The Strategic Agenda will set out overarching priorities for the EU over the next five years as well as goals and directions to EU policies. It is based on the analysis of challenges, which the EU faces in the coming years. In order to fully participate in the preparations of the new Strategic Agenda, Poland has presented today to EU Institutions and Member States its contribution to this process.

Polish non-papers cover the following priority areas for Poland: Single Market, sustainable migration policy, climate policy, digitalization, defence and the role of the national parliaments. Each of the presented non-papers set out key challenges from the Polish perspective, defines goals to be implemented by the EU and proposed concrete actions to be taken by the EU.

– Poland puts forward initiatives that could unite the EU in the near future and bring solutions to problems important for various EU Member States and regions - emphasized Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Konrad Szymański who is representing the Polish Government during today's General Affairs Council dedicated i.a. to preparation of the European Council meeting planned for June this year – We are present in numerous coalitions in all important matters. The common market united 17 Prime Ministers. The Group of Friends of Cohesion in the context of budget negotiations has more than 15 members, and the Warsaw Declaration on the future of the EU was signed by 13 Members States that joined the EU after 2004. We do not limit our expectations towards the EU only to these elements, but on the basis of our contribution, we can build a vision of a safe nearest future for the EU - he said.

Below, we present the mail goals for the EU in key areas for Poland as in the Polish non-papers: 

Single Market

We advocate to further develop the internal market, to identify and eliminate existing barriers and to ensure better enforcement of existing legislation. In particular, Poland advocates further liberalisation of services within the EU by, inter alia, ensuring transparency and easy access to information on the requirements imposed on service providers by Member States.

Digital Single Market

We advocate the creation of a competitive, innovation friendly environment, based on free flow of data and well-crafted regulations. We support creation of European Artificial Intelligence companies; adjusting the competition policy to the digital era challenges, freedom of movement of non-personal data across the EU and establishing the framework of the data flow with the third states. We underline the need to continue the works on the digital sector tax on international and European level.

Sustainable migration policy

Key element of a secure and stable EU asylum and migration policy and a condition, essential to ensure the undisturbed functioning of the Schengen area, is proper external borders management, without prejudice to the Member States competences. We advocate for a development of cooperation in external border protection. We are against any obligatory relocation measures.

Climate policy

The EU should adopt a long-term strategy not earlier than in 2020.The EU policy should consider the Member States’ individual needs. Thus, the future of the climate policy should be formed on the basis of the national energy and climate plans, as well as currently being prepared national long-term strategies.

Defence

Global challenges in security and defence require unity from the Western world. The EU-NATO cooperation needs to be comprehensive. Strengthened EU defence policy should respond to the real threats for the European security, coming from both the South and the East. Thus, Poland calls for supporting Member States in developing their defence skills.

The role of the national parliaments

In order to increase the level of citizens’ trust in the EU institutions and decision-making process, it is necessary to strengthen the role of national parliaments. We advocate establishing a red card mechanism, i.e. giving the national parliaments a collective right to block legislative initiatives of the European Commission.

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA