A new survey reveals that 72.8% of Poles support remaining in the European Union, even as right-wing politicians revive discussions about a potential Polish exit from the bloc.
The poll, conducted by IBRiS research institute, found that half of respondents believe Poland should "definitely" remain in the EU, while 22% favor leaving—a sentiment that has gained ground since pro-EU support peaked at 92% in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The findings underscore a persistent disconnect between political rhetoric and public opinion in Poland's complex relationship with Brussels. While Eurosceptic parties have made opposition to EU institutions a central theme, the data shows that even among their supporters, attachment to membership remains substantial.
According to the survey, 56.5% of Poles believe the country has gained more from EU membership than it has lost, while only 18.1% hold the opposite view. The pro-EU camp draws strongest support from women, older voters aged 60-69, residents of major cities, and university-educated citizens—reflecting the familiar divide between cosmopolitan urban Poland and its more conservative provincial regions.
Political party affiliation shows stark divisions. The New Left registered 100% support for remaining in the EU, while Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition showed 96.9% backing. More surprisingly, even among the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, 54.2% of supporters oppose leaving the bloc, and 57.6% of the far-right Konfederacja's voters share that position.
In Poland, as across Central Europe, history is never far from the surface—and neither is the memory of occupation. The country's 2004 accession to the EU represented not just economic opportunity but a final break from the Soviet sphere—a symbolic return to Europe after decades of communist rule. This historical weight helps explain why EU membership remains popular even as tensions over rule-of-law issues and budget disputes have strained relations with Brussels.
The survey comes at a delicate moment for Polish politics. Prime Minister Tusk, who returned to power in 2023 after eight years of PiS rule, has warned that could take Poland out of the EU if they win the 2027 elections. His government has moved aggressively to restore judicial independence and repair relations with European institutions—reforms that the previous government had undermined.
