Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has come to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council, which began on 1 January and will last for the first half of 2025. Mr Tusk was introduced by the words of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: “A strong Poland means a strong Europe: Poland began the year at the top of the EU country ranking for economic growth”. President Metsola highlighted the “new pressures” facing the European Union, praising the “Polish courage and spirit, which are “an example to all of us”. The president also mentioned a few pillars at the heart of the Polish semester: border and infrastructure security, resilience against external threats, and defence readiness. Hence a call to “act with determination to create prosperity and guarantee security for our citizens”, and, finally, a reference to the words of a “great Pole”, Pope John Paul II: “The future starts today, not tomorrow”. Mr Tusk began his address to the MEPs (calling them “dear friends”) by paraphrasing the Polish national anthem: “Europe will not die as long as we live”.

He then focused on the key topics at the heart of the European Semester: “Security is the top priority, as the motto ‘Security, Europe’ shows. We intend to respond to international hesitation, in a context of progress, sometimes uncontrolled and sometimes violent, that destabilises citizens”. And he went on to tell the MEPs: “Keep you heads high: Europe was, is, and will always be great”.