Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

According to a report from The Statistical Office in Warsaw called “Foreigners on the Masovian labour market in 2018”, the number of work permits issued in the most populated Polish region has been progressively rising since 2013. The most common reasons why expats want to work in Poland are the low unemployment rate, the rising average salary and the relatively low cost of living.

Foreign workers are required to have the proper visas and work permits in Poland, as established by immigration laws. However, obtaining the necessary work permissions for non-EU citizens can be quite complicated.

Work permits are undoubtedly our most frequented asked question so hopefully this article will make your relocation and life in the new country a little bit easier.

Note: For more detailed information, contact the local Voivodship Office or visit this website: http://www.paiz.gov.pl

1. What is a work permit?

A work permit is a document that authorizes a foreigner to work legally in Europe.
The permit indicates the company that assigns the execution of work to the foreigner and the position or the type of work which the foreigner is to perform. The work is therefore regarded as legal only if the foreigner performs the work identified in the permit. This means that if the foreigner wants to change jobs (i.e. change employer and/or position and/or industry) in which he is employed, he has to obtain a new permit. The permit is valid for the period for which it was issued. The term of validity of the permit is indicated on the document.

2. Who doesn’t need a work permit?

In general, to work as an employee in one of the European Union (EU) countries you don’t need to apply to any work permit if you are a national from:

• another EU country (The European Union consists of 28 member states)
• any of the countries belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA): Iceland,

Liechtenstein and Norway

• Switzerland (Under the EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of persons, Swiss nationals are free to live and work in the EU).
• People who come from the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and New Zealand do not require a working visa. However, they are still required to have a legal right to stay in the Schengen Area and have a work permit. Residence and work permits can usually be applied for once you arrive in your chosen country.

If you are in a family relationship with an EU citizen, you:

• do not need a work permit to work
• have the right to equal treatment, including access to all social and tax advantages

But in order to have access to work market, while being married to a Polish citizen you need to remain in a marriage recognized by the law of the Republic of Poland with a Polish citizen for at least 3 years before the day in which he submitted the application for permanent residence permit. And immediately before submitting this application, he stayed continuously on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period of not less than 2 years on the basis of a temporary residence permit granted in connection to being married to a Polish citizen or in connection with obtaining refugee status, subsidiary protection or residence permit for humanitarian reasons. This permit is granted for an indefinite period!

A foreigner’s stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland constituting the basis for granting him a permanent residence permit is considered uninterrupted if none of the halves in it was longer than 6 months and all breaks did not exceed a total of 10 months in the periods constituting the basis for granting him a residence permit permanent, unless the break was caused by:

1. the foreigner performs professional duties or performs work outside the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of an agreement concluded with the employer whose registered office is in the territory of the Republic of Poland
2. accompaniment of the foreigner referred to in item 1 by his spouse or minor child
3. a special personal situation requiring the presence of a foreigner outside the territory of the Republic of Poland and lasted no longer than 6 months
4. a trip outside the territory of the Republic of Poland in order to undergo internships or participate in classes provided during studies at a Polish university.

Other than that you don’t need work permit if:

• you are a student of full-time studies in Poland
• you are a graduate of Polish secondary schools, or have completed full time studies (tertiary education), or full-time doctoral studies at Polish universities and scientific and research institutions
• you are spouse of Polish citizens
• you have refugee status granted to you in the Republic of Poland
• you have received subsidiary protection in the Republic of Poland
• you possess a permanent residence permit issued by the Republic of Poland
• you hold an EU long-term resident permit issued in the Republic of Poland or in special cases issued in another EU country
• you have been granted tolerated stay in the Republic of Poland
• you are a victim of human trafficking (assuming the fulfilment of additional requirements)
• you have a temporary residence permit or any other legal document that allows for residence in Poland acquired in conjunction with a marriage to a Polish citizen or a foreigner holding refugee status
• you are a person benefiting from supplementary protection
• you have a valid Pole’s Card. The Pole’s Card seems to serve as a proof of Polish nationality for people living outside Poland. The document has been introduced for those who feel they have a bond with their homeland through common history and tradition, can speak Polish (or at least have a basic grasp of it) and, most importantly, want to officially give a written declaration of identifying themselves as Polish in front of a Polish consul. In order to do that, an applicant for the Pole’s Card has to be a formal citizen of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan.
  Moreover, there is one more condition: such a person needs to prove that in their family tree one will find at least 1 parent or grandparent of Polish origin (or 2 great-grandparents). Another way of proving your special bond with Poland is presenting a special note from a Polish organisation confirming your activity in the field of promoting the Polish culture.
• you are providing training or taking part in vocational training and internships, or participates in a scheme carried out within the framework of the European Union programmes or another international aid scheme. In general, if the internship or training in which you want to participate is paid, you need to obtain a work permit. Participation in an unpaid training or internship programme does not require a work permit.
• you are a full-time student and you are legally residing in Poland, you can participate in paid internships or apprenticeships without a work permit.
• you are entitled on the basis of the Association Agreement between the European Economic Community and Turkey

