Latvia among new EU members showing lowest support for EU membership
Latvia shows one of the lowest levels of support for membership in the European Union (EU) among the new EU members, according to the "Eurobarometer" survey.
Latvia shows one of the lowest levels of support for membership in the European Union (EU) among the new EU members, according to the "Eurobarometer" survey.
This spring, 33 percent of Latvia's residents backed membership in the EU, 38 percent believe that it would be neither good nor bad, but 22 percent said that membership is not necessary.
As for the increase in Euroskeptics in Latvia, "Eurobarometer" pointed out that Latvians had faced growing inflation rate early this year, following a hike in food prices. An unfavorable climate both in the state and the negative attitude towards the EU were due to the above phenomenon along with the political crisis and new government, according to "Eurobarometer".
Estonians, however, were even more pessimistic than Latvians. 31percent of polled Estonian residents admitted that the membership in the EU would be backed, 39 percent believe that the membership is neither good nor bad, but 21 percent opposed the EU membership.
Most Eurooptimists were in Lithuania, where 52 percent of residents backed membership in the EU, but 12 percent were against it, but 30 percent of Lithuanians said that membership is neither good nor bad. In Malta, 50 percent of polled residents backed membership in the EU, but 16 percent were against, in Slovakia - 46 percent for, but 9 percent against.
On the average, 43 percent of residents of new EU members backed membership in the EU, but 16 percent were against.
According to the "Eurobarometer", the number of EU supporters has shrunk in the new EU members over the year, becoming less than in the veteran EU members for the first time.
This spring, 33 percent of Latvia's residents backed membership in the EU, 38 percent believe that it would be neither good nor bad, but 22 percent said that membership is not necessary.
As for the increase in Euroskeptics in Latvia, "Eurobarometer" pointed out that Latvians had faced growing inflation rate early this year, following a hike in food prices. An unfavorable climate both in the state and the negative attitude towards the EU were due to the above phenomenon along with the political crisis and new government, according to "Eurobarometer".
Estonians, however, were even more pessimistic than Latvians. 31percent of polled Estonian residents admitted that the membership in the EU would be backed, 39 percent believe that the membership is neither good nor bad, but 21 percent opposed the EU membership.
Most Eurooptimists were in Lithuania, where 52 percent of residents backed membership in the EU, but 12 percent were against it, but 30 percent of Lithuanians said that membership is neither good nor bad. In Malta, 50 percent of polled residents backed membership in the EU, but 16 percent were against, in Slovakia - 46 percent for, but 9 percent against.
On the average, 43 percent of residents of new EU members backed membership in the EU, but 16 percent were against.
According to the "Eurobarometer", the number of EU supporters has shrunk in the new EU members over the year, becoming less than in the veteran EU members for the first time.
