Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a critical moment for Europe and the world. Starting in January, our country has the opportunity to lead the European agenda for six months and to re-emphasise the importance of Poland but also other Central and Eastern European Member States.
We will face a range of economic and geopolitical challenges including economic stagnation, new US leadership, and above all Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Fresh destabilising factors in the Middle East will also cast a long shadow over any lofty agenda-setting. This is a juncture that demands credible leadership and strategic clarity — attributes that, to date, the government in Warsaw has not convincingly demonstrated.
The chosen motto “Security, Europe!” seems, at first glance, to encapsulate the enormity of the challenges facing the EU. This includes external and internal security, economic stability, energy resilience, and the safeguarding of critical resources. But slogans alone will not shield the Union from real threats.
At the core of this crisis is an excessive embrace of the Green Deal. No one disputes the need for environmental care, but current policies mean soaring energy bills, costlier cars, pricier heating, and more expensive food for EU citizens. Although voters have repeatedly signalled their desire for change — particularly in the last European elections — Brussels seems deaf to their voices, doubling down to appease certain ideological allies rather than adjusting course.
Other Commission priorities only compound the problem. The dangerous migration pact remains unchallenged, while looming trade deals like the one with Mercosur threaten to devastate European agriculture, already under relentless regulatory strain.
The upcoming Polish presidency ought to sound the alarm bell and set the EU back on course. Poland, directly feeling the shockwaves of geopolitical instability, should naturally lead efforts to address Europe’s security in all its forms: from enhancing defence cooperation without duplicating NATO efforts, to pressing for economic reforms that reduce administrative burdens and respect the competitive needs of Member States.
Unfortunately, it remains unlikely that the incoming government in Warsaw can resist falling into the same traps as Brussels. Will it have the backbone to question the Green Deal’s most damaging elements, to defend technological neutrality in energy policy, and to stand firm against ill-conceived trade agreements and migration pacts?
Recently, despite having had ample opportunity to strengthen ties with our allies across the Atlantic, the Polish government regrettably ignored President Andrzej Duda’s appeal from a year ago to make transatlantic relations a core theme of our diplomatic efforts.
Now, as a new US administration offers fresh openings, petty political considerations have overshadowed strategic interests. A proposed special summit — a chance to set a positive tone for our Council presidency — was dismissed outright. This short-sightedness weakens the EU’s global standing and forfeits a critical moment to advance Europe’s and Poland’s security and economic interests.
The Polish presidency has the potential to be a defining moment for both our country and the EU. By emphasising security in all its dimensions, Poland can help steer the EU through this critical juncture with strength and purpose. I urge the Polish government to embrace this responsibility with the seriousness it demands, ensuring that the Polish presidency leaves a lasting legacy of progress and solidarity across the continent.