3. Main types of work permits in Poland

• Type A: the foreign employee is employed by a business entity incorporated in Poland;
• Type B: the foreigner stays in Poland for a specific amount of time to perform a function on a management board;
• Type C: the foreign employee is employed by a foreign employer and has been delegated to work at a branch or subsidiary in Poland for a period exceeding 30 days;
• Type D: the foreign employee is employed by a foreign employer that does not have a subsidiary or branch in Poland but the employee has been delegated to perform a temporary service in the country (usually export services);
• Type E: the foreign employee is employed by a foreign employer and has been delegated to Poland for a period longer than 3 months in the next 6 months of the calendar year, to perform other tasks than those described above.

4. Documents for working in EU

It is important to understand that the EU is a political and economic union comprised of 28 European states and each state has its own rules and regulations when it comes to issuing visas and/or work permits. For example, some of the countries will require that you have a job offer prior to applying for a working visa.  Nevertheless, there are some basic work permits and visa options that non-EU citizens can apply for to have the right to travel and work within the EU.

Please note that the Schengen Visa allows you to travel freely to and from the Schengen countries but not work.

5. Work permit in Poland

If you are a citizen of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia or Ukraine you don’t need to apply for a work permit if you are intending to work in Poland for no longer than 6 months per year (please note that your employer needs to fulfil some legal obligations like registering in a local labour office the fact that you are hired as a seasonal worker).

Finally, if you are a citizen of any other country you will need to apply for a visa (or residence permit) and work permit in order to work legally in Poland. This document allows any foreigner to undertake legal work in this country. Please bear in mind that this document is valid only for a fixed period of time, which cannot be longer than three years.

You do not apply for a work permit yourself. It is your employer’s duty to start the procedure. The authority responsible for issuing work permits is, as in the case of visas, the voivode’s office. Your employer needs to deliver all the necessary documents, which differ for each type of permit. You will find them listed on the website of the relevant voivode’s office.

There is also a fee for issuing or extending a work permit: PLN 50 for a permit valid up to 3 months; PLN 100 for a longer period of time; PLN 200 if it is a type D work permit.

6. Formal requirements and list of supporting documents

• VISA APPLICATION FORM. Each applicant shall submit a REGISTERED, COMPLETED, PRINTED, DATED, and SIGNED application. You can find it on e-konsulat.gov.pl. Each person included in the applicant’s travel documents must submit a separate application form. Minors shall submit an application form signed by a person exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship.
• 2 PHOTOGRAPHS in colour, passport size, taken within the last 6 months against plain white background.
• PASSPORTvalid for at least 3 months after the date of intended departure from Poland, with at least two blank Visa pages. The passport cannot have been issued more than 10 years before the date of applying for a Visa.
• FLIGHT RESERVATIONthat includes a flight ticket to Poland. Please note that Consular Section does not bear any responsibility for any purchased tickets before the issuance of a Visa.
• PROOF OF TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE: Confirmation letter from your health insurance company stating coverage for emergency medical, hospitalization and repatriation with a minimum of 30 000 Euros. The insurance should be valid throughout the territory of all Schengen countries and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit.
• PROOF OF SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL MEANS: g. last 3 bank account statements with name and address of owner(s) or proof of regular income (e.g. pay slips of last 3 months).
• REFERENCE LETTER FROM EMPLOYER: If self-employed, the original business registration, letter from your solicitor or letter from your accountant.
• CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE is required only when the applicant is travelling with a spouse as a dependent or when a spouse of the applicant is a EU citizen. If the marriage certificate is issued not by EU member state competent authorities, it must have legalisation or Apostille stamp on it and it must be translated into Polish or English (if issued in other languages) by certified translator.
• CERTIFICATE OF BIRTHis required if an applicant is travelling with a minor. If the birth certificate is issued not by EU member state competent authorities, it must have legalisation or Apostille stamp on it and it must be translated into Polish or English (if issued in other languages) by certified translator.

