Poland joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 as part of the EU’s largest-ever enlargement, alongside Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Now, as it takes the helm of the EU presidency for a second time, Poland stands as a transformed country, with its position firmly established at the heart of EU affairs.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who served as president of the European Council between 2014 and 2019, has grown into a figurehead of European politics. His return to the top of government, nine years after his first term in office, signals a country moving back towards the EU with his governing coalition pledging to reset relations with the bloc.
Before Tusk’s return to office, the country went through a period of Eurosceptism. Led by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, the country clashed with EU institutions, largely along anti-elitist lines.
The European Commission investigated Poland over rule of law concerns, imposing numerous penalties for non-compliance with EU legislation. The country’s commitment to joining the Eurozone, something the EU believes should be a priority, has remained on the backburner since its accession to the bloc – a result of internal opposition.
On the surface, Poland has benefitted greatly from EU membership. A study from the Polish Economic Institute, marking the country’s twentieth anniversary in the EU, found that its GDP per capita has risen from 49 per cent to 82 per cent of the EU erage since its accession in 2004. Among the eight central and eastern European states that joined the EU in 2004, only Lithuania has had a larger economic boost from membership than Poland.
Poland has emerged as a power player in Europe’s single market, too. Exports to other EU member states now make up 75 per cent of Poland’s total exports, boosting growth and jobs. Unemployment in Poland has dropped from 20 per cent to 2.6 per cent, the second-lowest rate in the bloc. These figures tell the story of a country on the up.
Poland’s position on the global stage has also been enhanced. With the outbreak of war on the country’s 535km border with Ukraine, Poland has been a leading light in the EU’s response to Russian aggression.
Poland’s support of Ukraine has been steadfast, hing welcomed nearly one million refugees fleeing west to escape the conflict – more than any other country in absolute numbers. The country has also provided military aid worth €3.23bn to Ukraine, positioning itself as a leading contributor among EU member states. It has also committed to spending 4.7 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2025.
With commitments to all kinds of security at the heart of Poland’s Council presidency, the country promises to command both regional and global attention. “What awaits us, and this is the task of the Polish presidency, is a profound correction of some European priorities,” Tusk said in a meeting with EU Council Secretary General Thérèse Blanchet in December 2024.
This steadfast commitment to a strong Europe is no surprise for a country now at the heart of the European project.
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