Polish Students, Public Largely Unaware of EU Citizenship Rights, Benefits

A significant portion of Polish university students remain unaware of their rights and the implications of their European Union citizenship. This lack of fundamental knowledge was highlighted when a question about EU citizenship elicited no response from students in a business and sociology class.

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Who among you knows that in addition to national citizenship, you also have European Union citizenship and what it entails?

When informed about rights such as freedom of movement, the right to vote in European Parliament elections, diplomatic protection in non-EU countries, and the ability to file complaints with the European Ombudsman, the students expressed surprise. This disconnect, the author notes, is not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern.

Drawing a parallel to the UK's Brexit referendum a decade ago, which was fueled by a deficit in basic EU knowledge and aggressive anti-EU campaigns, the article questions whether Poland has learned any lessons. The author suggests that the students' confusion indicates a failure to grasp the EU's significance.

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The students' embarrassment regarding their status as EU citizens is just one example that we have not learned from it.

Further evidence of limited public understanding comes from a March 2024 poll for TOK FM, where 58% of respondents mistakenly believed national law supersedes EU law. The article explains that this is a voluntary agreement by member states seeking benefits, not an imposition. By ceding some sovereignty, nations gain collective power and a stronger global standing. The process of EU law creation, involving national ministers in the Council and elected MEPs in the European Parliament, is also often overlooked.

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national law takes precedence over EU law