After overthrowing the communist regime, Warsaw began negotiations with the EU, signing trade and cooperation agreements with other European countries.

This resulted in Poland officially applying for an EU membership in April 1994 and securing a confirmation of the application in December of the same year.

By the turn of the century, Poland had succeeded in most areas of negotiation. Over the next two years, Warsaw and Brussels reached agreement on all points. This culminated in the signing of the Accession Treaty by the Council of the European Union on April 14, 2003.

The final adoption of the treaty in Poland took the form of a nationwide referendum. With almost 80% of the participants voting in favor of joining the bloc

Finally, after years of negotiations, trials and tribulations, Poland was admitted to the bloc. On May 1, 2004, 10 countries, including Poland, joined the EU. After years of communist isolation, trade flourished, and Poles fully joined the European community. A day-long celebration was held in Słubice culminating in a historic meeting of residents and politicians on a bridge.

Now, 20 years later, Poles still enjoy the freedom that comes with being a member of the European Union, hoping to live through yet another 20 years of fruitful cooperation with the bloc

Join Jan Darasz and his guest Witold Rodkiewicz, Senior Fellow at the Center for Eastern Studies, on this episode of How We Got Here to learn more about the political atmosphere surrounding the 2004 EU enlargement.

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