Additionally:

• WORKING VISA type D:Work permit issued by Voivodship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland. 
  Employment without prior authorization is strictly prohibited. Work visas are issued for multiple entries and can be valid for as long as the work permit is valid, but no longer than one year (365 days). Work visas are issued only by a Polish Consul in the consular office corresponding to the place where the applicant has his/her legal permanent residence.

7. Sources

• https://www.lawyerspoland.eu/legal-requirements-for-obtaining-a-work-permit-in-poland
• https://www.careersinpoland.com/article/arrival-and-stay/poles-card-who-and-what-for
• https://udsc.gov.pl/en/
• https://udsc.gov.pl/en/cudzoziemcy/obywatele-panstw-trzecich/chce-osiedlic-sie-w-polsce/zezwolenie-na-pobyt-staly/dla-malzonka-polskiego-obywatela/
• https://dublin.msz.gov.pl/en/consular_information/visas/long_stay_visa/

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

The importance of internships in your professional career

The job market is competitive. “You need experience to get experience” seems the biggest challenge for the ones trying to get a job nowadays. However, if you have a relevant internship on your CV it will give you a competitive advantage over the other candidates applying for the same role.

The key element of internships is that they mix the theory learned in class with practical application developed in professional environments. Furthermore, they also provide an opportunity to see if one particular career field is the right one for you.

By performing good in your internship, you will create a great impression that can provide you a reference letter and, who knows, lead to a job offer.

Advantages of doing an internship:

1. Learn how a professional workplace operates:  Internships help students learn all about the workplace culture, employee relations, and leadership structure. Ask your boss if you can “follow” him/other employees for a day or so and absorb all the information you can during your internship.

2. Soft skills: Internships provide students with the soft skills they need in the workplace. In a LinkedIn Skills Report (2018), 57% of people rated soft skills, such as communication, leadership, time-management, problem-solving, and teamwork as being more important than technical skills.

3. Networking: Internships provide the opportunity to meet professionals in the career field you want to pursue. Those connections can be very useful for your future career.

4. Learn more about yourself: Your internship will result not only in your professional development but also in a greater understanding of yourself.

5. Higher chance of finding a great job: An internship can lead to a full-time job in the company you are in as it works as an audition for both the student and the company.

With employers looking for candidates who can easily transition from being students to full-time employees nowadays, internship experience is more important than having good marks.

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

BEST PLACES TO WORK IN EUROPE TODAY

Working abroad comes with opportunities for exploring a new environment and different cultures. According to a study done by the British Council, working abroad enhances your productivity and innovation in your workplace. Furthermore, it helps you to build upon the skills that are necessary for their field of work.

Here is a list of some of the best places to work in Europe:

SPAIN

Spain after overcoming the financial crisis definitely provides a good work-life balance with working opportunities being increased day by day. According to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey, Spain is one of the best places for expats considering the quality of life. With the native language spoken by over 400 million people and one of the best climates (Mediterranean), Spain is one of the most interesting working destinations.

Additionally, it’s important to highlight one of the most ancient and rich cultured territories in Spain: Andalusia. Andalusia is known for its great weather, a huge coastline, and numerous touristic places. It also offers new working opportunities and development branches of international companies which are setting the general image of this southern region of Spain!

• D.P – $28 156.82
• Average Income – €26 928/year
• Unemployment rate – 14.2%

Source: HSBC Expat Explorer Survey

GERMANY

Germany is known for its many stereotypes however it’s a place a person should really consider to work. Living and working conditions are efficient and organized. This country remained to be at the Top 2 of many lists of countries that are quite favorable to work in Europe. There’s a lot of culture and history in cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt.  Germany is among the leading countries in the Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology industries. There are also regulations set in place to maintain a healthy work-life balance and it’s one of the countries that have the lowest youth unemployment rates.

