Conference Paper

This paper will endeavour to answer the question why the Western Balkans, despite the development of relations with the EU and gradual integration with the common European market, fell short from achieving economic success and satisfactory social standards. And more specifically, why the Western Balkans cannot follow the example set by Central European states such as Poland? Economic data shows that the gap between the Western Balkans and the EU has stagnated, if not deepened. It means that, despite the progress in European integration processes, the region is still suffering from major social and economic problems. To answer these questions, the author evaluates Poland’s experience in the process of EU integration. The Polish model of integration, which is often referred to as a success story and serves as a guidance for newcomers to the EU, has three disadvantages. Firstly, it hides a number of significant social problems, which resulted in general discontent in the society, reflected, most visibly, during the recent presidential elections. Secondly, economically and internationally Poland and the Western Balkan states represent two very different cases. Finally, it is important to emphasize that EU integration has been based on the liberal paradigm, which failed in its economic dimension, leading to (re-)peripheralization of the new member states and their weak economies.