Looking at a five-year perspective, do you think that EU membership is for Poland:

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On the picture: "Let’s paint over the world together", Justyna Bańkowska, Lyceum of Fine Arts in Supraśl – III form
Work awarded a prize in photo contest "Poland in the European Union. Five years have passed"

Reports

Report 5 years in EU General information about the report

  • The publication 5 years of Poland in the European Union is a follow-up to a series of annual reports carried out in Office of the Committee for European Integration (UKIE) related to monitoring of the effects of Poland’s membership in the EU. It has been written by UKIE analysts in cooperation with ministries and central government agencies, on the basis of 25 research papers developed by independent experts (their list is included in the bibliography). Hundreds of Polish and foreign books, documents, reports, scientific papers, newspaper and internet articles have been used.
  • The report refers to the period 2004-2009. In few cases authors, in order to provide necessary background, mentioned events and processes preceding the date of Poland’s accession. The statistical data included in the report are relatively recent. Due to limited availability of figures for 2009 some chapters use economic forecasts extensively. . Nevertheless the period covered with the analysis (1st May 2004-February 2009) seems conclusive and justifies formulation of assessments concerning the impact of accession on Polish economy, lives of Poles and Poland’s position in Europe and the world.
  • In practice the Polish membership in the EU affects people’s lives on a large scale, in multiple ways. The report, on its 600 hundred pages, analyses major areas where, in authors’ opinion, those effects manifest themselves. 600 hundred pages however is still not enough to come up with a full account of social, political and economic changes in Poland after 2004. In practice the thematic scope of each of 24 sub-chapters might as well be covered by a separate report analysing in great detail the changes that have taken place in Poland in recent years.

The purpose of the report

  • What is the reason for preparing such a report? The intention was not only to provide historical reflection on the recent five years or a publication merely celebrating the fifth anniversary of accession; although the latter one was much needed. Poland needs a deeper debate about Poland’s role in the European Union. The authors hope that this anniversary will stimulate such a debate to which this report will be a valid contribution. The report asks many questions about challenges Poland is facing. It draws conclusions for the future, and formulates several recommendations
  • A debate on the role of enlargement process and Poland’s accession is much needed in the entire Europe. The message about effects of accession to the European Union should be sent to the candidate-states for membership. We should reinforce their conviction that the harmonisation efforts and enormous labours needed to overcome the obstacles on the way to the EU make sense. We should share with them Polish experiences, verify fears and strengthen their hopes.
  • Secondly, a discussion about enlargement effects is needed also within the EU-15. Some people call into question benefits of new states’ accession, and fear continuation of enlargement process. The term „enlargement fatigue” has been widely used. Social research shows that citizens of many countries consider accession of new states into the EU in 2004 to have weakened the European Union. That is why the report also provides assessment of the impact of enlargement on the entire EU, and not only on Poland. It tackles various fears and prejudices. With foreign readers in mind, English language version of the publication has been prepared.
  • The greatest challenge in the process of writing the report on 5 years in the European Union was to face the approaching economic crisis. It has brought much uncertainty into people’s lives. It has become a basis for some people to call benefits from accession to the European Union into question. It hampers some positive trends we have recorded in economy since accession. However the report argues that membership in the EU is a shield that protects Poland and other Member States. Situation of Poland would be definitely worse if we had not been so strongly anchored in the European Union.

5 Years of Poland’s Membership of the European Union in the Social Context

 5 Years of Poland’s Membership of the European Union in the Social Context is another publication of the Office of the Committee for European Integration. Its authors undertake the task of presenting a balance of integration on the basis of social analysis of the effects of the process. Over the twenty years the process of approaching membership was accompanied by numerous studies and social experts’ reports, to a large extent inspired by the Office.
The publication uses standard studies carried out in the Department of Analyses and Strategies of the Office, available international studies as well as social analyses carried out in the national academic centres and agencies, with the aim to assess five years of Poland’s membership in the EU. The issues taken up include: public debate on membership, the sources of social acceptance, assessment of consequences of the EU polices.
5 Years of Poland’s Membership of the European Union in the Social Context is another publication of the Office of the Committee for European Integration. Its authors undertake the task of presenting a balance of integration on the basis of social analysis of the effects of the process. Over the twenty years the process of approaching membership was accompanied by numerous studies and social experts’ reports, to a large extent inspired by the Office.
A special part is devoted to transformations of attitudes towards membership in particular social groups. The EU vision in the last five years is a topic analyzed on the basis of studies made by the political parties, press materials and studies of a debate carried out in the Catholic press on the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The changes of social perception of the functioning of the EU, its present day and its future were the other subjects of studies. In the closing chapter the readers will find an interesting example of the way the network of the European Information Centres operates in Poland.
Years of Poland’s Membership of the European Union in the Social Context is another publication of the Office of the Committee for European Integration. Its authors undertake the task of presenting a balance of integration on the basis of social analysis of the effects of the process. Over the twenty years the process of approaching membership was accompanied by numerous studies and social experts’ reports, to a large extent inspired by the Office.
The publication was financed by the Office of the Committee for European Integration and the European Commission Representation in Poland and includes original materials prepared largely by the researchers independent of the OCEI.