Number of Serb citizens who support EU membership increases, showed the regular semi-annual EU Delegation poll. The poll also showed that most of the citizens are still unaware of EU being the biggest donor to Serbia. “We link the trend with a new phase of relationship between EU and Serbia,” the Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said.
As many as 55% of Serbian citizens are in favour of EU membership, showed the survey conducted on 1239 persons, two weeks after the official start of accession negotiations with the EU in late January. Virtually the same number of respondents (56%) said that the EU membership would attract more investments, 50% expected better environmental protection, while 50% believed it would improve the rule of law.
The Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Michael Davenport expressed his satisfaction with the positive trend of support to Serbia’s EU membership linking it with a new phase of relationship between Belgrade and Brussels.
“It would be of utmost importance for EU to follow these trends during the negotiation process so we can adjust our communication with needs and wishes of Serbian citizens,” Davenport said.
The survey shows the lack of information among Serbian citizens when it comes to amount of funds provided by the EU, or to the fact that EU rates highest on the list of the biggest donors along with five of its Member States.
Public traditionally consider Russia the largest donor to Serbia, when in reality, Russia is not even on the biggest donor list because it has granted only development loans to the country, but not donations. However, the percentage of citizens who consider Russia the biggest donor is declining and now stands at 16%, while 13% of respondents consider the EU as the largest donor.
The European Union has donated €2,6 billion in the period of 2000-2013, along with five EU Member States: Germany, Italy, Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands, who altogether donated an additional €2 billion.
Two thirds of respondents (67%) consider the sector of agriculture as the highest priority for EU’s donations, while nearly half of respondents believe sector of health as well as underdeveloped regions should receive the most.
If a referendum on EU membership was in February, as many as 53% of citizens would vote in favour of it, and this represents the highest level of those supporting the membership ever since the EU Delegation conducted its first poll in July 2010. The percentage of those against EU membership dropped from 13 to eight percent.
For those surveyed main reason for EU membership is better employment opportunity, followed by higher living standard, a brighter future and prosperity, fight against corruption, as well as opportunity to use EU education system.
“The EU Delegation to Serbia will work together with the government of Serbia to explain real benefits that the citizens could expect from the negotiation process and accession to European Union,” ambassador Davenport said.
“It is our wish to increase the understanding of citizens about the EU so they can make an informed decision when they are to decide for or against the EU membership at a referendum,” Davenport said.
Around 50% of citizens believe Serbia would join EU in ten years or less, while 21 percent say this is not likely ever to happen.
Opinion poll results for press conference (MS Power Point file)
