Europeanisation, National Identities and Migration ... - europeanization

Polish identity 145
Table 8.1 Changes in the level of support for Poland’s integration into the European
Union
If a referendum on joining the Responses according to date of research (in %)
European Union were held
today, would you vote:
June May May Apr. May Aug. May Nov.
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999 1999
For entry 77 72 80 72 66 63 55 59
Against entry 6 9 7 11 19 19 26 26
Don’t know 17 19 13 18 15 18 19 15
Source: CBOS ‘Current problems and events’ research (114), 10–15 November 1999, on a random
representative sample of adult Poles (N=1089).
An insight into the hidden reasons behind those answers is provided by responses
to another question regularly asked in the CBOS (Center for Social Opinion
Research) research (see Table 8.2). It shows a steady increase in the number of
respondents who are of the opinion that Poland should improve and modernise its
economy first, and then apply for the entry into the European Union. Since 1997
there has also been a steady fall in the percentage of respondents who believe that
joining the EU as quickly as possible would help us to improve and modernise our
economy.
It suggests that the respondents who are opposed to integration into the EU, as
well as at least some of those who are for it, believe that Poland is now economically
too weak to stand up to the competition within the common European market.
Such an interpretation is in accordance with the findings of CBOS research which
show that attitudes towards integration are influenced by an individual’s assessment
of the country’s economic situation and the economic well-being of his or her family
Table 8.2 Changes in opinion on the desired pace of Poland’s integration into the
European Union
In your opinion: Responses according to date of research (in %)
Apr. Aug. Dec. May Nov.
1997 1997 1998 1999 1999
Poland should improve and modernise its
economy first, and then apply for the entry
into the European Union 48 43 50 58 62
Poland should try to join the EU as
quickly as possible, since it will help to
improve and modernise its economy 40 39 34 26 27
Difficult to say 12 19 16 16 11
Source: CBOS ‘Current problems and events’ research (114), 10–15 November 1999, on a random
representative sample of adult Poles (N=1089).