From 1 January to 30 June 2025, Poland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. With the Polish Presidency starts the next trio of Presidencues, composed of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, which will work following a common agenda.
Poland is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time. Thirteen years after the first Polish presidency, and twenty years after its accession to the EU, Poland proposes a Preesidency’s programme focused on strengthening European security in all its dimensions (external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health) to address the current context of uncertainty and concern. The Polish Presidency also coincides with the beginning of the institutional cycle, which provides an opportunity to set goals, suggest solutions and start processes for the next five years. On 1 January 2025 begins the time of hard work for a safe and prosperous Europe for future generations.
Although there is no reference to Roma, the different Council configurations will work on different aspects that are of relevance for EU Funds and Roma equality and inclusion:
General Affairs Council
- Focus will be placed on laying ground for the negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) beyond 2027, ahead of the European Commission’s proposal to be presented in 2025. The Presidency will organize a high-level expert conference on the future MFF in February 2025, after which the topic will be one of the issues discussed at the informal General Affairs Council.
- It will also support the discussion on the future of Cohesion Policy, considered to be the best tool for equalising development opportunities, counteracting inequalities, and improving resistance to crises. A horizontal debate on post-2027 Cohesion Policy and its role in ensuring the cohesive development of EU regions is planned during the Polish Presidency. The basis for the discussion will be the three major reports published in 2024, confirming in their conclusions the effectiveness of cohesion policy in supporting regional development (Report summarizing the work of the High-Level Expert Group on the future of Cohesion Policy, the Cohesion Report and the report by E. Letta). As a result of these discussions, the goal of the Polish Presidency is to prepare and adopt, at the March General Affairs Council in the format of ministers responsible for cohesion policy, Council Conclusions. They will constitute the Council’s input to the Commission for the final stages of work on the package of regulations for the future Cohesion Policy.
- Activities will be carried out on strengthening the urban dimension of European policies and the territorial cohesion and territorial dimension of policies. These will take place within the framework of the EU Urban Agenda and the review of the EU 2030 Territorial Agenda.
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers Affairs Council
The work on employment, social affairs and equality will focus on three priorities:
- Future of work in digital Europe
– A discussion on possible solutions for the protection of people and their work in an age of increasing innovation and automation (including discussions on legislative initiatives relating to the use of AI in the workplace and those relating to teleworking and the right to disconnect);
– Review of the implementation of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027 and social economy initiatives in the context of digital transformation.
– With a view to the Action Plan on labour and skills shortages, the Presidency will support measures to stimulate the acquisition of new qualifications and retraining.Solutions aimed at inactive people, who represent the hidden potential of the labour market, will also be promoted. - Europe of equality, cohesion and inclusion
– Particular attention to specific vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, economically inactive individuals, the NEET group, migrants and people benefiting from intra-EU mobility.
The social economy can have a positive impact on the inclusion of groups at risk of labour market exclusion. It is also necessary to ensure equal treatment on the labour market. –
– To address these challenges, the Presidency will focus on further work on the ‚Traineeship package’.
– The Presidency will engage in the 2025 review of the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, with its three main objectives of increasing employment, strengthening skills and
qualifications and reducing poverty among Europeans set for 2030.
– The reinforcement of actions for equal treatment, protection of minorities forming EU’s diversity against discrimination, as well as strengthening and promoting actions for gender equality and countering violence, including gender-based violence, will be an important component of the work of the Presidency. In particular, there wiil be a focus on gender equality in a modern digital society. The aim will
be to strengthen the equality and antidiscrimination perspective at EU level, especially within the framework of the Digital Services Act. These aspirations will be reflected in the Trio Declaration
on Gender Equality, which will be signed in April 2025. The Presidency will also continue efforts to adopt the draft Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment. Council conclusions on the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action by Member States will also be presented, marking the 30th anniversary of its adoption. The Presidency will also include in its activities the Roadmap for Women’s Rights, due to be published in March 2025, as well as the work on new EU strategies on equality. - Europe responding to the challenges of the silver transformation. The Polish Presidency will strive to give due prominence to the policy responding to the challenges of an ageing EU population, understood as a set of activities aimed at shaping conditions for dignified, healthy ageing and ensuring the realisation of the fundamental rights of the elderly.
As regards the area of health, the Presidency will focus on three areas:
- the digital transformation of healthcare
- the mental health of children and young people. Particularly challenging for all Member States are the threats posed by the rapid development of digital technologies, the intensive use of the Internet, including
information and communication tools and platforms, and above all social media. The Polish Presidency will conduct a debate on these risks and include this matter in Council conclusions. - health promotion and disease prevention
Education, Youth, Culturel and Sport Council (EYCS)
In the area of education:
- The Presidency will continue efforts to promote cooperation between EU countries in order to build more resilient and inclusive education and training systems and to ensure access for everyone to high quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning.
– High-level discussions will be initiated on the evaluation of the implementation of 1st Cycle of the European Education Area with a view to define prospects for further cooperation and its priorities for 2nd Cycle in 2025-2030.
– Bearing in mind that it remains a priority in the European Union to respond to the diversity of learners and to ensure access to high quality, inclusive education and training for all learners, the Polish Presidency will work on Council conclusions on practical approaches to ensuring inclusive early childhood and school education. - The Presidency will also provide space to initiate high-level discussions on the shape of programmes in the field of education after 2027, building on the mid-term evaluation of the current
Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes
In the area of youth:
- The Polish Presidency will strive to strengthen the European identity among young Europeans based on the values of the Treaties. A high-level discussion will be initiated on a community of young
Europeans based on universal values for a common and secure Europe. - The Presidency will provide a space for high-level discussions on the review of the Council resolution establishing guidelines on the governance of the European Youth Dialogue and will address the creation of a communication campaign.
Justice and Home Affairs Council
- The Presidency will continue to work on the EU’s accession to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). However, reaching an agreement on this will depend on
resolving the question of the jurisdiction in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE)
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and cuttingedge technology will play a key role in the coming years. It is important to assess their economic and social impact and to support digital transformation and smooth market adaptation to regulatory change. In this context, the Presidency will promote the strengthening of European AI research, development and competence centres across the EU and support EU activities
for entrepreneurs implementing disruptive technologies.
Environment Council
- The Presidency will pursuit environmental and climate policy with a particular emphasis on human beings and benefits that the transition brings. We will promote fight against the causes and effects of climate change first and foremost through incentives and support, rather than bans and excessive burdens.
Further information
