Poland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Hungary on 1 January 2025, coinciding with the start of a new EU institutional cycle and the upcoming negotiations on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as the European Democratic Shield. The main theme of Poland’s 2025 EU Council presidency was security – an apt focus given the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and uncertainty over the new US administration. Poland framed security broadly across seven dimensions: external, internal, informational, economic, energy, food and health. Externally, it sought stronger ties with NATO and partners such as the USA, UK and South Korea. Internally, it addressed migration, border security, and disinformation. Economic priorities included reducing bureaucracy and ensuring fair competition. Energy goals aimed at independence from Russian imports, while food and health policies focused on supporting farmers, digitalizing healthcare, and diversifying medicine supplies.
What lessons arise from the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union? After numerous political controversies over Hungary’s pro-Russian stance, hopes for the Polish presidency were high. Under the slogan ‘Security, Europe!’, Poland officially prioritized seven dimensions of security. However, migration, climate and EU enlargement were ultimately neglected. This paper shows how, based on the experience of the Polish presidency, future member states can better conduct their European policy.
