Twenty years ago, on 1 May 2004, Poland joined the European Union together with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.

EU membership has driven many economic, social and legislative changes in Poland, which have enabled and accelerated business development and also significantly improved the living standards of the Polish people. Thanks to Poland's presence in the Union, hundreds of thousands of Polish businesses have benefited from the common European market, exporting their products and services and making use of state-of-the-art technologies. However, the EU is not just a community of interests; it also stands for values such as democracy, human rights, the rule of law and security, which, especially in the context of the current geopolitical situation, is of vital importance for our country.

In order to jointly celebrate this round-number anniversary of Poland's accession to the European Union, DZP has become involved in the #20yearsPLinEU campaign organised by the Stefan Batory Foundation and the Polish Business Roundtable Foundation. The initiative brings together non-governmental organisations, businesses, the media and citizens who wish to jointly express their affiliation with the Community, stressing that "Poland is strong thanks to the EU, and the EU thanks to Poland".

Throughout May, a symbol of Poland's 20 years in the EU will be displayed on our Law Firm's website and in our employees' e-mail footers as a reminder of the values that guide the countries of the European Union.