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Defence, energy, food security priorities of Polish EU helm

31 May 2011, 23:20 CET
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(WARSAW) - European defence, energy and food security will be among the priorities of Poland's six months as European Union president beginning July 1, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday.

"The Libyan conflict once again proves that Europe has a growing need for greater integration and joint action in the military field," Tusk told reporters.

While at the EU helm, Poland is also keen to promote greater efficiency in European agriculture and improve cooperation in the energy sector, Tusk said after a cabinet meeting about the priorities of the presidency.

Poland is also set to focus on European cohesion policy and plans the bloc's enlargement beyond its current 27 members, particularly the completion of Croatia's entry talks.

"In many European capitals the atmosphere is not especially enthusiastic toward EU enlargement, but the Polish presidency will aim to bring to fruition Croatia's accession treaty," Tusk said.

Poland is also eyeing bringing countries such as Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro or Moldova closer to the EU.

With a population of 38 million, Poland in 2004 became by far the largest country in the former communist bloc to have joined the EU, 15 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

It takes over the EU presidency from Hungary on July 1 and will be the fourth ex-communist country to take the helm.

The Czech Republic held the presidency in 2009 and Slovenia in 2008.


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