EUROBAROMETER RESULTS

PROGRAMME HUNGARY-CROATIA

Date: 14/12/2015

Regional and Urban Policy

Eurobarometer Results – Programme Hungary-Croatia

1/ Awareness of EU-funded cross-border cooperation

In programme Hungary-Croatia, 43% of respondents have heard about EU- funded CBC activities. This level of awareness is higher than the EU average of 31%. Awareness is higher on the Hungarian side (51%) than on the Croatian side of the border (35%).

Overall, in this programme, younger people tend to be less aware of EU-funded CBC activities, as illustrated in the graph below.

Eurobarometer Results – Programme Hungary-Croatia

2/ Mobility

37% of respondents in programme Hungary-Croatia have traveled to the other side of the border. The percentage is the same for both HU and HR respondents. This is less than the EU average of 53%.

The most frequent reason mentioned for crossing the border is leisure and tourism: 31% of all respondents have crossed the border for this reason. The next most frequent reason is buying goods and services, relevant for 17% of respondents.

3/ Trust

In programme Hungary-Croatia, 79% of respondents would feel comfortable with having a citizen from the partner country as a work colleague, family member, neighbour or manager. This is lower than the EU average of 82%.

71% of HU respondents trust their Croatian neighbours, whereas 88% of HR respondents trust their HUngarian neighbours.

Eurobarometer Results – Programme Hungary-Croatia

4/ Obstacles

For a large majority of respondents (64%), living near the border has no impact. For 26% it is considered as "more of an opportunity". This percentage is very low compared to other EU border regions. Finally, 3% of people responded that it is more of an obstacle.

75% of respondents identified at least one problem making CBC difficult in their region.

Respondents could select several obstacles. By far, the most frequently mentioned obstacle is language (mentioned by 72% of people, which is higher

Eurobarometer Results – Programme Hungary-Croatia

than EU average 57%). Social and economic differences, as well as legal and administrative obstacles, are an obstacle to CBC according to 30% of respondents (both lower than EU averages of respectively 46% and 45%). The least applicable obstacles are cultural differences (18%, whereas EU average is 32%) and accessibility (15%, whereas EU average is 30%).