Poland has been named a leader in six categories in the European Council on Foreign Relations' (ECFR) European Foreign Policy Scorecard 2015.

Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna chats with Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard (L) at the start of European Foreign Affairs Council, in Brussels, Belgium, 09 February 2015. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

The results, which cover foreign policy activity during 2014, saw Poland acknowledged as a leader in one more category than in the previous edition, with the country ranked fourth overall on the leader board, the same position as a year ago.

''Its leadership focused on pushing a firm stance on Russian aggression in Ukraine, and it also invested great energy in ensuring TTIP (The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) continued to advance,'' the ECFR summarised.

Poland was also highlighted as a strong player in coordinating the EU position towards China.

However, Poland was given 'slacker' status on two issues, fighting climate change and development aid and humanitarian aid. The ECFR noted that Poland had cut its aid as a proportion of the counry's GDP.

Poland's foreign minister Grzegorz Schetyna, who took over from Radosław Sikorski in September 2014, has said that ''it is encouraging that our positive effect was observed in key areas such as the EU's relations with Russia, the US and China.

''It is the success of our diplomacy, but it also reflects a broader trend,'' he said.

''Thanks to the political growth of the "eastern flank" of the Union, we are taking on more and more responsibility for the common European policy,'' he added.

Germany topped the overall leader board standings, being marked as a leader in 17 categories, followed by Sweden and the UK with 11, France with 8 and Poland with 6. (nh)

Source: PAP, ecfr.eu