Press Release: Eurobarometer : decline in public confidence in acceding countries, but continued strong support for core EU policies

The Autumn 2003 Eurobarometer opinion poll carried out in the acceding and candidate countries shows a decline in public optimism about the economic situation. This general downturn in sentiment, which mirrors results in the current European Union Member States, appears to have affected confidence in public institutions, both national and European. However, support for the EU and its main policies remains strong in the ten countries which join the EU in May 2004, as well as the three candidate countries.