As Poland assumes the presidency of the European Council, Europe faces constant external threats from Russia and Belarus, and we must moderate ministerial meetings in a way that will allow defence to stay on top of everyone’s agendas. Now more than ever, we need European unity, stability and a real sense of European community.
The Polish presidency will use the next six months to strengthen the role of civil society in upholding EU values, reflecting our own ongoing efforts to restore the rule of law in Poland. Drawing on this domestic experience, we can lead efforts to address the backsliding taking place across various member states.
Civil society has proven to be fundamental in the process of protecting the values set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which include democracy, rule of law and respect for human dignity. The Polish presidency will be dedicated to ensuring citizens can use democratic tools available to them. To this end, we will prioritise ensuring the accessibility of the European Citizens’ Initiative and supporting NGOs that fight for important causes that don’t always get attention at the institutional level.
The resilience of justice systems is another element of rule of law where Poland’s recent experience can be instructive. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) found that a Polish appeals court violated the right to a fair proceeding in the case of Lech Wałęsa, a former president.
The incumbent Polish government is in the process of implementing the ECtHR’s recommendations, specifically related to the separation of power and the independence of the judiciary. This creates a space for a dialogue on how to prevent the political capture of justice systems across the European Union, which in turn will support member states whose observance of the EU’s fundamental values is under threat.
We also expect equality and women’s rights to be top of the agenda during the Polish presidency. It should be our duty to enhance sexual and reproductive rights across the European Union, and to reaffirm that the right to choose is a human right. We hope to move closer to adopting the Equal Treatment Directive, proposed by the European Commission in 2008 to expand protections against discrimination, which is still blocked in Council due to a lack of unanimity.
It is time for EU legislation on non-discrimination based on gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation to extend beyond employment and occupation.
The first half of 2025 will come with its challenges, not all of which we can predict. However, I have no doubts that the Polish presidency will be perfectly equipped to tackle any such challenges and will also continue to open the door to dialogue, ensuring we are united in diversity.