Highlights:

1.    Energy security: The Polish Presidency will focus on a broad approach to energy security, including access to cheap energy for energy-intensive industries and strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure.
2.    Elimination of Russian fossil fuels: The elimination of Russian fossil fuels from the EU energy market will be a priority, including bringing forward the withdrawal from the use of Russian gas.
3.    Clean Industrial Deal (CID): ensuring access to low-cost energy, in particular, for energy-intensive industries in order to maintain the EU's global competitiveness, access to decarbonisation technologies and the capital needed for the transition.
4.    Support for Ukraine: The Polish Presidency supports Ukraine in rebuilding its energy system and securing supplies of materials and electricity. It is also helping to implement the EU legislation bringing Ukraine closer to EU accession.
5.    Investment in electricity networks: Increasing investment in the development of electricity networks is also a priority, as is the intensification of efforts towards system integration, storage capacity development and flexibility.

Priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The Polish Presidency comes at a special time, i.e. at the beginning of a new institutional cycle and a period full of economic, social and political challenges facing the entire Community

- said Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska at the ITRE meeting.

Energy security and a shift away from Russian fossil fuels

In her speech, the Minister of Climate and Environment presented the priorities for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union regarding energy security and the elimination of Russian fossil fuels from the EU energy market. It is also important to have access to energy available at low prices to energy-intensive industries in order to maintain the international competitiveness of EU industries and social acceptability. Poland also focuses on strengthening the physical and cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, as well as supporting – on an equal basis – the development and deployment of all clean energy generation technologies. Ensuring a stable supply of critical raw materials will also be of key importance.

Clean Industrial Deal (CID)

The meeting also agreed on the Clean Industrial Deal (CID), which will be important for the future of the European economy. Poland hopes that the Clean Industrial Deal will address issues such as energy prices, relevant regulations or access to green technologies necessary for decarbonisation.

The availability of energy and modern technologies, as well as the acceleration and better coordination of the internal energy transition are conditions necessary to make the EU economy more competitive

- the Minister of Climate and Environment pointed out.

The provision of funding mechanisms, both private and public, for innovative technologies will also play an important role

- she added.

Network development and support for Ukraine

Further priorities discussed by the Minister of Climate and Environment during the ITRE committee refer to increased investments in the development of electricity grids, as well as the strengthening of efforts for system integration and the development of storage capacity and flexibility. The meeting also discussed support for Ukraine in the context of rebuilding its energy system and securing supplies of materials and electricity.

Poland is fully committed to building compromises that serve the entire European Union. We firmly believe that we can make an important contribution to building a stronger, better organised European Union – a Community that sets global standards and creates solutions worth following, also in the energy sector

- Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska emphasized.

The meeting was also attended by Minister Marzena Czarnecka, who spoke about the priorities of the Ministry of Industry, including the gas market and support for nuclear power.