Our compatriots are particularly skeptical compared to other EU member states, as shown by the Eurobarometer study presented on Wednesday. Accordingly, only 42 percent view membership of the Union positively, while 22 percent view membership negatively.
This is the lowest and highest value of all 27 EU member states. Of all EU citizens surveyed, 61 percent consider their country’s membership to be a good thing.
Italy and the Czech Republic are hot on Austria’s heels
The EU approval figures in Italy (43 percent) and the Czech Republic (44 percent) are only slightly better than in Austria. Approval is highest in Luxembourg at 86 percent. At least 55 percent of Austrians surveyed believe that EU membership has benefited the entire country – again the lowest figure in all of Europe. In Lithuania, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta this was each more than 90 percent.
Austrians are still feeling the consequences of the decisions taken in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg. Nearly three-quarters of respondents in this country said the EU affects their daily lives. Across the EU, 70 percent saw it this way.
Hope for greater participation in the next EU elections
The EU Parliament survey was published exactly six months before the European elections. The likelihood of voting has increased compared to the last elections – both in the EU and in Austria. The likely participation is calculated here at 68 or 66 percent. This corresponds to the percentage of respondents who estimate their personal probability of voting as seven or more on a scale of one to ten. At the last EU elections in 2019, turnout in Austria was almost 60 percent.
Only 38 percent want a stronger role for the EU Parliament
However, higher turnout does not mean that voters want a stronger role for the EU Parliament. In Austria, only 38 percent of respondents do this, compared to 39 percent who would like the European Parliament to play a less important role. Participants in Estonia, Denmark and the Czech Republic were even more negative. In Cyprus, however, 86 percent would like the European Parliament to have more influence.
The island state in the Mediterranean Sea also scored the highest (77 percent) when asked whether its own living standards had deteriorated and whether they were expected to continue to decline. In Austria, 44 percent of respondents answered this question affirmatively.
A total of 26,523 people over the age of 15 were interviewed across the EU for this Eurobarometer survey.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
