Support to Serbia’s EU membership still stable at 55 percent

January 18 2019 | Belgrade

Support to Serbia’s EU membership still stable at 55 percent


If there was a referendum tomorrow with the question: "Do you support the accession of Serbia to the European Union?", 55% of Serbian citizens would vote for, 25% would vote against, while a total of 20% (10% each) would not vote at all or would not know how they would respond to this question - this is the result of the public opinion poll European Orientation of Serbian Citizens conducted by the Ministry of European Integration. A total of 1,050 respondents older than 18 participated in the survey that was designed according to the Standard Eurobarometer.

Support for the reforms, as in previous years, is very high. Out of the total number of respondents, 75% of them (as much as 7% more than six months ago) believe that the reforms necessary for Serbia’s accession to the EU should be carried out regardless of this condition, for the benefit of the citizens and for the purpose of creating a better and more regulated Serbia.

As regards development grants provided to Serbia since 2000, 25% of the respondents recognise that the EU has been the largest donor to Serbia since 2000, while 23% of the respondents believe that it is Russia, which puts it in the second place; China is in the third place with 19% and Japan in the fourth with 9%.

Official data show that from 2000 to the end of 2016, the European Union and its Member States were the largest donors with EUR 4.31 billion in realised grants, by which it significantly contributed to Serbia’s development - individually perceived, the European Commission donated EUR 2.96 billion, Germany EUR 368.21 million, Sweden EUR 232.11 million and Italy EUR 187.72 million.

All positive associations to the European Union have a growing trend. For example, 49% of citizens relate the notion of the EU with a better future for youth, better life, higher standard, welfare and travel.

The largest percent of citizens - 64% - believe that the issues between Belgrade and Pristina should be addressed regardless of whether the EU demands it, i.e. more than a half of the respondents support the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Serbia to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and its readiness to reach sustainable solutions in this way.

Fight against corruption (21%), healthcare system reform (16%) and judiciary reform (15%) are recognised as the most important and as reforms that most affect everyday life. The next on the list of important reforms are those related to better protection of human rights (11%), followed by education reform (10%), reform in the field of agriculture (9%) and environmental protection (9%).

For the largest number of citizens -17% each - EU membership represents a path towards a better future for youth and more opportunities for employment, whereas for 15 percent it is a possibility of freer movement within the EU borders and for the following 9% it is a possibility to regulate the situation in the country.