The symbolic opening gala of the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union was held on Friday (3 January) at the Grand Theatre – National Opera. Among the attendees were the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Speaker of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. ‘I hope the event will give us all energy for the next six months, because we will need it a lot. Poland is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at an exceptionally difficult time for Europe’, Speaker Hołownia wrote on social media.
After the Polish national anthem was sung, Prime Minister Donald Tusk took the floor. ‘The Polish Presidency is there to harness our national wisdom and our national experience. We understand the importance of security, competitiveness,
innovation, imagination, courage, and good leadership for Poland and for Europe. These are all sources of our strength. Without this strength, Europe will not survive. If it manages to find the sources of its power again, it will once again become the continent we have been proud of for centuries’, Donald Tusk pointed out.
The Prime Minister also noted that the Solidarity movement was one of the foundations of modern Europe, and that the word ‘solidarity’ might stand for more today than at any time in the history of post-war Europe. ‘Poland is going to be the guardian of this solidarity. Europe can consider itself lucky that Poland is going to be at the helm as we enter these tumultuous times. We are the most pro-European nation on the continent’, he pointed out.
‘Standing here in Warsaw, I want to ask all of Europe and every single European: are you all ready to embark once again on the European path of greatness, strength and sovereignty? Poland is ready’, Mr Tusk pointed out.
‘Our common vision for Europe is based on the very same values, principles and strategic objectives –developing cohesion among Member States, enhancing the effectiveness of European institutions, and nurturing the well-being of Europeans. This is the path that Poland has followed since joining the European Union twenty years ago – a source of real dynamism, a cornerstone of the European defence strategy, a pillar of the single market, and an innovative and thriving economy’, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, pointed out. He also praised Poland as ‘one of the greatest successes in the history of Community enlargement and the best geostrategic investment made by Europe, which made it possible to guarantee freedom and democracy that replaced long-standing totalitarian regimes.’
‘I have no doubt that the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union will once again show that patriotism and European integration are inseparable’, Costa declared.
‘There is a brutal war going on across our eastern border, unleashed by Putin. The climate and migration crises are ongoing, while the European Union is reeling from economic problems, causing it to fall further and further behind the United States. Across the Western realm, we see the resurgence of populists offering simple (but wrong) answers to difficult questions’, said Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia after the gala, pointing out the importance of the Polish Presidency.
‘That is why the main focus of the Polish presidency is placed on security, and not just external, but also economic, health, information, and food security. Europe must rise to the challenges ahead and emerge stronger’, he noted in a social media post.
‘European parliaments are the natural place to discuss the issues seen as important by the citizens of the Union. It is therefore only natural that the Polish Sejm and Senate will be actively involved in the Polish Presidency. The Polish Parliament will host seven inter-parliamentary conferences on issues such as the economy, health and the foreign and defence policy of the European Union’, he claimed.
Speaker Hołownia also noted that the upcoming six months represent a great opportunity for Poland to strengthen its position in Europe. ‘I am convinced that the Sejm of the Republic of Poland will be an important partner of this Presidency and determined to make it happen’, he announced.
The Sejm was also represented at the event by Deputy Speaker Monika Wielichowska and Deputy Speaker Dorota Niedziela as well as numerous deputies and senators, members of the Council of Ministers and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
The special evening featured a performance by the musicians of the Orchestra and Choir of the Grand Theatre – National Opera led by Radzimir Dębski, who composed a special piece for the occasion, drawing on the canon of Polish classical music.
The special evening featured a performance by the musicians of the Orchestra and Choir of the Grand Theatre – National Opera led by Radzimir Dębski, who composed a special piece for the occasion, drawing on the canon of Polish classical music.
Poland’s presidency comes at the beginning of a new institutional cycle, in the wake of the elections to the European Parliament and the approval of the new European Commission line-up. The motto of the Polish presidency is: ‘Security, Europe!’ and its key priorities include actions bolstering the external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health dimensions of European security.
The symbolic opening gala of the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union was held on Friday (3 January) at the Grand Theatre – National Opera. Among the attendees were the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Speaker of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska. ‘I hope the event will give us all energy for the next six months, because we will need it a lot. Poland is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at an exceptionally difficult time for Europe’, Speaker Hołownia wrote on social media.
After the Polish national anthem was sung, Prime Minister Donald Tusk took the floor. ‘The Polish Presidency is there to harness our national wisdom and our national experience. We understand the importance of security, competitiveness, innovation, imagination, courage, and good leadership for Poland and for Europe. These are all sources of our strength. Without this strength, Europe will not survive. If it manages to find the sources of its power again, it will once again become the continent we have been proud of for centuries’, Donald Tusk pointed out.
The Prime Minister also noted that the Solidarity movement was one of the foundations of modern Europe, and that the word ‘solidarity’ might stand for more today than at any time in the history of post-war Europe. ‘Poland is going to be the guardian of this solidarity. Europe can consider itself lucky that Poland is going to be at the helm as we enter these tumultuous times. We are the most pro-European nation on the continent’, he pointed out.
‘Standing here in Warsaw, I want to ask all of Europe and every single European: are you all ready to embark once again on the European path of greatness, strength and sovereignty? Poland is ready’, Mr Tusk pointed out.
‘Our common vision for Europe is based on the very same values, principles and strategic objectives –developing cohesion among Member States, enhancing the effectiveness of European institutions, and nurturing the well-being of Europeans. This is the path that Poland has followed since joining the European Union twenty years ago – a source of real dynamism, a cornerstone of the European defence strategy, a pillar of the single market, and an innovative and thriving economy’, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, pointed out. He also praised Poland as ‘one of the greatest successes in the history of Community enlargement and the best geostrategic investment made by Europe, which made it possible to guarantee freedom and democracy that replaced long-standing totalitarian regimes.’
‘I have no doubt that the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union will once again show that patriotism and European integration are inseparable’, Costa declared.
‘There is a brutal war going on across our eastern border, unleashed by Putin. The climate and migration crises are ongoing, while the European Union is reeling from economic problems, causing it to fall further and further behind the United States. Across the Western realm, we see the resurgence of populists offering simple (but wrong) answers to difficult questions’, said Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia after the gala, pointing out the importance of the Polish Presidency.
‘That is why the main focus of the Polish presidency is placed on security, and not just external, but also economic, health, information, and food security. Europe must rise to the challenges ahead and emerge stronger’, he noted in a social media post.
‘European parliaments are the natural place to discuss the issues seen as important by the citizens of the Union. It is therefore only natural that the Polish Sejm and Senate will be actively involved in the Polish Presidency. The Polish Parliament will host seven inter-parliamentary conferences on issues such as the economy, health and the foreign and defence policy of the European Union’, he claimed.
Speaker Hołownia also noted that the upcoming six months represent a great opportunity for Poland to strengthen its position in Europe. ‘I am convinced that the Sejm of the Republic of Poland will be an important partner of this Presidency and determined to make it happen’, he announced.
The Sejm was also represented at the event by Deputy Speaker Monika Wielichowska and Deputy Speaker Dorota Niedziela as well as numerous deputies and senators, members of the Council of Ministers and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
The special evening featured a performance by the musicians of the Orchestra and Choir of the Grand Theatre – National Opera led by Radzimir Dębski, who composed a special piece for the occasion, drawing on the canon of Polish classical music.
Poland’s presidency comes at the beginning of a new institutional cycle, in the wake of the elections to the European Parliament and the approval of the new European Commission line-up. The motto of the Polish presidency is: ‘Security, Europe!’ and its key priorities include actions bolstering the external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health dimensions of European security.
