First off, Poland benefitted immensely from EU funds. Better infrastructure is better in Poland for the same reason it is better in Spain, Spain just had those funds earlier.
As for the migration policies, I think you are pointing in the right direction but the reality is more subtle.
Old European countries consider work to be a privilege, Poles, having lived in the Warsaw Pact country, still perceive work to be an obligation.
A refugee arriving in Germany can't start working and lives off welfare while his case is settled, which may take years.
A similar refugee arriving in Poland has to find a job both to survive and to obtain legal residency.
This has the downside of driving down wages but the upside of creating even more jobs.
Amazon, Lidl, Zalando and many other labor-intensive businesses set shops just across the border for a reason.
As for the migration policies, I think you are pointing in the right direction but the reality is more subtle.
Old European countries consider work to be a privilege, Poles, having lived in the Warsaw Pact country, still perceive work to be an obligation.
A refugee arriving in Germany can't start working and lives off welfare while his case is settled, which may take years.
A similar refugee arriving in Poland has to find a job both to survive and to obtain legal residency.
This has the downside of driving down wages but the upside of creating even more jobs.
Amazon, Lidl, Zalando and many other labor-intensive businesses set shops just across the border for a reason.