Poland launched its presidency of the Council of the European Union on Friday mired in a diplomatic row with Hungary that underscored a deepening sense of political disunity across Europe just as it confronts a raft of major global challenges.

An opening gala was held at the National Theatre in Warsaw as Poland inaugurated its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it assumed on 1 January 2025. #EuropeNews

Poland decided not to invite Hungary's ambassador to an event on Friday launching Warsaw's EU presidency after Budapest gave asylum to a former deputy minister who is under investigation over alleged misuse of public funds,

A gala was held in Warsaw on Friday as Poland officially assumed the presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2025.

Ties between Warsaw and Budapest soured further last month after Polish fugitive lawmaker Marcin Romanowski was granted asylum in Hungary. #EuropeNews

On the strength of his European experience and his membership of the EPP, the dominant party in Brussels, Prime Minister Donald Tusk intends to demonstrate that his government's pro-European choices are the right ones,

Poland withdrew an invitation for Hungary’s ambassador to a European Union-themed gala after Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government granted asylum to a fugitive Polish opposition lawmaker.

Poland’s decision comes in response to Hungary granting political asylum to Marcin Romanowski, Poland’s former deputy justice minister, who was detained last July in an investigation into alleged misuse of public funds.

Poland has decided not to invite the Hungarian ambassador to an event marking the start of Warsaw's EU presidency. This decision follows Hungary's provision of asylum to a former deputy minister under investigation over alleged misuse of public funds,