European Commission President Romano Prodi urged Polish people to take their future into their own hands on Monday by voting to join the European Union in a June 7-8 referendum

"I say simply: Take a decision to live as a protagonist ... this is the great occasion," Prodi told a joint news conference with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller during a visit to Warsaw. Poland is the next of 10 EU members-to-be to go to the polls to vote on membership of the bloc, following votes in favor of joining in Malta, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia. While the latest poll has shown that 72 percent of Poles back membership of the bloc, deep concerns have revolved around turnout, as the referendum will only be valid if more than half of registered voters cast their ballots. The Polish concerns were highlighted by a low turnout of 52 percent in neighboring Slovakia at its referendum over the weekend. Describing the referendum as "one of the biggest events of Polish history" Prodi said that Poland's role in Europe was "vital and essential" and that because of its size Poland's referendum was the most important of all the candidates. He said he had agreed with Miller on the importance of strong transatlantic links and a strong role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq, AFP reported.