Conference “The relationship of EU citizens towards the EU“
The conference “The relationship of EU citizens towards the EU“ was held at the Regional Science Association in Subotica on 13 May 2016, organised by the Republikon Foundation from Hungary and Regional Science Association of Subotica. The conference aimed at reducing Euroscepticism involving the participation of political parties, NGOs and citizens.
Among the speakers at the conference was Andrija Aleksić, European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina, who talked about “Serbia’s way towards Europe“. According to the results of the latest research of the European Integration Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia of December last year, 48 percent of the population supported Serbia’s accession to the EU, 26 percent of citizens were against it, whereas the others responded that they had no opinion on the issue.
“We are in a paradoxical situation, because on the one hand, half of the citizens support the EU integration, EU funds are getting more available, and on the other hand, there are the anti-EU forces in the parliament. I think that the decline in the citizens’ attitude towards the EU integration has been affected by some sort of satiation with the topic in recent years, because Serbia’s strategic approach has lasted for full sixteen years. Therefore, in my view, conferences like this one are important, so that the citizens themselves could come to the conclusion on the political, financial and economic benefits Serbia would gain by accessing the EU“, said Andrija Aleksić, European Affairs Fund of AP Vojvodina.
According to Elza Morcsányi, project coordinator of the Republikon Foundation from Hungary, despite the substantial financial resources by the EU, for different areas, citizens are not aware enough of what and how great the opportunities the EU membership offer are, and Euroscepticism is growing in Hungary, just as all over Europe.
„By organizing conferences and lectures, in Hungary and neighbouring countries, we are trying to indicate the success the EU has achieved so far and to bring its operation and opportunities it offers closer to the public. In this way, we want to contribute to the reduction of Euroscepticism, which is also present in Hungary“, said Morcsányi.
The participants in the conference were representatives of political parties, NGOs, as well as young people, because according to estimate, the civil sector should play the most important role in the spread of democratic ideas by influencing youth policy.
The “Event on Totalitarianism in a Pre-accession Country” is part of the project implemented by Republikon Foundation in Hungary, financed by the Europe for Citizens program of the European Commission. Within the project, the Republikon Foundation, in cooperation with its partners, is organizing forums and workshops showcasing the success of the EU and the benefits it offers to the Member States.
