A total of 60% of Slovenians are in favour of the European constitution, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey released on Friday. The poll has established that despite their high public support, Slovenians know little about the document itself.
Nine percent of Slovenians questioned said they were opposed to the constitution and 31% were undecided.
Despite the strong public support, Slovenians admit they know little about the constitution, which is set to be ratified by the national parliament on 1 February.
A total of 61% of Slovenians polled said they heard about the constitution but know little about it. Only 8% feel they broadly know the content and 31% admitted that they never heard of the document.
A quiz revealed that Slovenians indeed know little about the constitution. As much as 40% of Slovenians believe falsely that the president of the European Council will be elected by EU citizens in direct election. A total of 32% believe falsely that a direct European tax will be created.
However, only 9% falsely believe that the constitution will eliminate national citizenship, and 77% said this is not true. A total of 73% also correctly stated that the constitution allows a member state to leave the EU if it wishes and only 12% believe this is not so.
A total of 63% correctly believe that the constitution will introduce a foreign minister of the EU, and 57% are familiar with the novelty introduced by the constitution that allows a European law can be requested by one million EU citizens.
These answers place Slovenia into the average among EU countries. The survey found that 49% of European citizens surveyed say they are in favour of the constitution and 16% are opposed to it. Positive opinions prevail on negative ones in all countries with the exception of the United Kingdom. All in all, 35% of the population do not express an opinion.
A total of 11% of the EU citizens feel they globally know the content of the constitution, 56% say they know little on the subject and 33% declare they have never heard about it.
All in all, 35% of the population do not express an opinion. Indecision reaches a majority in some of the countries which have announced a referendum: it reaches 67% in Ireland, 53% in Portugal and 50% in the United Kingdom.
The survey, in which 24,786 EU citizens, among them 1,091 Slovenians, were questioned was carried out between 27 October and 29 November, after the constitutional treaty was signed in Rome.
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