Most Polish people oppose ending unanimity voting in the EU, and only one-tenth support the idea, according to poll results by the Social Changes Institute, published by wPolityce.pl on Sunday.
Only 11% supported eliminating unanimity voting in some areas of EU policy, as shown in the poll results in the eurosceptic, pro-government wPolityce.pl.
“Polish people are increasingly aware of the intensifying threats. The opposition against the plans by the EU’s centre is rising,” the outlet commented on the poll’s results, referring to the proposal of EU Treaties reform, including pushing for majority votes on foreign policy and tax issues, supported by Germany.
It also pointed out that not only 74% of the ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS, European Conservatives and Reformists) party’s voters are against abandoning the unanimity voting rule, but also 57% of the electorate of the opposition centrist Civic Coalition (KO, European People’s Party).
Asked if Poland should give up its veto rights in the EU, 58% of the respondents answered no.
Earlier this month, the Polish Foreign Ministry declared that Poland would defend unanimity rule when it comes to voting on EU foreign and security policy while stressing that Warsaw is not going to resign from its veto prerogatives on that matter.
When asked whether Poland should agree to changes in EU Treaties to enable introducing new taxes in member states, regulating the states’ internal security and restrict their competencies, 41% answered negatively, while 21% approved the proposed changes.
According to the poll, 48% of those surveyed also oppose the Fit for 55 package, which the poll said would cost Poland up to €189 billion. The package has also been criticised by the PiS government.
The pressure for building a centralised state, in which Poland’s role would be limited to a province governed by Berlin and Brussels, will rise, wPolityce.pl predicted, adding that the Polish government “will not win this war” if not supported by the public opinion.
“The presented poll gives hope that this is a direction we drift towards,” the outlet concludes.
(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)
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