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Minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz summarises Poland’s six-month European Union Council Presidency.

‘I believe we have managed to show Poland as a dynamic country, one associated with economic development and modern economy,’ Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, secretary of state for European Affairs and Economic Policy, told during a press conference called to recapitulate six months of Poland’s European Union Council Presidency.

‘What’s important is that fifty-three pieces of legislation have been signed, with more than one hundred matters resolved at the Council level,’ declared the minister, and added, ‘Poland has presented itself as a country and a Presidency that takes EU unity to heart. Through our actions we have proven that time and time again.’

Minister Dowgielewicz also emphasised that Poland was diligent in performing the duties of ‘one who wants the European Union’s door to remain open.’ It was during the course of our European Union Council Presidency that Croatia signed its Accession Treaty, and negotiations concerning an association and trade agreement with Ukraine were successfully concluded.

Dowgielewicz believes the Polish Presidency did everything possible to fight the euro-area crisis, and to restore the Union’s more rapid economic growth.

‘We are closing our Presidency on an optimistic note. Something which only a few days ago had given no particular cause for joy (the issue of expanding the Schengen area to include Bulgaria and Romania) has now taken a major leap forward,’ declared Mikolaj Dowgielewicz. He was commenting on the latest declaration of the Dutch government which announced that it would agree to those countries’ joining the Schengen area provided that the next two Commission reports on Bulgaria and Romania were positive. ‘That means the decision to expand the Schengen area could well be taken next year,’ he added.

Main results of the efforts of Poland’s European Union Council Presidency

Last updated: 28-12-2011