Security dominates agenda of incoming Polish EU Council presidency
On 1 January, Poland takes over the rotating six-month presidency of the European Union. At this time of geopolitical uncertainty, with Donald Trump's assumption of office as US president in January and the uncertain outcome of the war in Ukraine, the presidency of prime minister Donald Tusk's pro-European government is all about security.
From 1 January to 30 June 2025, Poland will for the second time hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union. The motto of the Polish presidency is “Security, Europe”, as its priorities revolve entirely around the concept of security. The Polish presidency will amongst others focus on defence, border security, cyber security, affordable energy prices, food supply, the availability of essential medicines, the competitiveness of European companies and economic security.
With French president Emmanuel Macron, prime minister Donald Tusk has already discussed the possible deployment of European soldiers in Ukraine to watch over a ceasefire. Premature perhaps, but he did not rule out peace negotiations soon. “Our EU presidency will be partly responsible for what the political landscape will look like, perhaps what the situation will look like during negotiations,” the Polish prime minister declared.
In the meantime, Poland wants to keep maximum pressure on Russia. Warsaw is one of Ukraine's staunchest allies and wants to prepare new sanctions against Moscow by the third anniversary of the invasion on 24 February.
The attitude towards Ukraine and Russia is not the only point where the Polish presidency will contrast sharply with the outgoing Hungarian one. Whereas Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban provocatively referred to Trump's nationalist discourse with the slogan “make Europe great again”, Poland opts for a logo that intertwines the Polish flag with the letters E and U, a symbol of its commitment to European integration.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Poland's prime minister Donald Tusk at the EU headquarters in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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