Delegations from all of Europe met in the building of the Polish Parliament to discuss current security challenges faced by our continent. Poland currently holds the Presidency in the Council of the European Union. Its motto - ‘Security, Europe!’ - highlights that this aspect requires special attention and effective action.

Various threats are interlinked

In his speech, Minister Tomasz Siemoniak called for threats to Europe and our citizens to be considered parts of a cohesive system.

It is no coincidence that the Ministers of the Interior of the European Union are talking about the situation in Syria. These matters are hardly internal - we are just moments away from the events in Syria having a strong impact on our internal affairs,

the minister explained.

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak also pointed out that the Polish government's efforts to combat hybrid threats are yielding results. He also called on European states to take a responsible approach to new threats and to focus in particular on cooperation.

He pointed out that Poland was trying to spur Europe to action in order to focus on security with concrete measures, rather than empty words.

Europe's security requires funding, but above all it needs the determination of governments, parliaments and societies. It is not too late yet,

the minister summed up.

Niinistö Report sets the course for security

Published on 30 October 2024, the report penned by former President of Finland Sauli Niinistö was commissioned by the European Commission, which wanted to assess Europe's course of action in the face of multifaceted threats. Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed the validity of many of the issues and recommendations presented in the document.

This report generated quite a buzz in the Member States last year. It opened people’s eyes on numerous aspects and became a lynchpin of various measures undertaken by the European Union,” he said. “The clear identification of priorities and the concrete language of this report was a great deal of help to us,

the Minister of the Interior and Administration noted.

"The Niinistö Report" offers a number of practical recommendations that can significantly contribute to improving the EU's resilience and preparedness in the face of multifaceted threats, including hybrid ones. The report points out that Member States, in particular societies, are vulnerable to hybrid attacks, including cyberattacks, foreign manipulation and information interference.

Europe's security requires action by states and societies

The Polish government is effectively consolidating forces and resources to protect Poland and its citizens from a range of the so-called hybrid threats. Successful cooperation between the authorities, the armed forces and state institutions, as well as significant investment in security, enabled wrestling back the control over the Polish-Belarusian border. These days, the Border Guard stops 98% of irregular crossing attempts into the European Union. Foreign nationals from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt constitute the majority of detainees.

We reaffirm our commitment to do everything in our power to make the Polish and EU border absolutely secure. We have spent 2.5 billion on the physical and electronic barriers. We have 11,000 soldiers, Border Guard officers and police officers serving at the border in order to make it as impassable as possible,

said Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

We need to do everything in our power to make the external borders secure, to stop irregular migrants from infiltrating our states, rather than bringing up borders and border checks between member states,

he added.

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak also mentioned the government's actions regarding the security of civilians.

We are catching up and, together with the Ministry of Defence, we have adopted certain priorities that make civil protection and civil defence one of the most important government focuses for the coming years, or even decades,

he noted.

This includes building and restoring shelters, preparing hideouts, setting up an emergency notification system, secure government communications and civic education,

he specified.

Combating crime contributes to Europe’s security

The Minister of the Interior and Administration also spoke about the importance of combating international crime. This is one of the Polish priorities for the presidency in the Council of the European Union.

Irregular migration and hybrid threats on the Polish border is not only a matter of hostile actions pursued by the Belarusian regime supported by Russia, but also a serious crime. Last year, we apprehended nearly 600 traffickers,

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak pointed out.

He added that European countries, including Poland, face the risk of sabotage and diversion organised by hostile state actors. The Polish special services have been successful in thwarting such attempts, which highlights that this type of hybrid threat should not be underestimated.

Criminal organisations are used by foreign authorities for various purposes. All these matters are interlinked, which is why we need a holistic approach, which I am advocating for here,

said Minister Tomasz Siemoniak.

Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy

The Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy is a forum that enables exchanging information and experience. It allows national parliaments and the European Parliament to be fully informed on matters concerning their security and defence tasks

The Conference was established in 2011 by a decision of the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments in Brussels, which defined its objectives and basic operating principles. The conference meets twice a year in the Member State holding the Presidency in the Council of the EU. It is attended by delegations from the relevant committees of the national parliaments of the Member States, mainly committees for foreign affairs and defence, and a delegation from the European Parliament.