In August 2012, Poland did not satisfy any of the criteria required of countries that want to join the euro zone, according to the Ministry of Finance.

In August, Poland did not meet the criterion on price stability, with average annual inflation rate at 4 percent (it would have to keep it below 3 percent). According to the forecasts of the European Commission, Poland will likely not meet this requirement until the end of 2013.

Poland also fell short when it comes to interest rates. The difference in 12-month average long-term interest rates was 5.5 percent, 1.8 percentage points higher than required.

When Poland joined the EU in 2004, it agreed to adopt the common currency at some point, but with the euro zone crisis continuing, the government has not yet given a target date. A TNS Polska poll in June said that only 12 percent of Poles believe the country should join the euro zone, while as many as a third think Poland should never join it.

RG