Romania marks 10 years of EU membership
Over half of Romanians trust the EU, reads a recent survey
Mihai Pelin, 28.11.2017, 14:11
Ten years since their countrys accession to the European Union, 57% of Romanians continue to trust the EU, according to the results of a survey made public recently by the European Commission Representation in Romania. Also, 86% of respondents have a neutral or positive opinion on the EU, while only 14% have a negative perception. In the Romanians opinion, the main advantages of being EU members are the good ties among its members, democracy, the observance of human rights and the rule of law and also the capacity to promote peace and democracy beyond its borders.
The fact that 54% of Romanians believe that their voce is being heard at EU level proves that they become active European citizens. As for the future, Romanians believe that the main threats and challenges are the fight against terrorism (65%), the relations with Russia (46%) and the immigration policy (41%). They support, just like the EU Commission President, Jean Claude Junker, the “unity for all scenario, which prompted the head of the European Commission Representation in Romania, Angela Cristea, to say that the dominant image that the Romanians have on the EU is that of a project of peace and understanding, both among its member states and in its foreign relations.
The survey also shows that according to the Romanians, the main advantages of their countrys EU accession are finding a job in another member state, the access to more markets and the positive impact of EU funds on the region they live in. As for disadvantages, these are a decrease in the purchasing power, foreigners having the right to buy land and real estate and the exodus of qualified labor force. Holding the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2019, at a highly important moment for the future of the EU, is a major opportunity for Romania and an equally big responsibility, minister delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu has said. He also said that in this context, Bucharest plans to correlate its Presidencys priorities with the peoples expectations, by placing the citizen at the heart of the policies it plans to promote at European level.
The survey also shows that Romanias top priorities during their countrys 6-month EU Presidency are, in the opinion of its citizens, the cohesion policy (66%), security and migration (58%), joining the Schengen area (57%), and having the Mechanism of Cooperation and Verification (56%) lifted. Also, Romania will host the first high-level meeting of the EU leaders post-Brexit, in 2019. (Translated by E. Enache)
