Polish presidency / 1 January - 30 June 2025

The Polish presidency is focusing on strengthening seven dimensions of European security:

defence and security
protection of people and borders
resistance to foreign interference and disinformation
ensuring security and freedom of business
the energy transition
competitive and resilient agriculture
health security

Security, Europe! This is our motto, which reflects the current challenges facing our continent.

Adam Szłapka, Polish Minister for European Union Affairs

Poland is holding the rotating presidency of the Council for the second time, this time as part of a presidency trio with Denmark and Cyprus.

The priorities of the Polish presidency

Security, Europe!

Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time of uncertainty and concern. Europe is grappling with the consequences of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine and the need to strengthen its own defence capacity. We are witnessing increasing geopolitical tensions, the erosion of the rules-based international order and hybrid attacks targeting European democracy and security.

For Europe, this is the time of trial and decision. The European Union must protect itself and its citizens and take care of its immediate neighbourhood. It must give Europeans a sense of security and prospects for development.

Responsibility for future generations requires EU unity and a willingness to work with partners who share our values, in particular aspiring members. Furthermore, it obliges us to defend the values on which the Community is based, such as democracy, freedom and the rule of law.

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

7 security dimensions

• Defence and security

We need concerted and ambitious action on European defence, complementing the efforts of NATO.

There is a need to boost defence readiness based on increased military spending, a stronger defence industry and addressing defence capability gaps. The Polish Presidency will support these activities and push for an in-depth debate on defence financing in the EU.

We need strong support for the defence capabilities and defence industry, which will benefit entities of all sizes from all Member States. Support for key defence and dual-use infrastructure, such as East Shield and the Baltic Defence Line, is also important.

A priority of the Polish presidency will also be to strengthen cooperation with NATO and like-minded non-EU countries, mainly the USA, as well as the UK, South Korea and others.

• Protection of people and borders

Europe must continue its efforts to ensure an optimal level of internal security for its citizens.

Together we will seek new solutions to comprehensively address the challenges of migration and security at the EU's external borders, work to reduce irregular migration and strengthen the effectiveness of return policy.

We will work towards an adequate EU response to hybrid threats, in particular the instrumentalisation of migration. We will face the challenges of ensuring that the Schengen Area functions properly.

We will work to enhance EU and member state capacities for civil protection, disaster resilience, rescue and humanitarian assistance. We will address the issues of: combating international organized crime networks, terrorism and radicalization, including in the context of the internal security threats posed by the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

• Resistance to foreign interference and disinformation

The European Union and its member states must strengthen the resilience of democracy to curb polarization and radicalization. This requires the ability to recognise and eliminate disinformation and foreign manipulation, but also long-term efforts in the areas of civic education and strengthening civil society.

The Polish presidency will strive to strengthen coordination in the fight against disinformation, information manipulation and to improve the EU's ability to prevent and mitigate the effects of hostile actions in cyberspace. It is particularly important to deal with crisis situations involving interference by third countries with EU information systems.

Attention will be paid to the development of modern, secure digital services. We will also combat climate disinformation to make us more secure in the face of climate change.

• Ensuring security and freedom of business

The Polish presidency intends to take measures that will contribute to solving challenges related to rapid technological change, energy and climate transition as well as geopolitical tensions. It is necessary to deepen the Single Market, remove barriers to cross-border activity, especially in the services sector. Enacting initiatives that improve access to private capital for businesses that want to grow and invest will also be of importance.

The Polish presidency will promote the reduction of bureaucratic burdens. In this context, it will be important that major European policies make their approach more flexible, move away from penalties and obligations and focus on rewards and incentives. The Polish Presidency will also concentrate on improving support mechanisms for industry in areas important for security and building economic advantages, while maintaining a level playing field within the EU.

It will also be our priority to restore a fair competition for EU industry in the global arena. We intend to improve trade policy instruments, enforcement when goods enter the EU market and make better use of the strengths of the EU's broad public procurement stream.

The Polish presidency will undertake a discussion on the future shape of cohesion policy, as improvements in the Single Market should be accompanied by policies that promote security and economic competitiveness.

• Energy transition

Poland stresses that the reliability and certainty of the supply of energy resources is crucial for the EU's energy security. However, it was only Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine that led to a reduction in Russian gas and oil imports by about two-thirds and a complete shift away from Russian coal imports. Nevertheless, there is still much to be done. Today, EU energy security is also about ensuring that citizens and businesses have access to energy in sufficient quantities and at an affordable price.

The Polish presidency will therefore promote actions aimed at a full withdrawal from imports of Russian energy sources. It will undertake steps with a view to reduce energy prices in the EU and revise the EU's energy security framework to enhance the physical security and cybersecurity of energy infrastructure in the EU and its neighbourhood and ensure a level playing field for the development of each clean energy source in the EU.

We will strive to reduce our dependence on imported technologies, the components to make those technologies and the critical raw materials needed to manufacture them.

• Competitive and resilient agriculture

Europe must ensure that farmers' position in value chains is strengthened and their income is stable. We need a competitive and resilient European agriculture that provides food security for Europeans. All EU actions should take into account vulnerable agricultural sectors and ensure that non-EU producers comply with EU food quality, safety and sustainability standards.

