Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries have experienced a rapid economic transformation since they became part of the European Union 20 years ago. To discuss this transformation, in particular relation to Poland, TVP World was joined by Raffaella Tenconi, a senior economist.
Tenconi said that while all member states have gained enormously from the trade openness that comes with joining the EU bloc, but “Poland has definitely been one of the most successful,” pointing out that Poland’s “ trade openness has more than doubled since [Poland’s-TVP World] entry into the EU in 2004.”
She highlighted that achieving this was no easy feat as Poland is a considerably large country.
Tenconi mentioned various benefits that come with trade openness, and which allows countries like Poland to not only grow, but attain an almost comparable status to other EU states.
“What this [trade openness- TVP World] has done is that it has brought in skills, new technologies, new industries, more complicated regulations EU regulations…that have laid the foundation essentially to bring Poland from a very poor, high unemployment country, in the beginning of 2000, to be one of the biggest countries in the EU,” she said.
She projects that in a few years, Poland will likely be amongst the top five countries in the EU.
“I would say there have been transformations on many levels, and overall, I would judge it [Poland’s experience in the EU-TVP World] as a success,” Tenconi said.
She further added that while EU funds have certainly contributed in uplifting Poland and other Central, Eastern European states, especially in terms of facilitating the development of critical infrastructure like motorways, one must not underestimate the European single market, which she termed as the “essential ingredient of success in the long-term.”
Watch the full interview above.
She highlighted that achieving this was no easy feat as Poland is a considerably large country.
Tenconi mentioned various benefits that come with trade openness, and which allows countries like Poland to not only grow, but attain an almost comparable status to other EU states.
“What this [trade openness- TVP World] has done is that it has brought in skills, new technologies, new industries, more complicated regulations EU regulations…that have laid the foundation essentially to bring Poland from a very poor, high unemployment country, in the beginning of 2000, to be one of the biggest countries in the EU,” she said.
She projects that in a few years, Poland will likely be amongst the top five countries in the EU.
“I would say there have been transformations on many levels, and overall, I would judge it [Poland’s experience in the EU-TVP World] as a success,” Tenconi said.
She further added that while EU funds have certainly contributed in uplifting Poland and other Central, Eastern European states, especially in terms of facilitating the development of critical infrastructure like motorways, one must not underestimate the European single market, which she termed as the “essential ingredient of success in the long-term.”
Watch the full interview above.
