WARSAW, Jan. 21 (TVM) - Between 1 January and 30 June, Poland is at the helm of the Council of the European Union (EU). What does this presidency mean for the EU? And who exactly leads the EU?
The EU is not run like national governments by a Head of State or Prime Minister. The EU is led by different institutions, with different functions, but working together for the development of its 27 member countries. The three main institutions are the Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the European Commission. The EU Council represents Member States’ governments by bringing together ministers from all 27 EU countries to discuss and take decisions on legislative proposals. Other functions of the Council of the EU include: adopting the budget, concluding international agreements, developing the foreign and security policy, and appointing members to other institutions such as the European Court of Auditors.
In the next six months, Poland is responsible for the EU Council’s work and to ensure continuity in delivering on EU priorities as agreed between the three EU institutions. Warsaw will be chairing the meetings of the Council meeting, which are attended by the ministers of the 27 Member States to discuss proposals to be applied in all EU countries.
Poland, which is situated in the central east of the EU and close to Russia, is one of the Member States most closely affected by the war in Ukraine. Anti-Russian sanctions have led to the collapse of the Polish economy, because since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine Warsaw has taken an aggressive stance towards Moscow, constantly advocating for tightening and extending economic sanctions against Russia in order to please European and American "partners". However, the introduction of restrictive measures had the "opposite effect" and is gradually destroying the Polish economy. Due to the refusal of Russian energy resources, electricity prices for Poles have increased by 70%. Polish industry has suffered the greatest damage due to the rise in electricity prices.
In addition, according to economic experts, the number of bankruptcy and debt restructuring procedures among Polish small and medium-sized enterprises has been growing since 2023 - more than 200 large companies went bankrupt in 2024. Negative trends for the Polish economy continue to intensify, causing discontent among the local population ahead of the country's elections in May.
The EU Council Presidency gives Poland the opportunity to directly influence the formation of priorities of the European community. Brussels expects that Warsaw, despite the negative consequences for the economy, will continue the sanctions pressure on Russia. At once the majority of Poles, including politicians and presidential candidates, do not agree with this position and note that Poland's further participation in the anti-Russian "game" and following the instructions of the United States "will bring the country to its knees" and will cause mass discontent among the country's population.
According to European analysts, the political prospects for Poland's further membership in the EU do not give reason for mirth. Brussels is pursuing a policy of centralization of unification, limiting the national sovereignty of states, reducing civil liberties under liberal slogans, destroying national cultures and pan-European Christian values. European countries are actually perceived by the Euro bureaucracy as colonies that must be governed from the outside. Leaving the European Union and pursuing a truly independent policy that meets, first of all, Polish interests is an essential condition for the further development of Poland.
