ZAGREB -- Support for the EU is on the wane in Croatia, as in many European countries, following the recent Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.
Source: Tanjug
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According to the poll, the only countries where approval ratings have risen are Cyprus, Malta and the Czech Republic, while in Greece, France and Italy, support has tailed off considerably.
The especially low support in Croatia compared to, say, Macedonia, where 72 percent of citizens support EU integration, is thought to be down to the feud over the protected ecological fishing belt in the Adriatic, the pressure on the ship-building industry, the additional criteria imposed on Zagreb by Brussels, and reports that talks will be finished with the EU no earlier than autumn 2009.
Another factor is believed to be the impression in certain quarters that Brussels does not have equal criteria for the countries in the region, with the view that Serbia is being given the benefit of the doubt, despite not achieving full Hague cooperation.
President Stjepan Mesić also commented on the poll’s findings, stating that Croatian officials had not been sufficiently convincing when promoting Croatian EU entry.
Certain people benefited from Croatia’s isolation during the Nineties, said Mesić, adding that new capital had been acquired from shady dealings back then, and all those millionaires had in their hands the means to send completely opposing messages, to the effect that Croatia had to defend and preserve itself.
“We want Europe to be there, and we in Europe, we want to take advantage of European funds and activate our potential,” stressed the president.
I am not surprised. The conditions imposed on Western Balkan countries by the EU seem to be grossly unfair, especially when one considers the countries which have already been let in (Romania, Bulgaria, both of which have a lower GDP and poorer human rights record (**post-2000**) than that of Croatia).
The EU has hugely benefitted some countries but made little or no difference (or even in some cases a negative difference!) to many others.
(hrb, 2 July 2008 17:19)
Mesic move to Brussels to be close to your beloved EU. … Stop your nonsense also with the few self serving elites politicians with the church run over the majority of the Croatians rights to decide for them selfs and override their wishes. … Let the Croatians decide in a fair referendums not always be rail roded by you and your kind against their wills what a total nonsense ,what a derelict deserves to the Croatians citizens you are.
(Lenard, 28 June 2008 20:19)
Mesic move to Brussels to be close to your beloved EU. … Stop your nonsense also with the few self serving elites politicians with the church run over the majority of the Croatians rights to decide for them selfs and override their wishes. … Let the Croatians decide in a fair referendums not always be rail roded by you and your kind against their wills what a total nonsense ,what a derelict deserves to the Croatians citizens you are.
(Lenard, 28 June 2008 20:19)
I am not surprised. The conditions imposed on Western Balkan countries by the EU seem to be grossly unfair, especially when one considers the countries which have already been let in (Romania, Bulgaria, both of which have a lower GDP and poorer human rights record (**post-2000**) than that of Croatia).
The EU has hugely benefitted some countries but made little or no difference (or even in some cases a negative difference!) to many others.
(hrb, 2 July 2008 17:19)
I am not surprised. The conditions imposed on Western Balkan countries by the EU seem to be grossly unfair, especially when one considers the countries which have already been let in (Romania, Bulgaria, both of which have a lower GDP and poorer human rights record (**post-2000**) than that of Croatia).
The EU has hugely benefitted some countries but made little or no difference (or even in some cases a negative difference!) to many others.
(hrb, 2 July 2008 17:19)
Mesic move to Brussels to be close to your beloved EU. … Stop your nonsense also with the few self serving elites politicians with the church run over the majority of the Croatians rights to decide for them selfs and override their wishes. … Let the Croatians decide in a fair referendums not always be rail roded by you and your kind against their wills what a total nonsense ,what a derelict deserves to the Croatians citizens you are.
(Lenard, 28 June 2008 20:19)