Govt. office: Half of Serbian citizens support EU accession

BELGRADE One half of Serbian citizens would vote for Serbia's EU accession, the survey carried out by the Serbian Government's EU Integration Office shows. At the same time. 24 percent of the population would vote against the membership in case a referendum on the matter was held this summer, the same poll has shown. Govt. office: Half of Serbian citizens support EU accession At the referendum as to whether citizens support Serbia's EU membership, 19 percent of citizens would not vote, while 8 percent do not know what they would say, show the results of this year's first survey entitled, "European orientation of Serbian citizens - trends," which the Office carried out in early July. The survey was prepared in keeping with the standards of Eurobarometer and it covered 1,050 interviewees aged over 18. The results of the survey show that that the current level of citizens' support to EU accession is as much as nine percent higher than in the previous survey, and that the number of citizens against EU accession is lower by seven percent. Such growth of support to the EU accession process is ascribed to a positive response of citizens to EU membership at a time when progress is obvious in resolving the issues on which everyday life depends and at a moment when the EU qualifies the reforms as successful, such as the decision of European leaders at the Brussels summit on June 28 concerning the initiation of Serbia's accession process. A total of 42 percent of interviewees believe that EU membership would be positive for them, 25 percent believe that this would be negative and 32 percent believe that it would be neither good nor bad. A large number of citizens, 68 percent, still believe that the reforms necessary for the country's EU accession should be implemented and that they are not the condition for membership but should be conducted for the creation of a better Serbia. A majority of citizens, 41 percent, list the fight against corruption as the most important reform which has the biggest influence on their everyday life. As the main factors which are making Serbia's EU path more difficult, the interviewees listed the policy of constant EU conditioning (37 percent), reluctance for changes (12 percent) and the incompetence of Serbian government (11 percent). The Office for European Integration has been conducting regular surveys on EU-related topics ever since 2002. Tanjug

Govt. office: Half of Serbian citizens support EU accession

At the referendum as to whether citizens support Serbia's EU membership, 19 percent of citizens would not vote, while 8 percent do not know what they would say, show the results of this year's first survey entitled, "European orientation of Serbian citizens - trends," which the Office carried out in early July.

The survey was prepared in keeping with the standards of Eurobarometer and it covered 1,050 interviewees aged over 18. The results of the survey show that that the current level of citizens' support to EU accession is as much as nine percent higher than in the previous survey, and that the number of citizens against EU accession is lower by seven percent.

Such growth of support to the EU accession process is ascribed to a positive response of citizens to EU membership at a time when progress is obvious in resolving the issues on which everyday life depends and at a moment when the EU qualifies the reforms as successful, such as the decision of European leaders at the Brussels summit on June 28 concerning the initiation of Serbia's accession process.

A total of 42 percent of interviewees believe that EU membership would be positive for them, 25 percent believe that this would be negative and 32 percent believe that it would be neither good nor bad.

A large number of citizens, 68 percent, still believe that the reforms necessary for the country's EU accession should be implemented and that they are not the condition for membership but should be conducted for the creation of a better Serbia.

A majority of citizens, 41 percent, list the fight against corruption as the most important reform which has the biggest influence on their everyday life.

As the main factors which are making Serbia's EU path more difficult, the interviewees listed the policy of constant EU conditioning (37 percent), reluctance for changes (12 percent) and the incompetence of Serbian government (11 percent).

The Office for European Integration has been conducting regular surveys on EU-related topics ever since 2002.