WARSAW, Poland (CHATNEWSTV) — Poland took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Hungary on January 1, marking its second time at the helm. The presidency, which will officially begin on January 3, runs until the end of June 2025.
Guided by the motto “Security, Europe!” Poland plans to prioritize European security in various dimensions, including external, internal, informational, economic, energy, food, and health.
“Our presidency will be an opening presidency. Hence, we will not fight for how many cases we will close, but for how many we will set a new tone,” Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, deputy minister for EU affairs, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The rotating presidency of the Council of the EU shifts between member states every six months. Poland’s role will involve setting agendas, hosting discussions, and leading negotiations among member states. Over 300 official meetings are planned, including 22 informal councils of EU ministers.
The first such meetings will focus on education, scheduled for January 21-22, and justice and home affairs, set for January 30-31. While Poland will not host an informal summit of EU leaders—scheduled for February 3 in Brussels—it will organize nearly 200 cultural events, starting with a gala concert at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw on January 3.
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and a Ukrainian delegation will attend the inaugural event.
“Security, Europe! This is our motto, which reflects the current challenges facing our continent.”, said Adam Szłapka, Polish Minister for European Union Affairs.
More than 40,000 guests are expected in Poland over the next six months, with 3,000 officials involved in managing the presidency.
Poland’s term coincides with the beginning of a new institutional cycle in the EU, including the recent formation of the European Commission and the leadership of Antonio Costa. Among Poland’s top priorities are bolstering the EU’s security, resilience, and competitiveness.
“As the presidency, we will strive to avoid the so-called overregulation,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said, referencing concerns from reports like the Draghi report on European competitiveness.
Poland will work within the trio presidency system established by the Lisbon Treaty, collaborating with Denmark, which assumes the presidency in July 2025, and Cyprus, scheduled for the first half of 2026.
