On July 1, 2025, the EU Council presidency passed from Poland to Denmark. The presidency was once a prestigious platform for global visibility, with the presiding leader appearing alongside the U.S. President or representing the EU at G7 summits; however, the Lisbon Treaty reshaped that role. It introduced the position of President of the European Council, which reduced the influence of the rotating leader. Currently António Costa of Portugal holds the title but maintains a relatively low-profile. Today, holding the three-month presidency mainly involves coordinating hundreds of meetings at various levels, building consensus, and pushing forward selected priorities. It also requires swift reactions during crises. Poland managed the role effectively, although internal political tensions somewhat hindered progress in certain areas, especially in relation to the Czech Republic.

Key takeaways:

• Poland largely fulfilled its main priorities during its EU Council presidency. Key accomplishments involved countering Russia’s expansionist agenda in Europe, notably through new sanctions packages and measures to phase out energy imports from Russia. However, the issue of Ukraine—especially its reconciliation with the EU—was somewhat sidelined during this term.
• A significant challenge for Prime Minister Tusk was Poland’s domestic political scene, because the presidency coincided with a heated presidential election campaign, which the liberal-conservative government ultimately lost.
• Denmark will not only pursue its own priorities but also negotiate the EU’s new climate targets for 2040—a contentious topic where member states will struggle to reach consensus. The climate priorities will make Denmark’s eighth presidency its most challenging presidency historically.

Analysis –Karel Sál

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.