Public support for the euro

According to the latest public opinion survey carried out by Gallup for the EU, the overall climate for the introduction of the euro is still positive. In fact, it is slightly more positive than it has been in recent years.

This is, however, not a reflection of a universal trend across the EU, since the ratio of citizens expecting positive consequences ranges from 38% in Cyprus (on the verge of adopting the euro) to 65% in Romania (which is still relatively far from adopting it).

Overall, 53% in the new member states believe that the adoption of the euro will have, on the whole, positive consequences for their countries. This figure is three percentage points higher than it was in September 2006.

Slightly fewer citizens expect negative consequences for their country today than they did seven months ago. The proportion of those who could not or did not want to answer this question decreased by two percentage points in the last years. The majority of citizens would like to have the euro sooner rather than later.

According to the same poll, in Malta, 54% of the people are happy that the euro will replace the Maltese lira while 33% are not. The Maltese are only second to the Romanians in their desire to have the euro introduced as soon as possible.

This percentage increased sharply, by 11%, since September 2006. Following Malta come Hungary, Cyprus and Slovakia. At the opposite extreme the least enthusiasm for the introduction of the euro is to be found in Latvia.

Indeed, the Baltic states would prefer the euro to be introduced as late as possible. A similar sentiment is increasing in the Czech Republic and decreasing in Cyprus. In Cyprus, which will introduce the euro with Malta, 49% are unhappy with the changeover to the euro as opposed to 40% who support it.