Section1.Poland

​ ** 1.History/Background of E.U. Country **


 * [[image:flag_poland.png width="319" height="218" caption="This is Poland's flag. Click on it to find out more about the history of the Polish flag." link="@http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/poland/flag/"]] || Poles are descendants of the Slavic people who setteled in Poland in the B.C.'s between the Oder and theVistula Rivers. Poland's first descovory was over one thousand years ago when a man named Ibraham Ibn-Jakub who was a merchant and explorer went exploring with a hope for adventure. As he was traveling the low banks of the Vistual River, he wrote in his journal, "This a beautiful, strange country." But, Poland was not yet descovered by the rest of the world until 966 when their ruler finally excepted Roman Catholic Christianity, which then placed Poland with the orbit and influence of the Western Culture. At the end of World War I Poland recreated borders that compassed large numbers of Germans and Ukrianes. Since then, Poles has been a victum to wars and troubles in the past. More then six million Poles died during World War II. After loosing so many people, in 1965, Poland became part of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union helped Poland make its boundries, and Poland was finally demarcated. In later years, Poland broke its ties with Russia and the Union and worked to better its self. In May of 2004, Poland was incorporated into the European Union. 

Poland is located in Central Europe and is mostly dominated by the Northern European Plain. But, it still has mountains on the southern boarder. This makes only half of the country good for cultivation. Another reason for Polands good agricultural system is its temperature. Poland has a temperate climate with mild summers, but its winters are generally cold. Also, precipitation is extremely common year-round. But even with its wonderful area, air and water pollution threaten Polands natural beauty. The caiptal of Poland is Warsaw. Poland is six hours ahead of the United States.

The religion in Poland is that about 90% of the population is Roman Catholic, and, of this, 75% of them consider themselves practicing Catholic's. Personal apperance for Polish men and women is very important. They like and are well dressed in public. The women usually follow the European styles. Denim jeans are often very common among the younger people. Childern are also expected to to be well dressed all the times, especially for school. Because of this and the fact that clothing is usually expensive, many Poles make their own or get them from second hand stores. This is one of their many traditional customs. Another costume is their eyes. When blinking both eyes, Poles are showing romantic interest. an additional costum is greetings. At social and buisness gatherings, Poles greet each guest personally, starting with the ladies first. They do this with the basic greeting of the handshake. Although it is in the Northern Hemisphere, Poland is more in the Western Hemisphere, therefore it is in the CET (Central European Time) time zone. This means that Poland is 6 hours and a day ahead of the United States. ||

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 * 2. Year of Admission to E.U. History and General Information about the E.U.**
 * [[image:E.U._flag.gif width="356" height="240" align="center" caption="This is the E. U.'s flag. Click on it to go onto the European Union website and find out about its 27 member countries." link="@http://europa.eu/about-eu/27-member-countries/index_en.htm"]] || The European Union(also known as the E.U.) is a supernational organization that is currently made up of 27 nations. It is worlds largest single economic market. The E.U began with the idea of ending international rivalries so there could be peace throughout Europes countries. There are three main criterias to becocming an E.U member country and they are listed as follows: the country must have a stable goverment instituions to plave guranteed democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minority populations (politically) countries must have functioning to market economies that deal with outside pressure and the E.U market forcing (economically) and they must have E.U law be its national law recieve all E.U prospects this could include 26,000 pieces or legislation and 80,000 pages of documentation, E.U provides member countries with finacial aid to help their economies catch up to E.U standards, funds are earnmarketed for structual, regional, farming. Poland was accepted into the E.U in May of 2004 when it finally reached the the critierias listed above. ||

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 * 3. How does the E.U. and your country feel about global temperatures/climate change? (//environmental issue)// **
 * || Polands total primary and final energy consumption grew from 1990-2007 at around 5% per year, but about 38% . Just in 2007, Poland contributed 5.7% of the total wolrs energy consumption. This is just 0.3% below the E.U.'s average energy consumption per year, but it is still extremly high because Poland is not an extremly stable country, but it has been stabalized in recent years for very little changes have been made to its energy consumption. A shift in the primary fuel mix from coal gas has continued, but the rate of growth in renewable resources, which are driven laregely by wind and bionasses, has increased from 2002 onward and still increasing now, in 2010. The E.U's dependence on imported fossil fuels has increased more rapidly in recent years, leading to concerns about energy security. But, even with its difficulty in attempting to decrease its energy consumption, Poland has helped the enviornmental issue by hosting a large, two week conference involving many important people from all over the world, including Barack Obama, the provider for most of the enviornmental forces. At this conference, Poland, along with many other countries, suggested topics that can help the issue such as using renewable energy. Therefore Poland and the E.U. are in an agreement to help to support making the climate changes stable.

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 * 4. How does the E.U. and your country feel about supporting the war in Afghanistan? //(political issue)// **
 * || More than 2,000 people were killed fighting in the war in Afghanistan in 2006, of which many were from Poland. Poland is a strong supporter of the war in Afghanastan, and even after all these losses, Poland is still a strong supporter to this horrible cause. Poles were said to have sent 1,000 troops to help this cause in 2006, most of them being sent to eastern Afghanistan. This is because most of the war is taking place in eastern Afghanistan. Poland first became a supporter when it was accepted into the E.U. which was already an amazing and strong supporter of the war in Afghanistan. Not only is it a strong supporter, but the European Union is one of Afghanistan's largest donors, spending close to 1 billion euros every year on Afghanistan and its political issues. On November 16, 2005, the E.U. and Afghanistan made a Joint Declaration for a new partnership for a long-term commitment to Afghanistan. By doing this, the E.U. and its member countries are helping by promoting stability and development in Pakistan and Afghanistan. All E.U. countries, including Poland are gladly standing ready to work closely with Afghanistan by creating a Plan of Action to create more decisive steps to strengthen and achieve a better and securer aproach to assist in Afghanistan.

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 * 5. What is the economic background of your country and how does your country feel about supporting the economies of weaker countries in the E.U.? (economic issue) **
 * [[image:Eurocoin_es_100.gif width="255" height="258" caption="This is a current picture of the euro, which is currently of a higher value then the U.S. currency of the dollar and cent." link="@http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/index_en.htm"]] || Poland has not yet adopted the euro as its currency. Poland will join the euro stability and growth pact when it fulfills the necessary conditions as defined in the MaStricht convergence criteria. At the end of each year, Poland submits an update of the medium term fiscal strategy it first presented in mid 2004, as it is stated to be required stability and growth pact. The commision analyses all members states reports in its annual progress report (APR) and proposes a country-specific recomondation to help to better stabalize the country. Because of its unstabilized economy and it not being able to support itself well enough, Poland does not agree in helping to support the economies of weaker E.U. countries because it would then also have to give money when it does not have enough to support itself.