Eurobarometer: Most citizens appreciate the EU country membership
Almost three quarters (74 percent) of the European Union citizens believe that their country benefits from membership, and in Croatia this percentage is even higher, 84 percent, show the results of the Eurobarometer, a winter survey of the European Parliament for 2025. This is the highest percentage that has been recorded since the beginning of the research, when the issue was first asked in 1983. The study was conducted from January 9 to February 4 in 27 Member States. It was carried out by personal interviews, face to face. In Croatia, 1011 people have been surveyed. More than half of the surveyed in Croatia (51 percent) holds that the EU brings new employment opportunities, while at the EU level, this percentage is half the lower (26 percent).
As another reason, they consider EU membership useful, respondents in Croatia (34 percent) and in the EU (35 percent) cite contribution and protection of peace and strengthen security.
The third reason see that it contributes to the economic growth of the country, (32 percent in Croatia, 28 percent in the EU).
A third of the respondents (33 percent) expect their standard of standard to be worse in the next five years, which is seven percentage points more than in June to July 2024. In that, respondents in France with 53 percent (+8 percentage points compared to 2024 test) and in Germany with 47 percent (+15 percentage points). In Croatia, 29 percent of citizens expect a drop in the standard of living, an increase of 12 percentage points compared to the latest research. More than half of respondents in Croatia (54 percent) believe that their standard of standard will not change in the next five years, and 17 percent expect a better standard of living. In a geopolitical environment that quickly changes defense and security (36 percent) and competitiveness, economy and industry (32 percent) are separated as areas to which the EU should focus most to strengthen its position in the world. While the results for defense and security remained stable compared to February/March 2024, those for competitiveness, economy and industry increased by five percentage points. After these two areas, energy independence (27 percent), food supply and agriculture (25 percent) and education and research (23 percent) follow.
Each fourth European (41 percent) has a positive opinion on the European Parliament, in Croatia this percentage is slightly higher, 44 percent. When asked if they think that the European Parliament should have an important role, 62 percent responded positively to both Croatia and EU level. There are 56 percent of respondents in Croatia in Croatia. Economic and security issues are also at the forefront when it comes to topics that citizens want to be priority in the work of the European Parliament. Four of the ten Europeans mention inflation, growth and living costs (43 percent, followed by defense and EU safety (31 percent), the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31 percent) and support for the economy and the creation of new jobs (29 percent). Inflation, growing prices and costs of life are the main priority in all age groups, and the highest results are recorded in Portugal (57 percent) percent), Slovakia (56 percent), Croatia and Estonia (54 percent).
When it comes to the values that Europeans would like to defend the European Parliament, the first place are peace (45 percent, democracy (32 percent) and human rights protection in the EU and the world (22 percent). Two-thirds of citizens support a stronger role of European Parliament
Nine out of ten (89 percent of EU citizens say that Member States should be more unique in dealing with current global challenges. In Croatia, when asked if the European Union should be more uniquely answered by 90 percent of citizens, and 83 percent of respondents believe that the Union should have more funds available.
