Post by Bonobo on May 1, 2019 15:53:28 GMT 1
On 1 May 2004 Poland joined the EU and the dream of millions of Poles came true.
- 100 billions euros from EU funds. (Polish input already deducted)
- thousands of infrastructure projects funded by the EU
- markets for Polish goods and services.
- economy in good shape, and still rising
- thriving agriculture
- Poland's GDP has doubled
- freedom of travel and work
- cleaner environment
- protection against semi dictatorial inclinations of PiS.
Generally, progress and civilization advancement visible everywhere..
The assessment is definitely positive.
Recycling center in Krakow
polandin.com/42430442/poland-celebrates-15-years-in-eu
On 1 May 2004 Poland became a member of the EU and finally put to bed the ghosts of Yalta.
For over four decades of communist rule in the 20th century Poles associated 1 May with a communist celebration of the working class. The ruling communists always made a huge fuss about these celebrations and made great efforts that millions would participate in marches to celebrate the first of May. People were put under pressure from their employers and schools to attend. This was so even in the late eighties when young people were still being pressured to go out on 1 May just a few days after the explosion of the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl.
But since 2004 many Poles see 1 May as an anniversary of Poland finally joining the EU. Membership that completed Poland’s new orientation and alliance with Western Europe. Poland and Central Europe had suffered at the end of the second world war from being caught on the wrong side of the Soviet iron curtain which came down as a result of what was agreed by the superpowers (USA, USSR and Britain) at Tehran and Yalta.
In the 1990s Poland, along with other Central European states, managed to join NATO and applied to join the EU. In order to get in, Poland and the other countries of the region, had to open up their markets and make significant changes in their internal legislative arrangements.
There was a broad political consensus for Poland to join the EU and it was no surprise that, after support was secured from the Catholic Church and many on the political right, EU membership was approved in a referendum in 2003 by a very large majority on a turnout close to 60 percent.
Judging by what has happened since 2004 it looks as if Poland was certainly ready for membership of the EU. It has a good record on absorption of EU funds. Its agriculture has thrived as a result of trading opportunities and farmers payments when many had feared it would not be able to stand the competition on the domestic market.
The EU remains popular in Poland not just because of visible structural funding which has contributed to important infrastructure projects and direct payments to farmers. It remains popular because Poles appreciate the freedom of travel and work it has given them, the educational opportunities for the young and the markets for Polish goods and services.
Poles support the EU but reserve the right to their own opinions
In the aftermath of the financial crisis Poles became sceptical of joining the Euro zone. They have also been reluctant to accept quotas for the resettlement of refugees. The country remains more socially conservative than many parts of the EU, but then membership came on the understanding that matters of conscience such as the definition of marriage or abortion would not be regulated at EU level.
But it would be wrong to see Poland as reluctant on European integration. It has argued for European solidarity on energy policy, for the single market to be made stronger and for enlarging the EU to the South and to the East.
The recent dispute with the EC over the rule of law precipitated by the present government’s judicial reforms should not be seen as typical of the relations between Poland and the EU. The country has been a team player on Brexit, Iran, climate change and many other areas of EU policy.
The current liberal opposition in Poland has raised the fear that Poland could be on the road to ‘Polexit’ because of the spats over migration, the rule of law and the fact the country is dragging its feet over introducing the Euro as its currency. But this presupposes that there is a political force in Poland wanting Poland to leave and that the EU might also be willing to see Poland leave.
Neither is the case. Poland, unlike the UK, has never envisaged itself outside the EU and has already invested and sacrificed too much to join the community to want to abandon it. It will work within the EU for its vision of the EU and to increase its standing and significance in the EU. Poland will not debate whether it should remain in the EU but on what kind of EU it is going to be in.
- 100 billions euros from EU funds. (Polish input already deducted)
- thousands of infrastructure projects funded by the EU
- markets for Polish goods and services.
- economy in good shape, and still rising
- thriving agriculture
- Poland's GDP has doubled
- freedom of travel and work
- cleaner environment
- protection against semi dictatorial inclinations of PiS.
Generally, progress and civilization advancement visible everywhere..
The assessment is definitely positive.
Recycling center in Krakow
polandin.com/42430442/poland-celebrates-15-years-in-eu
On 1 May 2004 Poland became a member of the EU and finally put to bed the ghosts of Yalta.
For over four decades of communist rule in the 20th century Poles associated 1 May with a communist celebration of the working class. The ruling communists always made a huge fuss about these celebrations and made great efforts that millions would participate in marches to celebrate the first of May. People were put under pressure from their employers and schools to attend. This was so even in the late eighties when young people were still being pressured to go out on 1 May just a few days after the explosion of the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl.
But since 2004 many Poles see 1 May as an anniversary of Poland finally joining the EU. Membership that completed Poland’s new orientation and alliance with Western Europe. Poland and Central Europe had suffered at the end of the second world war from being caught on the wrong side of the Soviet iron curtain which came down as a result of what was agreed by the superpowers (USA, USSR and Britain) at Tehran and Yalta.
In the 1990s Poland, along with other Central European states, managed to join NATO and applied to join the EU. In order to get in, Poland and the other countries of the region, had to open up their markets and make significant changes in their internal legislative arrangements.
There was a broad political consensus for Poland to join the EU and it was no surprise that, after support was secured from the Catholic Church and many on the political right, EU membership was approved in a referendum in 2003 by a very large majority on a turnout close to 60 percent.
Judging by what has happened since 2004 it looks as if Poland was certainly ready for membership of the EU. It has a good record on absorption of EU funds. Its agriculture has thrived as a result of trading opportunities and farmers payments when many had feared it would not be able to stand the competition on the domestic market.
The EU remains popular in Poland not just because of visible structural funding which has contributed to important infrastructure projects and direct payments to farmers. It remains popular because Poles appreciate the freedom of travel and work it has given them, the educational opportunities for the young and the markets for Polish goods and services.
Poles support the EU but reserve the right to their own opinions
In the aftermath of the financial crisis Poles became sceptical of joining the Euro zone. They have also been reluctant to accept quotas for the resettlement of refugees. The country remains more socially conservative than many parts of the EU, but then membership came on the understanding that matters of conscience such as the definition of marriage or abortion would not be regulated at EU level.
But it would be wrong to see Poland as reluctant on European integration. It has argued for European solidarity on energy policy, for the single market to be made stronger and for enlarging the EU to the South and to the East.
The recent dispute with the EC over the rule of law precipitated by the present government’s judicial reforms should not be seen as typical of the relations between Poland and the EU. The country has been a team player on Brexit, Iran, climate change and many other areas of EU policy.
The current liberal opposition in Poland has raised the fear that Poland could be on the road to ‘Polexit’ because of the spats over migration, the rule of law and the fact the country is dragging its feet over introducing the Euro as its currency. But this presupposes that there is a political force in Poland wanting Poland to leave and that the EU might also be willing to see Poland leave.
Neither is the case. Poland, unlike the UK, has never envisaged itself outside the EU and has already invested and sacrificed too much to join the community to want to abandon it. It will work within the EU for its vision of the EU and to increase its standing and significance in the EU. Poland will not debate whether it should remain in the EU but on what kind of EU it is going to be in.