ZAGREB, July 31 (Hina) - Croatian citizens have a very positive attitude toward the European Union and Croatia's admission to the EU, European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic said presenting the results of a study in Zagreb on
Monday. The study shows that there is a high degree of Euro-optimism among Croatian citizens and I hope we will be able to keep that optimism in the future as well," Jakovcic said, presenting the results of the study, which was conducted among 1,000 respondents by the GfK agency in mid July. The study, which consisted of interviews which were conducted in households, shows that almost 80 percent of Croatian citizens have a positive opinion about the EU. Fifteen percent do not have any opinion about the EU, whereas only 6.2 have a negative attitude. Similar answers were obtained to the question whether they supported or opposed Croatia's admission to the EU - 77.6 percent answered
ZAGREB, July 31 (Hina) - Croatian citizens have a very positive
attitude toward the European Union and Croatia's admission to the
EU, European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic said presenting
the results of a study in Zagreb on Monday.
The study shows that there is a high degree of Euro-optimism among
Croatian citizens and I hope we will be able to keep that optimism in
the future as well," Jakovcic said, presenting the results of the
study, which was conducted among 1,000 respondents by the GfK
agency in mid July.
The study, which consisted of interviews which were conducted in
households, shows that almost 80 percent of Croatian citizens have
a positive opinion about the EU. Fifteen percent do not have any
opinion about the EU, whereas only 6.2 have a negative attitude.
Similar answers were obtained to the question whether they
supported or opposed Croatia's admission to the EU - 77.6 percent
answered affirmatively whereas 7.9 percent answered negatively.
The Ministry of European Integration is extremely satisfied with
the results which show that the Government has chosen its programme
correctly, Jakovcic said.
The head of the study, Gordana Vucinic Palasek, said the results
were the most positive results obtained by the agency so far.
She warned though that citizens were relatively poorly informed
about the EU.
About 50 percent of respondents said there was not enough
information on the EU or possible membership advantages and
drawbacks in the media, she said.
Speaking about a document on the start of talks on a stabilisation
and association agreement, which the Croatian government received
from the European Commission, Jakovcic said, "That document is
excellent for the start of talks... the Government will present
some requests, but what the EC has offered is a very good basis for
concluding an Agreement on Stabilisation and Association," he
said, adding the agreement could be signed "as early as the first
half of next year."
(hina) rml