This week we’ll be discussing Poland as part of our new series looking at how some of the EU27 states view Brexit: which factors influence their position, whether their interests might affect talks on the future trading relationship between Britain and the bloc – and maybe help, or hinder, UK efforts to achieve a more favourable, even a bespoke, deal

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Our new series on EU27 countries’ views begins with Poland, which Britain has long seen as potentially a useful strategic ally in the negotiations for several reasons: its concern to keep the UK involved in European security; the developing trade ties between the two countries; and a long-held shared interest in cutting EU red tape and holding out against protectionist and integrationist tendencies in the bloc. Britain certainly sees the relationship as important – when Theresa May visited Warsaw recently, she was accompanied by five senior cabinet ministers.



But Poland, the largest net recipient of EU funds, also has Brexit concerns – and has often said it would prefer the UK not to leave. It is concerned by the gaping hole in the EU budget that will be left by the UK’s departure, by the fate of the large Polish community in the UK, by the fact its ruling Law and Justice party will find itself without its main partner in the European parliament when Britain’s Conservative MEPs leave – and, of course, its standing in Brussels is not exactly at its peak, weakened by an unprecedented standoff with the European commission over the rule of law.



With Jon Henley to discuss this delicate balancing act are three experts – we like experts on this show – Jakub Krupa, the UK correspondent of the Polish Press Agency and an active member of the Polish community in the UK; Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska of the Centre for European Reform thinktank; and the Guardian’s Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin.