57% of Czechs have been satisfied with Czechia’s membership in the European Union since 2010, showed a survey conducted by the Stem agency at the turn of October and November. 

This is a rebound following a gradual decline in satisfaction with EU membership in the last decade and a sudden slump when the pandemic struck Europe in the spring. 

"The recovery of trust is probably most related to the fact that the shock of the pandemic has faded away, that the EU has found its role in cooperation and that we no longer feel like the best in Europe," said Stem's chief analyst for international relations Nikola Horejs. 

According to Stem, satisfaction with EU membership has gradually declined from a record 69% since the 2009 global economic crisis. The lowest share was posted in 2016, when only 35% of Czechs said they were satisfied with being in the EU. 

In recent years, confidence in the EU has slowly begun to move closer to pre-crisis levels, however, this spring, after the COVID-19 epidemic started in the country, satisfaction with EU membership suddenly fell from more than 50% to 46%. 

The report pointed out that at the same time, confidence in Nato and the ratings of most foreign countries also declined by several percentage points. This showed “when a society is in crisis it closes in on itself and does not trust distant units or institutions,” according to Stem. 

In the autumn, satisfaction with EU membership has not only recovered to last year's level, but even slightly surpassed it. Eight out of 10 Czechs then feel a sense of belonging to Europe. Czechs appreciate the EU's contribution to vaccines and medicines and the removal of barriers to the import and export of goods and food, and partly see the help of the economic crisis, says the report.