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Military

Major achievements of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union in key areas for the Ministry of National Defence

Poland - Ministry of National Defence

30.06.2025

Polish presidency has successfully strengthened our country's position as a leader in the EU's defence policy, setting strategic aims for developing Europe's defensive capabilities, integrating allied actions and promoting Polish industrial and operational potential. In the Ministry of National Defence, the presidency was not just a formality, but a real contribution to common security.

The motto of the Polish presidency was: Security, Europe!

Priorities of the presidency:

  1. Military support for Ukraine;
  2. Intensifying EU support for the defence industry and increasing defensive readiness;
  3. Strengthening EU-NATO cooperation

The priorities chosen by Poland became key topics of debate in the Union, and strategic decisions made during the Polish presidency, as well as the set courses of action, fundamentally changed the Union's approach in these matters and formed their long-term perspective.

EU security and defence policy:

  • Giving a new dynamic to the EU's debate on security, in accordance with Poland's strategic perspective
  • Designating the East Shield as a priority project for EU security - qualifying it for support from EU funds
  • Publishing the White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030, a foundation to the ReArm Europe strategy and confirmation of the need to strengthen EU's eastern flank
  • Communicating and promoting the ReArm Europe plan, as well as the proposal to create the SAFE instrument.

The SAFE Instrument

  • The Council Regulation 2025/1106 establishes the SAFE Instrument - up to 150 bln EUR of support for member states to modernize their Armed Forces and defence industries.
  • The estimated support for Poland is 120 - 130 mld PLN, which will be used to build the IFV "Borsuk", the "Piorun" air-defence system or the "Krab" howitzier, as well as building the East Shield, among other things.
  • Broadening the use of SAFE on Polish initiative: support for national purchases, allowing third-country subcontractors, a broader catalogue of supported capabilities
  • Starting the work on joint procurement projects within SAFE

EU-NATO and international cooperation

  • Successful cooperation with the Baltic states - putting both the East Shield and the Baltic Defence Line in the White Paper as critical projects
  • Enhancing military cooperation within the Union through:
    • Ensuring Military Capabilities For Urgent Contingencies;
    • PESCO Strategic Review;
    • Military Aspects of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy.
  • Implementing the White Paper and the EU Preparedness Union strategy, including in their military dimensions

Armament policy

  • Reaching a compromise for the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) - 1,5 bln EUR budget for joint procurement, increasing production, developing EDTIB and cooperation with Ukraine.
  • The Defence Readiness Omnibus Initative - a package of legislation strengthening EU readiness in crisis situations
  • Promoting Polish industry and innovative defence technologies on the EU forum.

Innovation and research:

  • Increased awareness of Polish approach to innovation in the EU and NATO
  • Promoting national scientific and industrial environments.
  • Networking for EDF projects and other EU initiatives

Cybersecurity

  • Defining the role of EU institutions (ENISA, EUCyCLONE, EDA) in coordinating cyberspace actions
  • Strengthening civilian-military cooperation in cyberspace
  • Identifying the needs for national inter-area coordination

The most important event related to defence during the Polish presidency was the informal meeting of the EU member states' ministers of defence in Warsaw on 2-3.04.2025 and high-level EU Security Forum on the White Paper on the Future of European Defence (2.04) [with the ministers and the EU Commissioner for Defence, A. Kubilius].

The formal Foreign Affairs Council - Defence meeting was held in Brussels on 20 May 2025 and focused on ways to implement the set priorities. The Polish presidency, implementing the White Paper and the ReArm Europe Plan, achieved the agreement on the text of the Regulation regarding the SAFE Instrument, adopted by the General Affairs Council on 27.05.

The Ministry of National Defence has also organized international conferences:

1. European Defence Innovation Days (14-16 May, Cracow)

2. Digital Baltic 2025 (2-3 June, Gdańsk)

3. CyberCo - Cyber Commanders and Ambassadors Conference (25-26 March, Legionowo)

4. Conference on Military Mobility (12-13 March, Warsaw)



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