Croatian citizens sceptical of EU membership

[Soldier of Macedon]

http://waz.euobserver.com/887/31261

13.11.2010 @ 11:18 CET

Croatian citizens would vote overwhelmingly against EU membership even though accession talks are likely to conclude soon, according to a survey conducted by Gallup Europe.

While the country's political class may have begun popping the champagne corks over the European Commission's latest positive progress report, only one quarter of Croats currently consider EU accession to be a good idea.

Indeed, Croatian citizens have turned out to be the stoutest opponents within the region. Kosovars, by contrast, are Europe-enthusiasts, with 87 percent believing membership to be positive.

The figures reveal an apparent paradox; the closer a country draws to joining the European club, the less its citizens actually favour membership. Croatia is, after all, the country most advanced in its ambitions to enter the European Union. Kosovo, meanwhile, whose citizens long to join, is the only state in the region not entertaining formal relations with the European Union since five EU members do not recognise it as a state.

With the exception of Croatia, all other nations in the region would overwhelmingly vote in favour of membership. The support rate in Albania is 81 percent, in Montenegro 73 percent, in Bosnia and Herzegovina 69 percent and in Macedonia 60 percent. Forty four percent of Serbs are for EU membership while 17 percent believe it would be negative for their country.

If a referendum had been held in July 2010, the month of the survey, Croats would have rejected accession with 43 percent voting against and 38 percent in favour. Nineteen percent had not made up their minds. According to the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, however, the mood in Croatia has recently changed thanks to progress made in accession talks and the resolution of a dispute with neighbouring Slovenia.

Citizens in Croatia, Macedonia and Albania also sense most opposition to membership coming from a neighbouring EU country. The majority of Croats regard Slovenia as most averse to their EU bid, followed by the UK and France. The majority of respondents in both Macedonia and Albania consider Greece their strongest opponent.

For Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, however, the situation is different. These countries sense most opposition in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK respectively. Kosovars identify Spain and Greece as the troublemakers.

When it comes to opponents within the European Union, Serbs identify the Netherlands while Kosovo citizens point to Spain and Greece, both of which do not recognise their state. People from Montenegro mention Germany, and Bosnians believe the UK would oppose them.

Although Germany is one of the most determined enlargement sceptics, Kosovars and Croats consider the country their "best friend in the EU." Austria is generally regarded by Balkan citizens to be a strong supporter of their country's membership.

The Gallup Europe poll also exposes a set of unrealistic expectations. For example, most Albanian citizens were optimistic when the poll was taken and believed their country would join the EU in 2014. They turned out to be wrong; just last week, Albania was denied candidate status by the European Commission. Croats, while also expecting to become EU members by 2014, were equally mistaken, with a general feeling in Brussels and the European capitals that the situation will change earlier.

Both Kosovars and Serbs believe that their countries will join EU at the same time, in 2017.

The whole Gallup Balkan Monitor poll, conducted in partnership with the European Fund for the Balkans, will be presented in Brussels on Wednesday (17 November). The report 'Insights and perceptions - Voices of the Balkans' includes findings on the perception of those living in the region on a range of issues such as life satisfaction and attitudes towards the EU, as well as attitudes to corruption, governance and religion.

Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, summarised the report results as follows: "The citizens of the region are learning to live in dysfunctional states and badly governed democracies, and they are also learning the art of bearable dissatisfaction."

[Bill77]

Croatians Sceptical over Entering the EU

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/17333/46/

Croatia hopes to wrap up negotiations on joining the European Union in the coming year, but many in the country are sceptical about the idea, the BBC has reported.

The fear of change, the pride in local traditions goes some way towards explaining the apparent widespread Euroscepticism in Croatia.
Croatia is hoping to wrap up membership negotiations with the EU and sign its accession treaty this year, allowing it to become the 28th member of the bloc in 2012.

But recent polls suggest a majority of the public is apathetic - even hostile - to the idea of joining.
According to one survey, just 38% would vote to join. Another shows only 26% think it is a good idea - although the government cites a more favourable poll.

