Time line
The major events in the integration process that need to be taken into account while preparing the time line for Poland’s integration with the European Union:
Establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and the European Economic Community (EEC).
Poland and the European Communities signed the agreement on trade and economic cooperation.
Poland submitted an official application for negotiations of an association agreement with the European Communities.
The European Treaty was signed which established association between the Republic of Poland on one side and the European Communities and their member states on the other side.
The European Council agreed that accession of the Central and Eastern European countries to the European Union is also the EU’s goal. The achievement of this goal shall depend on these countries fulfilling certain political and economic criteria, known as the Copenhagen criteria.
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland passed resolution no. 4/94 on entry into force of the European Treaty establishing association between the Republic of Poland and the European Communities and their member states.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Olechowski handed the application for Poland’s accession to the European Union to the representative of the Greek EU Presidency.
The European Council approved the result of accession negotiations with ten candidate countries for EU membership: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.
The Accession Treaty was formally signed by representatives of 25 countries – 15 Member States and 10 candidates for membership which, consequently, became countries acceding to the European Union.
A nationwide referendum on Poland's accession to the European Union was held.