Institute of Technology Sligo
BBS in International Marketing
Course of European Affairs
Mrs. Joan Morrison
E.U. SIMULATION GAME
WORKSHEET 1
BASICS ON
POLAND
Rzeczpospolita Polska
Veronica Jiminez Garcia
Cedric Fontbonnat
Christoph Thiede
SimGame06
POLAND
2
Part 1: Economical Profile
Niamh Mulligan
History of Poland
Great (north) Poland was founded in 966 by Mieszko I, who belonged to the Piast dynasty.
The tribes of southern Poland then formed Little Poland. In 1047, both Great Poland and
Little Poland united under the rule of Casimir I the Restorer. Poland merged with Lithuania
by royal marriage in 1386. The Polish-Lithuanian state reached the peak of its power between
the 14th and 16th centuries, scoring military successes against the (Germanic) Knights of the
Teutonic Order, the Russians, and the Ottoman Turks.
Lack of a strong monarchy enabled Russia, Prussia, and Austria to carry out a first partition of
the country in 1772, a second in 1792, and a third in 1795. For more than a century thereafter,
there was no Polish state, just Austrian, Prussian, and Russian sectors, but the Poles never
ceased their efforts to regain their independence. The Polish people revolted against foreign
dominance throughout the 19th century. Poland was formally reconstituted in Nov. 1918, with
Marshal Josef Pilsudski as chief of state. In 1919, Ignace Paderewski, the famous pianist and
patriot, became the first prime minister. In 1926, Pilsudski seized complete power in a coup
and ruled dictatorially until his death on May 12, 1935.
Despite a ten-year nonaggression pact signed in 1934, Hitler attacked Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.
Soviet troops invaded from the east on Sept. 17, and on Sept. 28, a German-Soviet agreement
divided Poland between the USSR and Germany. Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz formed a
government-in-exile in France, which moved to London after France's defeat in 1940. All of
Poland was occupied by Germany after the Nazi attack on the USSR in June 1941. Nazi
Germany's occupation policy in Poland was designed to eradicate Polish culture through mass
executions and to exterminate the country's large Jewish minority.
The Polish government-in-exile was replaced with the Communist-dominated Polish
Committee of National Liberation by the Soviet Union in 1944. Moving to Lublin after that
city's liberation, it proclaimed itself the Provisional Government of Poland. Some former
members of the Polish government in London joined with the Lublin government to form the
Polish Government of National Unity, which Britain and the U.S. recognized. On Aug. 2,
1945, in Berlin, President Harry S. Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Prime Minister Clement Attlee
of Britain established a new de facto western frontier for Poland along the Oder and Neisse
rivers. (The border was finally agreed to by West Germany in a nonaggression pact signed on
Dec. 7, 1970.) On Aug. 16, 1945, the USSR and Poland signed a treaty delimiting the SovietPolish frontier.
SimGame06
POLAND
3
A new constitution in 1952 made Poland a “people's democracy” of the Soviet type. In 1955,
Poland became a member of the Warsaw Treaty Organization and its foreign policy identical
to that of the USSR. The government undertook persecution of the Roman Catholic Church as
a remaining source of opposition. Wladyslaw Gomulka was elected leader of the United
Workers (Communist) Party in 1956. He denounced the Stalinist terror, ousted many
Stalinists, and improved relations with the church. Most collective farms were dissolved, and
the press became freer. A strike that began in shipyards and spread to other industries in Aug.
1980 produced a stunning victory for workers when the economically hard-pressed
government accepted for the first time in a Marxist state the right of workers to organize in
independent unions.
Led by Solidarity, an independent union founded by an electrician, Lech Walesa, workers
launched a drive for liberty and improved conditions. A national strike for a five-day
workweek in Jan. 1981 led to the dismissal of Prime Minister Pinkowski and the naming of
the fourth prime minister in less than a year, Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski. Martial law was
declared on Dec. 13, when Walesa and other Solidarity leaders were arrested, and Solidarity
was outlawed. Martial law formally ended in 1984 but the government retained emergency
powers. Increasing opposition to the government because of the failing economy led to a new
wave of strikes in 1988. Unable to quell the dissent entirely, the government relegalized
Solidarity and allowed it to compete in elections.
