The perception Poles have of their Western neighbours is becoming increasingly negative, while Germans have an increasingly positive view of them, the latest edition of the German-Polish Barometer study by the Deutsches Polen Institut (DPI) has found.
Despite an overall positive image of Germany in Poland, Polish citizens are expressing more reservations, while Germans are developing a more favourable opinion of Poland, according to the report by the president of the Polish Institute of Public Affairs, Jacek Kucharczyk, and the director of the DPI, Agnieszka Łada-Konefał.
While Germans see Poland as an attractive tourist destination and appreciate Polish hospitality, Poles still see Germans largely through the lens of historical conflict, especially World War II, although this association is diminishing.
“One in five Poles still associates Germans with ‘occupiers’ or ‘invaders’,” said Łada-Konefał as she presented the report.
The study concludes that, as in previous years, the image of Germany in Poland is generally better than the image of Poland in Germany. Polish opinions about Germany, however, are strongly influenced by the respondents’ political convictions.
Change in power influenced the perception of Poland
The pretext for publishing the study was the first anniversary of elections in which the conservative PiS (ECR) party, known for its scepticism towards Germany, lost power to the pro-EU coalition led by Donald Tusk, an advocate of good relations with Berlin and an old friend of Germany’s former chancellor, Angela Merkel.
The researchers noted that the image of Poland in the eyes of Germans has improved significantly compared to 2022 or 2023, which may have been influenced by a more pro-German cabinet in power.
The study also reads that both Poles and Germans have a generally positive view of bilateral relations, driven by economic interests and direct social contacts.
Poles who view the relationship negatively often cite insufficient accountability for German war crimes in Poland as the main problem, while the largest group of Germans point to differing political interests as the reason for poor relations.
When in power, the PiS government demanded 6.22 trillion zlotys (€1.31 trillion) in war reparations from Germany, based on a report it published on the losses suffered by Poland due to World War II.
Almost half of respondents in both countries believe cooperation within the Weimar Triangle should be strengthened. Poles and Germans cite energy security and a stronger European defence policy as key areas for cooperation.
Tusk was not invited to Friday’s meeting in Berlin on peace in Ukraine, attended by four EU countries, including Germany and France, the US and the UK. The lack of an invitation was noted by Polish media and criticised by the German opposition.
Poles more favourable to anti-Russian sanctions
Respondents were also asked about Russia and security in Europe. Most Poles (68%) and Germans (60%) see Russia as a military threat to their country.
At the same time, just over half of Poles believe that strengthening the German military would also increase Poland’s security, although a quarter have concerns rooted in the Polish-German historical context. In Germany, almost two-thirds believe that a stronger Bundeswehr would increase the security of allies, including Poland.
Support for anti-Russian sanctions is much stronger in Poland, where three-quarters are in favour, compared with 58% in Germany.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)
Source: euractiv.com
