Brussels, 3 February 2025
Remarks by Prime Minister Tusk at the press conference
This was an informal meeting. Sometimes it’s so in the European Union that informal meetings produce more results than routine European Council meetings.
I can say with great satisfaction that also thanks to the involvement of the President of the European Council and the head of the European Commission, this meeting was, from the point of view of the Polish presidency, extremely fruitful and very promising. It did not end, of course, with formal decisions, but the intentions of all twenty-seven [Member States] regarding the need to speed up work on arming Europe, on making Europe more secure, the intentions regarding full solidarity with the countries of the Union, with Ukraine, of course, but also with Denmark at this rather peculiar moment in our common history, all this was very encouraging.
I also wanted to thank you Antonio for agreeing to this suggestion of mine to devote the second part [of the meeting] to relations with the UK. It was a very important moment for all of us, and I’m also glad that everyone confirmed their readiness for a very serious, intensive conversation, also when you will have the summit, but also in our day-to-day relations with the UK. They confirmed such readiness to minimize the negative effects of Brexit for both sides, for the European Union, for the UK.
This means that we will talk, which is quite easy, quite simple, not only about security, not only about a common foreign policy in the face of the crises that have hit our region. But that we are also ready to talk about any other topic, so that the negative consequences of Brexit are as little as possible for both the UK and the European Union.
This openness, as I said, quite confidently, that there has not been such a good relationship between the European Union and the UK since Brexit. And it’s no coincidence that we’ve also learned these days that in the UK this European atmosphere is so much clearer than ever after the UK’s exit from the European Union.
We don’t talk about political illusions, we won’t talk about Britain’s possible return. What happened, happened. Although in politics, miracles do happen. But we will certainly be able to minimise the negative consequences of our separation a few years ago.
Those words about solidarity with Denmark were very important. I made sure still during our meeting that all those who unanimously supported Denmark were also aware of the possible consequences that we might all face together as a community. It is very important that our words of solidarity are not slogans, but are like a conscious taking on potential challenges.
I say this so openly because I represent the country that traditionally has the closest relationship with the United States. I also represent a country that has the highest ratio in Europe and in NATO in terms of its share of armaments spending in Gross Domestic Product. In short, definitely before it became fashionable, Poland exceeded 4% in defense spending.
This allows the Polish Presidency and the Polish government to speak very openly and with genuine cordiality, but also high expectations, to talk to our friends on the other side of the Atlantic. That’s why we emphasised it, but all in solidarity, even if some quieter, some louder, but that for the European Union as a whole, the territorial integrity of a state, especially a member of the European Union, is something indisputable, and that we will treat it as the highest priority of the entire community.
Very important is precisely this decision that we are all ready to accelerate work on financing and concrete measures to increase the defense of the European Union. No one has any doubts anymore.
I, for one, am very proud that this Polish-Greek initiative on European air defense, to treat it as a common task, that Poland’s actions to protect the eastern border of the European Union, that is, the so-called Shield East, that the need for financing to support this project has found understanding today from all interlocutors.
And in general, this realisation that – this was emphasised by President Costa in his final speech – there is a gigantic space of undisputed common ground concerning defense and defense capabilities, as well as production capabilities in the European Union, and that it is worth treating this as a common task and also a common object worthy of common financing. And such tasks will also include, of course, the protection of our territorial waters and seas, not only the Baltic, which is already slowly being practiced, but also the North Sea.
We touched upon a lot of topics, and actually everyone – there are, of course, discussions on how to finance; not everything has been sort of finalised in the end, but what is common is definitely outweighed by the differences. This is mainly thanks to your work, and I thank you very much for that.
Source – Polish EU Presidency