Case 2

• Bedrijfseconomie
• WO
• Studiejaar 3

Question 2 

What are the potential losses for Poland to join the EU? In your opinion has the polish government efficiently managed such costs since its EU membership in 2004? 

Potential Losses of joining the EU

•  Loss of sovereignty  
  
•  Economic and legal adjustments
  
•  Outflow of workforce 
  
•  Loss of cultural identity
  
•  Political tensions between country and EU
  

Government actions to deal with potential losses

Loss of sovereignty

• all member states give up some of their sovereignty 
  
• foreign investors buying away polish agriculture land
• connected to the cultural differences between members
  
• actively influencing  EU laws  
• actively blocking EU laws (EU Foreign Policy, AI Strategy)

Conclusion:

• no significant loss of sovereignty 
  

Government actions to deal with potential losses

Economic and Legal Adjustments

• economic system change (planned economy -> market economy)
  
• adjust legal framework to match EU  
  
• adjustment of agricultural policies to meet EU standards 
  
• no euro currency 
  

Conclusion:

• good job at making the changes necessary to avoid losses 
  

Government actions to deal with potential losses

Outflow of Workforce 

• working in member states through bilateral agreements 
  
• more migration than expected before joining 
  
• highest percentage of citizens living abroad in EU 
• massive workforce problems 
• tax reductions and increase of pension funds 
  

Conclusion:

• really bad job at keeping the workforce in Poland 
  

Government actions to deal with potential losses

Loss of Cultural Identity 

• fear of western influence 
  
• fear of losing christian identity 
  
• increased through immigration 
  
• nationalistic parties using it to spread fear
  

Conclusion:

• little loss of cultural identity 
  

Government actions to deal with potential losses

Political Tensions

• criticism on stance on different topics 
  
• concerns connected to the misuse of EU funding and corruption
  
• potential to harm reputation
  

Conclusion:

• tensions raised but were moderated in a good way 
  

Benefits of joining the EU