page_title: Euroscepticism
section_title: Poland
hierarchical_section_title: Euroscepticism / In EU member states / Poland
caption_attribution_description: English: "Trumna dla rybaków" ("Coffin for fishermen") sign visible on side of many Polish fishing boats. Polish fishermen protest against EU prohibition of fishing cod by Polish ships. Picture taken in Jastarnia harbour. Polski: Znak "Trumna dla rybaków" widoczny na burtach wielu polskich kutrów rybackich. Polscy rybacy protestują przeciw zakazowi połowu dorsza przez polskie statki, wydanemu przez UE. Zdjęcie wykonane w przystani rybackiej w Jastarni.
context_page_description: Euroscepticism, also known as EU-scepticism, means criticism of the European Union and European integration. It ranges from those who oppose some EU institutions and policies and seek reform, to those who oppose EU membership outright and see the EU as unreformable. The opposite of Euroscepticism is known as pro-Europeanism, or European Unionism.
  The main sources of Euroscepticism have been beliefs that integration undermines national sovereignty and the nation state, that the EU is elitist and lacks democratic legitimacy and transparency, that it is too bureaucratic and wasteful, that it encourages high levels of migration, or perceptions that it is a neoliberal organisation serving the business elite at the expense of the working class, responsible for austerity and driving privatization.
  Euroscepticism is found in groups across the political spectrum, both left-wing and right-wing and is often found in populist parties. Although they criticise the EU for many of the same reasons, Eurosceptic left-wing populists focus more on economic issues while Eurosceptic right-wing populists focus more on nationalism and immigration.
context_section_description: The main party with Eurosceptic views is the Confederation Freedom and Independence. 
  Former president of Poland Lech Kaczyński resisted giving his signature on behalf of Poland to the Treaty of Lisbon, objecting specifically to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Subsequently, Poland got an opt-out from this charter. As Polish President, Kaczyński also opposed the Polish government's intentions to join the euro.
  In 2015, it was reported that Euroscepticism was growing in Poland, which was thought to be due to the "economic crisis, concern over perceived interference from Brussels and migration". Polish president Andrzej Duda indicated that he wished for Poland to step back from further EU integration. He suggested that the country should "hold a referendum on joining the euro, resist further integration and fight the EU’s green policies", despite getting the largest share of EU cash.
  In the 2019 European Parliament election, Law and Justice won the election with a vote share increase up from 31.78% to 45.38%, increasing its seats from 19 to 27.
caption: "Trumna dla rybaków" ("Coffin for fishermen"). A sign visible on the sides of many Polish fishing boats. It depicts an obscene Slavic gesture. Polish fishermen protest against the EU's prohibition of cod fishing on Polish ships.
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