Solidarity members won a stunning victory in 1989, taking almost all the seats in the Senate
and all of the 169 seats they were allowed to contest in the Sejm. This gave them substantial
influence in the new government. Tadeusz Mazowiecki was appointed prime minister. Lech
Walesa won the presidential election of 1990 with 74% of the vote. In 1991, the first fully
free parliamentary election since World War II resulted in representation for 29 political
parties. Efforts to turn Poland into a market economy, however, led to economic difficulties
and widespread discontent. In the second democratic parliamentary election of Sept. 1993,
voters returned power to ex-Communists and their allies. Solidarity's popularity and influence
continued to wane. In 1995, Aleksander Kwasniewski, leader of the successor to the
Communist Party, the Democratic Left, won the presidency over Walesa in a landslide.
In 1999, Poland became part of NATO, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary.
On May 1, 2004, Poland joined the EU. Prime Minister Leszek Miller resigned on May 2,
2004. His popularity had plummeted to 10% because of the country's continued economic
troubles and a number of corruption scandals. Former finance minister Marek Belka
succeeded him.
In 2005, conservative Lech Kaczynski became the new president, replacing former
Communist Aleksander Kwasniewski, and Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz was appointed prime
SimGame06
POLAND
4
minister. In July 2006 the immensely popular and well-respected prime minister resigned
abruptly, a move many believe was the result of his difficulties in working with President
Kaczynski. The president then appointed his twin brother—Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the
Law and Justice Party—as prime minister.
Geography
Poland
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic 52 00 N, 20 00 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than New Mexico
comparative:
Land total: 2,788 km
boundaries: border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km,
Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast)
206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with
frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
extremes: highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable
resources: land
Land use: arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural flooding
hazards:
Environment - situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry
SimGame06
POLAND
5
current issues: and increased environmental concern by post-Communist
governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from
industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of
hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as
industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European
Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
international Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
agreements: Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack
note: of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Economy - overview:
Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization throughout the 1990s and
today stands out as a success story among transition economies. Even so, much remains to be
done, especially in bringing down the unemployment rate - currently the highest in the EU.
The privatization of small- and medium-sized state-owned companies and a liberal law on
establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, but
legal and bureaucratic obstacles alongside persistent corruption are hampering its further
development. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped by surplus labor, inefficient
small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors"
SimGame06
POLAND
6
(e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recently initiated, have stalled. Reforms in
health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in largerthan-expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on reducing
losses in Polish state enterprises, restraining entitlements, and overhauling the tax code to
incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers, most of whom pay no tax. The previous
Socialist-led government introduced a package of social and administrative spending cuts to
reduce public spending by about $17 billion through 2007, but full implementation of the plan
was trumped by election-year politics in 2005. The right-wing Law and Justice party won
parliamentary elections in September, and Lech KACZYNSKI won the presidential election
in October 2005, running on a state-interventionist fiscal and monetary platform. Poland
joined the EU in May 2004, and surging exports to the EU contributed to Poland's strong
growth in 2004, though its competitiveness could be threatened by the zloty's appreciation.
GDP per capita roughly equals that of the three Baltic states. Poland stands to benefit from
nearly $23.2 billion in EU funds, available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reap
the rewards of membership via booming exports, higher food prices, and EU agricultural
subsidies
Part 2: Politics
Veronica Jiminez Garcia

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE STATE.
- History:
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden
age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the
gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772
and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland
regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in
World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was
comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the
independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had
swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early
1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central
Europe, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment,
underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered
a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to
the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union
subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999
and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented
country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic
organizations.
- Geography :
SimGame06
POLAND
7
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany.
Area: total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers.
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable
land.

PARTICULARITIES OF ITS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL
CONDITIONS.
The country is name Republic of Poland. Its capital name Warsaw. The administrative
division in 16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, KujawskoPomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie,
Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie,
Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie.
The independent republic proclaimed the 11 of November of 1918.
The legal system is mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist
legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process;
limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final;
court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.

DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE.
In the past years the basic goal of state policy towards disabled was their vocational
mobilisation. Several instruments and streams of expenditures were subordinated to the goal
of employment. The basic sources of financing of thus defined policy are:
1) funds of PFRON (Państwowy Fundusz Rehabilitacji Osób Niepełnoprawnych – the State
Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled People), which functions on the basis of quota-levy
system, 2) State budget funds.
Poland takes also the advantage of potential co-financing by ESF Action 1.4, implemented
within the frame of SOP „Human Resources Development”, which covers, among others,
projects supporting persons with severe and medium disabilities who suffer from long-term
unemployment as well as those who enter the labour market for the first time or meet serious
obstacles accessing this market.
