Poland's economy was the second-fastest growing in Europe during Q1 2009, another sign that the country is one of the best placed to weather the economic downturn.

Gross domestic product expanded an annualised 0.8 percent, the Central Statistical Office said, the second-best result of the 20 EU countries that have so far reported growth during this period and just behind Cyprus.

The euro zone, by contrast, contracted 4.6 percent during the same period.

Consumer spending rose 3.3 percent in Poland and fixed investments grew 1.2 percent.