Today marks the start of Poland’s chairmanship of the Council of the European Union. Poland is taking over the Presidency from Hungary which has presided over the EU for the past six months.
The Polish Presidency gets under way amid many serious economic and social challenges now facing the European Union. Poland’s program and plan of activity are its response to those challenges. Poland’s objectives already enjoy the support of many European countries and community institutions. Surveys have shown that the Presidency is supported by Polish society, one of the EU’s most euro-enthusiastic.
The goals to be pursued over the next six months are efforts to deepen the integration of the EU market which should lead to swifter economic growth. Efforts will also be made to further enlarge the EU and strengthen cooperation with neighbours, guaranteeing greater stability in this region of the world, both in the south and the east. Another goal is the strengthening of Europe’s energy, food and military security. Also during Poland’s Presidency, the extremely important discussion on the new EU budget for 2014-2020 will get under way.
Today in Warsaw Prime minister Donald Tusk is playing host to the President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barrosoand Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, from whom he will symbolically take over the EU Council chairmanship.
A ceremony at the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera will mark the official inauguration of Poland’s Presidency, where the premiere performance of Karol Szymanowski’s opera ‘King Roger’ will be staged.
