Refleksja na temat referendum w sprawie przystąpienia Polski do strefy euro
Refl ection on the Referendum concerning Poland’s Accession to the Eurozone

Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the possible introduction of the euro in Poland. The legal and social aspects of responding to the will of the people on this matter have been analyzed. The accession of a Member State to the Economic and Monetary Union is subject to conditions, specifi ed by convergence criteria, to ensure good preparation of that Member State for the adoption of a single European currency and its integration with the eurozone. Poland is subject to a temporary derogation, which means that it is obliged to join the Economic and Monetary Union after meeting these criteria. Despite of the lack of a deadline for the adoption of the euro by Member States that joined the EU in 2004 or later, the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (Article 119) requires them to introduce common currency in an indefi nite future. In Poland, the issue occasionally raised in the discussion is that citizens should decide in the referendum whether to convert the zloty into euro. Taking into account the predominance of unfavourable attitude to adopting the European currency and strong concerns about its negative impact on the Polish economy and domestic households, it is reasonable to question whether in such circumstances the decision to adopt the euro is legitimate and whether the public opinion may be crucial in the process of adoption common currency in Poland. What legal nuances are important in the referendum on the euro? The experience of other states that have been responsive to the will of the people on the adoption of the euro should be a warning. The Swedes and Danes voted to retain the national currency, based not merely on economic arguments, but also on national symbols.

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