On January 1, 2025, Poland assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Polish Presidency marks the beginning of a new trio of Presidencies – Poland, Denmark and Cyprus. During the next six months, it will navigate a newly established European Commission and start work on the long-term goals and policy objectives set out by the trio.
New trio – new objectives
The new trio’s policy objectives revolve around three pillars – a strong and secure Europe, a prosperous and competitive Europe, and a free and democratic Europe. The first priority focuses on adapting to geopolitical challenges, supporting Ukraine, addressing the Gaza conflict, enhancing defense capabilities, and managing migration while protecting external borders. The second priority emphasises boosting economic resilience, deepening the Single Market, fostering innovation, and advancing green and digital transitions for sustainable growth. Lastly, the third priority highlights the protection of fundamental values, safeguarding free media, combating disinformation, promoting social inclusion, and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens. Read more about the 18-month programme of the Council here.
One word to define the Polish Presidencies priorities: Security
Poland’s Presidency has been defined and shaped surrounding the concept of security. More concretely, it has identified seven security dimensions – defence and security, protection of people and borders, resistance to foreign interference and disinformation, ensuring security and freedom of business, energy transition, competitive and resilient agriculture, and health security.
How does the Polish Presidency plan to enhance health security?
While health may not be the top priority for the Polish Presidency, the programme identifies several key areas of work including:
- The digital transformation of healthcare: the Presidency will pursue the development of cross-border e-health services, particularly in relation to the organisational system of the European Health Data Space (EHDS). It will also initiate a debate on more stringent regulation of medical device cybersecurity. Additionally, it is prepared to discuss an action plan on cybersecurity for hospitals and healthcare providers.
- Mental health of children and young people: recognising the challenges posed by the rapid development and increased use of digital technologies and social media, the Presidency will conduct a debate on the risks and include this matter in its Council conclusions.
- Health promotion and disease prevention: the Presidency will analyse the effectiveness of existing health promotion and prevention programmes and tools with the aim to prepare a catalogue of best practices and solutions at EU and national levels.
- EU drug security: the Polish Presidency aims to improve drug security. This includes addressing the diversification of medicine supply chains and supporting medicine production within the EU. it will also provide space for a debate on critical medicines, emphasising the need to ensure the health and drug security of the EU. The Presidency will also continue to work on the revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation (GPL).
IDF Europe welcomes the health priorities outlined by the Polish Presidency, particularly those focusing on the digital transformation of healthcare, health promotion and disease prevention, and the ongoing revision of the GPL.
The digitalisation of healthcare systems, combined with increased use of data, new technologies, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), holds immense potential to improve diabetes prevention, management and care. Digital tools can enable more personalised care, support remote monitoring and self-management, and facilitate shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes (PwD). Cross-border e-health services can enhance care continuity for PwD across EU member states, while cybersecurity for medical devices—which many PwD rely on for effective diabetes monitoring—remains a critical area requiring robust safeguards.
Health promotion and disease prevention are vital to lower the risk for citizens of developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Effective health promotion and prevention programmes can significantly benefit our communities as can analysing the effectiveness of programmes and tools and establishing a catalogue of best practices. It is crucial to assess programmes and tools through a health equity lens and across all key drivers of health – considering lifestyle factors as well as the social, commercial, environmental and cultural determinants of health. Only through this comprehensive approach can we truly improve the health and well-being of all citizens.
Finally, IDF Europe supports the continued revision of the GPL, recognising its critical role in ensuring access to affordable medicines and addressing unmet medical needs for PwD and individuals with other health conditions. Read more about our position on the definition of unmet medical needs here.
