Non profit
Poland: Europe no longer a dream
Spotlight on Poland where spending cuts are being introduced despite positive growth
A green island in a sea of red. This is how the Polish government has described its country. It is the only country that has continued to experience positive growth during the economic crisis. This positive growth did slow from five to 1.8 per cent last year but is expected to move back up to three per cent this year. Polish citizens shouldn’t get too excited though, as the government has said that they expect to join the Eurozone by 2015. To do so they will have to bring the Polish deficit back within EU limits which will mean cuts amounting to at least 60 billion zlotys (€14.45 billion). The late President Lech Kaczynski was opposed to further EU integration and used his veto to block the ruling Civic Platform party that has been trying to push through the necessary reforms. Kaczynski died tragically in an aeroplane accident in April. On Sunday July 4, 2010, Polish voters elected a new President, Mr. Bronislow Komorowski, of the ruling Civic Platform party. Komorowski is a firm supporter of EU integration and backs the cuts needed for Poland’s entry into the eurozone. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2011. So the welfare state is safe for now, any big cuts probably won’t be announced until after the election but public servants and pensioners should expect cuts in the coming years.
Voices from the field
Yan Herbst, a researcher for NGO.pl, a resources portal for Polish NGOs, argues that if Polish organisations really want to help out they need to improve relationships with the government. To read more click here.
Marcin Wojtalik, a board member and cofounder of the Institute of Global Responsibility in Warsaw, Poland, urges the government to make Civil Society a greater priority. To read more click here.
Mariusz Wojtowicz, director of Domus Italia, an organisation that promotes the exchange of best practices between Polish and Italian third sectors, is hopeful and believes that the new Polish president could be a strong ally for the third sector. To read more click here.
