Poland and the EU: Trade-related Problems

In April 1994 Poland submitted a formal application for membership of the European Union, which initiated a new stage in its economic and political relations with the EU. Simultaneously, other associated countries from Central and Eastern Europe, together with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, have expressed their wish to join the EU in the future. In response to the CEE countries’ objectives, the December 1994 European Council meeting at Essen adopted ‘A Strategy for Accession of Central and East European Countries to the EU’.2 The Strategy was followed by the 1995 Commission White Paper on the Preparation of the Associated Countries of CEE for Integration into the Internal Market.3 Certain CEEs were invited to conduct bilateral talks on the scope and methods of White Paper implementation. The main purpose of the White Paper is to set out a programme for meeting the obligations of the internal market which could be followed by each of the associated countries and monitored by the Union… The White Paper is not part of negotiations for accession and does not prejudge any aspect of such negotiations, including possible transitional arrangements.4