Poland’s Systemic Challenges Before Joining the Monetary Union in the Context of the Independence of the National Bank of Poland

Poland joined the European Union as part of the largest EU enlargement so far, which took place in 2004. Poland did not take advantage of the passing 19 years of EU membership and did not join the monetary union. The analysis of Poland’s accession to the monetary union should begin with considerations regarding the adjustment and amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland in this respect. In particular, it is necessary to analyze the statutory definition of NBP independence. The literature broadly covers the subject of convergence conditions and the possibility of Poland meeting them. However, the fact is overlooked that Poland, despite the passage of 19 years from the accession to the EU, remains in a significant systemic maladjustment to the provisions of the monetary union. A particular scope of the mismatch concerns the current legal position of the NBP. The lengthening period of Poland’s accession to the monetary union determines the fact that Poland remains in the second development speed in the EU with a clear tendency to increase the distance to the countries forming the euro area.