On 1st May 2004 the European Union has been extended by the new members. EU-25
will be a great challenge both for the current and new members to take advantage of chances
brought by enlargement. However, it is going to be also the challenge to face some new risks.
The paper presents:
- the prodicted shape of the EU in the context of wealth level equality between current
and new members,
- the macroeconomic forecasts for Poland,
- the condition of public finance in the EU member countries (selected indexes in 2001).