Brexit and Poland
According to a Google AI ( artificial intelligence ) analysis on 30th June 2025, Poland’s economy is currently experiencing strong growth, but faces challenges related to demographics, technological transitions, and maintaining fiscal stability. However, its diversified economy , strong domestic labour market, and sound financial sector position it well for continued development.
All this sounds promising and, bearing in mind that the UK and Poland have been strong allies both in peace and war, it is worth looking at the trade and investment relationship between the two countries.
According to a factsheet published by the UK ‘s Department for Business and Trade ( DBT) on 19th June 2025, total trade and in goods and services ( exports plus imports) between the UK and Poland was £30.6 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 ( Quarter 4) 2024, an increase of 2.3% or £685 million in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023. Of this £30.6 billion:
- Total UK exports to Poland amounted to £10.6 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 ( an increase of 1.1% or £120 million in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023);and
- Total UK imports from Poland amounted to £20.1 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 ( an increase of 2.9% or £565 million in current prices, compared to the end of Q4 2023).
The DBT factsheet showed that Poland was the UK’s 14th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 accounting for 1.7% of total UK trade.
The factsheet also showed that , at the end of 2023, the outward stock of foreign direct investment ( FDI) from the UK in Poland was £6.7 billion accounting for 0.4% of the total UK outward FDI stock and that, at the end of 2023, the inward stock of FDI in the UK from Poland was £483 million, 5% or £23 million higher than at the end of 2022. ( At the end of 2023, Poland accounted for less than 0.1% of the total UK inward FDI stock.)
The figures are interesting and suggest room for further growth, particularly if the Brexit ” reset” between the UK and the EU is to work.
Challenging times!
Brexit and the Chancellor’s Mansion House Speech
The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, had a busy day on Tuesday 15th July 2025, first visiting Leeds to announce the so-called “Leeds Reforms “ that the UK Government would be making to the UK financial services sector and then elaborating on those reforms in her Mansion House speech given in London in the evening.
According to a report in The Times on 16th July 2025, the proposed reforms include:-
- An overhaul of the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer duty rules introduced in July 2023;
- Streamlining the senior managers’ regime;
- The creation of a new “concierge service” to help overseas financial firms enter the UK, and the establishment of a listings taskforce to attract companies to the London stock market;
- Reform of the Financial Ombudsman service; and
- Rule changes by the Bank of England to reduce capital requirements on lenders.
Other reforms intimated in the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech included a new competitive framework for captive insurance.
Another, perhaps more controversial, area that the Chancellor indicated would be looked at are the current ring-fencing rules applying to banks separating high street activities from investment banking activities. It is understood that HM Treasury would be considering ( amongst other changes) allowing ring-fenced divisions to offer more services to UK businesses and greater flexibility to share back-office resources across a bank’s ring – fence.
The Chancellor reportedly emphasised the UK Government’s resolve to put financial services “at the heart” of its growth agenda and reportedly also emphasised the benefits of encouraging consumers to participate in the UK stock market subject to suitable safeguards.
Let us see what happens!
Brexit and “Fiddler on the Roof”
The celebrated musical, “Fiddler on the Roof”, was playing to enraptured audiences at the Barbican Theatre in London in July 2025. The production had transferred successfully from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre where it had received rave reviews.
The musical is as poignant as it is full of life and deals with universal themes of tradition, prejudice and change amongst and across families and communities, particularly in times of oppression and strife.
One of the central aspects of the storyline is the theme of separation, which emerges from the other main themes – separation rooted in heartbreak as well as hope.
At the end of the story, the people of Anatevka leave their beloved village – with optimism for the future but with fear about becoming strangers in strange lands. The urge to try and keep track of familiar faces, even when living so far apart, remains strong.
Brexit is about separation at a national and international level, as well as about many other things, and yet it is interesting how the UK and mainland Europe are beginning to discover each other again.
No wonder “Fiddler on the Roof” has done so well in London ( and elsewhere) !
Brexit and Simplifying Administrative Burdens in EU Environmental Legislation
On 22nd July 2025, the European Commission reportedly published a call for evidence on a future legislative initiative which would aim to simplify administrative burdens in environmental legislation in the areas of waste, products, and industrial emissions.
Reportedly, the aim is not to lower the EU’s environmental objectives, or the protection of human health granted by EU environmental laws, but to attain them more effectively without causing avoidable costs to businesses ( especially SMEs – small and medium-sized enterprises), public administrations and the public. This will reportedly ensure that environmental policies are faster, easier and cheaper to implement, while ensuring that the environmental objectives are achieved.
Responses to the call for evidence are sought by 10th September 2025 and the adoption of a legislative proposal is expected in Quarter 4 (Q4) of 2025.
Calls to simplify legislation are a common theme in both the UK and the EU.
Brexit and a Proposed New EU Digital Fairness Act
On 17th July 2025, the European Commission reportedly launched a public consultation and call for evidence on digital fairness in preparation for a new EU Digital Fairness Act.
Reportedly, the aim of the consultation is to collect the views of all relevant stakeholders on how to ensure fairness for consumers and businesses in business-to-consumer transactions in the digital single market , improve legal certainty , ensure effective enforcement and prevent market fragmentation. It will reportedly gather citizens’ and stakeholders’ views on potential improvements in EU consumer law aiming to strengthen the protection of consumers in general and of minors in particular in the digital environment , and create a level playing field for traders, as part of the Digital Fairness Act.
The consultation is due to close on 9th October 2025 and the Commission reportedly hopes to adopt a proposal for the Digital Fairness Act in the third quarter of 2026.
Changing times!
Disclaimer: This article contains general commentary only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
