82 percent of Poles believe that Poland benefits from membership in the European Union, and 75 percent see it as important, according to a new European Parliament survey. Among the most important benefits, they indicated improved quality of life. At the same time, as many as 76 percent of respondents claim that they would take part in voting in the European elections if they were held next week.
On Wednesday, the results of a new edition of the survey regularly conducted by European parliament – Parlemeter 2023. Citizens of all EU countries were asked, including: about what they think about their country’s membership in the EU structures. Data was collected from September 25 to October 19 and interviews were held with over 26,000 people. Europeans.
The study shows that on average 72 percent of EU residents believe that their country has benefited from membership in the EU. According to them, the main reasons for this are the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security (34%) and better cooperation between EU member states (34%).
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Poles about the benefits of EU membership
Of the Poles surveyed, 75 percent believes that our country’s membership in the EU is important, and 82 percent claims that Poland has benefited from its presence in the Community. The most important reasons for this were the improvement of the quality of life and the creation of new professional opportunities (31% each) and the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security, as well as to the economic development of Poland (29% each). 61 percent Poles interviewed believe that the EU has a positive impact on their everyday lives.
53 percent Poles indicated that the EU has positive associations for them, 37 percent considers it neutral, and 10 percent perceives the EU negatively. Young respondents aged 15-24 associate the EU best with 65%. of them indicated that the EU has a positive image, and 35 percent he sees it neutrally. At the same time, according to Poles, the EU’s priority should be public health (35%), defense and security policy, including the protection of external borders (29%), and democracy and the rule of law (28%).
The vast majority of Poles (68%) are interested in the upcoming events elections to the European Parliament, which will take place in June 2024. 76 percent claims that they would probably take part in the vote if it took place next week, and 51 percent believes that going to the European elections is “of great importance” for them.
Living standards and democracy
The survey also asked Europeans about their socio-economic difficulties. On average 73 percent respondents believe that their standard of living will decrease over the next year, and 37 percent has difficulty paying bills sometimes or most of the time. In the case of Poles, 68 percent believes that their standard of living will decline over the next year, and 24% have difficulty paying bills sometimes or most of the time. asked.
Respondents were also asked a question about democracy in their own country. 60 percent Poles responded that they were satisfied with the way democracy functions in Poland, while 38 percent expressed dissatisfaction. 73% of people have a positive opinion about EU democracy. Poles, and 23 percent negatively.
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