The Eurobarometer, a public opinion survey throughout the EU, has revealed a marked increase in public support for EU membership.

The Eurobarometer, which was established in 1974, conducts surveys twice a year, with the aim of gauging EU citizens’ awareness of and support for EU activities.

The survey, conducted between September 8 and September 26 on 27,474 adult EU citizens in all 28 member states, showed 62 percent of those polled considered their respective countries’ membership of the EU to be a good thing.

A total of 68 percent believed their country had benefited from membership of the EU, the highest rate for this response since 1983.

“As details of the UK’s withdrawal agreement are being finalised, these figures highlight growing appreciation of the benefits of EU membership across the continent. Nevertheless, there is much work to be done. Continued cooperation and solidarity at the EU level [are] essential in delivering answers to the concerns of ordinary European citizens,” said Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament.

In Croatia, 66 percent of the those polled said they believed the county has benefited from membership in the bloc, according to a report issued by the Eurobarometer’s office in Croatia on Wednesday.

Some 79 percent Croatians said they did not trust political parties, while 64 percent said they were not satisfied with the state of democracy in the country.

Croats are more positive about the state of democracy in the EU – 51 percent is satisfied and 40 per cent is not satisfied.

Public awareness of the European elections in May 2019 has risen, with 41 per cent of respondents correctly identifying the date: nine points higher than when the same question was asked in the previous Eurobarometer survey held in April.

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