Inauguration of the new EU financial perspective 2021-2027 - almost PLN 350 billion for Poland - The Chancellery of the Prime Minister - Gov.pl website (2024)

FAQs

How much money has the EU given Poland? ›

Since 2004, Poland has received nearly 246 billion euros from the European Union budget. During this period, membership payments to the EU budget amounted to over 83.8 billion euros.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Twenty years after joining the European Union, Poland is still not ready to adopt the euro currency, the finance minister in the pro-European Union government said.

In April 2024, the Finance Minister in the Tusk government, Andrzej Domański stated that Poland is still not ready to adopt the euro, and added that having the zloty helped Poland avoid recession during the global financial crisis and other subsequent crisis.

In terms of net recipients, Poland leads with EUR 12.9 billion. It is followed by Greece with EUR 4.7 billion and Hungary with EUR 4.3 billion.

The largest component of Poland's economy is the service sector (62.3%), followed by industry (34.2%) and agriculture (3.5%).

Simply adjusting for purchasing power to remove the distortions caused by exchange rate fluctuations takes the GDP per capita of Germany—the largest country and economy in Europe—from less than two-thirds of America's to nearly 90% of it. By this metric, the EU as a whole was 75% as affluent as the U.S. in 2022.

A few bars and tourist companies in Kraków and Warsaw will accept Euros but most of the time you won't be able to pay with Euros in Poland. The few companies that do accept Euro probably won't be able to give a very competitive rate, so it's better to simply pay in Złoty.

Seven countries (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden) are EU members but do not use the euro. Before joining the eurozone, a state must spend at least two years in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II).

The average cost of living in Poland is 3,500 to 6,000 EUR per year. This cost varies from city to city. Compared to cities like Gdansk, Katowice, and Poznan, the cost of living is higher in cities like Warsaw, Lodz, and Krakow. Poland's capital Warsaw is the most expensive, while Poznan has the lowest cost of living.

Basically, the weakness of the Polish currency reflects the relatively low (by Polish standards) interest rates. The long downward slide in the National Bank's leading interest rates that started in February 2001 has continued.

Why doesn't Sweden use the euro? ›

A referendum held in September 2003 saw 55.9 percent vote against membership of the eurozone. As a consequence, Sweden decided in 2003 not to adopt the euro for the time being.

Denmark joined the European Union in 1973. It has negotiated an opt-out from the euro and is thus not obliged to introduce it.

On average for 2014 to 2020, the last Multiannual Financial Framework, it was €13.5 billion euros. Germany thus remains the largest net contributor, ahead of France, which last year paid out €10.0 billion euros more than it received in returns. Italy ranks third with a net contribution of 3.9 billion euros.

Europe boasts some of the world's wealthiest countries, with thriving economies and high living standards. As of recent data, Luxembourg leads with a GDP per capita exceeding $115,000, thanks to its robust financial sector and favorable tax policies.

In 2021 Germany's contribution to the budget of the European Union was more than 33 billion Euros, the highest of any EU member state. France was the next highest contributor at 26 billion Euros. followed by Italy at 18 billion Euros and Spain at 12.7 billion Euros.

Since joining the EU, Poland has benefited from significant funds from the EU budget. But at the same time, it also contributes to this budget.

For now, the zloty is the official currency in Poland. The euro is accepted only 'unofficially' in some tourist places (and usually, there is a 'convenience fee' in the form of an unfavourable exchange rate).

The Polish economy has been developing at a steady pace for over 25 years and is the sixth largest economy in the European Union, with GDP per capita being above 70% of the EU average (in terms of purchasing power parity).

EU aid channelled through the Facility for Refugees in Turkey is conditional on Türkiye's adherence to the 2016 EU-Turkey statement. €6 billion – half from the EU budget and half from member states – was made available in two equal tranches in 2016-2017 and 2018-2019; over €5 billion has been disbursed in total.