On January 1, 2025, Poland took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from Hungary. Poland assumes the rotating role for the second time since its accession to the EU in 2024. In an international political context characterized by complexity and unpredictability, Poland highlights “security” as the main theme shaping its priorities for its term in the post.

Country Profile: Poland

Poland, which was ruled by a socialist regime from the end of the Second World War until 1990, entered a rapid rapprochement process with the EU following its transition to democracy and a free market economy. On May 1, 2004, Poland became a member of the EU. The country is a member of the Schengen Area, but not of the Eurozone. “Zloty” (PLN, zl) is used as the currency in the country.

Located in Central Europe, neighbors of Poland are Germany, Czechia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. Poland has a population of 38.3 million, 71.3% of whom identify as Catholic. In addition to Christians, there are also Muslims (Tatars) and Jews.

With a gross domestic product of 862 billion dollars, Poland is dominated by the service sector, but industry and agriculture also play an important role in the country's economy. The agricultural sector employs more than 8% of the country's population in many fields such as automotive, machine parts, electrical machinery, shipbuilding and steel.

The Main Priorities Set Out by the Polish EU Council Presidency

1) Defense and Security

Given the need for a coherent European security approach complementary to NATO, Poland calls for increased military spending, a stronger defense industry and steps to address defense capacity gaps. Investments in relation to The Eastern Shield and the Baltic Defense Line should be supported. Increasing cooperation with NATO and other like-minded non-EU countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and South Korea is also presented as a priority.

2) Protection of People and Borders

Poland states that steps should be taken to protect the EU's external borders and address the problems shaped around irregular migration. Focusing on repatriation policies is underlined; and, instrumentalization of migration, which is defined as a hybrid threat, should be averted. Another priority is to improve the capacities of the EU and EU Member States in civil defense, disaster resilience, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, and to combat organized crime, terrorism and radicalization.

3) Resistance to Foreign Interference and Disinformation

This dimension is discussed in the context of increasing the resilience of democracy and preventing polarization and radicalization. It also highlights the importance of education and strengthening civil society as long-term goals and points out that the EU should focus on providing modern and secure digital services.

4) Ensuring Security and Freedom of Business

Rapidly transforming technology, energy crises, climate change and geopolitical tensions pose challenges for businesses, while the EU Single Market needs to be deepened through greater cooperation and the barriers to cross-border activity, especially in the services sector, need to be removed. In view of the need to facilitate access to capital for those who want to grow and invest, to ease bureaucratic difficulties for EU businesses, and to restore fair competition, Poland will engage in discussions on the future of cohesion policies and the development of the EU Single Market during its Presidency.

5) Energy Transition

The Presidency emphasizes that reliable and certain energy supplies are of high importance for the EU's energy security. Energy security is not only about supply, but also about the ability of EU citizens to use this energy in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices. In this context, the Polish Presidency will pursue efforts to completely phase out imports from Russia, work to lower energy prices in the EU and enhance the security of the EU energy sector's physical and cyber infrastructure. Reducing dependence on imported technologies and imported critical raw materials are also presented as parts of this dimension.

6) Competitive and Resilient Agriculture

The dimension emphasizes the need to strengthen the position of farmers in value chains and ensure that they have a predictable and stable income. Taking initiatives in food security, less resilient areas of the agricultural sector and ensuring compliance of non-EU producers with EU food quality, safety and sustainability standards are underlined. The need for a strong Common Agricultural Policy to support farmers and rural development is emphasized. In relation to the need for farmers' compliance with environmental rules, the dimension says that it should be carried out via incentives rather than coercion. It is also stated that the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU will assess the challenges that EU enlargement will bring to the agricultural sector.

7) Health Security

The last dimension, health security, focuses on digital transformation in healthcare and EU medicines safety. Diversifying the sources of supply of medicines and supporting production within the EU are given as key actions in the field. Priorities include protecting and improving the mental health of children and adolescents in the digital age, promoting healthy activities and disease prevention.

Türkiye in the Programme of the Polish EU Council Presidency

Türkiye is mentioned in two places in the program. The first one is in the last paragraph of the section on enlargement. It is stated that the Polish Presidency will engage in a constructive dialogue with Türkiye, taking into account its status as a candidate country and in accordance with the Conclusions of the European Council. The other part where Türkiye is mentioned is in the section on external relations. It is stated that the Polish Presidency will make effort to keep the Western Balkans and Türkiye in close cooperation with the EU through continued political dialogue in the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Further information on the programme and the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU is available here.