Abstract
The paper is an attempt to estimate profits and losses resulting from
Polish accession to the European Union. According to the official data of
the Ministry of Finance, the EU and Poland settlement balance is favourable
for the latter. The study indicates costs incurred by Poland, other than
the contribution to the EU, such as costs related to the implementation
and application of the EU standards. It shows the obstacles encountered
by beneficiaries during the implementation of projects financed from the
EU Funds and costs incurred by investors, who are forced to pre-finance
and raise their own contribution funds to investments co-financed by the
EU. The author presents numerous examples of loss-making and inefficient
investments co-financed from the EU funds. The paper shows profit and
loss balance resulting from the emigration of Poles. It also outlines how the
rich EU countries (net contributors) benefit from cooperation with Poland
in various areas. The comparison of socio-economic indicators in Poland and
other European countries shows significant distance between Poland and the
‘old’ EU members.