ABSTRACT
Since its accession in 2004 Poland, as the largest member state in the CEE-8 accession group, has gradually moved from the periphery to centre stage of political decision-making in the EU. Under the leadership of the Christian-conservative PiS government since 2015, Poland´s pro-European direction has become increasingly contested under the adverse external conditions of the United Kingdom’s Brexit decision and the refugee crisis. As a result Poland´s influence in the EU has waned and it remains to be seen to what extent the country will be able to continue to play a substantial role in shaping the future policy agenda. The chapter analyses the positions of the previous Civic Platform and the current PiS government in Poland with regard to the major challenges Europe has been facing in recent years in the field of European integration and looks at the road ahead for Poland in the EU.
