57 percent of Czechs are satisfied with European Union membership

Most Czechs have now been satisfied with the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union since 2010 about three by fifths. This emerges from a survey by the STEM agency at the turn of October and November. However, most people in the Czech Republic still think that the Czech government cannot influence what is happening in the European Union. In the current survey, 57 percent of Czechs expressed satisfaction with EU membership. The last share of satisfied people was recorded ten years ago, when it was 65 percent. Satisfaction with EU membership has gradually declined from a record 69 percent in 2009 after the onset of the global economic crisis. It fell the lowest in 2016, when only 35 percent of people were satisfied.

In recent years, confidence in the Union has slowly begun to move closer to pre-crisis levels. This spring after the start of the covid-19 epidemic in the Czech Republic, however, satisfaction with European Union membership suddenly fell from the previous more than 50 percent to 46 percent. With the onset of the pandemic, according to STEM, confidence in NATO and most foreign countries has also weakened, as society is becoming more introverted in the crisis, according to the agency and does not trust remote entities or institutions.

Nikola Hořejš, STEM's chief analyst for international relations said, In recent months, satisfaction with European Union membership has not only restored to last year's level but even slightly surpassed it. The restoration of trust is probably most related to the fact that the shock of the pandemic has subsided, that the European Union has found its role in cooperation and that we no longer feel like the best in Europe.

Czechs satisfaction with our EU membership has returned to record levels since 2010, despite the fact that overall people do not see their current situation very positively. . However, according to him, the decline in satisfaction may be repeated if, for example, negotiations on the European budget get stuck.

Despite the increase in satisfaction with membership in the union many Czechs still think that members of the Czech government cannot decide on key issues in the European Union. This is the opinion of 61 percent of survey participants. Cabinet members take part in meetings of one of the European Union top bodies, the Council of the European Union. The Czechia also has representatives in the European Commission and the European Parliament.

The survey was conducted by the STEM agency from 22 October to 2 November. It was attended by 1003 inhabitants of the Czech Republic older than 18 years.