Poland is to take over the rotating presidency¹ of the EU for the first time since it joined the bloc² in 2004.

波兰自2004年加入欧盟以来将首次接管轮值主席一职。

Its priorities for the six-month term include building relations with the EU's eastern and southern neighbours, and encouraging economic growth.

It also says it wants to promote further EU enlargement.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk³ is hoping that the EU presidency will boost his Civic⁴ Platform party and help it retain（保持） power in national elections in October.

The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Poland wants to portray⁵ itself as a regional power with ideas worth heeding⁶, with perhaps chief among them a focus on the bloc's eastern neighbours.

It hopes an "Eastern Partnership⁷" summit in September gathering⁸ leaders from the EU and six former Soviet⁹ nations will give the initiative new impetus¹⁰（动力，促进） , and wants to conclude negotiations¹¹ on a free trade agreement with Ukraine.

Budget negotiations

Another priority will be trying to help the EU in its efforts to manage the sovereign debt crisis threatening Greece and the eurozone.

Poland has not adopted the euro, but has strong trade links with eurozone countries.

Differences about how best to tackle Europe's economic challenges are expected to emerge during the start of negotiations over the EU's next budget.

Poland argues that a bigger budget will encourage growth throughout the bloc.

Countries that have introduced austerity（紧缩，朴素） programmes or are net contributors to EU finances want a smaller budget.

Environmentalists have expressed concern that Poland, which relies heavily on coal for energy supplies, will be reluctant（不情愿） to support a green agenda.

Poland, with a population of 38 million, is the largest country to join the EU since its expansion in 2004.

It is the fourth former communist state to hold the EU presidency, after Slovenia in 2008, the Czech Republic in 2009, and Hungary in the half of 2011.

Recent surveys suggest that backing for EU membership within Poland stands at more than 80%.