Poland: country overview

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. It is the only country in the European Union to avoid a recession through the 2008-09 economic downturn, although GDP per capita is still much below the EU average.

Year of EU entry: 2004

Member of Schengen area:Yes

Political system: Republic

Capital city: Warsaw

Total area: 312 679 km²

Population: 38.4 million

Currency: Zloty

Listen to the EU official language: Polish

Country overview

The north of Poland, stretching to the Baltic Sea, consists almost entirely of lowlands, while the Carpathian Mountains (including the Tatra range) form the southern border. The Masuria region forms the largest and most-visited lake district in Poland.

The Polish state is over 1 000 years old. In the 16th century Poland was one of the most powerful countries in Europe. With victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, King Jan III Sobieski of Poland was able to break the Ottoman siege of Vienna and end the threat of a possible occupation of western Europe

Poland is rich in natural mineral resources, including iron, zinc, copper and rock salt. The Wieliczka salt mine, constructed in the 13th century, contains an entire town below ground with a sanatorium, theatre, church and café! Everything from stairs to chandeliers is made from salt.

Poland's current constitution dates from 1997. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The 460 members of the lower house of parliament (the Sejm) and the 100 members of the senate, are directly elected by a system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms.

Economy overview

Since 2004, EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy. Unemployment has been 2% more than the EU average. Inflation reached a low of about 2.6% in 2010 due to the global economic slowdown, but climbed to 4.3% in 2011. Poland's economic performance could improve over the longer term if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure and its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape, burdensome tax system, and persistent low-level corruption keep the private sector from performing up to its full potential. Weak revenues, together with rising demands to fund healthcare, education, and the state pension system caused the public sector budget deficit to rise to 7.8% of GDP in 2010, but the PO/PSL coalition government, which came to power in November 2007, took measures to shore up public finances - including increasing contributions to the public pension scheme at the expense of private pension funds - and reduced the deficit to 2.9% of GDP in 2011. For 2012 the coalition government has proposed further deficit-reducing reforms and to fulfill its promise to enact business-friendly reforms.

Useful links

The Commission's Representation in Poland

European Parliament office in Poland

Polish Government

Tourist information

Source: Your Europe