First Warsaw, then the Falklands

With unemployment in the country just below 18 percent, many Poles find themselves forced to go abroad in search of work. However, few realize that establishing a private enterprise in one of the EU states could prove easier than finding a job.

Since May 1, 2004, Polish citizens have been entitled to establish a business in any of the EU states on the same conditions as locals. What is more, this right, which is guaranteed by Article 43 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, applies also to most of the EU members' overseas territories. Thus, Polish people are free to run their firms not only in the EU, but also in such distant places as Greenland, the Falkland Islands or the Cayman Islands.   "In Poland, the EU is still associated with a bureaucratic structure. The awareness of the possibility to establish a business in the EU is poor among the Poles. Although there are some campaigns to encourage Polish activity abroad, they are not being launched on a big scale," said Tomasz Krawczyk, a specialist in EU law.

Krawczyk stresses that despite some detailed differences in each states' regulations, Poles have the same rights to establish an enterprise as other EU countries' citizens throughout the bloc. After making the decision to estabilish a business abroad and preparing a business plan, a potential entrepreneur is advised to contact the Polish embassy in a given location. The embassy should then be able to advise on specific local legislation and procedures. According to Krawczyk, Great Britain creates the most favorable conditions for foreigners to start their business, whereas the German market is overregulated.