Poland marks 16 years as EU member

Sixteen years ago, Poland became a member of the European Union, a community of nations based on values including solidarity, the foreign ministry in Warsaw said on Friday.

Photo:

PAP/Leszek Szymański

“16 years ago Poland joined the European Union, a community of solidarity,” the Polish foreign ministry said in a tweet.

“Today, more than ever, we can see how Europe needs solidarity of all EU Member States,” it added.

🇵🇱🇪🇺 16 years ago Poland joined the European Union, a community of solidarity ✌️.

Today, more than ever, we can see how Europe needs #solidarity of all #EU Member States.#EUsolidarity pic.twitter.com/9HJoAcmuoE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇵🇱 (@PolandMFA) May 1, 2020

Poland became a member of the EU on May 1, 2004, a historic step that underlined the country’s re-alignment with the West after decades of communist rule.

On 16 December 1991 #Poland singed the European Union Association Agreement, which came into force nearly two and a half years later. After many years of negotiations and the integration process, #OTD 16 years ago Poland officially joined the #EU, along with 9 other countries. pic.twitter.com/o4S1xjd0pL

— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) May 1, 2020

Today we mark the 2004 accession of Poland🇵🇱 as a member of the European Union🇪🇺. #OTD
--@eu_eeas @Poland_MOD pic.twitter.com/45p27tO3Wx

— Poland MOD 🇵🇱 (@Poland_MOD) May 1, 2020

Polish President Andrzej Duda this week wrote a letter to European leaders urging greater cooperation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki last week called for a “new Marshall Plan” for Europe to aid the continent’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

Last year, Morawiecki said in an opinion piece that the EU must return to its roots as a union of nations that are "strong, equal and free.”

(gs)