The Presidency period gives the associate State the chance to form the EU agenda, initiate debates of key importance to the competitiveness of European companies and advance economical and social priorities. It is simply a time of increased activity in the European forum, building coalitions and strengthening the image of Poland as an active and committed associate of the community. In addition, the Presidency has come to the start of a fresh organization cycle, creating an chance to have a real impact on the strategical and programme papers that will set the Union's improvement directions in the coming years.
Understanding the importance of engagement of Polish companies in the EU at specified a historical moment, 1 year before Poland took the presidency, the Confederation of Leviathan began a series of events that were to better prepare both experts and associate companies for the Presidency.
Our goal was to effectively represent the interests of Polish entrepreneurs, advance the priorities developed within the organization, make competences, both organisations and members of Leviathan in the field of cognition of EU legislative processes and engage companies in European dialogue. Close cooperation with another employers' federations within BusinessEurope was besides an crucial component of these activities, notes Margaret Mroczkowska-Horne, Director-General of the Confederation of Leviathan. 
As he summarizes King Graf Deputy Director-General for European Affairs “We are pleased that companies have been so actively active in these activities and we hope that this activity will proceed after the Presidency. I hope this time has contributed to a better knowing of what lobbying is in Brussels. Given that around 80 % of government that affects the regular functioning of companies is being created in Brussels, a increasing commitment at EU level is simply a necessity. Many of the actions launched during the Presidency will continue, specified as the series "Meetings with the Presidency" in Leviathan, which has become an crucial place to discuss European issues. We will not halt in the Brussels forum, where we have been 1 of the most active Polish representatives for years.
Business priorities – strategy for Europe
Following the launch of the fresh organization cycle in the European Union, the Confederation of Leviathan has prepared business demands that are our contribution to shaping the EU agenda in the coming years – A strategy for Europe – a competitive Europe, strong globally, company and worker friendly. This paper is the consequence of extended consultation with entrepreneurs and experts representing different sectors of the economy. Its recommendations were prepared for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, but besides for the work of the fresh European Parliament and the European Commission. Many of these proposals are consistent with BusinessEurope's priorities, but any besides take into account the Polish specificity, which is of peculiar importance in the context of the request to strengthen the voice of our companies in the European decision-making process. We request a smart, ambitious strategy for Europe that will support economical development, improve the competitiveness of European businesses and guarantee the well-being of citizens. The proposals were submitted to EU decision-makers during many meetings which we held in Brussels and in Warsaw.
Meeting of representatives of trade unions at the EESC
One of the most crucial events was conference with trade unions Leviathan with Polish MEPs and their advisers and assistants, held at the office of the European economical and Social Committee (EESC) in September 2024 in Brussels. The beginning of the fresh word of office of the European Parliament became an chance to discuss the biggest challenges facing the Polish and European economy, as well as to pass on the priorities of Polish entrepreneurs to many representatives of the European Parliament.
During the European Forum for fresh Ideas in 2024, we organised a discussion panel entitled “Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union — What can we number on?”, which brought together representatives of government, business and regional administration. In the debate moderated by Kinga Grafa, business representatives discussed priorities for the Polish Presidency of the EU Council and Poland's function in shaping the EU agenda from 1 January 2025.
The Confederation of Leviathan besides actively represented the interests of its members during key meetings related to the programming of Presidency work. Our goal was to guarantee that the voice of entrepreneurs was present and heard at all phase of preparation. We participated in:
- meetings Council of Entrepreneurs for the Presidency, initiated by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of improvement and Technology;
- ad hoc meetings The Presidency Problem Groupto the Social dialog Council;
- meetings with ministries liable for key thematic areas specified as the EU single market, digitalisation or economical regulation.