• D.P – $4.444 trillion
• Average Income – €47 964/year
• Unemployment rate – 3.1%

AUSTRIA

Austria is located in Central Europe and is officially known as “The Republic of Austria”. It is known for its majestic mountains, beautiful lakes, and evergreen forests. It’s also known to be quite artsy and cultural. For instance, the capital of Vienna is worldly known for classical music with famous composers such as Mozart Haydn, Strauss, Schubert, Mahler, and Liszt. Also, many employers are known to provide good working environments. Mostly on Fridays, employees can leave the office at 3 PM which makes balancing work with personal life quite easy.

• D.P – $47 290.91
• Average income – $50 349/year
• Unemployment rate – 4.3%

POLAND

Poland is an economic success story as it has been a fast-growing free-market economy in Europe in the last decades. According to FTSE Russell, Poland is categorized in the “developed” section alongside Germany, the U.S.A and the U.K. The manufacturing industry has also expanded, contributing positively to the country’s economy. It has a high standard and low cost of living at the same time providing job opportunities in a wide range of fields such as Customer Service, Accounting, Sales and Orders, IT roles, etc. Finally, Poland is one of the most appropriate solutions for foreigners as it has totally embraced the spirit of multilingualism in the workforce.

• D.P – $13 811.66
• Average income – 59 179.08 PLN/year
• Unemployment rate – 3.3%

Source: Fastest growing countries in emerging Europe – Forbes

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic is one of the fastest developing Economies in Europe owning the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union (2.2%). This country gives you the opportunity to enter into the field of the industry even at a junior level and at the same time, there is a growing demand for bilingual and multilingual talents. Employees in the Czech Republic are entitled to the best vacation packages (25 paid days per year). Finally, you can enjoy life, food and sightseeing in a definitely low-cost living and safe (lowest criminal rate) country.

• GDP – $432 346 billion
• Average income – $21 453/year
• Unemployment rate – 2.2%

Source: G.D.P, Average Income, the unemployment rate

DENMARK

Denmark, as a Scandinavian country, is one of the most well-organized and structured countries in the European Union. According to research, Danes are among the most productive and hardworking workforces in Europe with an emphasis on job mentality and work autonomy. The country’s location and geography are ideal combining the beautiful city’s architecture with the wonders of nature and extremely short distances. The 7.000km coastline renders the country for sure one of the top destinations for beach holidays. The statements above confirm the research that Danes are the happiest and most satisfied people in the EU.

• GDP – $3 249 billion
• Average income – $29 606/year
• Unemployment rate – 5.3%

Source: British Council – Benefits of working abroad

 THE NETHERLANDS

If you are looking for a stable and well-organized working network and, at the same time, enjoy your free time in many ways, then the Netherlands is one of the most appropriate destinations. Accuracy, honesty, and professionalism complete the working background of the country. You can spend your time sightseeing a lot of canals, windmills, taste traditional food and in general, feel this electrifying atmosphere. Finally, if you are planning to relocate to The Netherlands and your bicycling skills are not satisfying then you have to work on it!

• GDP – $8 262 billion
• Average income – $29 333/year
• Unemployment rate – 3.5%

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

Jobs in Poland (for foreigners)

Poland is an attractive country to live in: it is big and has a real potential to grow even further in the future. The IT industry is one of the fastest developing in the country and Poland has already attracted a lot of big international companies and corporations. Even Google has their offices in Warsaw and Wroclaw!

So you can imagine that there are quite a lot of workplaces for language jobs! Jobs in Poland do not require Polish language skills from a foreigner (the Polish language is a true challenge, by the way!). The most appreciated foreign languages are English, German, French, Italian, Spanish. Nowadays, the Scandinavian languages (Swedish, Danish) are at their peak as well. Multilingual job offers do not always require previous experience: most importantly you must prove your fluency in foreign languages (usually, English + Italian/German/French/etc).

The multilingual jobs in Poland and the international companies usually provide really good conditions and benefits for their employees (which make the jobs even more attractive, right?).

