Poland takes over EU Council presidency from Hungary: Warsaw’s priorities

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.