Membership in the EU enjoys record-high support among Europeans, according to this year's Eurobarometer. 74% of EU citizens see the benefits for their country – this is the best percent since the start of the survey in 1983. And in Poland it is even higher. We peculiarly appreciate the EU's contribution to security, fresh career opportunities and the country's economical development. After 21 years of our presence in the EU, however, European education is inactive needed.
– Poles support Poland's membership of the European Union continuously from the very beginning. Twenty-two years ago, a referendum was held, which allowed Poland to enter the European Union, and already the support was large, but it is worth mentioning that at the moment, support in all investigation is higher than then by a good 10–20 pp. Therefore, it can be said that the absolute majority of Poles want us to be in the European Union – emphasises in an interview with Newseria Witold Naturski, manager of the European Parliament Office in Poland.
The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that EU membership has a evidence advanced support among Europeans. 74% believe that their country benefits from EU membership. In Poland, 84% see the benefits. Among the main benefits of membership, Poles most frequently pointed to fresh professional opportunities, the Union's contribution to peace and security, the country's economical development, improving the standard of surviving of citizens or cooperation with another Community countries.
Last year's CBOS survey indicated that 77% of respondents are presently in favour of Poland's presence in the European Union. The advantages of Poland's membership in the EU relate most frequently to the acquisition and usage of EU funds, and, on the another hand, the benefits of beginning borders and freedoms linked to the functioning of the common market.
– The fundamental benefit Poland has from membership of the European Union, which is frequently forgotten, is membership of the Single Market. This means that Polish producers can sale to the markets of all another EU countries as if they were selling on the home market. This is almost half a billion consumers and statistic show that the absolute majority of our exports are actually sold on the EU market – reminds Witold Naturski.
The Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy last year stated that the share of the EU common marketplace allowed Polish producers to grow on the planet markets – between 2004 and 1923 exports from Poland increased six times from EUR 60 billion to EUR 350 billion, including to EU countries from EUR 45 billion to EUR 262 billion. The largest positions in which Poland has frequently become a leading supplier in the Union are car parts, batteries, televisions, furniture and cosmetics.
Poland's participation in the single European marketplace was a key origin in our country's GDP growth. Since accession to the Union, the Polish economy has doubled – the cumulative GDP growth was 99 percent and half of the growth was due to EU membership. Our country has achieved the 3rd largest cumulative GDP growth among associate States. In terms of per capita, our gross home product increased from 50% of the EU average in 2004 to 80% in 2023.
– Of course, another benefits, the more noticeable ones, are billions from the Cohesion Fund, which arrived in Poland and for which infrastructure in Poland was upgraded, just take Polish roads. And of course individual benefits to all of us, that is, travelling without barriers, telephone calls without extra roaming charges or the European wellness Insurance Card – mentions the manager of the EP Office in Poland.
In the face of geopolitical turmoil, 89% of Europeans believe that greater unity between associate States is crucial to tackling global challenges. 66% want the EU to play a greater function in protecting citizens from global crises and safety threats.
– Unity in the European Union has so far been seen as economical unity, marketplace unity, freedom of movement, but it has been revealed that the European Union has besides been spending funds in fresh years to buy arms for a 3rd country, Ukraine. It was completely unthinkable before. – notes Witold Naturski.
Although awareness of the benefits of EU presence is comparatively high, according to the CBOS study, 8% of respondents felt that Poland's membership of the European Union did not bring any benefits to our country and 12% could not find them. This shows that educational measures are needed. Europe Experience centres can play an crucial role.
– The centres are primarily utilized to grow cognition of the European Union. What is crucial is that they are adapted to the realities of the 21st century, that they are interactive, that they encourage commitment, that they grow their knowledge, not that it is simply a conventional European lesson – emphasises Aleksandra Klimczyk, coordinator of the multimedia centre Europa Experience in Warsaw, at Jasna Street.
Europe Experience is simply a multi-media centre opened across Europe with interactive tools to learn what cooperation at European level looks like and how it helps to deal with major problems. The interactive map of Europe brings together the achievements of the Community and the challenges for the future. You can besides find out what EU priorities are at national and regional level and what the EU is doing for a country. In the 360o Immersive Cinema, you can see how to better solve problems and form the common future. A feature game has besides been prepared for organised groups, during which 1 can become a associate of the European Parliament and learn how the European Union's rules are being created. The exhibition is available in all authoritative EU languages.
– Young people sometimes forget or don't remember how it was before the European Union: that we had control at borders, that there was no roaming, something that is now apparent to us, was not once. It is worth coming to specified places and they should be created not only in the capitals of the associate States, but besides in smaller cities, to inform how crucial it is that we are in the European Union – adds Aleksandra Klimczyk.
The occasion to callback this is Europe Day, celebrated on 9 May on the anniversary of Schuman's plan in 1950, which became the foundation of today's European Union. This is the day erstwhile the EU institutions open their doors to all citizens. Many events took place on their initiative throughout Poland, but besides in another associate States.
