CBOS poll: Poles support refugee aid, weary of resettlement

In correlation with the upcoming Global Refugee Day (June 20th), CBOS (Public Opinion Research Center) released a report evaluating Polish attitudes on refugees and immigration. A poll on this topic has not been conducted since 2004. The results show that Polish attitudes on immigration have changed very little over the past decade. Generally, Poles favor accepting and helping refugees, though this support fades when specific situations are presented. Poles are more keen to accept refugees from pro-Russian separatist controlled parts of Ukraine than those from the Middle East or Africa. Seventy-six percent believe that Poland should help those who are persecuted by their own governments  because of their religious or political beliefs. However, only 22 percent favor the idea of allowing refugees to settle in Poland, down by 5 percent since 2004. More Poles favor sending refugees back to their home countries when the situation there makes it possible (54 percent compared to 48 percent in 2004). About 15 percent are completely against accepting political refugees. Poles are much more likely to support sending aid to armed conflict zones with 72 percent supporting, and 14 percent accepting resettlement of refugees from these areas into Poland. Thirty-three percent believe that Poland should play a proportional role with the influx of refugees into the EU. The poll found that opinions on refugees had a direct correlation to the respondent’s financial situation and educational background. The lower the level of education and financial resources, the more likely the respondent was to disapprove of refugee assistance. Age was also a factor, with the oldest respondents displaying mainly negative views of refugees and immigrants. The CBOS report underlines that the poll was conducted before the European Commission announced a concrete plan that would bind all EU members, including Poland to accept a certain share of refugees (around 2,500 people). The poll was conducted May 14-20, 2015 on 1,048 respondents chosen at random.