Press statement by President Costa following the meeting with Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk

 

Press material Wednesday, 09 September 2026

● European Council   09/09/2026 14:31 | Statements and remarks | Press statement by President Costa following the meeting with Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk   Dear Prime Minister, dear Donald. First of all, thank you very much for your warm welcome here in Warsaw, and our very good talk as always.  It is essential for me to listen directly to you, in your capital, to understand your national priorities and expectations - and to properly prepare the upcoming meetings of the European Council. That is why I am now visiting the capitals of member states. It has special meaning to be here with you dear Donald. Your experience and wisdom give you a unique voice in the European Council. All of our colleagues trust you, and with you, Polish positions, concerns and initiatives are highly valued.  As a country on the European Union’s eastern flank, Poland stands at the forefront of the security challenges facing our continent - and plays a vital role in shaping Europe’s response to them. Our unwavering support for Ukraine matters: Ukraine is defending not only its own sovereignty, but Europe’s security. And Poland, as Ukraine’s neighbour and a key supporter of its defence, is playing a particularly important role in that effort. This is why strengthening our support for Ukraine must go hand in hand with strengthening our own collective preparedness and protecting our own borders. Russian threats highlight the need for Europe to ensure it has the capabilities to respond swiftly and effectively. We must continue our efforts to decisively strengthen Europe’s defence readiness and ensure that we are prepared by 2030. Today, I discussed with Prime Minister Tusk, how the European Union budget for the period 2028-2034 will need to better address these new challenges we are facing. We need a European budget that gives us the means to deliver on our common priorities. Defence and security are key areas - as are competitiveness, innovation and strategic resilience. At the same time, the budget must continue to support our agricultural and cohesion policies, both essential to Europe’s prosperity and development. Of course, like national budgets, the European Union budget must deliver on its priorities within the limits of finite resources. Most of it is financed through member states’ national contributions. And we need to keep those contributions within reasonable limits. That is why a substantial package of so-called new own resources, the new revenue streams for the European Union, will be an essential part of an overall agreement. One thing is clear: we cannot afford any delay. We must reach an agreement by the end of this year to ensure that EU support for our farmers, businesses, students, researchers and innovators continues without interruption in 2028. The responsibility is ours. We must now engage in the final stage of these negotiations with determination and a European spirit. And I know I can count on you, Donald, and on your great experience with difficult European negotiations. Beyond our future budget, we need to make our economy stronger. A competitive Europe is a crucial element of our strategic autonomy. And I think that Europe has a lot to learn from Poland’s economic success story.  Europe needs to create better conditions for European industries and businesses to innovate, thrive and grow. And better opportunities and quality jobs for our citizens. This is what the European Union’s “One Europe, One Market” agenda is all about. We need to accelerate its implementation. That agenda also focuses on affordable energy. This is fundamental for Europe’s competitiveness, especially for our industry. Ensuring affordable and competitive energy prices is key, both for our citizens and for our industry.  Therefore, we need to intensify our work to reduce energy costs, while pursuing our efforts on the clean transition and decarbonisation in a technology-neutral way – that means, nuclear or renewables. Also here, Poland’s performance has been very impressive, especially considering its historical legacy.  Europe’s strength lies in our unity. And Poland’s voice is an essential part of that strength. By bringing our efforts together, we can build a Union that is more secure, more competitive, and better prepared to meet the challenges of the future. Thank you very much.   Visit the website