The Evolution and Functions of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union – An Analysis of Polish Experiences from 2011 and 2025

Abstract

The modern presidency of a Member State of the Council is one of the mechanisms of the EU’s political architecture, having existed de facto since the establishment of the first European Community. Over the decades of the EC/EU’s existence and development, the role and significance of the presidency system have evolved. Significant changes in this regard were brought about primarily by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007, amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community (the so‑called Treaty of Lisbon), which finally entered into force in 2009.

The Republic of Poland, which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, has held the Presidency of the Council twice – in the second half of 2011 and the first half of 2025. Both periods coincided with significant moments in the development of European integration. Both periods also coincided with difficult times from the perspective of European (and global) politics and the challenges that the modern world had (and still has) to face. The first Polish Presidency took place amid the European financial crisis, the onset of the migration crisis in Europe, and the implementation of sweeping reforms resulting from the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. The second, however, fell during the ongoing war in Ukraine (and therefore in the immediate vicinity of Poland and the EU), the second – in many ways unpredictable – presidency of Donald Trump in the United States, and numerous threats to European security (including cybersecurity).

The primary objective of this article is to analyze the evolution of the Presidency of the Council and to present the Polish experience, with particular emphasis on the implementation of the priorities and challenges faced by both Polish Presidencies in the context of changing conditions in Europe.

The research material that forms the basis for this discussion primarily encompasses the sources of European Union law, which address issues falling within the scope of research at various levels, from the founding treaties, through binding acts of secondary law, and non‑binding resolutions. The analysis also encompasses working documents of EU institutions and bodies, as well as other entities. The article also refers to scholarly literature, predominantly in Polish.

The analysis of the evolution and function of the Presidency of the Council, along with the presentation of Polish experiences from 2011 and 2025, required the use of a range of research methods. In its broadest sense, this article employs historical‑legal and comparative‑legal approaches. It should be noted that a political science approach was also employed, allowing for an analysis of the practical operation of the discussed solutions, based on available reports and statements. Furthermore, theoretical‑legal and formal‑dogmatic approaches were also employed.