“Security” key word of the Polish presidency of the EU Council

Brussels – Security, in all its aspects. The Warsaw government will assume the rotating presidency of the EU Council at the turn of the new year, from January 1, 2025, but ideas and programs for the Polish-led semester are already in place. A preview is provided by the undersecretary for European Affairs, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, at the extraordinary meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) chairmanship office. 

External, energy, economic, food, climate, health, and information security are what Poland’s work agenda is based on and what the Polish presidency intends to work for. “Security is our motto, and this will be the focus of our presidency,” emphasizes Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. It is, she explains, a “comprehensive approach” that aims to address “Europe’s most pressing challenges” for the next six months.

More specifically, external security also means the military scope, i.e., continuing to support Ukraine in responding to the Russian offensive, “funding the ‘Eastern Shield’ and promoting a robust European defence industry.”The energy security issue is intended to translate into less dependence on external energy sources, accelerate the energy transition with European-led technologies, and lower bills for households and businesses. The economic security translates into the intention to reform the EU’s multiannual financial framework, increase the availability of European funds for beneficiaries, and strengthen the cohesion policy under the slogan “more power to the regions, less power to Brussels.” 

Moreover, food and climate security will entail bridging the gap between agriculture and climate activism with a commitment to competitiveness and a practical climate framework. As for health security, the Polish presidency intends to strengthen the EU’s independence in the production of medicines and address mental health challenges, particularly among children and young people. Finally, information security. Here, the will is to combat misinformation and counter the proliferation of fake news, improve cybersecurity, and manage the impact of virtual reality on mental health, particularly for younger generations.

Program and intentions appeal to Oliver Röpke, president of EESC. “Security is not simply a defensive posture; it is a pro-active commitment to resilience, cooperation, and trust,” he comments. “We look forward to supporting the work of the Polish presidency, for example, through the exploratory opinions requested.”