Ukrainian refugees have become an economic asset, not a burden for Poland – Rezazade

Data on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Poland increasingly clearly refute the narratives about their dependence on social assistance. According to available statistics, about 80% of Ukrainians who were forced to leave for Poland because of the war live off their own income and do not receive state benefits.

Moreover, their contribution to the country's economy is already estimated at 2.7% of Poland's GDP, and annual tax revenues from Ukrainians reach about $450 million.

First Vice President of the Iranian opposition in Washington, international expert Ali Reza Rezazade notes that these figures are of fundamental importance for understanding the real role of Ukrainian migration in Europe.

“Ukrainian refugees in Poland are an example of how forced migration can be transformed into an economic resource. They quickly integrate, work, pay taxes and actually compensate for the labor shortage that Poland faced even before the war,” Rezazade emphasizes.

According to him, the level of social integration is also indicative. More than half of Ukrainians — about 52% — have already learned Polish, which indicates long-term plans and readiness to adapt to the new environment. In addition, about 10% of Ukrainians have already purchased their own real estate in Poland, investing in the economy of the host country.

The expert draws attention to the significant gap in income levels between Ukraine and Poland: the average salary in Ukraine is currently about 550 euros, while in Poland it is about 1,800 euros. This factor, according to Rezade, explains the high motivation of Ukrainians to find employment and legal economic activity.

“Ukrainians are not just looking for security — they are looking for the opportunity to work, provide for their families and build a future. For Poland, this means additional taxes, increased consumption and stabilization of the labor market,” he emphasizes.

At the same time, Rezazade notes that for Ukraine, these processes pose a difficult but inevitable challenge. On the one hand, this is the loss of part of the labor resources, on the other, the formation of an economically successful diaspora, which in the future can become an important source of investment, knowledge transfer and support for the country's reconstruction after the war.

“The question is not whether everyone will return. The question is how Ukraine will be able to use the potential of its citizens abroad in the post-war period. The Polish example shows: Ukrainians are capable of being a driver of growth where the conditions are created for this,” the expert concludes.