"The main theme of the Presidency is security. This should be understood broadly, including legal security," said Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar during today's (December 19) conference. He emphasized that the Polish Presidency will be characterized by a commitment to values.

The organization and management of the Presidency will involve 3,000 people. At the Ministry of Justice, several dozen staff members, including expert teams, are working on the Presidency. They are supported by six employees of Poland's Permanent Representation in Brussels, specifically dedicated to justice matters during the Polish Presidency.

Rights, Support, and Protection of Crime Victims

The 2012 directive on the rights, support, and protection of victims provides a solid foundation for safeguarding victims' rights but requires revisions. During the Polish Presidency, work will commence on its amendment.

Many individuals still do not report crimes. To change this, it is essential to enhance the sense of security and ease of reporting crimes, as well as to provide legal assistance to victims. Communication procedures with victims must also be improved. Particularly crucial will be establishing comprehensive support frameworks for victims in the national plans of member states.

A unified system must be developed so that every EU citizen feels secure, regardless of their country of residence.

Combating Corruption

"Our goal is to finalize negotiations on the anti-corruption directive. We must introduce EU regulations that obligate member states to harmonize the definition of corruption and classify it uniformly. This includes acts such as bribery in the public and private sectors, embezzlement of funds, influence peddling, and obstruction of justice."

Strengthening Civil Society

The Minister announced that Poland would continue work on various legislative acts while also advancing its legislative priorities.

"The issue of rule of law is of utmost importance. We will emphasize that the rule of law should be regarded as a fundamental principle of the EU and its member states," said Minister Bodnar.

It is crucial to empower civil society through mechanisms that enable its participation in building and safeguarding the rule of law. Tools are also needed to protect journalists and human rights defenders engaged in public debate. Furthermore, the Presidency will advocate for the EU's accession to the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Combating Child Sexual Exploitation

The Polish Presidency will support the expedited update of laws aimed at protecting children from exploitation. Young citizens must be safe and guaranteed the right to privacy.

"This project is particularly significant. The development of the Internet and digitalization offer children numerous opportunities to access information online, but they also present many risks of which children are unaware," said Director Małgorzata Pawelec, responsible for preparing the Ministry of Justice for the Presidency.

New regulations will expand definitions of crimes against children to include those committed using modern online tools. They will introduce stricter penalties and facilitate more effective investigations and prosecution of offenders.

Digitalization of Justice

Poland plans to focus on practical aspects of advancing digitalization in justice, which will significantly enhance the efficiency of EU courts. Modern IT solutions for registries and judiciary processes will improve accessibility for citizens and optimize justice administration. The necessary technological advancements include artificial intelligence, robotics, and algorithms to support decision-making and general court operations.
For instance, Poland is working on introducing a Digital Judge Assistant to streamline the handling of mortgage-related cases.

Accountability for Crimes in Ukraine

Perpetrators of crimes related to the war in Ukraine must face justice. During its Presidency, Poland will continue to support Ukraine and aid in addressing war crimes committed against its citizens.

A special tribunal should be established to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine, in cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Recently, Deputy Minister of Justice Maria Ejchart signed an agreement between Poland and the ICC regarding the enforcement of judgments. Poland also supports the work of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which is investigating genocide cases related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

"Polish prosecutors collaborate with their Ukrainian counterparts to identify and document war crimes. They have already interviewed over 3,000 witnesses residing in Poland who have witnessed war crimes," said Minister Adam Bodnar.

Preventing Migrant Smuggling

Illegal, uncontrolled smuggling into the European Union poses a significant challenge. The EU is negotiating regulations to prosecute and bring justice to those organizing this practice.
In 2023, there were 380,000 illegal border crossings into the EU. According to Europol, 90% of these individuals relied on smugglers' services.

Harmonizing Insolvency Law

A key goal of insolvency law reform is to ensure creditors can recover the maximum value from liquidated companies. The proposed changes aim to enhance the effectiveness of insolvency proceedings and harmonize insolvency laws across the EU. Currently, investors must navigate 27 different legal systems when evaluating investment opportunities.
On December 13, EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers reached a partial general approach on this matter.

Protection of Adults

The high mobility of EU citizens necessitates the management of assets or access to medical care in other member states. Discrepancies in regulations between EU countries create difficulties in recognizing documents and applying appropriate legal solutions. Poland aims to eliminate these legal barriers.

The Presidency is a Significant Political, Legal, and Organizational Challenge

The Council of the European Union is a crucial decision-making body, comprising ministers from 27 member states. As Chair, Poland will coordinate the Council's work and represent the EU in relations with other institutions and countries.

On December 13, at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels, Minister Adam Bodnar symbolically took over the Presidency gavel from Hungary. "We are passing the baton to other member states while preparing a legal framework and European integration agenda for upcoming presidencies," said Adam Bodnar.

Denmark will succeed Poland in the Presidency.

Poland will wellcome 40,000 guests, including heads of government and ministers from EU member states. Over 300 official events and 22 informal councils will be held.