Poland seeks bigger EU, NATO roles

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski says his goal for the new year is a stronger position for Poland within Europe.

Sikorski, at a Wednesday news conference, said Poland will aim to have a more tangible impact on European policies and will seek to put itself in a stronger position within NATO as a country that "loves freedom and knows how to share it with others," Poland Radio reported.

Sikorski said he was pleased the Czech Republic, which will assume the rotating European Union presidency next month, has accepted a Polish-Swedish proposal to establish a platform for regional cooperation between the EU and Eastern European countries.

Decisions on the final shape of the "Eastern Partnership" program will be made in March during a European Council meeting chaired by the Czech Republic, he said.