Day: December 31, 2024

Poland has officially started its presidency of the European Union Council from January 1 to June 30, 2025. Among the main tasks for Warsaw during this period was strengthening European security in light of geopolitical conflicts, according to the official website of Poland’s presidency in the EU Council.

It is noted that since the beginning of this year, representatives of the Polish government have taken over the presidency at EU ministerial meetings from the Hungarian side, which ended after December 31, 2024.

A release regarding Poland’s priorities during its EU Council presidency states that the country assumes leadership in a period of uncertainty and concern.

“Europe is grappling with the consequences of Russia’s third year of armed aggression against Ukraine and the need to strengthen its own defence capacity. We are witnessing increasing geopolitical tensions, the erosion of the rulesbased international order and hybrid attacks targeting European democracy and security,” the Polish statement reads.

It is emphasized that Europe is going through a time of trials and decisions and that the EU must protect itself and its citizens and take care of its immediate neighborhood.

The release emphasizes that responsibility to future generations demands the unity of the EU and the willingness to collaborate with partners who share its values, including membership candidates. It also stresses the obligation to protect the values on which the Community is founded, such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

Thus, Warsaw declares that the Polish Presidency will support activities strengthening European security in all its dimensions: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health.

Here are the 7 relevant dimensions of security:

• Defense and security
• Protection of people and borders
• Resilience to external interference and disinformation
• Ensuring the security and freedom of business
• Energy transition
• Competitive and sustainable agriculture
• Health security

Expectations from Poland’s EU Council presidency

Earlier in December 2024, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, assured that Poland’s presidency of the EU Council in the first half of the upcoming year would help achieve consensus on further sanctions against Russia.

Sikorski also stated that Poland’s priorities during its presidency would focus on ensuring an effective pace of the EU’s enlargement process.

Recently, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, assessed what Ukraine can expect from Poland’s presidency in the EU starting in 2025.

For details about Poland’s plans during its presidency of the EU Council, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping once again stated that no one can stop the reunification of China with Taiwan. He called this event inevitable, reports Reuters.

“The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification,” Xi said in his New Year’s address.

The agency reminded that in his New Year’s speech last year, Xi stated that the reunification of China with Taiwan is inevitable. He added that people on both sides should be united by a common goal and share the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

China-Taiwan confrontation

China considers the democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory. However, Taipei rejects Beijing’s claims and states that only its people can decide their future, and China must respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.

Tensions in the sensitive Taiwan Strait remained high throughout 2024, especially after Lai Ching-te became the new president of the island in May, a person whom Beijing considers a separatist.

Earlier this month, China conducted a large naval force buildup around Taiwan and also in the East and South China Seas. The maneuvers took place after Lai made stops in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during a Pacific trip, which was heavily criticized by Beijing.

China, which has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, conducted two rounds of military exercises around the island last year. Beijing stated that these drills were a warning against separatist acts and promised to take further measures if necessary.

Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that he considers Taiwan to be an inseparable part of China and has expressed his intention to reunite the island with the People’s Republic of China. He has been the most aggressive in attempting to conquer and annex Taiwan through military means.

Taiwan’s leader, Lai Ching-te, confirmed that China views the annexation and elimination of Taiwan’s independence as a major national cause.