The amount of revenues of PFRON directly influences performance of the system of support
for vocational and social rehabilitation and employment of the disabled. These funds, in effect
of statutory redistribution, are allocated according to guidelines of state policy to areas calling
for strongest support in a form of public resources. Since 2004, following introduction of the
Law of 27 August 1997 on vocational and social rehabilitation and employment of the
disabled, expenditures on disabled persons have been considerably rationalised.
SimGame06

POLAND
8
PARTICULAR CHALLENGES FACING THIS COUNTRY: CURRENT
ISSUES.
At the end of the 90´s after one of the most vigorous reform programmes in the postcommunist world, the Polish economy was the darling of the investment community.
In 2001 growth and investment are slumping, unemployment is on the rise, and the mood is
distinctly sour. Poland's right-of-centre government was obliterated in Sunday's general
election - and the wilting economy was one of the main reasons why. But with an incoming
administration composed almost entirely of ex-communists. Not long ago, Poland was being
referred to as Eastern Europe's "tiger" economy. Polish gross domestic product (GDP) grew
by 7% in 1997, and by an annual 4-5% over the following three years.
But that boom has fizzled out.
This year, GDP growth looks like being in the 1.5-2.0% range, and could well come in much
lower.
Last year, foreign direct investment was a record $13bn - easily the strongest performance in
the East European region.
This year, there is unlikely to be more than half that amount, and the previous rush into the
Warsaw stock market has all-but dried up, too.
At the same time, unemployment - a particularly sticky political issue in Poland - is surging:
the rate was 16% in August, up from 13.9% a year earlier.
In 2006 Poland has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union: 15.7%.
The country is also suffering from an exodus of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers
searching for better salaries.
The current issues the situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and
increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless
remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal
sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue
to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial
cost to business and the government.
Part 3: Poland and the and the EU
Christoph Thiede
 History of its relationship to the EU – founder member? Which
enlargement?
Poland joined the EU together with nine more states on 1st may 2004. It is the geographically
and demographically largest country among the new member states. The enlargement of 2004
SimGame06
POLAND
9
was the 4th enlargement of the EU, if the Reunification of Germany is not taken in
consideration). At the moment of joining the EU parts of the population were not really
enthusiastic about it because of possible damage to its economy and agriculture. But these
concerns evaporated with rising agricultural exports due to the European markets.
The dream of Poland's full participation in a united Europe, as first exemplified by Poland's
membership in NATO and in her desire to become a member of the European Union, is now a
reality. The formal process began in May 1990, when the government of former Prime
Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki submitted its official application for the opening of accession
negotiations in Brussels. A major step was accomplished on February 1, 1994, when Poland
and the European Economic Community signed the European Treaty, assuring Poland's
"associated country status." The date was now set that Poland and the nine remaining
"candidate countries" would join the European Union on May 1, 2004.
Poland will probably join the "eurozone," adopting the euro as its medium of exchange, in
2007. After a round of intense diplomatic and political summitry, accession negotiations were
completed on December 13, 2002 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~sarmatia/403/1#1
 Cultural factors
Due to it’s participation in the Iraq-War Poland is known to be the USA’s closest friend in
Europe. 60% of the polish people was against Iraq before take-off. So why did Poland join in?
The reason is mostly seen in the pride at the Poles' power status as occupation zone
administrators. Secondly, the fact that Poland, for centuries a little ball in the hands of foreign
powers, is for once on the side, let's not insist that it's a just cause, but at least on the side of
the victors, has had a therapeutic effect on the Polish collective psyche.
The new role of an occupying force means greater value for Poland in the international arena.
At a moment when the Poles felt that the European Fifteen was treating them like a secondclass country, there came the Americans and opened the door to the international premier
league.
Obviously the Poles expect a candy bar for being so good. In early 2004 a trade fair called
"Rebuilding Iraq" was being held in Amman. Beside the Americans and the British, there was
a separate sector for Polish companies, which were counting on contracts as subcontractors of
U.S. corporations. Before the first Iraqi war, over 40,000 Polish engineers and laborers
worked there, on 25 giant construction sites in Iraq. Close to 500 Polish companies were
waiting for orders to be placed. Military Industries benefited enormously as well.
http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/3423 (issued 11.09.03)
U.S. companies are eyeing Poland and comparing it to other European Union member
countries. Poland's undoubted advantages are its growing labor productivity, a well-educated
society, a large and deep market and an attractive location. No less important is that Poles are
among the most pro-American nations in the world, which facilitates interpersonal relations
and makes it easier to establish new contacts.