A referendum on membership will soon be held, but Andrej Plenkovic, the state secretary for EU integration, is confident most Croatians will vote "yes" when the time comes.

A legitimate referendum would show majority don't want to join. What then? Would the Croatian government then have to back out?

Well i am sure the government has considered this and therefor the referendum will be rigged. Not that the Government leaders want to deceive there fellow Croations, its just that these puppets have no say. Big Brother is standing over them.

"I believe the opinion polls are only a snapshot in a certain period of time," he said.

sure they are. The nations opinion will change on the day of the polls. Its all predestined.

"We are taking them seriously, but we have a task of keeping a momentum and trying to explain to the Croatian voters the benefits of joining."

Croatia's negotiations have indeed lasted a long time - more than five years - and the country has faced serious hurdles.

The EU has suffered from a severe bout of enlargement fatigue. Slovenia blocked Croatia's bid for several months over a border dispute.

And many here feel that after Romania and Bulgaria were perceived to have joined too early, Brussels is taking a tougher line with Croatia.

Zagreb itself has not made it an easy ride either.

Initially sluggish co-operation with the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague worked against its application, as government officials seemed unable or unwilling to hand over documents relating to Croatia's war of independence from Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Corruption and organised crime have also dented Croatia's image - Ivo Sanader, the prime minister until 2009, is the latest to be hit by allegations of wrongdoing.

But when it comes to the seeming lack of enthusiasm for the EU among the general public, political analyst Viseslav Raos said other factors are at work too.

After Croats fought for their separate state, he believes many are now struggling to accept a transnational concept.
"During the 1990s, there was a high value placed on sovereignty," he says. "Now you have this concept of 'shared sovereignty' in the EU, and that's hard to grasp."

But he says the EU itself has also lost its pull here.
"Croatian citizens see what's happening in Greece and Ireland," he says.

"They know that the European Union is not a remedy to all economic and social problems. So the EU itself is in a sort of crisis, and that reflects on Croatia's accession.

What a shame. All those fighters that lost their lives for an independent Croatia only to have their country fall under foreign control again.

"Dugo živi Hrvatska" well........it was good while it lasted.

[Soldier of Macedon]

I was listening a radio broadcast a few days ago regarding the same topic. To put it quite simply, the overwhelming majority of Croats seem to be against the EU, even without pre-conditions. They know how to cherish and protect what is theirs.

[fyrOM]

Croatians Pray to Mother Mary To Save them From Entering EU

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/17357/1/

Friday, 14 January 2011

What a difference few hundred km makes! While the Macedonians somewhat blindly fight to enter a morally and financially bankrupt union, the Croatians pray to a higher power to save them from entering the same union (EU).

A large billboard put up in Split lists few reasons why Croatians must do everything in their power to avoid entering the EU, including but not limited to: becoming a financial slave to Brussels, genetically modified food, the culture of death, continent wide dictatorship...

According to the Croats who paid for the billboard, their nation has already voted democratically to become a sovereign nation, but has not voted to enter another country i.e. union, the EU.

The Croatians are also wary of the GM foods touted by the EU and would rather produce their own food and then export it. The latest polls showed 47% of the Croats would actually vote to enter the EU.

[Onur]

Croatians waver over European Union membership

Croatia hopes to wrap up negotiations on joining the European Union in the coming year, but many in the country are sceptical about the idea, as the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Zagreb.

The milk must be heated to just the right temperature, the salt added at exactly the right time. The stirring, the draining, the cooling - each step has been mastered by Mario Pecnik and his wife as they lovingly produce their creamy cottage cheese. It is a great Croatian tradition, known for its soft, sweet taste.

But Mario has recently had to spend 400,000 kuna ($72,000; Ł46,000) upgrading his facilities to satisfy European standards, so as to receive EU subsidies. He says that while he has managed it, older, smaller producers will not be able to afford the change and will simply die out.

"It was a really big shock when we realised what needed to change," he says.

"For us it's made things better, but others haven't accepted it well. They won't adapt, so they'll be forced to close... I completely understand their anger with EU demands."


