Survey: Croats sceptical of EU as accession approaches

Nov 16, 2010, 1:11 GMT

Belgrade/Brussels - Croatia is the only Western Balkan state with a chance of becoming a member of the European Union anytime soon, but its population is not at all enthusiastic about that prospect, according to a survey released Monday.

Just one in four Croats views joining EU positively, while one in three perceives it as negative, according to the poll by Gallup Balkan Monitor. Only 38 per cent of respondents would vote 'yes' in a referendum on membership, compared to 43 per cent who would vote against membership.

'EU support in Croatia has reached an absolute low, even lower than that seen in pre-accession countries in earlier enlargements,' the survey says.

In all other countries in the region - Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Albania and Macedonia - the EU is viewed more favourably, and in all a clear majority would vote in favour of membership. The level of support ranges from 63 per cent in Serbia to 93 per cent in Albania.

Unlike Croatia, none of these countries is even close EU membership. Croatia is on track to become a member by as early as 2013.

Serbia was the only country in the region were fewer than half of respondents - 41 per cent - viewed their country as welcome in the EU. Closer relations with the bloc have been hindered by its failure to arrest war criminals and difficult relations with Kosovo, its former province.

More immediate concerns by the region's citizens include economic difficulties and corruption.

In all Western Balkan countries, the majority of respondents reported problems in making ends meet. The percentage was the lowest in Croatia (52 per cent) and the highest in Serbia (78 per cent)

Corruption is seen as especially bad in Kosovo, where 91 per cent of those surveyed believe their government is corrupt.

A positive development was found concerning the perceived levels of petty corruption. In all Balkan states except Croatia, the percentage of respondents who had been confronted with a concrete example of corruption decreased compared to 2009.

As in earlier surveys, respondents across the Western Balkans tend to see better opportunities abroad. The percentage of those seeing a brighter future elsewhere has declined since 2008 in Kosovo and Albania, while it has increased in Croatia and Montenegro.