Greece's Stance on Europe, Happiness, and Key Issues Ahead of European Elections

As Greece gears up for the European elections, revealing investigations shed light on the country's perspective on European identity, happiness levels, and key issues dominating the political landscape.

A study conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) delves into how Greeks perceive their European identity amidst the backdrop of mounting Euroscepticism across the continent.

The survey, encompassing 12 EU member states including Greece, aims to grasp sentiments in light of the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. It highlights Greece's evolving relationship with the European project amidst challenges posed by anti-European sentiments.

Meanwhile, the Global Happiness Report 2024 offers insights into Greece's happiness index, based on subjective ratings from respondents. Despite Greece's rise in global happiness rankings (63rd out of 140 countries, up from 58th last year, 82nd in 2018 and 70th in 2013), concerns linger about the country's overall happiness levels. Interestingly, the report unveils a generational divide, with younger Greeks expressing higher levels of happiness than their older counterparts.

In terms of key issues, the EFCR survey underscores Greece's nuanced stance on migration and Euroscepticism. Contrary to popular belief, the survey suggests that migration ranks lower on the list of concerns for most Greek voters. 19% are most concerned about inward migration, 21% are most concerned about outward migration and 52% are equally concerned about both.

"Those who think that the best way to defeat the far-right is to imitate its policies on migration are mistaken," comments Mark Leonard, founding director of ECFR, afterwards. "Our poll shows that migration is not the main issue for most voters in most countries and that simply copying far-right policies can make mainstream parties look untrustworthy."

Only four countries - Austria (58%), Germany (55%), the Netherlands (63%) and Sweden (59%) - recognise the leaders of far-right parties as a majority of the wider electorate, who are planning to leave the EU.

The survey also sheds light on Greece's perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic and climate policies, revealing divergent views within the country. While the EU's response to the pandemic and climate policies remain divisive, 49% Greek citizens prioritise reducing energy bills over CO2 emissions, highlighting the complex socioeconomic landscape and cost of living crisis currently gripping the country.

As European leaders navigate the complexities of the upcoming elections, the ECFR report emphasises the importance of focusing on the weaknesses of Eurosceptic parties. Rather than framing the elections solely around migration, leaders are urged to champion a broader geopolitical argument for Europe's role in the global arena, particularly in the face of shifting dynamics in US policy and geopolitical tensions.

As Greece and Europe brace for the upcoming elections, these investigations offer valuable insights into the country's evolving political landscape and its stance on key issues shaping the European agenda.

(Source: In.gr)