'Keeping momentum'
That fear of change, that pride in local traditions goes some way towards explaining the apparent widespread Euroscepticism here.

Croatia is hoping to wrap up membership negotiations with the EU and sign its accession treaty this year, allowing it to become the 28th member of the bloc in 2012.

But recent polls suggest a majority of the public is apathetic - even hostile - to the idea of joining.

According to one survey, just 38% would vote to join. Another shows only 26% think it is a good idea - although the government cites a more favourable poll.

A referendum on membership will soon be held, but Andrej Plenkovic, the state secretary for EU integration, is confident most Croatians will vote "yes" when the time comes.

"I believe the opinion polls are only a snapshot in a certain period of time," he tells me. "We are taking them seriously, but we have a task of keeping a momentum and trying to explain to the Croatian voters the benefits of joining."

I ask why those in favour have dropped from a high of about 80% a few years ago to today's level.

"If we had joined together with the ten countries back in 2004, this support would have been higher," he says. "For the average voter it's difficult to remain equally enthusiastic after so many postponements."


Difficult process
Croatia's negotiations have indeed lasted a long time - more than five years - and the country has faced serious hurdles.

The EU has suffered from a severe bout of enlargement fatigue. Slovenia blocked Croatia's bid for several months over a border dispute.

And many here feel that after Romania and Bulgaria were perceived to have joined too early, Brussels is taking a tougher line with Croatia.

Zagreb itself has not made it an easy ride either.

Initially sluggish co-operation with the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague worked against its application, as government officials seemed unable or unwilling to hand over documents relating to Croatia's war of independence from Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Corruption and organised crime have also dented Croatia's image - Ivo Sanader, the prime minister until 2009, is the latest to be hit by allegations of wrongdoing.

But when it comes to the seeming lack of enthusiasm for the EU among the general public, political analyst Viseslav Raos says other factors are at work too.

After Croats fought for their separate state, he believes many are now struggling to accept a transnational concept.

"During the 1990s, there was a high value placed on sovereignty," he says. "Now you have this concept of 'shared sovereignty' in the EU, and that's hard to grasp."

But he says the EU itself has also lost its pull here.

"Croatian citizens see what's happening in Greece and Ireland," he says. "They know that the European Union is not a remedy to all economic and social problems. So the EU itself is in a sort of crisis, and that reflects on Croatia's accession."


Final push
At the market in central Zagreb where Mario sells his cheese, opinions are split.

"I think we could survive without the EU," says Nadja, one shopper. "We survived until now, so why not in the future?"

But Goran Vidovik disagrees. "People need to be better informed about the EU and all the benefits. This is our chance to accept the standards that are common for the European community."

"Croatia shouldn't join," says Vesna, a schoolteacher. "I prefer the Switzerland model. The EU will bring us lots of administration and regulations."

In the heart of the capital, the EU information centre is hard at work, answering calls and handing out leaflets.

The consensus among the government and EU delegation staff here is that the Croatian public simply does not know enough about what the union means - and that apparent apathy is simply down to a lack of information. A big, last-minute communications push will soon be launched, hoping to reverse the trend and persuade Croatians to back membership.

But the EU has not yet struck a chord here - and time is running out for the Croatian government to sell the European project to this proud nation.

10 January 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12111568

[Risto the Great]

Croatians waver over European Union membership

Croatia hopes to wrap up negotiations on joining the European Union in the coming year, but many in the country are sceptical about the idea, as the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Zagreb.

The milk must be heated to just the right temperature, the salt added at exactly the right time. The stirring, the draining, the cooling - each step has been mastered by Mario Pecnik and his wife as they lovingly produce their creamy cottage cheese. It is a great Croatian tradition, known for its soft, sweet taste.

But Mario has recently had to spend 400,000 kuna ($72,000; Ł46,000) upgrading his facilities to satisfy European standards, so as to receive EU subsidies. He says that while he has managed it, older, smaller producers will not be able to afford the change and will simply die out.

