Poland and its road towards membership in the European Union

When did Poland join the European Union?

At midnight on 1 May 2004, Poland became a member of the European Union. The accession, the legal basis for Poland’s membership in the EU, took place by virtue of the Accession Treaty signed on 16 April 2003 in Athens, Greece, and was the result of long-term efforts and actions of many governments.

Stages of Poland's integration with the European Union

The process of Poland’s integration began in Athens on April 8 1994, when Poland applied for membership in the European Union. The Polish application was confirmed by all member states at a conference in Essen on December 9-10, 1994.

The Accession Treaty was subject to approval and adoption by an absolute majority of votes by the European Parliament (9 April 2003) and unanimously by the Council of the European Union (14 April 2003).

European Union flag

The next stage was its ratification by all member states in accordance with the constitutional requirements applicable in each country (except Ireland). The Treaty entered into force after the end of the EU ratification procedure. In Poland, the process of its adoption took the form of a nationwide referendum on June 7-8, 2003. Polish citizens answered the following question: ‘Do you agree to the accession of the Republic of Poland to the European Union?’

According to the official results of the National Electoral Commission (PKW), 58.85% of those eligible to vote (i.e. 17,586,215 people) out of 29,868,474 went to the polls, 77.45% of them (i.e. 13,516,612) answered ‘yes’ to the question posed. 22.55% of them (i.e. 3,936,012) answered ‘no’. There were also 126,194 invalid votes cast.

Which countries joined the European Union in 2004?

Along with Poland, the following countries also joined the European Union in May 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia. and Slovenia. It was the biggest enlargement in the history of the EU.

European Union countries

EU membership influences the economic development of Poland through EU regulations, foreign trade, transfers from the EU budget, foreign direct investment, and free movement of people.

Polish citizenship for Americans with Polish ancestry

The emigration of Polish people to the United States is a story of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of a better life. Over the past centuries, millions of Poles have left their homeland to seek new opportunities across the Atlantic, transforming both their own lives and the fabric of American society. Americans, with Polish roots whose ancestors left Poland after 1920 can apply for Polish citizenship by descent which opens many gates to live, work and study in Europe without any visas and limits.

How British citizens with Polish roots can get EU citizenship and Polish passport

If you are British citizen, you may wonder how to keep European Union citizenship after Brexit and have easy access to the EU job market, freedom of travel across the Schengen Zone. If you have Polish roots, your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Poland, there is a chance you too have acquired Polish citizenship.

Polish Citizenship Equals European Union Citizenship: What This Means for You

Did you know that holding Polish citizenship grants you all the rights and benefits of European Union (EU) citizenship? As a member state of the EU, Poland extends these privileges to all its citizens, opening a world of opportunities across Europe. Here’s what having Polish (and therefore EU) citizenship means and how it can enrich your personal and professional life.