Rising prices, inflation and the cost of living, the economic situation, health and education are at the top of Romanians' concerns at the beginning of 2023.
As a result of the war in Ukraine, the international situation is also a concern, both from an economic and security point of view, according to the results of the Standard Eurobarometer survey published on Monday by the European Commission.
After two years of pandemic and one year of war in the immediate vicinity, Romanians put the first place among their concerns price increases, inflation and the cost of living, both in terms of personal situation (51%), as well as the opinion on the situation national (53%) and the one from European level (30%)On a personal and national level, the situation financial own (22%) and the economic of the country (29%) ranks second, followed by health (17%, both at the personal and national level). Regarding the European Union, Romanians rank international situation in second place as a concern (28%), followed by energy resources (19%).
Most Romanians believe that their own situation financial/economic will stagnate (40%) or even get worse (36%) in the next year, a perception that extends to the national (31 and 41% respectively) and European (32 and 34% respectively).
Romanians are satisfied with the way the European Union has managed response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (58%) and I am in favor of imposing sanctions on Russia (67%), banning certain Russian media outlets in the EU (61%), financing the acquisition of military equipment for Ukraine (55%), the provision of humanitarian aid those affected by war (71%) or welcoming Ukrainian refugees into the Union (72%). They consider the Russian invasion to be a security threat both the European Union (69%) and their own country (71%). They also appreciate that the war has impact both on its own financial situation (66%) and on the national economic situation (69%).
Most Romanians have trust in the European Union (52%, compared to 47% in the EU27), 42% of them (50% in the EU27) appreciating as its main positive result freedom of movement, meaning the ability to travel, study or work without restrictions in any of the EU member states.
Regarding the media behavior of Romanians, they mainly use the television (75%) or social networks (32%) to get information on European topics, as well as discussions with relatives, friends or work colleagues (51%). Romanians declare that they are aware of the existence of the phenomenon of disinformation and fake news (63%), but only half of them believe that they can identify them (54%).