http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/10956 (issued 29.03.06)
SimGame06
POLAND
10
Bronisław Komorowski, a senior MP for the biggest opposition Civic Platform (PO) party,
said that with Jarosław Kaczyński as the new prime minister Poland will become “more
extreme,
more
anti-European
and
a
more
xenophobic
country."
http://www.warsawvoice.pl/newsX.php/2437 10.07.06
 Voting weight and coalitions of like-minded states
The voting power of every EU Member State is set in
relation to its population size. The Nice Treaty introduced a
new power sharing system, giving relatively more power to
the smaller EU Member States, as it can be seen in the
figure above. Poland appreciates the Nice Treaty as it gives
them more of a say. However Poland has now 27 votes in
the Council, there are still voices in Poland that are afraid
that too much power is being given to large Countries like
Germany, having 2 more votes in the Council but
representing almost twice Poland’s population size.
Poland ascribes particular importance to the large EU
Member States like Germany, France and the UK. Aside it
is looking for the acclamation especially with the countries
of the so calles Visegrad-Group (Czech Republic, Hungary,
Slovak) and the Baltic and nordic states.
http://www.auswaertigesamt.de/diplo/de/Laenderinformatio
nen/Polen/Aussenpolitik.html#t3 (Graph: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3804841.stm)
In Terms of economic liberalism Poland is likely to back Mr Blair in his campaign for a
Europe that is more dynamic and less bothered about formal workers rights and social
protection.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4282372.stm (issued 26.05.2005)
 Attitude to the New Constitution
Poland’s attitude is generally pro to the European Constitution. One major point that
dismissed the Polish was that European’s Christian Heritage was not to be mentioned.
The Polish referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was a referendum
expected to be held on in October 2005 to decide whether Poland should ratify the proposed
Constitution of the European Union. After the rejection of the constitution by France the
referendum was cancelled so far.
SimGame06
POLAND
11
Most opinion data showed that many Poles were enthusiastic about EU membership. Opinion
polls also showed an initial strong support for the Constitution (yes: 56 %, no: 19%). The
French and Dutch no's however decreased Polish support for the Constitution. A later opinion
poll showed an increase in the number of people against the Constitution to 35%. The number
of supporters had dropped to 40%.
www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=3613C956-74DA-46AD-956456BB91A4C85A
 Levels of support for the EU and for further European integration
Poland is in parts afraid to be exploited for example by Germans buying land in speculation of
land’s increasing value like they did in Hungary. There is a certain fear of a new German
Occupation. Another point is, that people are afraid that Polish Best and Brightest will leave
the country to earn high wages abroad. This way, Poland would not be able to develop it’s
economy to a forward and modern state. That for Poland is highly interested in a further
European integration. It wants Europe to become a strong economic force, being able to
compete in the globalising world. They have a broad willing to compromise in terms of
European Policy.
http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2002/1021/eu/poland.html
http://www.eif.oeaw.ac.at/01institut/e_start01.html
PART 4:
Waste Policy in Poland and implementation of EU Directives
Cedric Fontbonnat
 Present waste policy – SWOT
Strengths:
-
At present, information on whether a product can be recycled is mandatory in Poland
while being only voluntary in the EU.
-
The Polish parliament has passed an amendment of the Act on Packaging and
Packaging Waste for the purpose of adapting existing Polish laws to EU norms
-
The interrelationship between the state of the environment and the health status of the
population ensures public support for sustainable development.
-
The awareness of wanting a new way of life in the country has stimulate voluntary
action of society for the defence and improvement of the natural environment and thus
overall living conditions.
SimGame06
POLAND
12
-
All the acceding countries, except Estonia, have negotiated transitional periods, from
2005 to 2009, for packaging waste (Directive 94/62/EC). As regards landfill sites
(Directive 1999/31/EC), Poland has until the end of 2012 to meet the standards
-
Officially, Poland recycles the major part of its industrial waste (more than 75%) and
the market, which is operated by several hundred small local companies, achieved a
turnover of 40 M € in 2002.
-
From Poland's point of view it is important to develop close trans-atlantic political,
military, economic and social relations between UE, USA and NATO.
Since the end of the 80’s, Poland has made lots of efforts in its way to recycle the
major part of its industrial waste. Population also support the development policy, and
seem to change his habits in the way to protect the environment. Moreover Poland has
until the end of 2012 to adapt its policy to the standards asking by the EU directive.
