Research: 66 percent of Slovenians support EU expansion
Brussels – A new Eurobarometer survey shows that the majority of EU citizens support further enlargement of the union, with support particularly high among young people. In Slovenia, 66 percent of respondents are in favor of EU enlargement, as evident from the results of the survey published on Tuesday, commissioned by the European Commission.
According to the findings of the new special Eurobarometer survey, 56 percent of EU citizens support further enlargement of the union and believe that their country would benefit from it. Support is especially high among young people. About two-thirds of respondents aged 15 to 39 believe that (potential) candidates should join the EU once they meet the criteria.
According to the respondents, the main advantages of EU membership include a stronger EU influence in the world, a stronger economy and greater competitiveness, more job opportunities, and increased solidarity and security.
Swedes, Danes, Lithuanians, and Finns are among the most ardent supporters of enlargement, with more than 70 percent of respondents supporting it. Slovenia ranks 11th, with 66 percent of respondents in favor of enlargement, of which 17 percent strongly support it and 49 percent somewhat support it.
Among the current and potential candidates for membership, North Macedonia (71 percent) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (70 percent) enjoy the most support in Slovenia, while Kosovo has the least support (51 percent).
A separate Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament has shown that the majority of European citizens (68 percent) want the EU to play a more active role in protecting citizens from international crises and security risks. Three-quarters of respondents in Slovenia also believe that the EU should better protect its citizens.
The vast majority, 90 percent of Europeans and as many as 92 percent of respondents in Slovenia, call for greater unity among member states in addressing current challenges. While more than three-quarters, or 77 percent of EU citizens, believe that the union needs more resources to tackle current challenges, 66 percent of respondents in Slovenia share this opinion.
The vast majority, or 78 percent of Europeans and as many as 84 percent of respondents in Slovenia, believe that instead of individual member states, more projects should be financed by the EU as a whole. (September 2 and 3)
