06 10 2007 Zagreb_ Two years after the opening of negotiations with the European Union more than 60 percent of Croatian citizens would vote for EU membership in a referendum, according to the results of an opinion poll published on Wednesday.
According to the poll - commissioned by the International Republican Institute, IRI and conducted by PULS agency - 80 percent of respondents would vote in a referendum; of thoise who said they would vote, 63 percent would vote for EU membership. The survey covered a group of 3,000 people.
The survey found that 28 percent of citizens believe that it will become even more difficult for Croatia when it becomes an EU member; 12 percent think that Croatia is still not ready for membership; and 6 percent believe the EU will make use of Croatia in such a way that living standards will decline after membership.
Five percent of respondents said they thought Croatia would lose its identity and independence with EU membership, that Croatians would become slaves and that prices would rise.
Commenting on the survey at an event to mark the second anniversary of the opening of negotiations between Croatia and the EU, organized by the Delegation of the European Commission, Minister of Foreign Affairs and EU Integration Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic said that “citizens of Croatia seem to understand more and better the importance of entering the EU and that is why the figure of 63 percent who support membership is realistic.”
European Commission Head of Delegation Vincent Degert said he wants to see Croatia join the EU as soon as possible, “but a Croatia that is ready”. He acknowledged that Croatia's ambition is to join the EU in 2009 and said the EC would support Croatia's efforts.
Degert said he is confident that the upcoming elections will not slow dawn the reforms Croatia needs to conduct, or affect the continuation of negotiations. (Birn)
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