Serbian citizens are still largely opposed to membership in the European Union, but believe that the EU is and should remain the country’s main economic partner, according to the latest survey “Citizens’ Attitudes on Foreign Policy”.
The majority of Serbian citizens, 52 percent, would definitely or probably vote against in a referendum on EU membership, while 39 percent would definitely or probably vote ‘for’, said Dimitrije Milić from Lidington Research in Belgrade, at the presentation of the survey results.
“A slight decline in support for the EU is noticeable. Support is somewhat higher among national minorities, then in Belgrade, among highly educated people and in Vojvodina,” he said, as reported by the Beta agency.
On the other hand, when it comes to BRICS, 59 percent would vote for membership in that association of states.
Additionally, when it comes to NATO membership, 81 percent of Serbian citizens are against.
In addition, Serbian citizens hold the US most responsible for the unpredictable future of NIS.
Milić said that the voters of the ruling coalition hold the US responsible, while opposition-oriented citizens see Serbia as the culprit for the same thing.
Also, the respondents believe that the arrival of Donald Trump at the head of the US will affect the improvement of relations with Serbia, but that he as a leader does not have the capacity to bring about a quick end to the war in Ukraine.
The largest number of Serbian citizens, 31 percent, assessed that their standard of living is the same as last year at the same time.
Director of the Foreign Policy Center and former Serbian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Aleksandra Joksimović said that citizens view politics emotionally, and have a more rational approach when it comes to the economy.
“We have a blockade of European integration, regardless of the EU narrative about the priority task, the process of further enlargement. Two topics are dominant, the issue of the rule of law and the common foreign and security policy. In addition, we have a paradoxical situation that there is no one on our political scene to advocate European policies and the further process of integration,” she added.