Conference of Presidents, CEOs BusinessEurope (CoPres)
The culmination of the year was the organisation by Leviathan, in cooperation with BusinessEurope, Conference of Presidents and Directors-General BusinessEurope (CoPres) in Warsaw, late November 2024. A period before the beginning of the Polish Presidency in Warsaw, representatives of BusinessEurope and associate federations met, who presented the Minister of Finance to Andrzej Domański "Warsaw Declaration", i.e. the most crucial demands of European business for the Presidency concerning safety and defence, support of Ukraine, energy and climate, the single market, innovation and digitisation or investment.
As part of CoPres, we organised a discussion about Ukraine's support on the way to membership, which was attended by Ukrainian federations, which were observers in BusinessEurope (SUP and FEU), with the participation of Paweł Kowal, a typical of the Polish Government for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. There has besides been an exchange of views on building Europe's resilience and preparing for crises with erstwhile Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, author of a study on this subject for the European Commission. Representatives of the employers' federation besides met with the president of Poland Andrzej Duda, and during a formal dinner with Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. The event was accompanied by a rich cultural program, including dinner at the Old Orangery in the Royal Bathrooms, performance of an outstanding Polish countertenor as well as visits to museums.
‘Meetings with the Presidency’
One of the key initiatives of the KL was to organize the series “Meetings with the Presidency” aimed at engaging entrepreneurs in preparations for the Polish Presidency. These meetings brought together representatives of national and European administrations with members and experts of Leviathan. During the meetings, issues related to the priorities of the Polish Presidency were discussed, specified as deregulation, competitiveness, industrial policy, the single marketplace as well as current economical challenges. As part of this cycle, we hosted among others:
- Enrico Letta, the author of the study on the future of the EU Single Market,
- Kerstin Jorna, Director-General of DG GROW at the European Commission,
- Magdalena Sobkowiak-Blacknecka, the Plenipotentiary for the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU,
- Ignacy Niemczycki, Deputy Minister for improvement and Technology,
- Dariusz Standerski, the Deputy Digitisation Minister,
- Catherine of Casperthe Deputy Minister of Health,
- Joanna Mucha, Deputy Minister of National Education
- Michał Baranowski, Deputy Minister for improvement and Technology
- Marcin acidowski, Deputy manager at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, Chief Economist of BusinessEurope.
Activities in Brussels during the Presidency
During the Polish Presidency, the Delegation of the Confederation of Leviathan in Brussels organised a number of events that promoted Polish priorities and strengthened dialog with European partners.
European Competitiveness Fund
Confederation of Leviathan, in cooperation with Business & discipline Poland, the Institute of Green Economy and the Foundation for Promotion of electrical Vehicles, organised a debate in Brussels on the European Competitiveness Fund. The discussion afraid the proposal to make a fresh financial instrument to support industrial transformation and green technologies in the EU. The request to simplify regulation, increase investment and the function of Poland as a possible beneficiary of the fund was highlighted. The event was attended by representatives of EU institutions, administrations and key sectors, including automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.
Cosmetic industry
Polish Association of Cosmetic manufacture and Euro MP Elżbieta Łukacijewska, organized in the European Parliament exhibition on the challenges of the cosmetic industry. Participants had the chance to test “made in Poland” cosmetics and to talk to representatives of micro, small, average and large cosmetic companies. Representatives of the cosmetic manufacture besides met with Polish Euro-Parliamentarians to talk about the request for sustainable regulation in the EU – this gathering was co-organised by the Confederation of Leviathan.
Digital technologies
Together with the Union of Digital Technology Employers and experts on digital Leviathan, we organised in the European Parliament debate on the function of breakthrough technologies in strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union. The event was hosted by Euro MP Michał Kobosko, and among the participants included Dariusz Standerski, Deputy Minister of Digitalization and representatives of BusinessEurope. The discussion focused on the request to invest in artificial intelligence, the improvement of data infrastructure and the building of European digital sovereignty. It has been stressed that technological innovation is crucial for the EU's economical growth and global position.
