The uncertain economic situation and fear that the euro zone debt turmoil could spill over to Poland make most Poles opposed to adopting the euro, a survey showed on Tuesday. Sixty percent of Poles do not want the euro to replace the national zloty currency, while only 32 percent are in favour, pollster CBOS said.
"A possible, out-of-control collapse of the euro zone is treated by Poles as a serious threat that could lead to a recession and an economic crisis in the European Union, and in turn even to its disintegration," pollster CBOS reported. "Doubts concerning the common currency project are translating into falling acceptance for introducing the euro in Poland." The highest level of support for euro adoption, at 64 percent, was reported in Poland in 2002, before Poland joined the European Union in 2004.
The number of euro supporters has been falling in recent years, particularly after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global financial crisis.
The ruling centrist Civic Platform party had announced plans to join the bloc in 2012-2013 before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. But Poland's fiscal challenges and the euro zone's woes have pushed back Prime Minister Donald Tusk's euro membership drive and the government now rarely speaks on the issue, noting the euro zone must solve its own troubles before considering adding more members. Though joining the euro zone remains an official strategic objective for Warsaw, some in Poland have cooled to the idea as the free-floating zloty's sharp fall during the financial crisis played a key role in helping Poland to escape recession.
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