Eurobarometer: 59 percent of Hungarians in favour of EU sanctions

43 percent of Hungarians have a positive view of the European Union, while 17 percent have a negative view and 40 percent are neutral, according to a Eurobarometer survey released on Monday. The regularly conducted EU opinion poll shows a relative majority of those who have a favourable view of the EU compared with those who are neutral, which is a four percent improvement from the last survey taken six months ago.

54 percent of Hungarian respondents trust the EU, a four per cent improvement and above the EU average. 41 percent are distrustful, down three percent from six months ago. The same proportion is almost completely reversed for the Hungarian government, 41-56 percent, and the Parliament's perception is even more unfavourable (38-59 percent).

The survey was commissioned by the European Commission but is representative. This means that – unlike, for example, a national consultation where questions are guided – respondents reflect each social and age group proportionally.

One and a half times as many people are in favour of sanctions as those against them

Although on Monday, while in Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó lashed out against what he called "a series of misguided energy policy decisions by Brussels", the poll found that 73 percent of the Hungarian population would like to see a shared energy policy within the EU.

59 percent of respondents agree with the sanctions against Russia, while just under half as many, 37 percent, oppose them. Six in ten are in favour of financial assistance for Ukraine, eight out of ten support helping Ukrainian refugees and even more approve of humanitarian aid being sent to Hungary's neighbour.

However, the relative majority of those in favour of Ukrainian EU candidacy is small (49-45 percent), while the majority is decidedly against arms transfers (44 percent in favour, 54 percent against). On all questions, the EU average is more pro-Ukrainian, with a particularly wide gap between Hungary and other member states on the last two.

A huge majority of Hungarians, 83 percent, are in favour of the EU reducing its dependence on Russian energy as quickly as possible, which is almost identical to the EU average.

The view of the Hungarian economy is improving but remains negative

Nearly two-thirds of Hungarian respondents see the state of the country's economy as poor. At 64 percent, this figure is six points worse than the EU average, and is also six points lower than in the last survey six months ago. In spite of this, six out of ten Hungarians consider their own financial situation to be good, although this number is also lower than the EU average (70 percent).

More people see the prospects for the year ahead as gloomy than as bright, both regarding the EU economy and their job, but the majority (over fifty per cent) expect things to remain the same.

Inflation is the leading domestic concern, while Hungarians see the international situation as the leading concern of the EU

Of all the problems the country is facing, Hungarians say that runaway prices are by far the most important. This is also true for the EU at 45 percent, but for Hungarians it is even more marked at 56 percent. The economy comes second (30 percent), health care third (23 percent), while education is seen as a concern just above the EU average (10 percent), despite the teachers' protests which have marked the past year.

When it comes to challenges facing the EU, the "international situation" is in the lead for Hungarians, ahead of inflation, which is in second place. The order is reversed for the EU average. Immigration has been pushed off the podium by energy supply.