International Relations

In its regular survey ‘Our society’ in April 2007 the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on the questions about the European Union. Three question concerned Treaty of Lisbon. Only 19 % of Czechs have good knowledge about what the term 'Treaty of Lisbon' means. A strong majority (78 %) of Czechs does not have enough information about the Treaty of Lisbon and only 16 % of Czech population are interested in the treaty.

In March and April more than three fifths (65 % in March, 63 in April) of Czech citizens did not agree with planned deployment of U.S. anti-missile radar in Czech Republic, on the other hand slightly over a quarter (28 % in March, 29 % in April) of respondents would approve it. Seven of ten respondents expressed their opinion that this question should be decided in a referendum, a fifth of Czechs disagreed with holding a plebiscite in this matter.

In April 2008 CVVM probed, how Czech citizens evaluate membership of Czech Republic in European Union. Besides satisfaction with membership Czechs also talked about measure of their pride in fact that they are citizens of European Union. Last but not least we focused on opinions concerning advantages and disadvantages that membership in this institution produces.

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In March survey the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on topic of the presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic will assume the presidency of the EU on 1 January 2009. The respondents were asked if they are interested in this topic or if they have a lot of informations about the presidency. The survey also investigated citizens´ evaluation of the Czech Republic’s preparations for the presidency.

March survey of CVVM was dealing with a situation related to recent unilateral declaration of independence of Serbian province of Kosovo. In retrospect just 19 % of Czechs agree with NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia nine years ago, 49 % disagree and 32 % are undecided. 34 % of citizens approve Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, 36 % oppose it. According to 36 % of respondents Czech government should have recognized Kosovo diplomatically, 34 % are against official recognition of Kosovo's independence.

In February 2008 CVVM probed situation in Czech society concerning trust and satisfaction with some international institutions – concretely United Nations, European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Most Czechs trust to UN (59 %), after that follows EU with 55 % of believing citizens and NATO with 44 %. The same order is also in context of satisfaction with membership in these organizations.

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.

January and February surveys of CVVM followed some questions related to the plan to locate U.S. anti-missile radar in Czech Republic. The surveys investigated Czech public's attitudes to this plan as well as to eventual referendum on this matter. The report contains main results of analysis of socio-demographic differences and time comparison with previous surveys of these questions. The survey in January included also a set of questions focused on level and objectivity of information related to location of U.

December survey of CVVM followed two questions related to the plan to locate U.S. anti-missile radar in Czech Republic. The survey investigated Czech public's attitudes to this plan as well as to eventual referendum on this matter. The report contains main results of analysis of sociodemographic differences and time comparison with previous surveys of these questions.

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

Currently more than a half of respondents (52 %) share the opinion that Benes Decrees should continue to be in force, 11 % stood up for their cancellation, and 37 % had no opinion on this issue.

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

Almost half of respondents (48 %) considered this historical act to be just.