Poland marks 10 years in EU

A sign saying '10 years in the EU' is illuminated onto the Presidential Palace in Warsaw: photo - PAP/Paweł Supernak

"That 89 percent of Poles support EU membership is sensational," President Bronislaw Komorowski told Polish Radio on Thursday morning, referring to an opinion poll that showed overwhelming support in Poland for joining the EU alongside Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, to bring membership of the union in 2004 to 27 nations.

Croatia brought the membership up to 28 nations last year.

"We are a lucky generation," Komorowski added before taking part in a special 'European Picnic' in Warsaw in celebration of 10 years in the EU.

In a statement on the Polish Foreign Ministry web site, foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski pointed to the benefits of EU membership.

"During these ten years of EU membership, Poland’s GDP skyrocketed, increasing by 48.7%. Even in 2008–2013, during the depth of the global financial crisis, our economy grew by 20% – by far the best result in the EU," Minister Sikorski writes.

Referring to the current crisis in Ukraine, Sikorski adds that, "looking back at our success, we hope it can be replicated by those currently implementing tough reforms in our neighbourhood – and often paying for it in blood [...] - Poland’s example proves that their struggle is worth every effort". (pg)