Perceptions on the

impact of Romanias EU
accession

Research report
METHODOLOGY Sample size
1008
respondents
18+

This survey was at the

request of the Representativeness
Romanian Association Data collection
for Evaluation and Maximum
period
Strategy ARES, tolerated error
founding organization
3,2% 9, 12 December, 2016
of the Sinteza
magazine

Sample type

Data collection
Multi-layer, method
probabilistic
CATI
(Computer Assisted
Telephone Interviewing)
Do you think that things in Romania are going in the right or the wrong direction?

NA
DK 1%
4%

Right direction
34%

Wrong direction
61%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Compared to 10 years ago, how would you say you are living at the present?

DK
2%

Better
27%

Worse
47%

The same
24%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How do you think you will be living 5 years from now?

DK NA
9% 1%

Worse
30%
Better
43%

The same
17%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Which of the following do you think are ADVANTAGES of the EU accession for Romanians?

Yes No DK/NA

free circulation in the EU 93% 6%1%

access to European funds 88% 10% 2%

the freedom to study in other EU

84% 14% 2%
countries

European country solidarity 84% 13% 3%

the freedom to work in the EU 79% 20% 2%

the freedom to do business in the EU 73% 22% 5%

other 35% 45% 20%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Which of the following do you think are DISADVANTAGES of the EU accession for
Romanians?

Yes No DK/NA

losing the national identity 65% 28% 7%

European policies regarding migration 62% 32% 6%

losing the national independence 61% 34% 5%

turning Romania into a market for EU

61% 37% 2%
products

Bruxelles governing the country 54% 38% 8%

Romania's financial contribution to the

48% 44% 8%
EU

EU external policies 43% 44% 13%

other 37% 46% 17%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

During the last 10 years?

Yes No DK/NA

has someone in your family worked in

62% 38%
another EU country?

have you traveled to another EU

56% 44%
country?

have you worked in another EU

21% 79%
country?

has someone in your family studied in

17% 83%
another EU country?

have you benefited from European

8% 91% 1%
financing?

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

In your opinion, has Romania had more to gain or to lose following its EU accession?

DK NA
Neither 2% 1%
5%

More to lose
29%

More to gain
62%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

 For each of the following, has Romania had more to gain or to lose following its EU
accession?

More to gain More to lose Neither DK/NA

attracting European funs 68% 23% 2% 7%

access to education 67% 26% 3% 4%
Romanian work force migration to foreign countries 62% 35% 2% 1%
attracting foreign investments 61% 29% 2% 8%
the fight against corruption 58% 34% 1% 7%
Romanian product exports 57% 37% 1% 5%
access to healthcare 56% 34% 3% 7%
restoration of historical centers or monuments 53% 35% 2% 10%
independence of justice 52% 34% 2% 12%
Romania's foreign policy 51% 31% 1% 17%
creating jobs 50% 47% 1% 2%
the smooth running of Romanian business 48% 41% 1% 10%
raising living standards 46% 47% 4% 3%

improving the situation of vulnerable groups 46% 46% 1% 7%

road rehabilitation 43% 51% 3%3%
government transparency 43% 39% 2% 16%
highway construction 40% 52% 2% 6%
agriculture 36% 59% 2%3%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Who do you feel is responsible for the fact that Romania did not stand to gain more from
its EU accession?

Yes No DK/NA

Romanian politicians 95% 3% 2%

European politicians 55% 35% 10%

Politicians from other EU countries 39% 51% 10%

other 42% 41% 17%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How well do you think that Romanias interests have been negotiated when acceding to
the EU?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Very well 2%

Well 42%

Poorly 31%

Very poorly 18%

DK 6%

NA 1%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How well informed are you regarding European policy?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Very well informed 1%

Well informed 39%

Poorly informed 45%

Very poorly informed 12%

DK 2%

NA 1%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How interested are you in European policy?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Very interested 7%

Interested 38%

Not very interested 37%

Not at all interested 17%

DK 1%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How would you assess European policies, in general?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Very good 3%

Good 59%

Poor 25%

Very poor 8%

DK 5%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

During the last few years, have you heard about?

Da Nu

The European refugee crisis 95% 5%

The United Kingdom leaving the EU 92% 8%

The Greek crisis 89% 11%

Turkey's relationship with the EU 71% 29%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How interested are you in the elections in other EU member states?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Very interested 5%

Interested 31%

Not very interested 41%

Not at all interested 22%

DK 1%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

To what extent do you feel that your best interest is represented in the EU by?

To a very high extent To a high extent To a low extent To a very low extent DK/NA

The Romanian President 6% 23% 33% 34% 4%

The European Commission 1% 25% 46% 20% 8%

The European Parliament 2% 20% 48% 24% 6%

The Romanian Parliament 3% 17% 42% 34% 4%

The Romanian Government 4% 16% 41% 35% 4%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How satisfied are you in the way Romania is represented by Romanian officials in
Brussels?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Very satisfied 2%

Satisfied 28%

Not very satisfied 48%

Not at all satisfied 17%

NA 5%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How much trust do you have in?

A great deal A fair amount Not very much None at all DK/NA

The European Commission 3% 27% 41% 23% 6%

The European Parliament 2% 28% 39% 25% 6%

The European Council 2% 27% 42% 20% 9%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

To what extent do you feel that you are?

To a very high extent To a high extent To a low extent Not at all DK/NA

A Romanian 62% 27% 7% 3% 1%

bound to your county 50% 38% 8% 2% 2%

bound to your city/town 52% 36% 8% 3% 1%

bound to your region (Transylvania,

50% 35% 8% 4% 3%
Moldavia, Oltenia)

A European 17% 34% 35% 12% 2%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Do you think that Romania joining the Schengen area would be a good thing?

NA
DK 1%
9%

No
12%

Yes
78%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Do you think that Romania will join the Schengen area in 2017?

NA
DK 1%
12%

Yes
48%

No
39%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Do you think that Romania is ready to accede to the euro area?

DK NA
6% 1%

Yes
33%

No
60%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

How do you see the European Unions future?

NA
DK 1%
4%

Rather optimistically
50%
Rather pessimistically
45%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

 What is the main threat to the European Union in the following period, in your opinion?

Semi open-ended question

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Terrorism 27%

Immigration 18%

Member states leaving the EU 14%

Russia 12%

The crisis of the euro area 8%

Nationalism 4%

The USA 4%

Other 1%

DK 11%

NA 1%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

What do you think is best for the following years, that Romania stays in the EU or that
Romania leaves it?

DK NA
4% 1%

It is best to leave the

EU
15%

It is best to stay in
the EU
80%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

 Which is the state that is Romanias best ally in the EU?

Open-ended question
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

France 21%
Germany 20%
Italy 7%
Spain 4%
The United Kingdom 2%
Bulgaria 2%
Poland 1%
Greece 1%
Other 5%
None 5%
DK 29%
NA 3%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

 Which is the state that is Romanias worst enemy in the EU?

Open-ended question
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Hungary 18%
The Netherlands 6%
Germany 6%
The United Kingdom 3%
France 2%
Italy 1%
Greece 1%
Other 3%
None 17%
DK 38%
NA 5%

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report

Perceptions on the impact of Romanias EU accession Research report