POZYTYWNE I NEGATYWNEDOŚWIADCZENIA POLSKI PODCZAS WEJŚCIADO UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ.ROZWIĄZANIA MODELOWE DLA UKRAINYThePositive and Negative Experiences of Poland during the Accession to the European Union: Model Solutions for UkraineThe aim of this articl
ThePositive and Negative Experiences of Poland during the Accession to the European Union: Model Solutions for Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to analyse the Polish road to the European Union (EU), its specific national and international conditions, positive and negative experiences, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of Poland’s accession to the EU. Moreover, the author attempts to answer a few questions about Ukraine and its accession to the EU in the context of Polish experiences. Firstly, can the Polish experiences from the EU accession process be treated as model solutions for Ukraine and its pro-EU foreign policy? Secondly, what are the chances for and threats to Ukraine’s membership of the EU? Thirdly, how can Ukraine overcome the current historical, geopolitical and geo-economic barriers to its accession to the EU? This article verifies several theses and research hypotheses. The main thesis is the conclusion that Poland’s accession to the EU was one of the most important events in the recent history of this country. Thanks to this, Poland is today one of the fastest developing countries in Europe and occupies a high position in the international arena. Moreover, its citizens fully enjoy the EU’s freedoms, including the free movement of people, capital, goods and services. On the other hand, the main hypothesis is the statement that Ukraine can and should use the experiences from the Polish road to the EU, although, today, the prospects for its accession to the EU are small, taking its internal and international conditions into account. This does not mean, however, that Ukraine and its authorities will give up this goal. Quite the contrary, it should be the number one strategic goal in Ukraine’s foreign policy. The example of Poland shows that the road to the EU is neither simple nor easy. Besides, one should ask if there is another way for Ukraine to become sovereign, independent and democratic. Unfortunately, the author’s answer is in the negative.

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