The Polish Steel Industry before and during Accession 1990–2006

Abstract

In the course of this chapter, we will trace the restructuring of steel on a national level, investigating the role of the state, external investors and the EU in the course of the restructuring of Polish steel. We can distinguish three phases of restructuring during which the external influence of the EU and of investors were steadily increasing: the first was ‘natural’ restructuring; the second was state-led; and the third was EU-based. We will explore which mechanisms were at play that allowed the EU to push through its view on restructuring.