Pharmacy marketplace regulations
Together with the PharmaNET Association of Pharmaceutical Employers and the European Federation of Pharmacy Chains, we organized event on the request for harmonisation of pharmacies rules in EU associate States. It has been stressed that different national regulations restrict freedom to operate, affect patients' access to medicines and hinder the improvement of modern models of pharmaceutical care. The host of the event was Elżbieta Łukacijewska. Mr Adam Jarubas, president of the SANT Commission, as well as Deputy Minister of wellness Jakub Dvořáček, spoke in the discussion.
Safety
Together with Mr Adam Jarubas, president of the SANT Commission and Mr Lech Pilawski, associate of the EESC's Employers' Group, we co-organised in Brussels debate on drug safety as a pillar of European resilience and sovereignty. The event was attended by Euro MPs, their advisers, representatives of national administration, the BusinessEurope federation and entrepreneurs. The discussion focused on the request to guarantee a unchangeable supply of medicines and the reconstruction of pharmaceutical production in the European Union – not only as an economical but besides as a strategical challenge. The request to make systemic solutions at EU level, including support for local production and the construction of stocks of critical substances, was highlighted.
Education and strengthening European competences
One of the key areas of activity of the Leviathan Confederation during the preparation and duration of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU was education and capacity building in the EU legislative process. expanding cognition about the functioning of the European Union, legal mechanisms and influence on legislative processes are essential to effectively strengthen the voice of Polish business in the European forum.
As part of our educational activities, we have developed a applicable guide to the EU legislative process, which clearly explains the structure of the EU institutions and the stages of lawmaking. There have besides been dedicated training, both internally and open to members of the Leviathan, devoted to issues related to EU policy, lawmaking and the function of employers' organisations in European dialogue.
An crucial addition to this activity was a survey visit to Brussels, during which experts from Leviathan had the chance to meet straight with representatives of EU institutions, employers' federations and another key stakeholders. These activities not only increased the cognition and skills of participants, but besides built a network of contacts, strengthening the ability of Polish business to actively participate in decision-making processes at European level.
Educational activities were of peculiar importance to us – without appropriate substantive preparation and a better knowing of the EU legislative process, it is hard to talk about the real impact on decisions taken in Brussels. Leviathan launched a series of activities aimed at raising awareness among entrepreneurs and showing that the European Union is simply a place where the voice and engagement of business are expected. We are pleased that the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU besides had this educational dimension – promoting topics applicable to companies and encouraging entrepreneurs to participate actively in shaping EU policies – she stressed Luana Żak, Deputy Directors of the Leviathan Confederation Delegation in Brussels.
Communication of European affairs
The regular and accessible communication of European affairs to the members of Leviathan, partners and the public was besides an crucial component of our work during the Presidency. We wanted the EU agenda to be better understood and more accessible to Polish entrepreneurs.
Regular We published the newsletter “Brussels Headslines”, in which we informed about the current activities of the Confederation of Leviathan at EU level, key legislative processes and the possibilities of engaging in European dialogue.
At the same time, we conducted the “Leviathan of Brussels” cycle in the regular paper Rzeczpospolita, presenting legislative proposals which are crucial from the position of Polish business. These articles aimed to approximate the mechanisms of EU action and to draw attention to topics applicable to Polish entrepreneurs.
High-level events and meetings during the Presidency
European Forum for fresh Ideas – Spring 2025
EFNI Spring 2025 was a unique edition of the European Forum for fresh Ideas, held under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. The event was devoted to the future of work. Participants discussed how to usage fresh technologies, how to attract the best workers and how to build a labour marketplace that will keep pace with change. The debate focused on fresh employment models, competences of the future and the function of social dialogue.
