by piece.

How would Canada react on US demands of exteritorial corridor to Alaska? I bet Canada would accept that with joy!

Krzysztof Chmielewski, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK

I agree with the Polish stance -- but then again had the Europeans not persecuted and killed Jews periodically for 2000 years, there would be around 200 million of them now. Instead they are constricted to a tiny peace of land in Israel and hated by everyone, especially by Europeans who have so much contributed to their demise.

There is no historical justice in the world...

Alan, Montreal, Canada

This stupidity from the Poles is akin to the ongoing stupidity of the 'EU' in general (wrongly shaped bananas etc). It smacks of the ridiculous claims for 'reparations' for slavery, which ended, largely thanks to Britain, before any of us were born. I'm sure I'm not alone in being weary of this sort of rubbish being taken seriously by our political class, instead of being treated with the contempt it so obviously deserves.

If Blair wants to go down in history as some sort of hero, the best thing he can do is to tell the so-called european union to get stuffed and pull us out. Then, just maybe, Britain won't be composed of 90% non-Brits in five years time and I might occasionally still recognise the country I was born in.

j griffiths, manchester, england

Paul from York,

Jewish were exterminated under Nazi occupation within the polish teritory. The lucky survivals left the reborn country and abandonned their properties. Every private property was nationalised then by the government under russian control. Where's that legal claim for that properties here? If you aandon property and someone takes it after that and posess it for 20 years it becomes his property. It is recognized by international law...

Besides... tell me where were you, the proud British, guaranteing our borders in 1939 after 1st September 1939? What did the British do about anexion of Czech Republic a year earlier? What have you done in Jalta on Crimea to all Eastern Europe? Please, don't be a judge in polish matters as your hands are more dirty than ours.

Krzysztof Chmielewski, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK

Well said Herr Boss!!
While history is important it should Europe as it stands today who decide their framework, and if you cannot work for that end perhaps you should not be part of The EU. If one continually drag up the wrongs of the past you will never move forward to a better future.

W. Ingram, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Congrats dear Paul, never have I heard or read more preposterous comment in any discussion. It's depressing, however, that the remark about WW2 made by our Prime Minister was almost as absurd as Paul's one.

Roma, Kolobrzeg, Poland

Poland did not started II World War, we did not build concentration camps, we did not kill and still any Jew properties during that time, Paul did you forget or never learned who did it……Germans did, they build concentration camps and killed over 6 millions Poles. Germans did not win the war, Soviets lost their satellites countries and now German led new Eurosoyus with comrade Putin are trying together “peacefully” take over what they lost in 1945…..only Blair and Kaczynski can prevent or stop that……I just hope that York or England do not have more people like Paul

marek, Houston , Texas

As a Polak i must say... Mark is right. The evil twins make me sick. How long is Poland going to keep bringing up past when talking about the future? Everyone suffered losses in 2nd world war. yes, Poland more than anyone else, but that was the choice of Polish leaders at the time... we payed a high price for naiviness. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON!

m, Toronto,

"The European public now expects us to put the necessary reforms of the union in hand". A Merkel, 21 June 2007

Do they? No-one asked me- do you speak on my behalf Ms Merkel?
But there's the problem, isn't it? We, the public, have no voice.

Give us a referendum Mr. Blair- keep one promise at least.

M Hastings, Cambridge, UK

Well, there's something awfully wrong. I believe it was the Germans who played a major role in helping Poland to enter the EU in the first place. However, with all those half baked democracies about to enter and all the hate that comes with it, the EU is finished anyway. Do they realise that? Say goodbye.

dani, Edinburgh,

Dear Paul, Poland has the same rules for compensation for land and properties taken over by communist goverment after WW2 for all Polish citizens or their descendants, whatever are their ethnicities.

vitec, Kingston-upon-Thames,

Blair walk away? No chance, he'll cave in faster than he did over our rebate, announce that nothing substantive has been given away and promptly sign up. Why on eart hdo you think they've been at such pains to rule out a referendum?

Malcolm Smith, London, UK

The statement above from M. Boss only confirms the Poles have reason to act as they are acting right know.

Janguarr, Monreal, Canada

Well, size matters - as you said Mark. Germany had "moved on to reality" after the Second War with Marshal Plan, on the back of uncle Sam while Poland was 30 years under Russian boot. So this is not that difficult to grasp Polish fear of German dominance in the UE, regarding its inclination of mixing thier national interest with good -for-all -Europeans image. And please stop deal with Russians about oil behind other European countries back, so they will trust you more about your all-European intentions.

Jaroslaw Fiutowski, Warsaw, Poland

Interesting isnt it that half of the 6 million killed in WW2 in Poland were Jews. Poles as a nation did relatively little to prevent the systemtic destruction of the Jewish population . In addition to this, a point which is very relevant to the present is that the ruling coalition in Poland has a party called the League of Polish families (LPR) ,which on many occasions has made public displays of anti -semitism .This party is lead by Roman Giertek who is the minister of education .This party is openly anti gay also.In fact they are anti many minorities and groups. They have the full backing of the Kaczynskis. The coalition follows a far right ,clerical(Roman Catholic) doctrine. They are aiming to centralize their power and remove any opponents to their goals.

A.T. Martin, Warsaw, Poland

We have perhaps had too haste widening Europe.It would have been better to continue in few more homogeneous Countries.Now the entry of too many new restive members,has complicated all the matter.Finally. Europe is not an obligatory drug to take.

Luigi C. Italy

Luigi Curatola, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy

I do think that's rather low and sill to suggest getting special rights for the size of the country. Yes they were awful times I am sure for Poland. But what about Luxembourg or the Netherlands etc....both small populations but will they get "special" voting rights as well. And since when indeed have the populations of ANY country go to directly vote on EU issues - Except for the France and Netherlands one time.

Peter, Portsmouth, UK

I'm Polish. I think the Kaczynski twins and the Germans are missing the point. The point: we need to always maximize the participation of all of the countries -- big and small -- and citizens in the European Union. Otherwise, our miracle, the European Union, will fail. There must be other, better voting schemes to consider as well. Let's brainstorm!

Shirley Jackson, Oliver, BC, Canada

Poland aren't you refusing to compensate for the jewish land you still hold from WW2? The land you were supposed to give back when you joined the EU?

Paul, York,

Is this the same B lair, who said he would not give up any of our rebate.And also hold a referendum on the subject.

A Walton, Leicester, England

Well, those small guys had managed to do some nice mess in Europe before they faded away. Kaczynski brothers haven't done that yet. Beware...

Seriously... although I'm Pole I believe war losses compensation in voting is ridiculous, but it is very much to Kaczynski's populist origin. However, as long as they are in power in Poland that voice must be respected by other EU countries in full. No matter wether Germany likes it or not.
You're right. Let's move on... but why not based on polish proposals?

Krzysztof Chmielewski, Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK

Sure, and we (the Germans of course) could be 150 Million today, if not 30% of the population of the then German states had vanished in the war of the thirty years. And better still we can blame the Spanish and the Sweds for that. Get back to reality chaps and move on. Europe is far too important to be hindered by two small men, who obviously have a problem with their size (sic). By the way Napoleon was also rather small and what about that guy coming from a little town in Austria named Braunau...

Mark Boss, Bremen, Germany