Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Michel stressed the importance of addressing the current challenging circumstances to strengthen the European Union’s resilience. He outlined three priorities, focusing firstly on security and defense, emphasizing the need to support Ukraine and enhance defense capabilities while investing more in defense and backing the European industrial base.

Michel also highlighted the importance of economic prosperity and building strong economic foundations to tackle future challenges. He stressed the significance of competitiveness, streamlined regulations, and reduced bureaucracy.

Furthermore, Michel underscored the importance of investments in the future and strategic actions, pointing out the crucial role that capital markets and the European Investment Bank would play.

In addition to outlining priorities, Michel emphasized the core values that bind the European community, including democratic principles and freedoms, which form the essence of the European project.

Michel assured that decisions regarding the strategic agenda would be made in the coming weeks and months, emphasizing the importance of unity within the European Union.

The strategic agenda sets out goals for the 27 heads of state and government of the European Union over a five-year cycle. Discussions on future priorities began in October 2023, focusing on security and defense, competitiveness, energy, and migration.

Tusk echoed the sentiment, stating that security is a key focus of both the Polish EU presidency and the summit commencing in Warsaw.

Highlighting Poland’s strategic position and its unique perspective on current European events, Tusk emphasized the significance of security in the upcoming summit discussions. He pledged that the Polish presidency would work tirelessly to address security concerns on multiple fronts, including illegal migration, a topic to be discussed with European leaders.

Tusk underscored the challenges posed by aggressive policies from the Kremlin and Belarus, coupled with waves of illegal migration. He noted the unity among European leaders in addressing these threats and emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in European thinking, positioning the continent as a formidable political entity.

The meeting of government leaders, according to Tusk, marks a conversation about a “revolution in thinking,” with Europe aiming to become a dominant political force, surpassing even the United States and Russia combined.