Three years ago, Poles showed strong enthusiasm about their country’s role in the European Union. Yet a recent IBRiS survey for Rzeczpospolita indicates that the share of Poles who view EU membership more positively than negatively is shrinking.
Officials from the current ruling coalition have already claimed the success of unlocking EU funds for Poland, a process negotiated during the Law and Justice era. During the time of the United Right, the European Commission often signaled money releases, only to adjust the rules later, frequently under pressure from the left-liberal majority in the European Parliament.
The funds were frozen under PiS governance, and the pledge to release them “the day after the elections” appeared during the campaign by the upcoming prime minister, Donald Tusk. Ultimately, it took longer than expected, but the government kept its word. Yet the prospect of substantial Brussels money flowing toward Poland did not convert Poles into ardent euro-optimists. Instead, the public’s view of EU membership grew more lukewarm.
That sentiment is echoed daily in the pages of Rzeczpospolita, which reports the IBRiS survey results. Respondents were asked whether Poland’s EU membership offers more advantages or more disadvantages. The response may surprise some: Poles have long perceived EU membership as largely beneficial.
More advantages or more disadvantages?
When asked if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks of Poland’s EU membership, 53.5 percent pointed to advantages, 16.7 percent to disadvantages, and 24.7 percent said the pros and cons balance each other out.
Rzeczpospolita notes that optimism has declined since the November 2020 survey, which recorded 64.4 percent in favor and 17.1 percent in opposition, with 15.8 percent in the balance. While Eurosceptics who see more disadvantages have remained relatively steady, the share of those who strongly favor EU membership has fallen by around ten percentage points, with a similar shift toward a balanced view in a growing segment of Poles.
The greatest rise in dissatisfaction with EU membership appears among rural residents. Looking more broadly, many Poles, especially older generations, feel the past two decades have become increasingly unfamiliar, and they view the European Union as just one facet of a changing world. At the same time, the costs of belonging to the Western alliance are becoming more visible.
Rafał Chwedoruk, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, commented on this trend in an interview with Rzeczpospolita. He noted the aging demographic and shifting perceptions of the EU among older Poles as a sign that the newer era may not align with earlier expectations.
The Green Deal is cited as a factor eroding the belief that EU membership brings only benefits, according to the head of the IBRiS poll, Marcin Duma. He points to policies like reducing the use of combustion-powered cars as elements that alter long-standing assumptions about life within the union.
Open borders or tighter EU obligations
Respondents were asked to weigh the biggest advantages and disadvantages of Poland’s EU membership. When listing the drawbacks, many cited EU-imposed laws as a common burden, with responses such as unequal treatment of member states and concerns about migration also noted. Some perceived Poland as a source of cheap labor, although this concern was less prominent.
On the flip side, the leading advantages mentioned were open borders between member states, EU-funded projects benefiting Poland, enhanced national security, and opportunities to study abroad. These benefits illustrate the dual nature of EU membership in public perception.
The EU’s evolution has prompted commentary from experts like Zbigniew Krysiak, who argues that the union’s founding values are being tested. Analysts have highlighted criticisms of aggressive stances toward conservative governments and the broader political dynamics across member states.
In Poland, questions about the rule of law and the EU’s funding mechanisms have remained prominent, with occasional criticism directed at how different institutions respond to governance challenges. Observers note that the process of funding distribution has sometimes been interpreted as political theater rather than a straightforward mechanism for development.
The public’s sense of continuity and change remains a live issue as political actors navigate how EU relations will influence Poland’s economy, society, and identity. The discourse continues to evolve as new policies, funds, and international developments shape everyday life for Poles.
aja/Rp.pl
Source: wPolityce