The majority of Greeks have a good opinion of the European Union

The majority of Greeks have a good opinion of the European Union, according to a recent poll by Greek think tank Dianeosis.

But some respondents emphasize that their country’s membership in the European Union has brought more benefits to other EU countries than to Greece itself.

Dianeosis research director Fay Makantasi explains: *”Most data indicates that the majority of Greeks – with some fluctuations during the bailout period – have a positive view of the EU. Today, two out of three people are in favor of the EU.“*

Data from the last decade shows that the majority of Greeks favor the EU. However, the gap between supporters and opponents widened between 2015 and 2016. How does this happen?

Manos Papazoglou, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of the Peloponnese, analyzes: “There is great acceptance of the European Union and above all of the advantages that we gain from it. This is a consolation after the great period of crisis that we have gone through. In Greece, Euroscepticism is not as present as in other countries It is much weaker and mainly focused on better political outcomes within the EU. The main problem in Greece is the lack of trust in political institutions and leaders, which creates demand. for more policies within the EU framework, such as promoting public health, the environment and, of course, the economy.”

Furthermore, most Greeks do not seem to trust their national institutions as much as those of the Union. 4 out of 10 Greeks aged 25 to 39 think that Greece does not have a strong democracy. “Most Greeks also seem more unhappy with their democratic system than people in other EU countries,” explains Fay Makantasi.

36% of Greeks believe that the EU will still exist in its current form in ten years.

37% think on the contrary that certain countries will leave the Union.

More than 10% say the institution will cease to exist.

For Manos Papazoglou, the European Union has resisted all the crises of recent decades, which gives it the image of a solid institution. “We have lived through 15 consecutive years of crisis. Eurozone, migration, Brexit, pandemic, recession, all these things. The EU has resisted all of this. This message has especially been conveyed to citizens, who are convinced that the Union European is there and that it will remain with its difficulties and its limits. The main question is therefore the following: given that we have this Europe, how are we going to change it?analyzes Manos Papazoglou.