| In terms of its size and population, Poland is the largest of the new
member states that are due to join the EU in 2004. Situated in the centre
of Europe, Poland has a proud cultural heritage and the Polish state can
trace its roots back over 1,000 years. |
 |
- Country Overview
- Historic Background of the EU- Poland’s Relations
- Official documents
- Press releases
- Sources of information about Poland and EU
- Links
Country Overview:
The Polish state is over 1,000 years old. In the XVIth century, under the
Jagiellonian dynasty, Poland was one of the richest and most powerful states
on the continent. On May 3, 1791 the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania ratified
a constitution, being the first written constitution of Europe. Soon after Poland
ceased to exist for 123 years, upon being partitioned by its neighbours Russia,
Austria and Prussia. The country regained independence in 1918 for only 20 years.
In 1989 the first partially free elections in Poland's post-war history concluded
the Solidarity movement's ten-year struggle for freedom and resulted in the
defeat of Poland's communist rulers. In 1998 Poland joined NATO and began negotiating
its full membership in the European Union.
Population: 38, 654 million inhabitants, of which 98% are ethnic Poles. Poland recognises 13 national minorities.
Area: 312,685 square km.
Capital: Warsaw.
Official Language: Polish.
Constitution: The current Constitution came into force on the 17th October 1997.
Major Religion: Catholic.
Life Expectancy: 70 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN, 2003).
Monetary Unit: 1 zloty = 100 groszy.
Administrative Division: 16 regions (wojewodztwo) and 3 city
governments (Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz), 308 districts (powiat) and 2,489 communes (gmina).
Historic Background of the EU- Poland’s Relations:
The first diplomatic relations between the European Union and Poland were
established in 1988. In September 1989, the EU and Poland signed a Trade
and Economic Co-operation Agreement. In the same year, the EU Council of
Ministers agreed to launch a programme of assistance for Hungary and Poland,
the PHARE programme. The EU and Poland signed a Europe Association Agreement
on 16 December 1991. The agreement aims to establish a free trade area over
a period of 10 years and institutes a permanent dialogue at the highest
governmental levels. It came into force on 1 February 1994.
Poland applied for EU membership on 5 April 1994. Accession negotiations
began in March 1998, with the most difficult issues being Polish state aid
to industry; the impact of the accession on the EU's Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) and Cohesion Policy; introduction of EU environmental standards;
right of ownership of land for foreigners in Poland; as well as the free
movement of workers.
Accession talks were concluded at the Copenhagen European Council on 13
December 2002. The Accession Treaty was signed with Poland on 16 April 2003
at the Athens European Council with a view to full EU membership on 1 May
2004.
In the accession referendum that took place in Poland on 7 and 8 June 2003,
77.45% of voters said “yes” to EU accession, 22.5% said “no”
and the turnout was 58.85%, the National Electoral Commission officially
reported on 9 June.
|
Romano Prodi, President of the EC, receives Leszek Miller,
Polish Prime Minister
Leszek Miller, on the left, and Romano Prodi
Brussels - 06/10/2003
Signature of the Accession Treaty
Leszek Miller, Polish Prime Minister, on the left, and Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz,
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs
Athens - 16/04/2003
|
Official EU documents:
November 2003: Commission’s last regular report on Poland’s progress towards accession
October 2002: Commission: 2002 regular report on Poland's progress towards accession
November 2000: Commission's third Report on Poland's Progress towards Accession
October 1999: Commission's Report on Poland's Progress towards Accession
October 1999: European Parliament: Background information on the political and economic situation and EU relations
November 2001: Poland’s Accession Partnership
Others documents:
Danish Institute of International Affairs & University of Southern Denmark: The EU's Enlargement Negotiations with Poland
Press releases:
Warsaw Business Journal
http://www.wbj.pl
Press Releases of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
http://www.msz.gov.pl/start.php?page=1040000001
News of the Representation of the European Commission to Poland
http://www.europa.delpol.pl/index.php?id=ekomunikat&samSession=9d304a2b2e99cab04588c4d2369ba79e
"EU leaders knee-jerk reactions following EU summit failure", Warsaw Business Journal, 16 th December 2003
"EU summit ends in failure", Warsaw Business Journal, 15 th December 2003
"Poland standing firm over EU Constitution", Warsaw Business Journal, 12 th December 2003
“La stratégie "agressive" de Varsovie ne convainc pas les autres Etats d'Europe centrale”, Le Monde, 11th December 2003
"PM's Helicopter Crashes", Warsaw, 10th December 2003
“Europe”, Warsaw Voice, 3th December 2003
“A Cautionary Tale”, Warsaw Voice, 12th November 2003
“Polish PM rallies troops in Iraq”, BBC news, 11th November 2003
“Hub of the World”, Warsaw Voice, 5th November 2003
“Are we ready”, Warsaw Voice, 29th October 2003
“Among Equals?”, Warsaw Voice, 23th October 2003
“European Union Conference” Warsaw Voice, 9th October 2003
“Public attitude towards Poland’s integration in the EU”, September 2003
If any of the links do not work, please use the title of the press release in a search engine for further information
Links
Scientific and Academic Institutions:
Krajowy Punkt Kontaktowy (5. Program Ramowy Unii Europejskiej 1999-2002)
Science in Poland
Polish and foreign nongovernmental organisations:
Batory Foundation
Polska Fundacja im. Roberta Schumana
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Poland (Fundacja Konrada Adenauera w Polsce)
Portal organizacji pozarzadowych - NGO.pl
Polska Akcja Humanitarna
Cultural Institutions and Poland’s press:
Adam Miczkiewicz Institute – Centre for International Culture Cooperation
Warsaw voice
Warsaw Business Journal
Sources of information about Poland and EU:
DG Enlargement - Team Poland - European Commission Brussels
EC Delegation in Poland
EC tender opportunities in Poland (the Phare Programme)
European Parliament-Links for Poland: Poland - Country page
Official Polish Government Site http://www.poland.pl/index.htm
Mission of the Republic of Poland to the European Union
The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland
Komitet Integracji Europejskiej (KIE / UKIE)
Others sources:
Polska Agencja Prasowa (PAP)
Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG)
Euro Info Centre (po polsku)
Polish search engine - Polska.pl
Portal samorzadowy - Gmina.pl
|
Disclaimer - Contact