International Relations

According to May survey of CVVM SOÚ AV ČR 68 % of Czech citizens did not agree with planned deployment of U.S. anti-missile radar in Czech Republic, on the other hand 24 % 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. People who are against the referendum are for the most part supporters of idea to locate the U.

In April 2008 CVVM investigated, whether according to Czech citizens values such as democracy, equality, cooperation, toleration, justice and solidarity are being exercised in European Union. The largest proportion of Czechs answered on this subject positively in connection with cooperation and democracy (72 % both) and by contrast equality obtained least agreeing answers (36 %). Then Czechs also evaluated helpfulness and harmfulness of European integration in these areas - economy, politics, culture, country defence and ecology.

As a part of April survey made by CVVM there were questions about relationship of Czech citizens to the European Union. Respondents had to talk about impact of EU membership of Czech Republic on some segments of economical and social system of Czech Republic and their standard of living. The EU influence on supply of goods and services on czech market is best evaluated by 66 % of addressed cititizens.

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.