• At the end of the pandemic and in the midst of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, rising prices, inflation and the cost of living are the main concerns of Romanians.
According to the latest survey Eurobarometer carried out in the European Union between January and February 2023, ask how they would rate the general situation in Romania at present, 72% of Romanians declare that the situation is bad and very bad, an increasing percentage compared to mid-2022, when it was 66% .
At the level of the European Union, 69% of citizens consider that the financial situation of their household is good, being almost at the same level as in the summer of 2022.
Among Romanians who live in big cities, only 6% consider that the situation in Romania is very good. A percentage of 25% of young people between the ages of 15-24 state their concern regarding the educational system, while for 34% of Romanians between the ages of 65-74 pensions represent the second biggest concern.
The year 2022 was marked by deep insecurity among the population, fueled by rising energy prices and difficulties in generating invoices from suppliers. As a result, 64% of Romanians say they have taken steps to reduce their energy consumption or intend to do so in the near future, compared to a significantly higher European average of 81%.
Concerns about the future situation
According to the survey European Union, the majority of Romanians believe that their own financial-economic situation will stagnate (40%) or even worsen (36%) in the next year. Regarding the situation at the national level, 31% of those interviewed believe that the situation will stagnate, while 41% believe that it will get worse. 69% of those who believe Romania is heading in the wrong direction say they have difficulty paying their current bills and 72% are not satisfied with their lives.
The survey shows that 58% of Romanians are satisfied with the measures taken by the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 67% of them are in favor of imposing sanctions on Russia, 61% are for banning certain Russian media institutions in the EU, 55% for the purchase of military equipment for Ukraine, and a percentage of 71% are for granting humanitarian aid to those affected of war.
69% of Romanians believe that the Russian invasion is a threat to the security of the European Union, while 71% see it as a threat to their own country. They also appreciate that the war has an impact both on their own financial situation (66%) and on the national economic situation (69%).
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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