European elections: Greeks need extra EU – What do they give thought to its future? – 2024-05-25 07:13:51

Though the connection of Greek residents with the European Union went by numerous fluctuations in the course of the earlier decade, primarily because of the financial disaster, it appears that evidently now the bulk considers our nation’s participation within the largest union of states on the earth to be optimistic, in line with a brand new survey by diaNEOSIS .

Estimates on the way forward for the EU are divided

Particularly, the share of respondents who characterize Greece’s participation within the EU as optimistic quantities to 64.8%. On the identical time, assessments about the way forward for the EU are divided. In additional element, 36.8% of respondents reply that the Union will break up within the coming years, with some member states leaving, 35.9% think about that it’s most definitely to live on within the kind it exists immediately, whereas a 14.7% reply that it’ll change into a extra united federation of states.

In comparison with earlier measurements, as may be seen within the desk under, Greeks at the moment are extra optimistic about the way forward for the EU, as the share of those that consider that it’ll dissolve or disintegrate has decreased considerably, whereas quite the opposite the share is continually rising those that consider that it’ll proceed within the kind it exists immediately.

The Greeks need extra European Union

On the identical time, Greeks appear to be asking for “extra Europe” in lots of areas of their lives. Particularly, the survey asks individuals to reply during which areas they want the EU to have a extra lively position. The big majority (over 70%) desire a extra lively position in all of the choices given: in well being and the setting (83.8%), in protection (78.3%), in training (77.3%), but additionally within the economic system, immigration and international coverage. Additionally, nearly all of residents, 65%, appear to agree with the enlargement of the EU with new member states.

Nonetheless, many Greeks don’t appear to know sufficient about what Europe is already doing, earlier than taking an lively position within the above areas. The survey accommodates two questions concerning the Restoration Fund, and within the first one, it merely asks respondents in the event that they learn about it.

The peculiarity of this query, nevertheless, is that it doesn’t title it as a “Restoration Fund”, as it’s recognized, however describes it descriptively as “an EU funding program to beat the issues from the recession and different results from Covid-19”. thereby trying to exclude individuals who solely understand it as a title, with out realizing extra about it.

On this query, solely 35.9% state that they’re conscious of the Restoration Fund. It’s actually an attention-grabbing end result as, when it comes to GDP. Greece is probably the most benefited nation within the Union, whereas these sources largely correspond to a doubling of the necessary European sources flowing into the nation for the following few years. Of those that are conscious of the Restoration Fund, about half think about it “very” or “very essential” for the nation’s growth, whereas 32.2% think about it “reasonably necessary”.

France the closest ally

However what do the Greeks take into consideration particular person nations, inside or outdoors the European household? Who do they think about their finest allies?

On the query about who respondents think about to be Greece’s finest allies, there are not any main reversals within the order of total experiences from the final time the identical query was requested, in 2022.

France stays the primary nation in experiences that Greeks think about an ally (65%), adopted by the USA (44.2%) and Israel (13.5%). However, the share of France is considerably lowered, by greater than 7 factors. In distinction, the US charge is greater than double that of March 2022, and likewise a lot greater than that of February of the identical 12 months (the identical query was requested twice, earlier than and after the outbreak of struggle in Ukraine). Israel additionally appears to lose a major a part of its recognition (greater than 6 factors), as an ally of Greece. Russia, Germany and China observe within the order of complete ally experiences, with single-digit percentages.

Macron and von der Leyen probably the most optimistic opinions

The survey additionally asks individuals for his or her views on plenty of figures who’ve just lately performed or are presently taking part in a job on the worldwide stage. Emmanuel Macron, following the recruitment of France as crucial ally, gathers probably the most optimistic and quite optimistic opinions, with 63%.

In second place, however with a a lot decrease share, follows the president of the European Fee, Ursula von der Leyen (33.4%). The odds of the presidents of the USA (Joe Biden – 33.2%) and Russia (Vladimir Putin – 31.4%) are additionally on the identical scale – and in reality each are up, in comparison with the March 2022 measurement .

Nonetheless, Putin is about 10 factors away from his 2019 figures – that means that whereas he’s recovering from the a lot decrease figures of 2022, after the struggle in Ukraine, the injury to his picture stays. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has 29.2% favorable opinion, about the identical degree as present Chancellor Olaf Scholz (26.8%).