POLAND

Although Poland's democratic institutions have matured, some backsliding was evident during the recent PiS government.

Electoral registration is fair, but public media organizations show a pro-government bias. The government actively works to influence the media.

Civil rights are formally protected, but courts are slow, inefficient and politicized. The PiS government dissolved a gender equality agency, and used government resources to attack political opponents.

Poland has long suffered from high unemployment and substantial regional disparities.

Strong economic growth and emigration, rather than effective labor market reforms, have driven declining unemployment numbers.

Business investment has been slowed by overregulation and bureaucracy. The most recent government was inconsistent, slowing privatization and stalling state-owned business restructuring.

Corporate taxes are low, but budgets remain unbalanced.

Poland is one of the EU's poorest countries, with strong regional and urban-rural disparities.

A decrepit public health system coexists with expanding private care. Quality of care thus depends heavily on a patient's income.

Support for working mothers is low. The PiS government actively encouraged traditional family roles for women.

Public pension levels have fallen, increasing generally low old-age poverty levels.

Poland relies on EU membership for external security, but has also cultivated a close relationship with the United States.

Crime rates are relatively high.

The country is more a source of than a destination for immigration. Integration policy is undeveloped.

Concern over environmental issues has been low among the Polish political elite, particularly during the PiS government. Meeting EU environmental standards has been challenging.

R&D spending has been minimal, with weak links between science and industry. Several new funding programs seek to change this.

Education spending is relatively high, though schools are not well synchronized with labor market demands.

Little long-range strategic planning takes place in Polish government circles. The PiS administration dissolved a 10-year-old center for strategic studies.

RIAs are mandatory, but assessment quality is often poor.

Polish law requires the government to consult with all parties affected by legislation, but the most recent government focused primarily on the Catholic Church and the Solidarity labor union.

The government lacked internal cohesion, and did not have a parliamentary majority during part of the review period, hampering legislative efficiency.

The president and upper house exercise suspensive veto powers. The well-respected Constitutional Tribunal can declare laws unconstitutional.

Policy outcomes have often lagged far behind government promises.

EU accession has driven modification of domestic government structures.

The country has participated in UN peacekeeping operations. Civic organizations, rather than the government, have attempted to apply the Polish experience in aiding former Soviet countries.

Polish government structures are typically given rigorous scrutiny only in the face of manifest problems.

Though institutional arrangements have largely been stable, a reorganization of ministries was launched in early 2007.

Corruption, scandal and confrontational politics have led much of the Polish citizenry to tune out media reports on politics.

The parliament has substantial executive oversight powers. The independence of the historically respected ombuds office has recently been called into question.

Labor unions and the Catholic Church are the most organized and influential interest groups.