So what jobs in Poland are usually offered for a foreigner?

1. Customer Service Advisor (our offers). Nice communication, languages skills and knowledge how a computer works are the main requirements for a Customer Service Advisor. You can read what this position is really about in our previous article.
2. IT jobs (our offers). IT industry is growing worldwide and Poland is not an exception. It usually includes IT support that is highly necessary nowadays. Good specialists are always welcome to join the multilingual international teams.
3. Jobs in Finances (our offers). Finances and accounting services are quite at their peak in a nowadays world, as well. It requires a keen eye for details, a high level of responsibility and an analytical mind.
4. Recruitment Consultant (our offers). This industry becomes the more and more wanted at the moment. It offers a constantly changing working environment, communication and responsible tasks. Languages are much appreciated in this position so this really might be a great chance to pave your career in Poland. Read more about the Recruitment Specialist position in our previous article. Previous experience is not always required so this might be a real opportunity for a career change.

As the shared services centres are constantly growing, these positions usually are seeking for new employees. If you want to face new challenges, consider coming to work in Poland: it is a nice opportunity to grow! Find all our open job vacancies in Poland (and not only).

Source: hannacheda.com

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

World Youth Days 2016 in Krakow: what is this festival?

Have you heard of World Youth Days? Do you know that usually, it takes place every three years? Do you know where it will be celebrated in 2016? WiPjobs has decided to answer all these questions with a little help of www.krakow2016.com.

World Youth Days (WYD) are celebrated worldwide by the Catholic youth and this celebration is crowned by meeting the Pope. It is a huge and very well organized event that aims to gather young religious people in order for them to share some spiritual experience. WYD started with St. John Paul II when the Pope, for the first time, invited young people to come to Rome in 1984. Normally, WYD takes place every three years, and the last one was arranged in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It is 2016 and World Youth Days came to Krakow this year! In addition, as we all know, Poland is a religious country, so the whole city is looking forward to meeting with the youth and is preparing for this great event. The celebration will be held from 26^th to 31^st July but the whole journey to WYD covers approximately two weeks and includes also “Days in Dioceses” when young people stay with their host families.

This year‘s celebration is centred around the “Touch of Mercy” which is the theme of WYD 2016. It includes catecheses and meetings with Pope Francis, but also the program of the festival will offer a wide range of concerts, performances, sports activities, art exhibitions, etc.

The festival seems to be extremely well organized and wants to attract the possible maximum of people to Krakow. Normally, several hundred thousand young people come to WYD. So, as you can see, this is really big!

At the end, just have it in mind: if you feel the vibe to come, feel free to travel and come to the beautiful city of Krakow to experience spirituality on July 26-31 and explore Poland!

All the practical information about WYD 2016 can be found on www.krakow2016.com and on social media!

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

HISTORY OF ZLOTY

Poland has officially been a member country of the European Union since May 2004 and it is anticipated to eventually adopt the common currency, Euro, within no strict timeframe – at least not until the Union’s specifications concerning the stability criteria are met. In addition to this, article 227 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland will need to be amended first, so it seems unlikely that Poland will adopt the Euro any time before 2019. But what is this “mysterious” national currency which is in circulation throughout the country?

The word is derived from the Polish term “zloto” which literally means “gold”. As one could easily deduce, “zloty” in Polish means ”golden”. The modern zloty is subdivided into 100 groszy. The widely used abbreviation PLN stands for ”Polish New Zloty” and, if interested in pursuing a career in Poland or if you have any plans visiting it, you might find useful to know that 1 PLN is equal to 0.25 Euros and 0.35 US Dollars.

The zloty (golden) has a remarkably long History, dating back to the Middle Ages. Originally, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the name zloty (often also referred to as “florin”) was used to signify alls sorts of foreign gold coins used in Poland, predominantly Venetian and Hungarian ducats. Zlotys were also considered to be a broad spectrum of coins in circulation at the time, ranging from the 30 groszy coin or polski zloty, theczerwoni zloty (Red zloty) and thezloty relski (the Rhine Guilder). In 1496, however, the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament, approved the creation of a national currency. On these terms, the freshly minted zloty acquired a set value of 30 “groszy”, a coin minted since 1347 and modelled on the “Prague groschen”.  The grosz was subdivided into 2 pólgrosz or 3 solidi. However, the value of the Polish zloty dropped over time relatively to these foreign coins and it eventually became a silver coin.

