ZAGREB, 10 July (Hina) – Croatians, like most Europeans, are most concerned about rising prices and the cost of living, they strongly support the euro and have an extremely pro-Ukrainian attitude, according to the Eurobarometer survey released by the European Commission on Monday.
The survey was conducted in June in all 27 member states.
Asked about the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment, rising prices and the cost of living were the top answer, with 35% of the respondents in Croatia citing this issues, as well as an average of 27% in the EU.
The international situation was the second most common answer, for 27% of the respondents in Croatia and an average of 25% in the EU.
Asked what are the two most important issues facing their country, 69% of Croatian respondents cited rising prices and the cost of living as the top issue, which was also the answer given on average by 45% of the respondents in the EU.
The economic situation was the second most common response by Croatian respondents (30%, compared with an EU average of 18%).
Two thirds of Croats support € currency, 5pps more since introduction of euro
More than two-thirds of Croatian respondents (68%) support a common economic and monetary policy with one single currency, the euro, which is five percentage points more than at the beginning of this year. On average, support at the EU level remained the same as at the beginning of the year, at 71%, and at 78% in the euro area.
More than half of those surveyed in Croatia (51%) have a positive image of the EU (6 percentage points more than at the beginning of the year), 36% are neutral, and 13% have a negative image. Croatian citizens have a more positive image of the EU than the average in all 27 member states, where 45% have a positive image, 37% are neutral, and 18% have a negative image.
Croatian citizens support common policies slightly more than the European average. Thus, a common energy policy is supported by 76% of respondents (73% in the EU), a common foreign policy by 74% (EU 70%). Further enlargement is supported by 72% of Croatian citizens, and at the EU level, the support is at 53%.
When it comes to the Russian aggression against Ukraine and its consequences, the vast majority of Croatian respondents (82%) support financial aid to Ukraine, while at the EU level the support is at 75%. Also, 81% of Croatian respondents are in favour of economic sanctions against Russia, compared with 72% percent in the EU.
Financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine is supported by 72% of Croatian respondents and 64% in the EU. Granting candidate status to Ukraine is supported by 83% of Croatian citizens and 64% in the EU.
Welcoming people fleeing the war is supported by 91% of respondents in Croatia and 86% in the EU.
Citizens in Croatia somewhat more strongly support reducing the EU’s dependency on Russian energy sources as soon as possible (91%) compared to the EU average (82%).
The vast majority of citizens in Croatia and throughout the European Union support the energy transition.
(Hina) ll