EU accession transformed Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states, but neighboring countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Serbia followed different trajectories. This comparison examines whether EU membership itself made a measurable difference in GDP growth, inflation control, and investment attraction.
Key Data Points
Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia -- GDP per capita ($), GDP growth (%), CPI change (%), FDI inflows (% GDP)
Ukraine
$6,381.68
Romania
$22,436.01
Poland
$28,484.67
Hungary
$25,916.33
Moldova
$8,239.36
Serbia
$15,322.2
Ukraine
2 % annual
Romania
1 % annual
Poland
3.2 % annual
Hungary
0.6 % annual
Moldova
1.7 % annual
Serbia
2.4 % annual
Ukraine
12.6 % annual
Romania
7.3 % annual
Poland
3.8 % annual
Hungary
4.5 % annual
Moldova
7.7 % annual
Serbia
4.6 % annual
Ukraine
2.1%
Romania
1.9%
Poland
2.2%
Hungary
-27.9%
Moldova
2.5%
Serbia
6.2%