Poland's gross domestic product grew by 4,3% in 2011, according to preliminary estimates prepared by the national statistics office. In 2010 the growth had been 3,9%. Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the data, saying it strengthens his position at next Monday's European summit in Brussels. “Growth of 4,3% of GDP is a better result than expected… It's important. On Monday I will participate in the Brussels summit as prime minister of a country that is recovering well from the crisis”.
Poland, despite not adopting the single currency, is asking to participate in eurozone summits, a request that has raised opposition from France, and which risks becoming a matter of debate at the summit. “I don't want to raise too many hopes for this year, but our forecasts are more optimistic than those of international institutions”, added Tusk.
The IMF estimates that growth this year could be less than the 2,5% forecast by the government. The day before yesterday Finance Minister Jacek Rostowsky told the Sejm, the Polish Parliament, that the Polish economy grew more than 4% last year.
