The first step was the signing of the Europe Agreement on 16 December 1991 establishing an association between Poland and the European Communities and their Member States. A symbolic moment came on 8 April 1994 in Athens with the submission of a formal application for membership in the European Union by the Government of the Republic of Poland. Four years later, proper accession negotiations began with the EU. In the accession referendum, which took place on 7-8 June 2003, 77.45 percent of Poles voted in favour of EU membership.

Poland is the most populous and largest country in terms of territory to join the EU since 2004. Poland’s is the eight largest EU economy and one of the fastest growing.

Poland is an active and important member of the European Union, engaged in vital debates on its future, migration, and climate and economic policy. Poland’s membership strengthens the country’s international position, bringing many economic, political and social benefits.

In a rapidly changing world, in the context of the UK leaving the EU, Poland is seeking a broad debate on European Union reform.

“A strong Union is a Union that has the support of its Member States and peoples. An effective Union is a Union that has a democratic mandate which enables it to use the resources generated by EU citizens to attain democratically set goals,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz said in his foreign policy address to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on 21 March 2018.

MFA Press Office