Poland Country Report

Poland is stable free market democracy in central-eastern Europe. It borders Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, and Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania to the east. To the northwest, Poland borders the Baltic Sea, and to the northeast it borders Kaliningrad oblast, an exclave of the Russian Federation. Poland is a major player in European and world affairs, being a member of NATO and the European Union and contributing military support to several NATO and US-led operations. Overwhelmingly Catholic and deeply influenced by the Catholic Church, Poland is one of the most socially conservative countries in Europe. Attempts at forming effective ruling coalitions are often undermined by animosity and divisions among leading political parties, and the main threat to political stability remains the collapse of coalition governments. Corruption is a potential risk in Poland despite moves towards legal reform. The primary threats to foreign travelers are petty crime and road accidents. Polish national infrastructure is relatively well developed throughout the country and the country is well connected to its neighbors. Poland is currently hosting the majority of Ukrainian refugees who fled that country following the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, which started in early 2022. Poland is the main hub for humanitarian and military support going towards Ukraine via land from other NATO and EU countries.

Poland does not face any imminent internal or external security risk. Since July 2021 through 2022 Poland has faced a border crisis in its eastern borders due to a sudden influx of migrants from the Middle East, organized by Belarus. The incident was reportedly the Belarusian response to the EU sanctions laid on Minsk following the 2020 Belarusian elections. Border security has since increased; although some incidents occurred overall increasing the tensions, there is no significant security threat to the country.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine in early 2022, Poland has accepted the largest number of refugees from the conflict, experiencing severe disruptions at its eastern borders with Ukraine. Polish authorities have increased border security to manage the influx of refugees; occasionally, military-aged men attempt to escape to Poland to avoid compulsory military service in Ukraine currently enforced by martial law. Poland does not face an increased risk of armed conflict.

Petty crime can affect travelers in Poland, especially in cities popular with tourists, where foreigners are occasionally victims of opportunistic theft. Violent crime rates are relatively low and there are no known terrorist groups operating in Poland.

There are no major serious concerns associated with air travel to or within Poland.

Hazardous local driving habits and poor road conditions can make overland travel dangerous.

The ports are considered efficient.

Utilities are good and more than 40% of households have central heating provided by district heating plants.

Cybercrime is not a serious concern.

The environmental risk is relatively low in Poland. Harsh weather conditions during the winter season may lead to periodic disruptions to travel and other services. Flooding can be a problem, particularly in rural areas and in the southern and eastern regions of the country, including Warsaw, due to heavy rain in the spring and summer seasons.

Medical care is sufficient for routine problems, but complex treatment may require evacuation. Doctors are well trained and excellent medical care is available in Warsaw but may be sparser outside major cities.

Poland is a unitary multi-party parliamentary republic. The President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. Presidential elections take place once every five years. The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers form the government and exercise executive power. The parliament consists of the Sejm (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) and exercises legislative power. Parliamentary elections take place once every four years. The judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature but is widely regarded as corrupt and ultimately under the control of the Law and Justice party which has ruled the country since 2015.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government. Government collapses are rare. State institutions are competent and effective and provide reliable services across most of the country.