THREE QUESTIONS TO MIKOLAJ DOWGIELEWICZ, POLAND'S STATE SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS : '53 LEGISLATIVE ACTS AND A HUNDRED CONCLUSIONS: WE CAN BE PROUD'.

• Position: Interview

What do you see as the main tangible achievements of the Polish EU Presidency?

Fifty-three legislative acts were adopted during the Polish Presidency, compared with 33 under the previous Presidency. On top of that, conclusions were adopted on more than 100 issues. We consider this to be a very good result, over and above the political aspects. The six pack' is unquestionably the best illustration. It is a milestone for all the member states and will remain a reference document strengthening fiscal discipline. I am also pleased that the negotiations on the multiannual budget moved forward in the right direction on the basis of the proposals from the Commission. Third, despite the crisis, the EU remains open to new members. I could also add other achievements, like the European system for the protection of victims, which from the start was a Polish-Spanish initiative, as well as measures concerning the fight against sexual exploitation of children via the internet, which was also our initiative. I think that we can be proud.

What were the failures? You did not achieve the progress you had hoped for on the Eastern Partnership or e-commerce.

The failure of the enlargement of the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania was a disillusionment for us, all the more so because the European Council recognised that these countries meet the criteria. But we received positive signals at the end of our Presidency. We are delighted that the government of the Netherlands is freeing up this process.

Concerning the Eastern Partnership, we had tangible objectives related for example to the association agreement with Ukraine. We achieved that aim: the negotiations have been brought...