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Survey: Poles believe Poland cannot afford refugees

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 03.11.2015 08:33
73 percent of Poles consider that their country cannot afford to take in refugees, at the same time 53 percent believe that as an EU member Poland should take an active part in solving the migration crisis, a recent poll by the TNS Polska has indicated.
EPA/PETER KNEFFEL

The pollster states that the opinions of the respondents are chiefly an effect of certain prevailing stereotypes and opinions, and not based on their experience.”

Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz's outgoing centrist government, which lost the 25 October general election, agreed to take in 7,000 refugees, whose stay in Poland will purportedly be financed by the EU itself.

30 percent of those polled think that accepting refugees enriches the culture of the host country, 30 percent agree with the opinion that many of the refugees are well-educated and talented people who could contribute to the development of the country they settle in.

However, the poll shows that Poles are apprehensive of the presence of the refugees: the majority of the respondents, 73 percent, think that taking in refugees spells the growth of unemployment, while 68 percent consider that refugees will contribute to the growth of the crime rate.

73 percent state that Poland should first deal with helping Poles in the east, principally in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, and then turn to the refugees from North Africa and the Middle East.

The survey showed that 91 percent of the respondents do not personally know any refugees, that is people who had to flee from their home country in fear of war or repressions. (ab/nh/rk)

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