Due to the monetary reform carried out by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, the zloty became Poland’s official currency and the exchange rate of 1 zloty to 30 groszy was confirmed. Until 1787, the zloty was tied to the “Conventionsthaler”of the Holy Roman Empire, with 8 zloty being equal to one Conventionsthaler and, consequently, 4 groschen equal to the zloty. Two debasements of the currency occurred in the years before the final partition of Poland.

PRESENT DAY

Numerous alterations in appearance and adjustments to zloty’s value occured over the centuries. Nowadays, zlotys are utilised from Gdansk to Krakow and from Szczecin to Bialystok, being Poland’s official national currency. Zlotyscome in bills and coins, whereas the National Bank of Poland, is the only bank authorised to issue them in Poland. The coins range from 1 groszy to 5 zlotys, while the bills range from 10 to 200 zlotys.

The appearance of the modern zloty resembles most bank notes since they also feature historical figures and symbols. For instance, the 50 zloty bill carries a depiction of King Casimir III on the front side and his royal seal, an eagle, on the reverse side. Also, on the 200 zloty bill, you can see Sigismund I face one side and an eagle with the letter S, Sigismund I’s royal seal, on the other side.

WiPjobs’s Team

Writer @ WiPjobs Recruitment

Poland is the first net beneficiary of EU funds since its accession to the EU in 2004; in fact, between 2007-2013 Poland received a funding of 80 billion euros, of which 67.3 billion from the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, and 14 billion of loans for agriculture and fishing.

As shown on the website of Polish Ministry, from the 74 billion invested, which makes 97.5% of all funds of the 2007-2013 program, there was a return in concluded contracts of around 98 billion euros, from which 24 billion being a profit.

Likewise, in the new 2014-2020 program, Poland will receive 82.5 billion euros in structural funds and cohesion.
After 10 years of EU membership, a short summary showed that Poland has managed to create more than 300.000 working places, 25.000 new companies, build 11.000 km of roads and bridges, 1661 km of railway lines, renew the fleet of local public transport and redevelop the suburbs, open new schools, a science museum, digitized hospitals and a wind tunnel. In addition, 40.000 kilometers of broadband internet lines were created and investments in the field of scientific research and development were made.

“A key to the success of Poland in the European funds – as stated by Polish Minister of Regional Development after the Report was published – is undoubtedly in having created a centralized office that was dealing with the coordination and planning of funds, checking step by step all activities of the regions and provinces, ensuring the projects and progress, and reporting them to the Government.”
Poland continues to grow, remaining among the countries with the best potential in the medium-term perspective, with GDP +2.8% in 2014 and a positive outlook for the future: + 3.0% in 2015 and + 3.1% in 2016.

Whereas Italy in 2015 will have 17 billion from the old 2007-2013 program still to spend, but with the risk of losing this funding in December 2015. However, the task force and other measures of emergency have been put in place to prevent the delay. They are controlled by two organs of coordination and central planning, such as the agency for territorial cohesion and the control room.  On the website opencoesione.gov.it, reports show the billions invested in structural funds, but not the return of these investments.

You might observe that Poland is favored in this progress also by its strategic geographical position which places it at the center of European routes for trade, as well as the availability and openness of government authorities towards foreign investment with tax breaks and logistical offers to new businesses in 14 Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
Another special characteristic of Poland is its ability to act as a hub for logistics and distribution companies from Central Europe and non-European countries.

In Italy, one question arises naturally: How is it possible that Italy, despite being at the center of the Mediterranean, having an important geographical position – just like Poland, is not able to become a logistics and distribution hub for North Africa and other Mediterranean countries? I do not think that it depends only on the ability to use or not the European funds, but also on the lack of government policies aimed at attracting, with tax breaks and other facilities, new European and non-European logistics companies.

Acknowledgements:
Original article was published by Federico Cimmino on ilFattoQuotidiano.it
Illustration “Map of Poland” belongs to Martyna Zoltaszek, www.mzillustration.com