Following Poland’s EU accession after a national referendum, the country successfully curbed an exodus of its citizens. The Polish Ambassador to Moldova, Tomasz Michal Kobzdziej, stated it on Rlive TV’s “Territory of Freedom” program with Lilia Burakovski.
The ambassador discussed Poland’s approach to addressing the “brain drain” caused by the emigration of skilled professionals.
“This was a significant issue, with many specialists leaving the country. However, joining the EU helped address this challenge. EU projects boosted economic development, and the opportunities provided by the single market led to many citizens returning to work within the country,” Kobzdziej explained.
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He also shared insights on Poland’s EU accession referendum.
“There were concerns at the time. I believe turnout was around 58.8%, just above the 50% threshold needed for validity, which was crucial. Interestingly, the referendum took place at a different stage of the negotiation process, but what mattered most was that it succeeded and was pivotal for our EU integration,” he noted.
Poland emerged as the most successful of the nine countries that joined the EU in 2004. It maximized new opportunities, attracting €293 billion in foreign direct investment. Over 20 years of EU membership, Poland received €245.5 billion from the EU, paid €83.7 billion in membership fees, and netted a positive balance of €161.6 billion, according to a report from Poland’s Ministry of Finance.