POLAND’S SIX-MONTH term at the head of the EU begins today.

The BBC notes that the country wants to promote further EU enlargement and build relations with the EU’s eastern and southern neighbours.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will face elections during the country’s presidency.

Poland is to host an ‘Eastern Partnership’ summit in September which will involve leaders from the EU and a number of former Soviet nations.

Polish website The News says that the country’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism will make tackling sports corruption and doping one of its priorities.

There have been a number of corruption allegations in Polish sport in recent times and sports ministry spokesman Jakub Kwiatkowski told Polish radio that Poland is to ask UEFA for help on the issue.

A further priority for Poland will be managing the sovereign debt crisis affecting Europe.

Negotiations will begin this year over the next EU budget, with Poland said to argue for a bigger budget to encourage growth.

Poland is the largest country to join the EU since its expansion and takes over from Hungary in holding the presidency for the latter half of 2011.

For more information read this story on the BBC News website>

Read: Polish Embassy to mark the Polish presidency of the EU with performance from Polish jazz stars Kroke and Nigel Kennedy>

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