Overview
Capital: Warsaw
Official EU language(s): Polish
EU Member State: since 1 May 2004
Currency: Polish Złoty PLN. Poland is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
Schengen: member since 21 December 2007
Figures:
- Geographical size: 311 928 km2
- Population: 36 753 736 (2023)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for geographical size and population)
Political system
Poland is a parliamentary republic with a prime minister who is the head of government and a president who is the head of state. The government structure is centred on the council of ministers.
The country is divided into 16 provinces (voivodeships), largely based on the country’s historic regions. Administrative authority at provincial level is shared between a government-appointed governor, an elected regional assembly and an executive elected by the regional assembly.
Trade and economy
Poland’s GDP per capita of €28 200 ranks below the EU average (€35 500). It accounts for 3.9% of the EU's total GDP.
(Source: Eurostat - figures for GDP per capita and GDP)
(Source: Eurostat - figures for exports and imports)
There are 52 representatives from Poland in the European Parliament. Find out who these Members of the European Parliament are and follow the activities of the European Parliament’s office in Poland.
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Representatives from the Polish government attend Council meetings focused on their area of responsibility several times a year.
The Council of the EU does not have a permanent, single-person president (like the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.
During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in the different policy areas, and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.
Dates of Polish presidencies:
July-Dec 2011 | Jan-Jun 2025
The European Commissioner nominated by Poland is Janusz Wojciechowski, who is responsible for Agriculture.
The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation". Find out more about the Commission's representation in Poland.
Poland has 21 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body – representing employers, workers and other interest groups – is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in different countries.
Poland has 21 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.
Poland also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in Brussels. As Poland’s "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's interests and policies are heard and pursued as much as possible in the EU.
Budgets and funding
How much does Poland pay and receive from the EU?
The EU budget is the tool to ensure that Europe remains a democratic, peaceful, prosperous and competitive force. The EU uses it to finance its priorities and big projects that most individual EU countries could not finance on their own.
The benefits of EU membership significantly exceed the size of the EU budget contributions and the examples are many. All Member States benefit from being part of the Single Market, a shared approach to the common challenges of migration, terrorism and climate change, and concrete gains like better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services and cutting-edge medical treatment.
How much each EU country pays into the EU budget is calculated fairly. The larger your country's economy, the more it pays – and vice versa.
The EU budget is not about giving and taking – it’s about collectively contributing to making Europe and the world a better place for us all.
EU budget spending and revenue per country and per year
EU-funded projects in Poland
Money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in all EU countries – for example to build roads, subsidise researchers and protect the environment.
Find out more about how Poland benefits from EU funding and recovery funds in your country or region.