Illustratory image. (source: AP/SITA)
According to the final Eurobarometer poll ahead of the June European Parliament elections, 43 percent of Slovaks are either aware of, or are following, the elections - an increase of 5 percentage points from 2019.
Overall, 60 percent of EU citizens are interested in the June elections, an increase of 11 percentage points.
Participation in EP elections in Slovakia has been the lowest in Europe for a long time. Ten years ago it was only 13 percent. In 2019 it rose to 22 percent, the worst result among all member states.
Today, 62 percent of Slovak citizens said they will probably vote and 80 percent think that the current geopolitical situation makes it more important that they do so.
The survey also revealed that 80 percent view the European parliament either positively or neutrally, while 18 percent view it negatively, 85 percent feel the European Union has an impact on their daily life, and a further 82 percent feel benefits of EU membership.
In Slovakia, the survey was conducted in February through personal interviews, on a sample of 1,008 people.
Slovakia joined the EU 20 years ago, on May 1, 2004.
(source: Eurobarometer)
For Slovaks, food security is a top priority
At present, fifty-five percent of Slovak people consider EU membership to be a good thing, only 6 percent thinks the opposite. In western and northern Europe, the positive numbers are much higher in this regard.
Slovaks also said campaigning ahead of the elections should focus on support for the economy and creating new jobs, defence and security of the EU, the future of Europe, and agricultural policy.
When it comes to the future of the EU, Slovaks think the focus should be on food security and agriculture, followed by defence and security, and its competitiveness, economy and industry.
(source: Eurobarometer)
(source: Eurobarometer)
EU has the worst image in Czechia
Less than 50 percent (48 percent) of Slovaks perceive the EU positively, only 17 percent see it negatively. The latest survey shows that the European Union has the worst image in the Czech Republic, Denník N noticed. Only 33 percent of Czech people perceive it positively, 32 percent see it negatively. Austria, France and Slovenia had similar numbers in the survey.
Moreover, only 40 percent of EU respondents think that the EU has become more important in the last five years. A third of people think that its position has not changed. Twenty-two percent of respondents said that the EU is less important on the world stage than before.
(source: Eurobarometer)
Forty-eight percent of people in the EU perceive the USA very positively, 47 percent see America negatively. Russia is perceived negatively by 83 percent of Europeans. In Slovakia, people perceive the USA most positively (30 percent), followed by Turkey (29 percent), China (27 percent) and Russia (21 percent).
The European Parliament elections in Slovakia will be held on Saturday, June 8. Slovaks will elect 15 MEPs for a five-year term. Voters can vote for a maximum of two candidates from one list of candidates.
Information for voters is available here (in English) and candidate slates here (in Slovak). Citizens of another EU state can vote in Slovakia too, provided they are over 18 and have permanent residence in the country.
(source: Eurobarometer)
