MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

As EU approaches half a century, mood is ambiguous

As Europe approaches its fiftieth anniversary of the block's founding Treaty of Rome, 44% of citizens think life has got worse since their country joined the club, according to the latest public opinion poll released Sunday by the Financial Times.

The FT/Harris poll, conducted in the EU five biggest countries and the US, found that only 25% of the Europeans questioned felt life in their country had improved since it joined the EU. The poll illustrates a pervasive pessimism in Europe, but it also highlights the ambivalence of citizens towards the EU. But in spite of many complaints about the EU, including a widespread view that it is too bureaucratic, only a minority thinks their country would be better off if it seceded from the union. Only 22% cent of respondents in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain thought their country would be better off if it left the EU, against 40% who believed it would be worse off. The FT/Harris poll, conducted between February 28 and March 12, also found that 35% of respondents thought the constitution would have a positive impact on their country, compared with 27% who thought the opposite. By far the most negative response, 48%, came from Britain. The treaty would give the EU a president and foreign minister, and lead to simplified voting rules and a reduction of national vetoes in areas of judicial co-operation. As to issues most concerning EU citizens the poll showed: 72% the environment; 69% energy affairs; fighting crime 67%; security 64%; social policies 58%; economic changes 54% and foreign policy 49%.