Anthony Hilton: Hairline crack shows in Poland's euro optimism

Perhaps the most astonishing bit of news this week was that the government of Poland, headed by Donald Tusk, is still committed to joining the euro. After what happened in Cyprus this week it seems a bit like being convinced that nuclear power is the way of the future the week after Chernobyl blew up. Apparently, however, Mr Tusk believes his nation implicitly agreed to join the euro when it voted to join the EU back in 2003 and he seems determined to begin the final stages of accession to the single currency by 2015 so that it can be a full member by 2017.

Not surprisingly, recent events have prompted some to change their minds, and opinion polls say that however happy they are with the EU – and Poland has weathered the financial crisis remarkably well – 62 per cent of the population do not want to take the further step and adopt the euro.

The news on Wednesday was that Mr Tusk conceded there might just be a case for another referendum, given how the world had changed. No promises, though.