Romanians’ confidence in the EU
Europeans confidence in the Union and its policies stays at good levels.
Ştefan Stoica, 15.06.2018, 13:04
The Eurobarometer made public on Thursday measures the EU citizens’ confidence in the Community’s policies and institutions, and compares it to the confidence rates for national authorities.
In Romania’s particular case, the Eurobarometer data ought to be taken by national decision-makers as a warning. The European poll makes it clear that Romanians are more optimistic with respect to the EU economic situation, with 31% of them trusting it will improve in the coming 12 months, as compared to 21%, the European average. On the other hand, they are more pessimistic when it comes to the national economy, with only 27% of them finding the economic state of the country to be good, compared to 49% at EU level.
Romanians also trust the Union more, the 52% confidence rate being above the 42% continental average. Compared to other Europeans, Romanians have a poorer opinion on their own households and jobs. According to the Eurobarometer, only 54% of Romanians believe the financial situation of their family to be good, and 42% have similar opinions on their jobs, as against a European average of 71% and 61% respectively.
At national level, the main problem is the increase in prices, and implicitly in the cost of living. This is only natural, considering that inflation in Romania went above 5% in May, the highest level in the past 5 years. Across the European Union, the Euro-barometer reports growing optimism regarding the economy and strong support for the single currency. For the first time since spring 2007, positive opinions on the state of the respective national economies (49%) outweighed the negative opinions (47%). The support for the economic and monetary union and for the single currency also remains the highest so far, at 74%.
The Eurobarometer also notes an increase in the overall confidence in the EU, the current 42% rate being the highest since the autumn of 2010, and a rise in optimism regarding its future, to 58%.
Not least, Europeans actually feel the benefits of the EU achievements and policies, such as the freedom of movement or fewer border checks while traveling abroad, lower prices for phone calls to another EU member country, stronger consumer rights when purchasing products and services from another EU state and the improved rights of air passengers. The main concerns for Europe’s citizens are migration and terrorism. Freedom of movement and a common security and defence policy are supported by an overwhelming majority.
The Eurobarometer was carried out in March 2018. Over 33,000 people from all EU member and candidate countries have been interviewed.
