Poland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for a period of six months starting on July 1, 2011. Interview with Mikolaj DOWGIELEWICZ, Polish Secretary of State for European Affairs.
Can you present the main priorities of this presidency to us?
During the preparatory work for the presidency of the Council, we have set three main objectives:
European integration as a source of growth.
The Polish government believes that a new model of European growth needs to be developed.
The Polish presidency will take measures to stimulate economic growth by developing the internal market and using the European budget in a way that increases Europe’s competitiveness.
The European Union has learned lessons from the crisis: new principles of economic governance have been established and new tools put in place, such as the European Stability Mechanism aimed at preventing potential crises from recurring.
Nevertheless, the Polish government believes that it is necessary to move to the next stage and develop a new model of growth through which the European Union could ensure sufficient economic development in the coming decades to guarantee the well-being of its inhabitants.
A secure Europe – food, energy, defense.
This involves strengthening Europe macroeconomically but also ensuring food security and conducting an external energy policy that will ensure security in this area.
The Commission was also called to act on the external energy policy at the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council held on May 31.
“A secure Europe” also implies safe borders.
During our presidency, we will seek to complete work on amending the regulation of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex).
The Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union will also focus on strengthening European military and civilian capacities.
We will support measures aimed at maintaining a direct dialogue between the European Union and NATO.
A Europe that benefits from openness.
Two aspects are crucial here: the continuation of enlargement and the development of partnerships (in the East and South of Europe).
All of this, of course, takes place in an international context that we cannot overlook, such as the “Arab Spring”.
The European Union must support democratic transformations and Poland can bring its own experience in this field.
Regarding the Eastern Partnership, a summit devoted to this topic will take place from September 29 to 30 in Warsaw.
