Eurobarometer: EU more popular in Hungary

Budapest, February 25 (MTI) – The European Union is seen favourably by an increasing number of Hungarians and its institutions are trusted above the European average, according to Eurobarometer’s fresh Hungary report.

The survey was conducted on Nov. 8-17 in 2014 and sent to MTI on Wednesday.

The proportion of Hungarians expressing a positive view about the EU as a whole went up last year to 40 percent from 35 percent compared with the survey conducted in the same month in 2013, the survey showed. Almost the same proportion of Hungarians saw the EU positively as the average across the bloc, the survey said.

In a regional comparison, the EU was seen slightly more favourably only in Poland and Romania.

Concerning confidence in European institutions, 51 percent of Hungarians stated trust in the European Commission, compared to the EU average of 38 percent.

Fully 52 percent stated confidence in the European Parliament, compared with the EU average of 42 percent, the survey showed.

A total of 53 percent of Hungarians saw the four freedoms, the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital the EU’s most important asset.

In contrast, only 37 percent of Hungarians mentioned the freedom of travelling, studying or free choice of taking up a job as a personal advantage ensured by the EU.

The proportion of Hungarians who said that their opinion or vote matters in the EU went up considerably, from 37 percent to 50 percent, Tamas Szucs, the EU Budapest mission head, said in a statement.

The proportion of those who think that the EU takes Hungary’s interests into account also increased, from 38 percent to 43 percent.

Similarly to respondents in other EU member states, Hungarians regarded economic matters as most important. Altogether 48 percent said the European economy is performing well which went up from 37 percent.

Asked about the EU’s future, more than 55 percent of Hungarians were optimistic, similarly to the European average.

The proportion of those who identified themselves as “a European, and at the same time a Hungarian” doubled to 60 percent, the survey showed.

Photo: Pixabay

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters