The data from the latest survey conducted by Eurobarometer, an EU-wide public opinion survey agency, has shown that Poles are strongly in favour of further European integration.

No less than 83 percent of Polish respondents wanted a common defence and security policy for the EU, compared to an EU-wide average of 76 percent.

Given the Ukraine crisis and frequent concerns over gas supplies from the east, an EU energy union proved to be the second most popular idea among Poles with 74 percent in favour.

This will come as a boost to Polish diplomats who are trying to push for the creation of such a union.

Poles are also the main supporters of continued EU expansion with 64 percent in favour. The EU-wide average was just 39 percent in favour of further expansion.

According to the survey almost three-quarters of Poles support the EU signing a free-trade deal with the USA (TTIP), although average EU-wide support is under 60 percent due to concerns such as about the potential environmental effects of the treaty.

The Polish component of the survey was carried out in November 2014 and used a random representative sample of 1,000 residents. (sl/jb)

Source: PAP