Poll: Two-thirds of Czechs support EU membership

Prague, Jan 29 (CTK) - Nearly two-thirds of Czechs are satisfied with the fact that their country is a member of the European Union and almost three-fourths of them feel a part of Europe, according to the latest STEM agency's poll released to CTK Friday.
But nearly three in five people believe that the Czech Republic does not play an active part in the EU and that it is unable to push through its stances in decision-making on the European level.
After the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, the portion of those satisfied with the EU membership was lower than now.
During disputes over the original EU constitution and the following Lisbon Treaty only slightly more than a half of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the membership.
On the other hand, up to 70 percent were satisfied with it in early 2009 at the beginning of the Czech EU presidency.
During the EU presidency from January to June 2009, the number of people sharing the view that the Czech Republic can take an active part in EU decision-making grew to nearly one half of them.
Now 42 percent said they believe the country can actively participate in EU decision-making.
The pollsters said Czechs feel more a part of Europe after their country headed the EU last year.
People's position on the EU is strongly related to their political views. While right-wing voters mostly support EU membership, left-wing voters take a negative or reserved stance on it.
The poll was conducted among 1297 respondents in early January.