Dovgal Olena, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations and Logistics, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0003-3219-9731
e-mail: e.dovgal@karazin.ua

Effects of the Transformation of the Economy of the Republic of Poland in the Process of European Integration: Foreign Economic Aspect

Abstract. Introduction. In the twenty years since Poland joined the European Union, it has significantly closed the gap in macroeconomic indicators. Access to the single European market has enabled the Polish economy to outpace that of many other member states. In the foreseeable future, Poland aims to catch up with European leaders.

Purpose. The study aims to analyze the effects of the transformation of the Polish economy during the process of European integration, focusing on the foreign economic aspect.

Results. Poland has made more impressive progress than its Visegrad Group partners during its time in the European Union. This suggests that Poland was able to take fuller advantage of the opportunities afforded by EU accession than its neighbors. First, unimpeded trade with EU countries significantly contributed to Poland’s economic development. Second, the influx of foreign investment positively impacted the economy, enabling it to modernize and restructure. However, unrestrained foreign capital expansion could result in a de facto loss of national economic control. Foreign-controlled enterprises account for more than a third of Poland’s production. Foreign capital dominates banking, insurance, telecommunications, the hotel industry, retail chains, and other sectors.

Conclusions. Thus, the EU’s influence on the country’s development cannot be evaluated definitively. For Poland, joining European integration has become a guarantee of stable political and economic development, offering the opportunity for accelerated modernization. However, it was also a challenge. If the country responded inappropriately, it could have failed to find its niche in the European economy and lost the competitive battle. Poland seized this opportunity effectively, primarily due to the efforts of its government and citizens. Poland has finally become an integral part of the European Union. It has moved beyond being primarily a consumer of the benefits of European integration and is now ready to contribute to them.

Keywords: foreign economic relations; foreign trade; export; import; investment; Poland; European Union; European integration; economic transformation.

References:

1. Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy. (2019, April 29). 15 years in the European Union. Membership summary. https://www.gov.pl/web/fundusze-regiony/15-lat-w-unii-europejskiej-bilans-czlonkostwa.
2. Biskup, P. (Ed.). (2024). 20 Years of Poland in the European Union: PISM Report. Polish Institute of International Affairs. https://www.pism.pl/webroot/upload/files/Raport/Report%20PISM%2020%20years%20in%20EU%20..pdf.
3. European Commission. (2024). EU spending and revenue data 2000-2022. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027/spending-and-revenue_en.
4. Eurostat. (2024). Gross domestic product at market prices. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tec00001/default/table?lang=en&category=t_na10.t_nama10.t_nama_10_ma.
5. Central Statistical Office (GUS). (2024). Information on the volume and directions of temporary emigration from Poland in 2004-2020. https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5471/2/14/1/informacja_o_rozmiarach_i_kierunkach_czasowej_emigracji_z_polski_w_latach_2004–2020.pdf.
6. Central Statistical Office (GUS). (2024). Information on the size and directions of temporary emigration from Poland in 2017-2022. https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/migracje-zagraniczne-ludnosci/informacja-o-rozmiarach-i-kierunkach-emigracji-dlugookresowych-w-latach-2017–2022,18,1.html.
7. Kaczyński. (2019, October 8). In 21 years, we will catch up with the Germans. Bankier.pl. https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Kaczynski-Za-21-lat-dogonimy-Niemcow-Sprawdzamy-7751796.html.
8. Polish Development Fund. (2024, May). Compendium of Polish foreign trade. https://pfr.pl/dam/jcr:e4fa67c6–416e-4b4f-9baa-476981855811/PFR_KompendiumHZ_202405.pdf.
9. Krawiec, Sz. (2023, July 31). The 50 largest EU investments for Poland’s 20th anniversary in the EU. Wprost. https://rankingi.wprost.pl/11329729/50-najwiekszych-unijnychinwestycji-na-20-lecie-polski-w-ue.html.
10. Eurostat. (2024). Main GDP aggregates per capita. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10_pc__custom_11723295/default/table?lang=en.
11. Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS). (2023, May). Opinions on membership in the European Union: CBOS 55/2023 survey report. https://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2023/K_055_23.PDF.
12. 300economy. (2024, January 31). GDP in Poland over the years: What was the economic growth rate and how is it measured? https://300gospodarka.pl/explainer/pkb-w-polsce-na-miejscelat-ile-wynosil-wzrost-gospodarczy-i-jak-sie-go-mierzy-wykresy.
13. Rapacki, R., & Próchniak, M. (2019). EU membership and economic growth: Empirical evidence for the CEE countries. The European Journal of Comparative Economics, 16(1), 3-40.
14. Tatała, M. (2024, May). Poland in the EU single market: Benefits, barriers, reforms. Foundation for Economic Freedom. https://wolnagospodarka.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Raport_Polska-UE.pdf.
15. Wong Villanueva, J. L., Kidokoro, T., & Seta, F. (2022). Cross-border integration, cooperation and governance: A systems approach for evaluating “good” governance in cross-border regions. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 37(5), 1047-1070. https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2020.1855227.
16. UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD). (2024). World Investment Report 2023. https://unctad.org/publication/world-investment-report-2023.