Campaign to be launched to educate European peers about the new Poland

The recent public opinion poll conducted by the Institute of Public Affairs in Austria, Spain and Sweden show how surprisingly little the citizens of these countries know about Poland. Only 33% of Austrians,17% of Spaniards, and 8% of Swedes know that Poland is now a parliamentary democracy. Even fewer realize that Poland is undergoing rapid economic growth. The stereotype of a Pole is of a pious person; a prominent percentage of respondents stated that the Catholic Church had too much influence in Poland. Also, backwardness and conservatism had been noted. Yet, Poles are rather liked by most of the respondents. In the media the overall image of the economy is definitely positive, despite the problems in agriculture, which are also widely discussed. The Foreign Ministry has prepared a special program aimed at promoting Poland among the European Union (EU) countries, which will emphasize both the success of the Polish economy and its traditions and culture. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 1, 16)