Highlights

• Talks focused on issues that have a direct impact on everyday life: access to water, the safety of our homes and cities, stable employment and the resilience of the economy to crises.
• Discussion emphasised that EU countries must be better prepared for the effects of changing climate conditions, such as increasingly severe heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and floods.
• Ministers highlighted the need to strengthen the EU's credibility and mobilise third countries to take more ambitious climate action, including through the use of political, economic and trade instruments.
• Talks also covered the circular economy and new legislation to boost European industry, innovation and raw material independence.
• During its visit to Cyprus, the Polish delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of the European Commission and ministers from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Germany.

Climate and water – investments in human security

The first part of the meeting focused on how EU countries can better prepare for changing climate conditions, including increasingly severe heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and floods.

A well-planned climate policy is an investment in human safety. A common approach to climate risk assessment allows for better protection of residents, infrastructure and the economy. In this way, European funds can support crisis-resistant development, instead of reacting only after losses have been incurred

– stressed Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska.

This approach is conducive:

• better water management,
• less material losses,
• stability of agriculture and the economy as a whole.

Europe in the world: fair competition and shared ambitions

During the second session, ministers discussed the EU's role in global climate negotiations and how to ensure fair conditions for the development of the European economy without giving up the fight against the effects of climate change and environmental protection.

Europe is showing that climate protection and economic development can go hand in hand. For this model to work, we need partners who are also raising their ambitions. Only then will the transition be a source of benefits for citizens and businesses, rather than unfair competition

– the Deputy Minister noted.

An effective EU international policy is important for:

• stable energy prices,
• new investments,
• protecting European jobs.

Circular economy: new jobs and cheaper raw materials

The last part of the meeting concerned the circular economy and new regulations designed to strengthen European industry, innovation and raw material independence.

Ministers emphasised that:

• recycling and reuse of raw materials reduce production costs,
• a stable market for secondary raw materials favours investment,
• transformation creates new local jobs.

The talks also covered the so-called 'winter package', which is designed to help companies adapt more quickly to new developments and use them as a growth boost.

Matters of importance to Poland

Deputy Minister Urszula Zielińska also met with representatives of the European Commission and ministers from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Germany. Discussions included:

• investments in resilience to climate change,
• security of the EU's eastern border,
• the ETS2 system,
• protecting the competitiveness of Polish and European companies through the CBAM mechanism.