Poland after 5 years of EU - membership
As far as its economy is concerned, Poland is in fine fetlle after its first years as an EU-member state. The average growth rate has always been around 5% during the last years and the salaries have yearly increased about 650 PLN (150 EURO).
Owing to the EU-funds, Polish agriculturists have had the possibility to access funds of 10,3 billion EURO. Besides agriculture, the infrastructure has been improved, particularly by building and enlarging motorways, ring roads and the railroad network.
About 400.000 new jobs have been created due to european stimulation programs, on the one hand by direct measures, on the other hand by investment programs which augmented the needs of new jobs.
2,3 million polish people are supported within the European Social Fund. More than 500.000 employees have been able to amplify their qualifications with professional training and 630.000 unemployed people have been able to participate in retrainings.
Jerzy Kwiecinski, the former Vice Minister of Regional Development confirms that due to these funds Polish people can consider themselves as real Europeans. When accesing the EU, Poland got back 1 billion EURO more than it had paid to the EU, in 2007, the amount had already increased to 4,7 billion EURO. As far as the financial credibility and the debt regulation is concerned, Poland has got high ratings from international rating agencies.
According to forecasts, the Polish economic will keep growing in spite of the crisis.