Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ];
Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity Trade Union
[Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE,
CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest),
NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the
flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy Poland
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 unemployment. 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" (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 larger-than-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 government has introduced a package of
social and administrative spending cuts to reduce public spending by
about $17 billion through 2007. Additional reductions are under
discussion in the legislature but could be trumped by election-year
politics in 2005. 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 $13.5 billion in EU
funds, available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reap
the rewards of membership via higher food prices and EU agricultural
subsidies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$463 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)