1. Public opinion research on EU accession in Croatia Pero Bilušić, Head of Department Department for Information on European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Croatia

2.  field research conducted regularly since 2000, every six months (June, December) using the same set of questions – comparison possible!  sample: 1000 respondents (sample representative of Croatia according to age, gender, region and size of the community)  topics: general knowledge and attitude towards the EU and Croatian accession to the EU ; most used sources of information about the EU  results available to the public (www.mvpei.hr)www.mvpei.hr

3. Attitude towards Croatian integration into the European Union – comparison of 12 waves 14.5 77.6 7.9 12.2 78.5 9.3 13.0 75.6 11.4 9.9 76.9 13.2 6.7 79.4 13.9 11.4 75.7 12.9 73.6 13.5 7.2 72.4 20.3 10.2 51.1 38.7 5.6 53.3 41.2 10.2 41.9 47.9 7.4 48.6 44.1 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% June 2000December 2000 June 2001December 2001 July 2002 December 2002 June 2003December 2003 June 2004beDecemr 2004 June 2005December 2005 Against For Does not know

4.  research commissioned by partner organisations also used  International Republican Institute (IRI) – regular consultations on questionnaire  Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia (DEC) – last research May/June 2006 (qualitative & quantitative)  results of DEC research: citizens are looking for “real life information” and information about effects of membership on their living standard and are not much interested in institutions and their roles; citizens are not willing to actively look for information

5. Things to come…  MFAEI research to be more flexible in the future (part of questionnaire changeable) to adapt to MFAEI needs (crisis management, monitoring of effects of activities of Department for EI Information)  sector specific ad hoc research to be conducted if necessary  all research serves as basis for planning of information activities!

6. Questions? Comments? Thank you for your attention!