Poland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council ends Sunday, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighting defence spending and migration policies as key outcomes.
Poland will formally conclude its presidency of the European Union Council on June 30, after leading EU discussions since January 1, 2025.
At a press conference in Brussels on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the challenges of the term, telling Prime Minister Donald Tusk, "Your presidency has been difficult, but you have made it."
Tusk focused his closing remarks on defence, saying Poland helped shift the EU’s mindset on security amid the current geopolitical climate.
"The EU was built on the belief that war would never return to Europe," Tusk said. "Breaking this naïve faith was not easy."
Tusk cited key achievements including securing 150 billion euros under the SAFE programme to boost Europe’s arms industry, and financial support for the 'Shield East' initiative along the EU’s eastern borders.
However, the presidency was not without controversy. Tusk’s government passed a law allowing temporary suspension of asylum applications, a move criticized by human rights groups as risking abuse and worsening conditions at the Polish-Belarusian border.
Tusk defended the law as an "unprecedented solution" to help Europe manage illegal migration.
European and Polish politicians reflected on the presidency’s difficult balance between security priorities and humanitarian concerns.
Polish President Andrzej Duda made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Saturday, where he was awarded Ukraine’s Order of Freedom for his support during the ongoing war with Russia.
Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv on a farewell visit ahead of the end of his term on 6 August. He is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his stay.
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his cabinet won a confidence vote in parliament, securing 243 votes in favour and maintaining their positions. The vote aimed to reaffirm Tusk’s political stability following his party’s defeat in the June presidential election.
South Korea is finalizing its biggest-ever arms export deal, with 180 K2 tanks set to be delivered to Poland under a $6 billion agreement.
Severe storms overnight triggered mass flight cancellations and delays at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just as the busy 4th of July travel period begins.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a large delegation, calling cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever.
The U.S. Senate advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill after Republicans resolved concerns over rural hospitals and state tax deductions.
Poland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council ends Sunday, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighting defence spending and migration policies as key outcomes.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
Severe storms overnight triggered mass flight cancellations and delays at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just as the busy 4th of July travel period begins.
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a large delegation, calling cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever.
The U.S. Senate advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill after Republicans resolved concerns over rural hospitals and state tax deductions.
Polish President Andrzej Duda made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Saturday, where he was awarded Ukraine’s Order of Freedom for his support during the ongoing war with Russia.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
Severe storms overnight triggered mass flight cancellations and delays at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just as the busy 4th of July travel period begins.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova arrived in North Korea on Saturday with a large delegation, calling cultural ties between Moscow and Pyongyang stronger than ever.
The U.S. Senate advanced President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill after Republicans resolved concerns over rural hospitals and state tax deductions.
Poland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council ends Sunday, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighting defence spending and migration policies as key outcomes.
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