Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
Poland’s six-month run at the helm of the EU Council is coming to a close, and Ambassador Marek Szczepanowski says it’s been a busy, ambitious ride. While not every goal was fully met, the Polish presidency made significant moves across security, economy, energy, health, and cyber resilience, areas that will now set the stage for Cyprus, which takes over in January 2026.
With Poland being recognized as a leader in tracking malinformation and disinformation, particularly in relation to Russian influence, it’s no surprise that security was a central focus of their presidency. The country leveraged its expertise in monitoring online threats, hybrid attacks, and foreign interference to shape initiatives across cyber defense, border security, and the resilience of democratic institutions. Szczepanowski said these efforts were designed to help the EU better respond to both physical and digital threats, laying the groundwork for a safer and more resilient bloc.
States are always ambitious, and we didn’t achieve 100% of our goals, But we’ve laid a strong foundation for security, competitiveness, and resilience, priorities Cyprus will now take forward in 2026.
Security first, inside and out
Poland put EU security front and center. Externally, it launched the SAFE initiative and pushed forward a strategy to boost European defense readiness. On the home front, tackling illegal immigration and rolling out the Schengen Entry/Exit system were major achievements, aimed at keeping borders both secure and efficient.
Economy and energy: Cutting red tape and boosting resilience
The presidency also focused on making European businesses more competitive globally. The OMNIBUS program pushed through the biggest deregulatory effort in years, simplifying rules in agriculture and defense.
Energy security got a lot of attention too. Poland championed reducing EU reliance on Russian energy, supported Cyprus’ natural gas policies, and backed the European Commission’s action plan for affordable energy, a move designed to ease the pinch for citizens and businesses alike.
Health and the human side of digital threats
Poland marked the first major update in two decades to EU rules on critical and generic medicines, making access easier for those who need it most. Another standout move: the EU formally recognized digital threats to mental health, particularly for children and the elderly, a step experts say is long overdue.
Cyber, AI, and hybrid threats
Information security was another top priority. The Polish presidency rolled out a cyber blueprint for preventing and responding to crises, helped create 13 European AI factories, and strengthened defenses against hybrid threats. Moldova, often a target of cyberattacks, got special support, while initiatives like the EU Resilience Council and European Democratic Shield aim to counter foreign influence and information manipulation.
Szczepanowski said the presidency wasn’t about ticking boxes. “States are always ambitious, and we didn’t achieve 100% of our goals,” he told journalists. “But we’ve laid a strong foundation for security, competitiveness, and resilience, priorities Cyprus will now take forward in 2026.”
