According to the latest Eurobarometer poll released by the European Parliament (EP), the interest of Czechs and Slovaks in the upcoming European Parliament (EP) elections is the lowest among all EU member states. The survey, which assessed the sentiments of voters across EU countries, found that an average of 56% of voters expressed interest in the EP elections, marking a 6 percentage point increase compared to the previous elections. However, the figures drop significantly to just 27% in the Czech Republic and 26% in Slovakia.

Despite the low interest in the EP elections, the poll highlighted that almost three-quarters of people believe that EU activities have a direct impact on their daily lives. Surprisingly, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia saw a decline in the number of people who consider EU membership a positive thing compared to the previous autumn.

The EP elections, scheduled for early June 2024, will play a crucial role in determining the composition of the 705-seat body, with the Czech Republic having 21 representatives. Additionally, the elections will influence the selection of the new head of the European Commission, where member states’ leaders hold the final decision-making power. Notably, the previous EP elections in 2019 witnessed an average turnout slightly above 50%, with the Czech Republic and Slovakia having the lowest participation rates.

In stark contrast, the Netherlands stands out with 75% of its population expressing interest in the upcoming EP elections. Highlighting the significance of the EP elections, EP President Roberta Metsola encouraged voters, especially young people, to exercise their right to vote and actively contribute to shaping the European Union according to their aspirations.

The survey further revealed that 71% of people across EU countries believe that the EU’s work has a tangible impact on their daily lives, a sentiment shared by 74% of Czechs. However, compared to the previous survey conducted in autumn, the proportion of people who perceive their country’s EU membership positively has decreased. In the Czech Republic, the positive sentiment stands at 44%, representing a 7-percentage-point drop, while in Slovakia, it decreased by 5 percentage points to 39%. The EU average satisfaction with EU membership currently stands at 61%, slightly lower than in the autumn.

Among EU citizens, the main current success of the bloc is perceived to be the support for Ukraine, appreciated by 69% of respondents. In the Czech Republic, support for Ukraine ranks second (53%), following the protection of democracy (59%).

Regarding the functioning of democracy in the EU, 54% of respondents expressed satisfaction on average, while in the Czech Republic, the figure stands at 51%, representing a decrease of seven percentage points compared to the previous autumn.

The Eurobarometer survey, conducted on a sample of 26,376 respondents, mostly through in-person interviews and occasionally via video interviews, assessed the sentiments of each country’s population, providing valuable insights for the EP. As the EP elections approach, the results highlight the need for increased engagement and participation to ensure the democratic representation of the Czech and Slovak populations and their concerns within the European Union.

Article by Prague Forum