On Friday, CBOS published the results of a survey conducted for the first time in two years perception of Polish-German relations. According to the survey, 48 percent respondents believe that Polish relations are currently neither good nor bad. 18 percent think they are bad, and 25 percent — that it's good. CBOS points out that this is the highest percentage of positive ratings in 9 years.
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What are the current assessments of Polish-German relations?
What improved the perception of Germany in Poland?
What issues are considered important in Polish-German relations?
What is the support for war reparations among Poles?
Deteriorating approach to Germany during PiS rule
“Respondents assessed Polish-German relations best at the very beginning of the 1990s. Positive assessments also dominated in 2015 – the last year of the government of the PO-PSL coalition. In the following years, i.e. After Law and Justice came to power, the share of people defining relations between Poland and its western neighbor as good decreased systematically.. At the end of this party's rule, only 13 percent respondents perceived relations between the two countries as good,” CBOS reminds.
In the previous survey, which took place in August 2023, 56 percent respondents believed that Polish-German relations were neither good nor bad. 13 percent considered them good, and 22 percent — too bad.
Which groups positively evaluate relations with Germany
CBOS notes that currently “positive assessments of Polish-German relations are expressed more than four times more often by people declaring themselves as supporters of the current government than its opponents”: among the government's supporters, 49 percent of respondents consider Polish-German relations to be good, 43 percent to be neutral, and only 4 percent to be bad.
Negative and neutral opinions predominate – indicates CBOS – among supporters PIS and Confederation.
Among supporters Confederation 52 percent believes that Polish-German relations are currently neither good nor bad, 42 percent evaluates them negatively, while 16 percent — positively. Among voters PIS 47 percent considers current Polish-German relations to be neutral, 33 percent — considered bad, at 13 percent positive ratings.
What influences Poland's bad attitude towards Germany?
“A good assessment of Polish-German relations is facilitated by direct contacts with Germans. Polish-German relations are assessed significantly better than among all respondents by people who obtain information about Germans and Germany from their own stays in Germany, as well as by those who have Germans among their friends,” CBOS also notes.
Respondents also indicated in open questions issues that, in their opinion, are currently important for the shape of Polish-German relations. The most common – 21 percent. indications – respondents mentioned the issue of reparations for World War II; 13 percent pointed at importance of economic issues (as indicated by CBOS, in a positive or neutral context). Also 13 percent respondents drew attention to the importance of issues related to migration policyand 9 percent — on issues related to security and defense policy. 5 percent respondents paid attention to the issue of ““dominance” of Germany and its attempts to put pressure on Poland.
One of the questions was also about support for Polish reparation claims against Germany. 36 percent respondents said that Poland should definitely demand reparations for war losses, 27 percent — that she “probably” should. 18 percent believes that Poland “probably” should not demand reparations, and 9 percent — that she definitely shouldn't demand it.
“The attitude towards the issue of demanding war reparations from Germany depends largely on one's political and ideological orientation. Reparations claims are supported by 79 percent. respondents declaring right-wing political views and over half as many respondents identifying with the left (38%). Additionally, this move is more often approved by religious people who participate in religious practices at least once a month than by those who do not practice or do it only occasionally,” notes CBOS.
Reparations are an important issue from the Poles' point of view
As noted, 35 percent of supporters of Donald Tusk's government believe that the Polish state should demand reparations, while among his opponents the opinion is 85%.
The respondents were also asked who, in their opinion, benefits more from economic cooperation between Poland and Germany. 49 percent pointed to Germany, and 4 percent to Poland. 31 percent believes that the benefits of both countries are similar, 16 percent has no opinion on this matter.
51 percent respondents believe that Poland should develop cooperation with Germany in the military fieldbut with the reservation that only within international organizations to which both countries belong (NATO or the EU). 26% of respondents support the development of military cooperation without such reservations. respondents, while 14% were against it. 19 percent there is no clear position on this matter.
The majority of respondents also believe that the introduction of mutual controls on the Polish-German border allows for effective reduction of illegal migration. 18% “definitely” agree with this statement. respondents, 42% “rather” agree. 21% “rather” disagree. respondents, and 12% “strongly disagree”. 7 percent there is no unified opinion on this matter.
The CBOS survey was conducted on a representative sample of adult Polish residents, drawn from the PESEL register. Each respondent chose to participate in the interview using one of the methods – direct interview (CAPI – 61.2% of interviews), telephone interview (CATI – 22.5% of interviews) and online survey (CAWI – 16.3%). The survey was carried out from October 2 to 13, 2025 on a sample of 901 people.
