Poland takes over EU presidency with emphasis on security and defense

Since January 1, Poland has assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union for the next six months. It follows a tormented presidency of Hungary and places emphasis on defense.

With a focus on collective security and defense, Poland highlighted the importance of strengthening the European defense industry, paying particular attention to the modernization of its technological capabilities. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański noted that a robust European defense industry was essential and that further efforts to increase production capacity were a priority.

Aside from security concerns, Poland is committed to revitalizing the EU economy. Domański stressed the need to simplify regulations and deregulate the economy to restore competitiveness. He also highlighted the need to improve access to capital for EU businesses, an important issue for many European businesses. To ensure fair competition, Poland will push for reforms to the EU customs code and stricter border controls to ensure European businesses can compete on a level playing field.

Another important aspect of the Polish EU Presidency will be to continue to strongly support Ukraine in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion. The Polish government plans to advocate for new EU sanctions against Russia and maintain stable support for kyiv. As part of these efforts, Poland will also seek to establish joint EU defense funding, reinforcing the idea that security is a shared responsibility.

Domański noted that a common solution was needed to meet defense needs across the EU, in line with the European Commission’s estimate that strengthening the EU’s defense capabilities could require up to 500 billion euros over the next decade.

Poland’s Minister for European Affairs, Adam Szłapka, confirmed that security would be at the heart of the Polish presidency’s priorities. This will include strengthening the EU’s defense and ensuring a unified approach to maintaining peace and stability in the region.