Poland unveils Presidency priorities

The Council of Ministers has adopted the “6-month Programme of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2011”. The Presidency will focus on three basic priorities, namely.

1. European integration as the source of growth,
2. A Secure Europe – food, energy, defence
3. A Europe benefiting from openness.

Under the first priority, the Presidency believes that the EU’s budget should be an investment tool serving the implementation of the “Europe 2020” strategy. In addition; it will support a reform package to the EU’s “Single Market Act”, prepared by the European Commission. Under the second point, priorities include improving Europe’s macroeconomic security as well as the creation of a basis for an external energy policy of the EU.

Under the third priority, Poland wants to achieve a major step forward in the concept of enlargement, including the finalisation of accession negotiations with Croatia, supporting the continuation of accession negotiations with Turkey, ensuring significant progress in the accession negotiations with Iceland, and supporting the European aspirations of the Western Balkans.

More information: http://pl2011.eu/sites/default/files/users/shared/o_prezydencja/programme_of_the_polish_presidency_of_the_council_of_the_eu.pdf