Weaknesses:
-
Recycling remains insufficient and waste reprocessing poor
-
Poland is the largest producer of industrial waste in the CEEC region with nearly 120
MT in 2002
-
Poland, being a rather small country on a global scale, is nevertheless one of the main
contributors to global degradation of the natural environment
Poland has suffered of the Communism pressure until the beginning of 1990. And
of its central position in Europe and its history, it has never been preoccupied by waste
policy. Poland is now the largest producer of industrial waste in the E.U. with recycle
tools not adapted to the Polish’s consummation
Opportunities:
-
Packaging and packaging waste policies have been under development in Poland, and
the Polish accession process to join the EU is the major driving force behind this.
-
At the same time our country, because of its geographical position, can play a key role
in the European system of natural interrelationships
-
Poland, because of its catastrophic environmental situation, has an opportunity to
attract external financial resources devoted to the reduction of global threats, since
they can be more effective in Poland than in the developed countries, so it offers good
perspectives for foreign firms.
-
Money comes mainly from national budgets, often coupled with tax incentives,
environmental funds and European funds.
By its entry in the E.U, Poland knows a jump as regard of its waste policy.
Moreover, with its central position in E.U, Poland can play a key role in the European
policy. One of the best opportunity of this country are the income from the E.U and
because of its size and of its environmental situation, Poland has an opportunity to
attract external financial resources.
SimGame06
POLAND
13
Threats:
-
Problems still remain in Poland, where the country's recent decentralization
programme has been said to create problems of communication and efficiency.
-
Packaging production has been one of the most dynamically expanding segments of
the Polish economy since the transition to democracy in the late 1980s. There has been
a marked increase in product hygiene and preservation potential, but the development
of a vibrant packaging market has also led to unprecedented growth in packaging
waste.
-
Mining, chemical, metallurgical, wood and paper industries always reject most of their
water used in the natural environment.
-
In order to achieve full implementation, the new Member States will have to spend on
average between 2% and 3% of GDP on the environment in the coming years.
One of the most important threats on Poland is the recent decentralization which
has created problems of communication and efficiency. The growth of the Polish’s
demand increases the packaging waste, even if the age of the population is being older.
Poland is not able to resolve itself its waste problem without any help of the E.U,
especially because it has to spend on average between 2% and 3% of GDP on the
environment.
 Analysis of transposition and implementation of Council Directive
94/62/EC on packaging waste
The Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, is very important for Poland
because it’s the largest producer of industrial waste in the CEEC region with nearly 120 MT
in 2002. Its annual production of plastic packaging has been constantly increasing over the
last 20 to 30 years and now exceeds 3.7 million tons.
Packaging has been one of the most dynamically expanding segments of the Polish
economy since the beginning of the transition period in the late 1980’s.
Currently, packaging and packaging waste policies are under development in Poland.
Poland had to agree the directive because it is a young country which joined the E.U only
two years ago, but it has until 2012 to respect the E.U Directive.
But, since packaging waste is mainly landfilled in Poland, selected types of packaging
(paper and paperboard packaging) need to be considered in order to attain the targets set for
reduction of biodegradable waste.
Moreover, the duty of waste treatment before its disposal in landfills has implications on
management of all packaging waste. It can be assumed that most landfills in Poland do not
meet the standards required by the EU. Complying with the standards will incur very high
investment costs.
SimGame06
POLAND
14
The cost of compliance with the investment-heavy environmental “acquis” for the ten
acceding countries was estimated to amount to approximately €50-80 billion. In order to
achieve full implementation, the new Member States will have to spend on average between
2% and 3% of GDP on the environment in the coming years.
Because Poland wants to become a major actor in the E.U, it is ready to make lots of
efforts and it counts on foreign investments on environment sector in order to make money.
Examples of the last Polish environment policy:
Poland used a combination of legislation and financial instruments to cut sulphur
emissions by 50% during the 1990s.
Poland and Slovakia managed to reduce per capital carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
between 1996 and 1999. Poland from 9.7 tonnes to 8.3 and Slovakia from 8.7 to 7.6tonnes.
(EU average is 8.4)
Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland increased the percentage of residential
population connected to waste water treatment between 1996 and 2001. Czech Republic from
58 to 65%, Hungary from 22 to 32%, and Poland from 43 to 55%.
Sources Part 4:
http://www.euractiv.com
http://www.oecd.org
http://www.ec.europa.eu
+ Polish environment minister
+ Several National Newspapers