From the moment I stepped off the airport shuttle on the eastern side of Helsinkiâs Railway Square, I felt small. In front of me, Helsinki Railway Station dominated the square, its arch-shaped faÃ§ade guarded on either side by enormous, lamp-wielding statues. Everywhere I looked was a succession of large and beautiful buildings, testaments to the creativity of 19th- and 20th-century architects.
With its 38,346,279 people, Poland is the 34th largest country in the world by population. It is the 70th largest country in the world by area with 312,685 square kilometers.
Chiefly because Poland matters more: it is the EUâs sixth-largest economy and the biggest of the ex-communist countries that joined the bloc in 2004. It is a frontline state, with a border with Russia and will host the NATO summit in July. The EU needs Polish help on climate change (it is a big coal producer).