Minister Sikorski and Commissioner Kos discussed cooperation initiatives under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on 1 January 2025. The MFA head brought up the motto of the Polish Presidency, which is “security, Europe!”, pointing out that the EU enlargement policy significantly contributes to achieving this goal, which is why it will be treated as a priority by the Polish Presidency. Minister Sikorski highlighted that the enlargement policy is a very important instrument for consolidating and promoting peace, democracy, the rule of law, and prosperity in Europe.

The foreign minister added that Poland has an ambitious plan to achieve measurable progress in the accession processes of our partners both in the east and in the south of Europe.  -We count on a quick opening of the first negotiation cluster—devoted to fundamental issues such as the judiciary and the rule of law—with Ukraine and Moldova. This will allow the accession negotiations of these countries to enter an active phase and open the door to further progress - said the chief of Polish diplomacy.

Minister Sikorski reassured his interlocutor that Poland will also support its partners from the Western Balkans on their accession path. A bi-directional enlargement—to the east and in the Western Balkans—is a mutually reinforcing process. During the presidency, Poland will work on opening further negotiation clusters with Albania and closing more negotiation chapters with Montenegro. At the same time, work is underway on Serbia's accession. Foreign Minister Sikorski stressed that the Polish Presidency wants to support all other candidate countries on their accession path.

The chief of Polish diplomacy noted that synchronising foreign policy with EU values is a key condition of accession for all candidates.  - EU membership is not an obligation, but a free choice made by a country and its citizens. When you decide to join, you must accept these common rules. Unfortunately, we are observing some negative trends in the enlargement policy, which we must counteract together with the European Commission and interested Member States, added the minister.

Marta Kos, who took up her position as Commissioner for Enlargement in December 2024, assured the minister that she aims to bring a new impetus to the enlargement process—during her four-year mandate, she would like to close 100-200 negotiation chapters with candidate countries. In her opinion, the enlargement process progressed far too slowly over the recent years. In the past 12 years, eight chapters were closed with all candidates, three of which during the IGC with Montenegro in December 2024.

Speaking about the Eastern Partnership, the head of Polish diplomacy stated that while it remains an effective, successful, and useful initiative, it needs updating and adjusting to the new geopolitical situation. He reminded his interlocutor that last year, on Poland’s initiative, our country, together with other 15 EU Member States, presented the European Commission with proposals regarding reinvigoration of the format.

- We need to cooperate more widely with Belarusian opposition circles, and make our joint offer to Armenia more attractive - stated the head of Polish diplomacy and added that we should also consider the question of cooperation with Central Asia under the Eastern Partnership.

Minister Sikorski announced that the MFA will host Eastern Partnership Business Forum in Warsaw in April 2025. The event will focus on intensifying economic cooperation between the EU and Eastern Partnership countries. It will also feature discussions on the reconstruction of Ukraine.

 

Photo: Konrad Laskowski/MFA