Poland’s presence in the European Union has been a story of spectacular development boost, although joining the EU in 2004 was an opportunity, not a guarantee of success. It was thanks to the sound economic policies and good strategic decisions, but mainly the initiative and wise choices of the Polish people, that we could make better use of this potential than any other country in the region.

The European Union has a population of 450 million. The EU single market is 12 times larger in terms of population and 20 times larger in terms of economy than the domestic market. It is its scale and potential that enable Polish companies to grow. A large and stable market also means security and predictability. The European Union is Poland’s most important trade partner.

Economy: Poland as the region’s growth leader

Over the past 22 years in the EU, our economy has more than doubled: Poland’s cumulative GDP growth between 2003 and 2025 stood at almost 130%, the highest in the EU (the EU-27 average was 34.5%). Our GDP per capita has risen from just under 50% to over 80% of the EU average. We have already overtaken Greece in this respect, and according to International Monetary Fund forecasts we will overtake Spain in 2026. As much as 58% of Poland’s economic growth since 2004 results from its EU membership. Our GDP per capita is 42% higher than it would be outside the EU. Our GDP has topped USD 1 trillion, and in December 2026 we will take part in the summit of the world’s 20 largest economies.

The labour market: millions of jobs in Poland within the European single market

As many as 5 million jobs in Poland are linked to the EU single market, accounting for one-third of the country’s workforce. Almost 80% of Poles in working age are employed, which is one of the best figures in Europe. Over 22 years, the average pay in Poland has risen by more than 180%. Unemployment fell from 19% in 2004 to 3% in 2025.

Since 2003, the number of the employed has grown by 3.6 million, an equivalent of the entire population of the greater Warsaw and Rzeszów areas finding a job over the 22-year span

- says the Report on Poland’s 22 Years in the European Union. Part I: Economy and Labour Market prepared by the Economic Department of the MFA.

Exports: Poland makes use of the common market encompassing 450 million consumers

Since 2004, Poland’s exports have increased more than sixfold, and its exports of agri-food products have seen a twelvefold rise. Three quarters of Poland’s exports, and just as much of its exports of agri-food products, go to the EU market. Over the past 22 years, we have increased four times the share of high-tech products in exports, outdoing Austria, Spain, and Greece. As of now, more than 60% of Poland’s exports of services is to the EU market. We rank first in the EU in transport services with a nearly 20% share in the road freight transport, higher than Germany and Spain.

Out of the total of 15.2 million people employed in Poland in 2022, 5 million worked on positions linked with the single market. Another 0.6 million jobs were created with EU funding. In other words, membership of the EU created conditions that were used by Polish companies and employees to create more than a third of domestic jobs, a number that exceeds the total population of Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin

- the Report concludes.

Investments: Europe invests in Poland

As much as 85% of foreign investments in Poland are from other EU member states. Also, Poland itself has become an investor: 73% of its foreign investments are in EU countries.

To quote from the Report:

At the end of 2004, Poland’s direct foreign investments amounted to EUR 512 million, whereas two decades later, in 2024—to EUR 38.6 billion.

 

Coming up soon: Part II of the Report: EU funds and the EU’s benefits for citizens.