Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on the European Union to arm itself to “survive” an increasingly uncertain global order. In his speech to the EU Parliament, he urged the EU’s member states to increase spending on defense.
“If Europe wants to survive, it has to be armed,”
PM Donald Tusk told a session of the European Parliament. Poland currently carries the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency through June, during which its highest priority is to boost the 27-nation bloc’s security, he stated.
How does Poland’s presidency impact EU security priorities?
Since January 2025, Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister and EU Presidency holder, has detailed several key priorities for his term. Tusk stresses the strengthening of European security on the external, internal, economic, and information levels. He strives to intensify the cooperation of defense with NATO and non-EU partners to both the traditional military challenges and the modern hybrid warfare campaigns.
What steps will Tusk take to reduce energy dependence?
The first critical priority is to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and move towards sustainable energy sources to ensure energy security. Tusk would make energy supplies more secure and versatile while ensuring competitive energy prices for EU citizens.
Tusk plans to enhance the competitiveness of the EU through sound economic policies, encouraging innovation, and reducing bureaucratic obstacles. It will also be about promoting a clean energy transition that supports economic growth while taking care of climate change.
What is Tusk’s approach to countering foreign disinformation?
Moreover, Tusk intends to harden measures of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns that pose threats to democratic processes within the EU. This involves enhancing cybersecurity as well as public awareness initiatives. The presidency would focus on securing public health policies, including a digital transformation of healthcare and increased access to medical resources across member states.
