‘Unity through Balance:’ Estonia’s EU Council Presidency

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.On 1 July 2017, Estonia took up the presidency of the EU a half year earlier than planned, replacing the UK, which had begun its separation negotiations with the bloc. Estonia would try to take advantage of issues essential to the EU agenda, such as the innovation economy, digitisation, and cybersecurity, to pursue its own interests in the European forum. On the other hand, the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit would give Estonia the chance to become more actively involved in external EU activities. However, the effectiveness of the presidency would depend on the results of its efforts to coordinate the work of the Union in relation to the mass-migration crisis and the future of EU finances.