Economic and Financial Affairs

• Mail Alert|
• Search|
• RSS|
• Contact|
• Legal notice

• Economic forecasts for Poland
  
  The Commission publishes macroeconomic forecasts for the EU and the Member States twice a year, in the spring (May) and in the autumn (November). These forecasts are produced by the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) and include a chapter on Poland. DG ECFIN also produces more limited "interim forecasts" in February and September, wich contain one-year projections of GDP growth and consumer price inflation for the euro area, the EU and seven large Member States, including Poland.
  
  
• Monitoring the budgetary situation in Poland
  
  

  Assessments of Poland’s convergence programme
  
  As required by the Stability and Growth Pact, at the end of each year Poland submits an update of the medium-term fiscal strategy it first presented in mid-2004. Euro area Member States submit stability programmes while countries outside the euro area submit convergence programmes. Based on an assessment by the Commission prepared by DG ECFIN, the Council adopts an opinion on each programme. All programmes of Poland, the related Commission assessments and Council opinions, as well as the working documents containing expanded assessments prepared by DG ECFIN, can be accessed here.
  
  
  Public finance report
  
  The Commission’s annual public finance report prepared by DG ECFIN – entitled "Public Finances in EMU" – includes a chapter on Poland.
  

  
  
  
• Poland and the euro
  
  Poland has not yet adopted the euro as its currency. It will join the euro area as soon as it fulfils the necessary conditions as defined in the 'Maastricht' convergence criteria. Progress toward meeting these criteria is assessed by the Commission and the European Central Bank in regular convergence reports. The most recent Commission convergence report covering Poland can be accessed here and the most recent Commission report on the practical preparations for the introduction of the euro in Poland as well as other information about Poland and the euro here.
  
  
• Poland and economic policy coordination in the EU
  
  As part of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs, Poland presented its 3-year national reform programme (NRP) in 2005 and reports each autumn on its implementation. The Commission analyses all Member States’ reports in its Annual Progress Report (APR) and proposes, as appropriate, country-specific recommendations. All available reports can be accessed here (NB this Europa subsite is not maintained under the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs).
  
  
• Selected topics
  
  The Country Focus series produced by DG ECFIN provides a concise analysis, set within the broader economic and policy debate, of a topical economic issue concerning one or more Member State(s). Country Focus issues on Poland are listed below, the most recent first.
  
  

  Business cycles, quality of economic policy and government revenues in Poland. (January 2008)
  
  The business cycle in Poland: where do we stand? (August 2007)
  
  Ceilings and anchors: fiscal rules for Poland (March 2007)
  
  High unemployment in Poland – not only a labour market problem (June 2006)
  
  Growing wage inequalities in Poland: could foreign investment be part of the explanation? (March 2005)
  
  Poland's policy mix: fiscal or monetary leadership? (January 2005)

  
  The Country studies series produced by DG ECFIN presents an in-depth analysis of an individual country’s economy. The study on Poland, entitled "Growth and competitiveness in the Polish economy: the road to real convergence", can be accessed here.
  
  On 7 May 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on "EMU@10: successes and challenges after 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union" (it was on 1 May 1998 that European Union leaders decided to launch the euro on 1 January 1999). The Communication, which takes stock of what has been achieved over the past ten years and makes proposals on the way forward, builds on an in-depth study by DG ECFIN. Both documents can be found on DG ECFIN’s EMU@10 website
  
  The enlargement study entitled "Enlargement, two years after - an economic success" produced by the Bureau of European Policy Advisers and DG ECFIN reviews the experience of the May 2004 enlargement of the EU and draws lessons for future enlargement. The study focuses on the economic aspects of enlargement and assesses whether the expectations of a positive economic impact prevaling in the run-up to the enlargement have been fulfilled.