Poland's poor progress report
The Center for European Reform (CER) has released a study ranking the 25 EU member states on their progress towards achieving the program's targets.
The report praised newer members, such as the Baltic States and Slovenia, for handing out the EU's lowest state subsidies. Estonia and Slovenia, along with the Czech Republic, also received higher marks than the EU-15 in making use of new technology. The report notes that in Estonia, 7.6 percent of households use broadband, surpassing the EU average of 6.5 percent.
Poland, however, comes in lower than other members (save Malta, who didn't supply enough information), ranking 24 out 27 on the CER's Lisbon League Table. The report says that Poland's performance is "of concern," scoring "poorly in terms of progress." The report notes that spending on research and development has declined since 1999, and sank to less than one percent of GDP in 2003 (the EU average is two percent). The report also chides Poland for paying out the highest level of state subsidies, and worries about its employment level - the EU's lowest - at 51.2 percent. On the bright side, Poland is praised for achieving the highest level of entrepreneurial activity in the EU. Against a European average of five percent of the population involved in entrepreneurial ventures, Poland reports 8.8 percent. And although the country hasn't made much headway since 1999, the report applauds Poland for "taking actions that have significantly lightened the burden on businesses," adding that Warsaw "has embraced reform and should soon see the benefits."
The report praised newer members, such as the Baltic States and Slovenia, for handing out the EU's lowest state subsidies. Estonia and Slovenia, along with the Czech Republic, also received higher marks than the EU-15 in making use of new technology. The report notes that in Estonia, 7.6 percent of households use broadband, surpassing the EU average of 6.5 percent.
Poland, however, comes in lower than other members (save Malta, who didn't supply enough information), ranking 24 out 27 on the CER's Lisbon League Table. The report says that Poland's performance is "of concern," scoring "poorly in terms of progress." The report notes that spending on research and development has declined since 1999, and sank to less than one percent of GDP in 2003 (the EU average is two percent). The report also chides Poland for paying out the highest level of state subsidies, and worries about its employment level - the EU's lowest - at 51.2 percent. On the bright side, Poland is praised for achieving the highest level of entrepreneurial activity in the EU. Against a European average of five percent of the population involved in entrepreneurial ventures, Poland reports 8.8 percent. And although the country hasn't made much headway since 1999, the report applauds Poland for "taking actions that have significantly lightened the burden on businesses," adding that Warsaw "has embraced reform and should soon see the benefits."
