International Relations

In February 2010 Public Opinion Research Centre studied trust of the Czech population in the selected international organizations - the European Union, NATO and the United Nations. Another question was focused on satisfaction with membership in these institutions.

One of the topics included in the April survey of the Center for Public Opinion Research, was the European Union. Specifically the satisfaction of citizens with the membership, whether the membership is seen as a good thing for the CR, sense of civic pride and a sense of belonging to the EU. The survey studied also the development of living standards in the context of EU accession and views on adopting the euro as the currency of the Czech Republic.

According to January survey 69 % of Czechs see existence of Nato as necessary today, 19 % think that Nato is useless.

In January survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated public attitude to membership of the Czech Republic in NATO and to some aspects concerning this membership as well as national defense in general.

Public Opinion about Transfer of Sudet-German and about President Benes Decrees.

In November survey CVVM asked respondents some questions about Benes decrees.

Currently 65 % respondents share the opinion that Benes Decrees should continue to be in force, 8 % stood up for their cancellation, and 27 % had no opinion on this issue.

Another question posed was about the expulsion of Sudet-Germain people from Czech borderland in 1945-6.

At the beginning of the next year, it will pass seventeen years since Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In its regular survey ‘Our society’ in November 2009 the Public Opinion Research Centre examined how this historic event is viewed nowadays. Sixteen years ago, only 26 % of Czech citizens agreed with the break-up, while 48 % were opposed and 26 % do not know...

Evaluation of Relations with Some Countries

Since 2000, CVVM in its investigations has repeatedly devoted to assess the relationship of the Czech Republic with neighboring countries, which in the past two years have been accompanied by some selected major countries in a global context.

According to October survey of CVVM, 80 % of Czechs are satisfied with a decision of U.S. administration to cancel the project of installation of U.S. missile defense radar on Czech soil. Only 12 % of respondents expressed the opposite feeling in this matter.

72 % of Czechs against 20 % think that the U.S. in their foreign policy prioritize their own power and economic interests, and 51 % against 38 % believe that U.S. do not take into consideration the opinion of the world community. According to 30 % of Czech citizens the current foreign policy of the U.S. represents a threat to today’s world, while 55 % have the opposite opinion. Czech society is rather convinced that the United States in their foreign policy try to ensure stability and peace in the world (56 % agree, 35 % disagree) and that they stand up for the defence of freedom, democracy and human rights (57 % say yes, 34 % no).

In October 2009, Public Opinion Research Centre questioned Czech public about the Treaty of Lisbon. People were asked, whether they know, what the term "Treaty of Lisbon" means, whether they are informed about the treaty and interested in this topic. Except these questions, the survey investigated public opinion on the ratification of the treaty, and whether the position of the Czech Republic will be better, the same or worse, if the treaty is adopted.