Poland (Polish: Polska), officially the Republic of Poland (), is a country located in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania, and Russia (in the form of the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) to the north. Poland shares a maritime border with Denmark in the Baltic Sea. The country has been a member state of the European Union since May 1 2004.

The Polish state was formed more than 1,000 years ago under the Piast dynasty, and reached its golden age near the end of the 16th century under the Jagiellonian dynasty, when Poland was one of the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful countries in Europe. In 1791 the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted the Constitution of May 3, Europe's first modern codified constitution, and the second in the world after the Constitution of the United States. Soon afterwards, the country ceased to exist after being partitioned by its neighbours Russia, Austria, and Prussia. It regained independence in 1918 in the aftermath of the First World War as the Second Polish Republic. Following the Second World War it became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union known as the People's Republic of Poland. In 1989 the first partially-free elections in Poland's post-World War II history concluded the Solidarity (Solidarność) movement's struggle for freedom and resulted in the defeat of Poland's communist rulers. The current Third Polish Republic was established, followed a few years later by the drafting of a new constitution in 1997. In 1999 Poland acceded to NATO, and in 2004 it joined the European Union.

Officially the country is known as Republic of Poland, in Polish Rzeczpospolita polska#Adjective. The word Rzeczpospolita is the historic name that has been used continuously since the 16th century during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was an elective monarchy. The term Rzeczpospolita can mean "commonwealth" or also "republic", whereas the Polish translation for the English term "republic" is republika. During communist rule from 1952 to 1989 the country's official name was the People's Republic of Poland (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa), which was the only break in the historical official designation.

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National Bank of Poland official interest rates - 08/08/2008
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:35 -0400
WARSAW. AUGUST 8. INTERFAX CENTRAL EUROPE - Following is a table of official money market rates as set by the National Bank of Poland (NBP). The Central Bank's Monetary Policy Council left Poland's in...
Gibson suits Polish government
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:31 -0400
Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) - The Scottish company which was refused to buy a coal mine has filed a suit. Gibson Group International (GGI) of Scotland has been the only investor interested in privatization ...
PKO BP Q2 net up 47 pct, in line with forecast
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:27 -0400
, Poland's Largest Bank By Market Capitalisation, Reported A 47-Percent Rise In Second-Quarter Earnings On Friday, In Line With Expectations, Thanks To Booming Demand For Loans And Higher Margins On D...
24 welders treated well in Poland
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:29 -0400
THE firm, who sent 24 Danao City welders to Poland, is not an employment agency, a company lawyer said. The welders were sent to Poland to improve their skills, according to lawyer Rey Echavez, who sp...
Poland - Factors to Watch on Aug 8
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:26 -0400
WARSAW , Aug 8 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Poland's financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland GMT + 2 hours): SKRZYPEK SAYS ZLOTY MAY...
National Sports Center events
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:43:25 -0400
The National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine will host a varied menu of major events during the month of August. Here is a summary: USA International Girls' Hockey Cup - July 31-Aug. 3 and Aug. 7-10, Sc...

Poland News

Policewomen get 'bullet-proof bras'
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:01:43 -0000
Reuters BERLIN - Thousands of German policewomen will receive what media have labeled "bullet-proof bras." Made of white cotton and featuring the word "Polizei" along the seam, the bras are meant to better ...
Polish immigrants walk far in pilgrimage to Pa.
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:59:58 -0000
As thousands of Poland's Catholic faithful embark on an annual religious pilgrimage to the shrine of their nation's patron saint, Polish immigrants in the U.S. will carry out their own version of the ...
Quad/Graphics forms partnership with Polish printing company
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:59:49 -0000
Quad/Graphics is expanding in Europe by infusing leadership and capital investment and by appending its name to a Polish printing partnership.
Wisla stand between Barca and the Champions League
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:59:40 -0000
Wisla Krakow have crushed Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem 6-2 on aggregate to set up a UEFA Champions League 3rd round qualifying tie against Barca.
Skanska awarded major construction projects
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:59:29 -0000
Nordic construction firm, Skanska has been awarded a number of construction projects across Poland worth z3.378 million Nordic building firm, Skanska has won major construction orders in Poland to develop roads ...
Deadlock in Missile Shield Talks
Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:59:22 -0000
As talks on stationing a U.S. missile shield base in Poland hit further obstacles, it looks increasingly unlikely that Warsaw will reach a deal with the outgoing administration of President George W. Bush.

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