Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union: congratulatory letter
Letter from External Affairs Secretary to Poland’s Foreign Minister on the occasion of the start of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
To: Radosław Sikorski, Minister for Foreign Affairs
From: Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
I am writing to offer my support for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. We have read the Presidency programme with interest. Your priorities as outlined in the programme resonate in a number of areas with our own priorities in Scotland and the action we are taking, as summarised below. We wish you all the best for what I am sure will be a very busy time, not least because it coincides with the beginning of – and sets the tone for – the new European institutional cycle.
I would like to take the opportunity to highlight our shared values and areas where Scotland is particularly supportive of your efforts.
Scotland shares your concern over the increased geopolitical tensions, the erosion of the rules-based international order and hybrid attacks on our democracies and security. Next month marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and we continue to be steadfast in our condemnation of this invasion and the ongoing attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty. To protect our shared values and the EU’s founding principles and core values, we are committed to continuing to work closely with EU partners.
We are particularly interested in your priority on ‘energy transition’ and your focus on energy security. We share the view that the transition has to be green and just. In Scotland we are fully committed to our target of reducing greenhouse gases emissions to net zero by 2045 and will be setting out further detailed plans in the coming months. We are determined to ensure the transition is done in a fair way (to ensure a ‘just transition’), leaving no one behind in line with your own approach.
Scotland has extensive renewable resources and is well-placed to ensure long-term security of supply of clean, reliable electricity from wind, solar and hydrogen. We continue to work with our partners in the EU to explore the steps needed to realise our export potential of green hydrogen. In this endeavour, there is an opportunity for Scotland and Poland to work together and foster greater business links. I have discussed this with your Ambassador to the UK and I look forward to furthering this dialogue.
This priority is just one challenge and opportunity that is facing Europe, but it illustrates that there are synergies and shared priorities between Scotland, Poland and the EU. I would be very happy to expand on any of these topics.
Scotland’s relationship with Poland and the longstanding links between our people takes us back through centuries of shared history and heritage. From the brave Polish soldiers of World War Two to the young families who have settled in Scotland after Poland joined the European Union, we are grateful to them all for their service, contribution to the Scottish economy and enrichment of our collective culture. Our nations share a profound appreciation for history, cultural heritage, and community values. Over the years we have been able to show strong connections through projects like Wojtek the Bear and the Great Polish Map of Scotland. We now look forward to the UK/Poland Season 2025 which will allow our nations to showcase talent across both nations’ artistic scenes and to further strengthen cultural exchange.
I wish you and your colleagues a successful Presidency of the Council of the EU.
