The country regained independence in 1918 for only 20 years. In 1998 Poland joined NATO and began negotiating its full membership in the European Union. The country has a variety of natural resources including coal, copper, zinc, iron, gypsum, lignite and some oil and natural gas reserves. Today Poland stands out as one of the most successful transition economies. Dominant industries include metalwork, steel, chemical and textile production. .
Antiquated agriculture remains the main hindrance to faster economic growth.
Poland s main agricultural products include grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fodder and livestock. For centuries Polish culture has been an integral part of European culture. During the last two decades the Nobel Prize for literature has been awarded to two Polish poets Czeslaw Milosz and Wislawa Szymborska. A long musical tradition is continued by such world renown composers as Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk G recki. Films of Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kie lowski and Roman Pola ski contributed highly to the world and European cinema.