Danuta Hubner in the European Parliament

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Focus on the Polish Presidency., July 08, 2011

Warsaw, Poland

Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, budget negotiations, package on economic governance, relation with Eastern neighborhood as well as Schengen regime, were the main issues discussed during the the press-breakfast organized by Professor Danuta Hübner and directed to foreign journalists accredited in Poland. “The overall macroeconomic reforms will affect the future of the European Union and it would be good if we put more focus on this issue also media attention should be drawn” said Professor Hübner.
From the Brussels’ perspective, Professor Hübner underlined the growing importance of the European Parliament, including its political groups like the European Peoples Party in preparing the reform package and negotiating it with the Commission and the Council.
In the opinion of Professor the Polish Presidency will be a test of cooperation between the different parts involved in the administrative machinery of the whole “European project”.
Professor Hübner noted that even with the reduced role of the rotating presidency, we can achieve a lot if we use the instruments available to us. One of them could become the General Affairs Council, which importance has declined since the duration of the Lisbon Treaty. "If Prime Minister Donald Tusk decided to take up the challenge to chair the GA Council, he would have a chance to restore its importance, simultaneously not diminishing in any way the role of other actors in the EU."
According to the Professor have should also seriously consider the idea suggested by the Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, the head of the rotating presidency of diplomacy would work closely with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. "The responsibilities in this area is so wide that such cooperation could be useful, and the Presidency could be actively involved in seeking solutions to global problems."
During the meeting, the journalists were interested in the assessment of the current Polish membership in the Union. Also raised the matter of EU-Russia was raised, the EU and Ukraine, as well as the future of the Eastern Partnership. On this last point, Professor Hübner highlighted the diversity of countries belonging to the Eastern Partnership, hence the need to adapt the instruments of the Partnership to different countries.

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