"It was a really big shock when we realised what needed to change," he says.

"For us it's made things better, but others haven't accepted it well. They won't adapt, so they'll be forced to close... I completely understand their anger with EU demands."

Macedonian cottage industries will die as a result of this. And our culture will die at precisely the same point. The EU will call it a JOB WELL DONE.

What a disaster!

[George S.]

THe EU $ dollar has stuffed up so many countries that even before they join.TheEU made a lot of promises to a lot of countries of giving them loans etc only to find it hasn't materialised.A country has to surrender it's sovereignity by joining the eu.What do you get by being a puppet on a string??? very questionable indeed.The croatian people aren't stupid they put two & two together & know what's going on.Once a country joins in the EU will come in & exploit it for any worth so that the benefits for the eu far outweigh the benefits for the country.

[fyrOM]

THe EU $ dollar has stuffed up so many countries that even before they join.TheEU made a lot of promises to a lot of countries of giving them loans etc only to find it hasn't materialised.A country has to surrender it's sovereignity by joining the eu.What do you get by being a puppet on a string??? very questionable indeed.The croatian people aren't stupid they put two & two together & know what's going on.Once a country joins in the EU will come in & exploit it for any worth so that the benefits for the eu far outweigh the benefits for the country.

kasno. ie too late
lakomsvoto na cojeck e pogolemo od pametot.

[fyrOM]

Macedonian cottage industries will die as a result of this. And our culture will die at precisely the same point. The EU will call it a JOB WELL DONE.

What a disaster!

RTG sometimes some things are a product of the times are a changing and the old ways become untenable so like the dinosaurs either adapt or die.

In the past small farmers produced small quantities of cheese just like mother used to make for local markets. If a food hazard outbreak happened it was extremely localised. As we became more industrialised more people want to buy food than make it and hence a hazard outbreak has far greater ramifications hence the formulation and strict enforcement of food handling standards. Some as the article said could upgrade to meet the new standards while others couldn’t…such is life.

[Onur]

RTG sometimes some things are a product of the times are a changing and the old ways become untenable so like the dinosaurs either adapt or die.

That`s bullshit.

The traditional ways are more healthier and better but they are doing this purposely, so these small firms in your country goes bankrupt and then their giant companies like Tesco, Carrefour, Danone can easily invade your country and sell their genetically modified frankenstein food to you. These giants can already crush the remaining local sellers cuz no one can compete with them in their ways.

Turkey did some of these regulations too and result was same as everywhere. Small firms who uses traditional ways died and we got French, British, German companies instead of old ones now. In the end, you become dependent to them for most of your needs including food.

Actually, EU funds are just a bribe to lure you cuz when you bite their hook, then they own you and you spent all your salary to buy the products they sell to you. Thats the whole point.

[Bill77]

Finland rocks the EU

Some time late yesterday evening a tremor hit the EU. Its epicentre was Finland. In elections an overtly anti-Euro party made huge gains, coming a close third. The consequences are unclear, but the True Finns party may now have real influence on whether Finland agrees to help bail out Portugal........................

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...ks_the_eu.html

Why is Macedonia swimming against the tide?

[George S.]

Once they refuse bailouts i don't think many people would want to be eu members at the same time why be in the eu it's going to be a debt ridden organization.Why macedonia wants to be part of the eu because it's stupid it is led by a noose to the eu water.The promise of better things to come all lies.You look at other members in the eu have really badly done by being in the eu.More are to follow.The people like the croatians are smart people too smart for the eu.Also other members of the eu will refuse to bail other countries out,

[Currency Trader]

Finland rocks the EU




Why is Macedonia swimming against the tide?

They are not swimming against the tide. They are being blocked by Greece to join. The tide is overwhelmingly for EU.

[Frank]

To put it simply the Macedonian People are stupid, lazy, naive and at the same time arrogant and don't listen to what is being told and said by others.

[Frank]

They are not swimming against the tide. They are being blocked by Greece to join. The tide is overwhelmingly for EU.

Our only saving grace really coz Politicians would sell everything for the EU carrot