The Polish presidency will strive to shape a strong Common Agricultural Policy that supports farmers and the development of rural areas.The policy should encourage, rather than force, farmers to take action to protect the environment and show the benefits of combating and preventing the effects of climate change, such as floods and droughts.

We will work on the challenges that future EU enlargement will bring to the sector.

• Health security

The Polish presidency will focus on the digital transformation of healthcare and the need to improve EU medicines security, with a particular focus on the patients' perspective. Both the diversification of medicines supply chains and support for their production in the EU play a key role.

Health security is also about the wellbeing of EU citizens, so we will focus on ways to improve the mental health of children and adolescents in the digital age and health promotion activities and disease prevention.

Poland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time. Thirteen years after the first Polish presidency, and twenty years after joining the EU, Poland presents an ambitious presidency programme, the main goal of which is to implement the priorities set around the topic of security.

Key areas addressed by the Council

• General Affairs Council (GAC)

The Polish presidency will continue its efforts to strengthen and protect the European Union's values, both internally and externally.

In particular, work will focus on safeguarding the rule of law, EU enlargement, countering foreign interference and information manipulation, strengthening democratic resilience and preparing negotiations of the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Polish presidency will also support the discussion on the future of cohesion policy, which we consider to be the best tool for equalising development opportunities, counteracting inequalities, and improving resistance to crises.

• Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)

In view of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and other security threats, the work of the Foreign Affairs Council will focus on maximising support for Ukraine at political, military and economic levels, maintaining current policies towards Russia and Belarus and strengthening the security and resilience of the EU and its partners.

The Presidency will seek to strengthen EU-NATO relations and to coordinate better EU-US relations. The Polish presidency will also place emphasis on supporting member states in developing their defence and readiness capabilities, defence industries and dual-use infrastructure. We will also seek to use EU instruments to support key elements of defence infrastructure such as the East Shield.

• Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN)

The main thrust of the work of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will be to respond to the challenges of the EU's current economic and financial situation. The most important areas on which the Polish presidency will focus are streamlining the Single Market to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy, and working on the financial aspects of strengthening the EU's defence capabilities and supporting Ukraine, as well as the balanced and efficient revenue side of the EU budget.

The Polish presidency will remain committed to securing sustained support for Ukraine and advancing preparations to finance its reconstruction efforts.

• Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA)

The Polish presidency will continue its efforts to ensure an optimal level of security for EU citizens. The focus will be on a comprehensive response to the challenges of security and migration, including countering its instrumentalisation by Russia and Belarus, and working extensively with international partners in tackling its root causes.

We will work to effectively combat transnational organised crime networks, terrorism and radicalisation, as well as hybrid threats affecting the internal security, including disinformation. We will also focus on the topics of security and the protection of fundamental rights in the areas of criminal and civil law, and on the role of civil society in protecting the rule of law.

• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)

The work of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will focus on measures to ensure fair, non-discriminatory and safe working conditions in the age of digital transformation. We will work to ensure equality, cohesion and inclusion. In particular, we will work towards gender equality in a modern digital society.

We will lean into the challenges faced by the elderly. The emphasis will be on the health security of the European Union and its citizens. In the domain of health, the Presidency will focus on the medicines security, the digital transformation of healthcare, the mental health of children and young people, and health promotion and disease prevention.

• Competitiveness Council (COMPET)

The work of the Competitiveness Council will focus on measures to ensure long-term competitiveness, which is at the same time a pillar of the EU's economic security.

It is essential to strengthen the European economic base to ensure that the European economy is resilient to the risks of disrupted supply chains and to ensure a level playing field within the EU and at global level.

The most important areas on which the Polish presidency will focus relate to reinforcing the foundations of the Single Market and development of the EU industrial policy that strengthens the competitive position of European companies.

• Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE)

The work of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council will focus on measures to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the transport sector.

We will support the development of a comprehensive and horizontal approach to cybersecurity, working on updating and strengthening the EU's cyber crisis coordination framework.

The Polish presidency will work to develop a new EU energy security architecture. We will aim to strengthen the European energy security strategy and promote solutions for the development of EU technologies to facilitate the transition and mechanisms that aim at maintaining European industry competitive.

• Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH)

The work of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will focus on measures needed to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and increase its resilience to crises. We recognise that they are essential both to stabilize farmers' incomes and to guarantee food security. We will address the challenges that future EU enlargement will bring to the sector.

The Polish presidency will hold a policy debate on the Vision for Agriculture and Food. Future CAP solutions must foster the building and maintenance of a competitive and resilient European agriculture and the development of rural areas.

• Environment Council (ENVI)

The work of the Environment Council will focus on actions to build the resilience of the environment and societies to climate change. We will underline the tangible benefits that healthy and stable ecosystems bring to societies. Emphasis will be put on legislation concerning access to resources critical for human functioning.

We will promote the pursuit of environmental and climate policy with a particular emphasis on human beings and benefits that the transition brings. We will promote fight against the causes and effects of climate change first and foremost through incentives and support, rather than bans and excessive burdens.

• Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS)

The work of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council will focus on activities for the benefit of young people, including supporting young artists in starting their professional careers. We will address the issue of the European identity. Attention will be paid to measures aimed at strengthening the role of sport in the education process.

The Polish presidency will continue efforts to promote cooperation between EU countries in order to build more resilient and inclusive education and training systems. A high-level discussion will be initiated on a community of young Europeans based on universal values for a common and secure Europe.

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