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Hay & Menon: European Politics

Poland

After the fall of the Communist regime in Poland, the new government was keen to apply for membership of the EC/EU due to its ability to offer both political and economic stability. Poland adopted a European Agreement with the EC in December 1991 and made its official application for EU membership in April 1994. It was therefore one of the earliest of the CEECs to apply for EU membership. It was also one of the first wave of applicant countries to be invited to begin accession talks at the Luxembourg European Council in 1997. On 1 May 2004 Poland joined the EU. Prior to the referendum held in Poland on accession to the EU, it was feared that the turnout would be so low that it would invalidate the result. However, in the end 77.5% of voters supported the accession, with a turnout of 59% (above the 50% level needed to make the result valid). Nevertheless, Poland shows signs of Euroscepticism. In 2003 the Polish government was instrumental in delaying the adoption of the Constitutional Treaty due to a dispute over voting rights within the Council. Further, in 2006 a number of pro-EU Polish diplomats were removed from office by the right-wing Law and Justice Party-led coalition government elected in 2005.