A large majority of Croatian citizens — 79 percent — believe that Croatia benefits from its membership in the European Union, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament. The research also shows that Croatians are more optimistic than the EU average when it comes to the country’s direction and the future of the Union.
Half of respondents (50%) in Croatia said the country is moving in the right direction, an increase of 16 percentage points compared with the survey conducted earlier this year. By contrast, 42% believe things are going in the wrong direction, down 18 points. Across the EU, only 37% of citizens share the same optimism about their own countries.
When asked about the benefits of EU membership, 49% of Croatians highlighted new job opportunities as the biggest advantage. Around a third pointed to contributions to economic growth, improved living standards, and greater peace and security.
At the same time, 55% of Croatians identified inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living as the top issue the European Parliament should address, followed by support for the economy and job creation (41%), and tackling poverty and social exclusion (31%).
Looking ahead, 70% of Croatians expressed optimism about the future of the EU, compared to 66% across the bloc. Meanwhile, 68% want the Union to play a bigger role in protecting citizens during international crises, and 90% believe member states should act together to respond to global challenges.