Expectations and feelings in Poland after two years membership in the European Union

By Prof. Andrzej Glowacki, University of Szczecin (Poland)

Poland has been the biggest country among 10 accession states that had got membership in the European Union since May lst.2004.The number of inhabitants is almost 39 M but GNP per capita is one of the lowest (about 50% of the EU 25).

59% of Polish electorate took part in the referendum concerning accession into the European Union.Accordingly to Polish Constitution the referendum is then valid if more than a half of the electorate takes part in.So attendance in referenda is highly important in Poland. 77% voters were for the accession of Poland into the European Union

Among the adherents to belong to the European Union were especially managers and inteligentsia (91%), adherents of left parties (88%), rich people (85%), graduates and postgraduates (83%), youth (83%), inhabitants in big and middle citie5 (81%).

Among opponents were especially peasantry (28%),unskilled workers (20%), inhabitants in country and small cities (18%), people with primary education (18%).

People who declared that the y have been for the accession of Poland into the European Union gave following explanations in their attitude:

- decreasing in unemployment, better chances to get a job, thereunder                               67%

- after the membership in the European Union unemployment would be decreased            21%

- the would be more opportunities tofind jobs abroad (in the EU countries)                        27%

- better perspectives for future generations                                                                        57%

- economic development in Poland would be accelerated                                                  42%

- freedom of movement and settlement in the EU countries                                                39%

- improvement of living conditions                                                                                     33%

- Poland’s position will be stronger in Europe and in the world                                          27%

- we made so much to be inside the European Union and now we cannot resign                17%

- democratcy in Poland would better function                                                                    16%

- chances thanks integration for Polish country and agriculture                                           14%

- int~gration would favourably influence for culture and customs of Poles                           6%

The opponents to integrate with the European Union contended that :

- after the accession into the European Union Poland will be bought by foreign capital       54%

- integration with the European Union would be not favourable for Polish agriculture          43%

- Poland is not yet preparerd for the integration with the European Union                          42%

- Inside the Europe Union Poland will be in danger  to deprive its sovereingnty; decisions concernning Poland will be made in Brussels                                                                                                         40%

- Polish economics is too weak to be a match for European Union competition                 31%

- Concidtions of the intergration are not favorable for Poland                                             31%

- lack of confidence in the European. Union                                                                      28%

- after entry into the European Union there will be decrease in standard of life                   21%

- the integration with the EU will be unfovourable for culture and customs of Poles            11%

The most fears were not proved after 2 years membership in the European Union. Poland has not been bought by foreign capital. In some cases Polish capital has bought enterprises abroad (for instance in Lithuania, Czech Republic). Products of Polish agriculture and food industry are exported more and mote into the countries of the European Union. Polish economics survives rise, at the last time industrial production has increased about 19% in comparison to year 2005. Standard of life is now higher than before the accession.

Paradoxically, present Polishgovernmeut consists of political forces that were against the accession with the European Union or have got many doubts about it. The Polish government is a coalition of 3 political parties : Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, Samoobrona and Liga Polskich Rodzin.

Liga Polskich Rodzin has declared in its programmes that Poland shall abandon the European Union, because the treaty is not enough favourable for Poland.

Samoobrona demandes that Poland ought to renegociate the Acccession Treaty with the European Union, beacaus the Treaty is not enough favourable for Poland.

Prawo i Sprawiedliwość considers that all Polish claims shall be satisfied by the European Uniou, but Poland must there defend narrowly understood its national interests and disregard so the interests of the European Union as the ones of other member states.

ln spite of this the support for the European Union and Poland’s membership there is increased about 10% more than before the accession.