President Komorowski - Poland doesn't need referendum to adopt Euro

President Komorowski with EP chief Jerzy Buzek, Tuesday; photo - PAP/EPA

Komorowski made the remark before having talks with members of the European Parliament, including its president Jerzy Buzek, a former prime minister of Poland.

"We are not afraid of a referendum in Poland, but we want to emphasize that it is not necessary from the viewpoint of the Polish state," Komorowski told journalists.

President Komorowski said that he still felt that adopting the European single currency was advantageous for Poland's economy.

“But of course, we must assess when it is most beneficial and when it is possible [to join],” he added.

The current right-of-centre government in Warsaw, of which Komorowski is a political ally, said when it came to power four years ago that it intended to join the Eurozone as quickly as possible, but plans were put on the back burner after the debt crisis erupted in many EU states.

But as the Civic Platform-led coalition tries to draw up austerity measures to lower debt to within the three percent target set by the EU to be able to adopt the single currency, recent opinion polls have indicated a decline in support for the Euro in Poland.

President Komorowski said today, however, that it would not be necessary to go to the country before going ahead with plans to join the Eurozone, as governments “already had a mandate” to adopt the Euro when they signed the treaty on joining the EU.

"When Poland signed the treaty [to join the European Union] it declared a willingness to join the Eurozone,” he said. (pg)