Nowe regiony peryferyjne w rozszerzonej Unii Europejskiej. Problemy polityczne i społeczne na przykładzie województwa warmińsko-mazurskiego

Abstract

This paper analyses the problems of New Peripheral Regions after the European Union Enlargement. The last enlargement of EU in 2004 and 2007 was the logical consequences of political, social and economic changes connected with breaking up of the Soviet Union and disintegration of Communist Bloc. These two enlargements had substantial geopolitical consequences. The demographic and territorial potential of EU increased by about one third. At the same time the European Union structures moved east and southwards. In 2004 one of the Polish region – Warmia and Mazury Region faced new challenges connected with Polish accession to EU. Next years of being a member of EU was a period of gaining experience in submitting EU projects for the region and in proper allocation of finance resources. Total effect of this period is rather positive. But it should not be forgotten that still many negative economic and social phenomenon take place (e.g. high unemployment rate, emigration of young educated generation). Politically, new challenge for Warmia and Mazury Region will be continuation and development of trans-border cooperation with Kaliningrad Region. Poland’s accession to EU did not impact positively for improvement of Polish–Russian relations on central decision-making level.