Welcoming the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk to the European Parliament to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that in these moments, as we collectively face down global challenges, Europe relies on Polish courage and spirit to lead our Union.
Dear colleagues,
On the 1st of January, Poland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Today, we are honoured to welcome the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk to introduce his Presidency’s priorities to this House.
Dear Prime Minister, Dear Donald: welcome. It is good to see you back in the European Parliament.
A strong Poland means a strong Europe. Poland is ready for the challenge of this Presidency. Under your leadership, Poland entered 2025 as a European front-runner in economic growth and in a leading voice for collective European action on competitiveness and security.
Dear Prime Minister, you take the reigns as the world around has become more unpredictable. Increasingly Europe’s way and our unity will come under renewed pressure and I know that in those moments, as we collectively face down those global challenges, Europe will be able to rely on Polish courage and spirit to anchor our Union - and you will find this Parliament as a solid partner in that journey.
When we see what Russia did in Ukraine, the dictatorship in Belarus, the instability in Middle East, Europe will be called upon to do more, to stand up for our way - to lead.
Europe will be ready for this new reality. We must step up and act with determination to ensure our Union continues to thrive. To ensure that we are able to generate the prosperity our European way relies on. To make people’s lives easier. To ensure our people can live securely and in safety.
This also means taking steps to ensure Europe secures its own frontiers, protects its critical infrastructure and builds its defence readiness to counter very real external threats and defend our strategic autonomy.
And we must go even further: working together to increase our collective security across our Union in all areas from migration to energy and economy.
With Poland at the helm of this Presidency guided by your leadership and vision, dear Donald, I am confident our Union can tackle these critical issues and emerge even stronger, more prosperous and more secure.
The steps we choose to take together in the next six months will be decisive for our Union. There is no time to lose: the time to act is now.
In the words of that great Pole, Pope John Paul II: The future starts today, not tomorrow.
Dear Prime Minister, dear Donald, the floor is yours.
Thank you. You can read the President's speech in Polish here.