The number of Poles who feel the country’s future outside of the EU might be brighter than inside it now outnumbers those who disagree. These are the findings of a Kantar poll taken for the European Commission.

The poll taken as part of the European Commission’s research into public attitudes in member states found that the number of those skeptical about the EU is rising rapidly in Poland. Compared with the equivalent research conducted in 2018, the number of those saying Poland’s future maybe brighter outside the EU has risen by 11 percentage points and stands currently at 47 percent. The number of people who feel that Poland is better off inside the EU has fallen by 10 percentage points and now stands at 45 percent.



Of the countries researched only Slovenia recorded a higher percentage (48 percent) of respondents feeling their country would do better outside of the EU rather than in it. Even in Britain the survey found only 42 percent favouring Brexit and 45 percent staying in. Italy was another country which reported 44 percent against staying in the EU with ‘remainers’ only two percentage points ahead on 46 percent.



Support for the EU is highest in North-Western Europe with Holland coming top with 87 percent, Denmark on 80 percent, Germany 78 and Finland 76.



It is worth noting that the trend towards Euroscepticism is present in all new member states of the EU. But Poland is running well above the average which is running at two percent with the rate of growth in Euroscepticism the highest of any country.





It is always important to issue the health warning that this is just one poll. But since it shows a sharp rise in Euroscepticism and a fall in enthusiasm for the EU that is higher than in other countries it may be significant.



The supporters of the EU will blame the present government and the fact that it has contested EU policies on climate change and migration, as well as being in conflict with the EC and the ECJ over judicial reform. Some might even say that this shows that “Polexit’ maybe no idle threat.



But those close to government circles will argue that these are the effects of Mr Timmermans and his crusade against Poland’s judicial reforms. Reforms which have met more strident international than popular domestic opposition.



There may be other factors at play too. One of them is that people are beginning to get the message that membership of the EU comes with strings. Another, that soon Poland may be contributing more to the EU budget than it takes out.



The rise in Euroscepticism is a challenge for the new President of the EC as well as the Polish government too. This is why it would be in the interests of both to find a way out of conflicts such as the one over the rule of law.