EU membership, the balance sheet after six months

This year, Poland stands to receive EUR 993 million more than it chips in to the EU budget. At the end of August, the balance of transfers to and from the EU was EUR 646 million in Poland's favor. Pietras pointed out the prices of some goods did increase immediately after accession, but that the negative scenarios of a massive deluge of EU goods onto the Polish market and widespread exodus of labor from Poland to work in the EU did not materialize. Pietras also mentioned the strengthening of the złoty as one of the positive effects of the inflow of EU funds. On October 16, Polish farmers will begin receiving direct subsidies under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). They will be paid out by the Polish budget and refunded by the EU next year. (Parkiet, p. 7) T.J.