Poolse ministers bespreken economische prioriteiten met Europarlementariërs (en)

The priorities of Poland's Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers are being presented to European Parliament committees by Polish ministers this week and next week. This compilation will be updated daily after each committee meeting.

Economic and monetary affairs 

Draft EU rules on economic governance, and the presidency's plans for further regulating the financial sector, dominated Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski's discussion with Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs on 4 July.  "So near, but yet far" is how Mr Rostowski summed up the progress of Parliament's talks with Member States on the new economic governance rules.  Corien Wortmann-Kool i (EPP, NL) said that the past proves that Parliament's position is legitimate. Socialist MEPs stressed the need to re-start growth and called on Mr Rostowski to stand by the presidency's manifesto pledge to put growth at the top of its agenda.

On financial regulation, a "huge amount of work still needs to be done",  said Mr Rostowski, adding that good financial services rules are a prerequisite for fiscally solid economies.  New rules on capital requirements are also essential, but "nothing is more important than developing bank crisis resolution mechanisms".

In the chair: Sharon Bowles (ALDE, UK)

Constitutional affairs

This will be an "integrating and listening" presidency, that seeks to facilitate cooperation among the institutions, Secretary of State for European Affairs Mikolaj Dowgielewicz told the Constitutional Affairs Committee MEPs on 4 July. "Poland is a robust defender of the Community method", he said. MEPs welcomed the presidency's pro-European spirit, and urged Poland to focus on finding solutions in negotiations on economic governance and the EU's multi-annual financial framework. They also asked about Poland's "trio presidency" cooperation with Denmark and Cyprus and about the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty.

In the chair: Carlo Casini (EPP, IT)