We have hosted business federations from Europe in Warsaw
To work effectively in today's dynamic business environment, it is crucial to keep partnerships not only at national but besides at global level. The Confederation of Leviathan has for years maintained cooperation with employers' organisations from all over Europe, allowing for exchange of valuable experiences and best practices. During the Presidency, we continued the dialog with European employers' federations, during which we discussed a number of key issues that have a crucial impact on the improvement of entrepreneurship in Poland and Europe. late Leviathan has hosted, among another things, organisations specified as:
- Swedish Employers' Federation (Svenskt Näringsliv), with which we discussed digitalisation, the labour market, the challenges of labour migration, security, simplification of EU government and the single market;
- Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), Association française des entreprises privées (AFEP) and France Industrie (FI)We have discussed EU government on digitisation, energy, climate and finance and its impact on European entrepreneurs;
- Finnish Federation of Entrepreneurs (Suomen Yrittäjät), with which we discussed legislative challenges, energy transformation, reconstruction of Ukraine and the future of business cooperation in Europe.
As he emphasizes Ewelina Augustiniak, EU expert – Interest in abroad federations in cooperation with the Confederation of Leviathan during the Polish Presidency was clear and significant, which confirms the increasing function of employers' organisations in European dialogue. Leviathan's representatives actively participated in both authoritative meetings and informal discussions on the margins of events held within the Presidency. specified engagement allows for building global coalitions, better coordination of common positions and more effective exchange of experience. Equally important, these contacts and initiatives make valuable capital for the future, fostering long-term cooperation and strengthening the function of European business in the EU decision-making process.
We represented business at events organised by the Presidency
The Confederation of Leviathan took an active part in events organised by the Polish Presidency, including SIMFO 2025 on the future of the EU Single Market and EU manufacture Days on the improvement of European industry, in which we co-organised a panel on opportunities and challenges for Clean Industrial Deal.
Furthermore, as the only associate BIAC (Business and manufacture Advisory Committee) from Poland, we participated in the work of this organization. An example of specified activity was Participation in the OECD ministerial meeting, which brought together ministers and elder representatives from more than 40 OECD countries and the social partners.
Support for Ukrainian business
We proceed our commitment to support Ukrainian business, which has gained peculiar importance in the context of the armed conflict. These activities include cooperation with the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP), including the beginning of SUP offices at the Lewiatan Confederation in Brussels and Warsaw. As part of bilateral cooperation, we have organised many meetings, including, among another things, meeting on the function of Poland in the process of integration of Ukraine with the European Union, during which cooperation opportunities and challenges faced by Ukrainian entrepreneurs on the Union marketplace were discussed. Confederate Leviathan besides participated in business EU-Ukraine Summit in BrusselsThe subject was to strengthen economical cooperation with Kiev, accelerate the reconstruction of Ukraine and support its way to EU membership.
Examples of long-term effects
The activities of the Leviathan Confederation on European issues are of a long-term nature. An example of the effectiveness of this approach is the judgement of the EU Court of Justice of 19 June 2025, which stated that the ban on advertising pharmacies in force in Poland infringes EU law. This judgement is simply a consequence of the complaint made by Leviathan and the PharmaNET Association of PharmaNET Pharmatic Employers to the European Commission and is the consequence of many years of joint action: respective twelve meetings with the EC and decision-makers in Brussels, regularly convincing our arguments, including the importance of freedom to conduct business as the foundation of the common European market.
Summary
The period of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU provided an chance for the Confederation of Leviathan to intensify activities in the European forum. The initiatives carried out at that time included a broad spectrum of activity – from the organisation of circumstantial events in Brussels, through dialog with government administration, to long-term educational and analytical activities. A key component of these activities was the combination of promotional activity and substantive work on circumstantial regulatory solutions. Experience from this period will be utilized in further efforts of the Confederation of Leviathan in the European forum, which will proceed besides after the end of the Polish Presidency. 1 specified action will be the continuation of the Task Force Group, which will search to strengthen the dialog on European issues, inter alia by continuing the gathering with the Presidency. specified an approach is based on the belief that European activity, to be effective, must be continuous, regular and not just occasional.
Some of the above activities were carried out under the task "Social dialogue: regional, national and EU conditions". The task is funded by the European Union under the FERS 2021-2027 programme.
