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They may be willing but are the Poles ready for EU membership?

June 12, 2003
https://p.dw.com/p/3k3m

The people of Poland have made their final break with their Soviet past and firmly established themselves in the western fold. Last weekend 77% of voters said yes to joining the European Union in a referendum. That means Poland will join the EU on May 1st next year. It was a crucial decision, both for the Polish government and for Brussels. Poland is by far the biggest of the ten countries slated to join the EU next year. And yet, only 58% of those eligible to vote in the referendum did so. Helen Seeney asked our correspondent in Warsaw, Rafal Kiepuszewski, why there was so much apparent apathy regarding EU membership?