The sea as Europe's new priority? Donald Tusk: Security has become a value desired by everyone

The security of Europe in unstable times was the key topic of a meeting between Prime Minister Donald Tusk, members of the Council of Ministers, and the College of EU Commissioners, held in Gdańsk. Within the walls of the European Solidarity Centre, discussions focused on defense, the economy, the rule of law, and citizens' well-being. The conclusions from these talks aim to strengthen the Union during Poland's presidency of the EU Council, making it more competitive, secure, and resilient to global challenges.

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09 february 2025   |   16:53   |   Source: PAP / Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

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Europe's security begins at its borders

Poland's presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and rising threats. In a world where hybrid warfare has become the norm and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is reshaping the international order, setting clear priorities is essential. One of these priorities is undoubtedly security—not only at the EU’s eastern border but also within its internal borders, an aspect decision-makers often seem to overlook when addressing years of neglect and the lack of control over immigration into Europe, particularly in Germany and France.

Security at the eastern border: a shared european issue

During his meeting with the European Commission’s College of Commissioners at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that "people in Europe, people in Poland want to know that the European Union exists to ensure their safety [...] Security has become a value desired by everyone, regardless of their place of residence in Europe."

What is happening at the Polish-Belarusian border is not just a Polish problem but a challenge for the entire EU. This is where the EU’s eastern frontier lies, yet—as Polish officials have frequently pointed out—too often, discussions focus solely on strengthening protection against migrants being funneled in by the regimes of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko while neglecting the security of Polish citizens.

The debate about the eastern border also tends to overlook the western direction. Despite Poland tightening its borders, the country struggles with an influx of migrants from Germany, raising justified concerns about the effectiveness of EU migration policies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that "we, Europeans, decide who enters Europe and under what conditions. Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin do not make these decisions through smugglers." These are important words, but in the face of real challenges, Poland expects concrete actions. However, such statements seem somewhat naive, considering that Germany is largely responsible for the current migration crisis.

The Sea: a key to Europe’s security

Europe’s security is not only about land borders. The Baltic Sea is playing an increasingly significant role, particularly in light of recent incidents involving damage to underwater infrastructure. Poland has long warned that the Baltic requires stronger protection, which led to NATO’s establishment of the Baltic Sentry mission—a system for monitoring and securing critical underwater infrastructure.

The Alliance’s actions are a step in the right direction, but the European Union must also contribute. A secure Baltic is not just a military issue; it is also about protecting key gas pipelines, telecommunication cables, and trade routes. In this context, Poland should push for a comprehensive EU strategy for safeguarding maritime critical infrastructure.

Less bureaucracy, more competitiveness

Beyond security concerns, Europe must strengthen its economic position. Poland emphasizes the need to eliminate unnecessary regulations and simplify procedures for businesses. "Away with routine, unnecessary, excessive regulations—everything that limits our energy and entrepreneurship," Donald Tusk declared. Time will tell whether these words translate into action or remain mere rhetoric.

Energy policy will also be crucial—without affordable energy, Europe will never catch up with leading economies. That is why Poland is making its stance clear.

- No decision can be made in Europe that would result in higher energy prices. We must all focus on making decisions that directly lead to lower energy costs. Nuclear energy and renewables are the future, but ensuring their stable financing is key, added Tusk.

However, he seemed to overlook the fact that Poles' energy bills have been rising alarmingly, and his government has already been in power for 14 months.

Poland's firm stance on migration - at least in words

The Polish government has no intention of backing down from its position on the EU migration pact. Warsaw has made it clear that it will not accept additional quotas of migrants.

"Poland will not implement the migration pact in a way that would lead to any additional quotas of immigrants in Poland. We have already taken on more than anyone could have imagined just a few years ago," the Polish Prime Minister stated. However, this effectively means Poland is obliged to accept migrants from Germany.

It is worth noting that Poland has opened its doors to millions of refugees from Ukraine. Nevertheless, given the signals coming from Brussels, this effort no longer seems to impress EU decision-makers.

A Europe of Solidarity - but real, not just declarative

In her speech in Gdańsk, Ursula von der Leyen referenced the legacy of Solidarity, emphasizing: "The shipyard workers led us peacefully to democracy. They stood up to Moscow so their children could live in a free country. This is the cornerstone of the European Union." Meanwhile, just outside the European Solidarity Centre, Polish farmers were protesting against the Green Deal and the policies of the current European Commission President.

Despite speaking about the legacy of Solidarity, von der Leyen did not take the time to address the protesters, who referred to her and the visiting commissioners as "Europe’s pests."

Poland's EU presidency will last until the end of June, but one key message is already clear: Europe must safeguard its security, sovereignty, and competitiveness—without these, it will not survive in a rapidly changing world. At the same time, Poles are expressing strong opposition to the EU’s migration policy and the Polish government’s decisions on the matter.

In the 2023 referendum, citizens had the opportunity to express their stance on the mandatory migrant relocation mechanism. One of the questions asked: "Do you support accepting thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under the forced relocation mechanism imposed by European bureaucracy?" A staggering 96.79% of voters opposed it, while only 3.21% supported it. However, the turnout was just over 40%, rendering the results non-binding. It is worth remembering that politicians aligned with Donald Tusk, then in opposition, encouraged a boycott of the referendum, effectively preventing it from reaching the required validity threshold.

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