Introduction

Armenia's European integration has been in progress along the implementation of the Armenia-EU Action Plan endorsed in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). With the inauguration of the EU Eastern Partnership initiative in May 2009, the country is willing to reap all its possible benefits - political association with the EU, deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, and easier travel to EU through visa facilitation. Achieving these goals implies serious domestic reforms in line with the EU standards.

Successful advancement of European integration processes depends on the level of public awareness of the EU at large, its structures and legislation, and the society's attitude towards the European integration. These were the main objectives of the survey launched by AEPLAC, in cooperation with the ICHD, among Yerevan residents. Apart from measuring the level of public awareness, the survey tracked the evolution of public opinion on various EU-related subjects compared to earlier and on-going studies, including those conducted by AEPLAC in 2007 and launched by the EU (Eurobarometer 69) in 2008.

The survey covered three main groups of issues:

1)    awareness of the European Union at large, EU structures, and EU-Armenia relations in particular

2)    public sentiments toward European integration of Armenia, related expectations and fears

3)    information channels most used by public to form their opinion

Data were obtained in 750 face-to-face interviews conducted on October 9-23 in people's homes in all Yerevan districts.

Data obtained through the survey will be used during the development and implementation of Armenia's Communication and Information Strategy on European integration.   

Executive Summary: main findings of the survey

 The survey on European integration awareness among the citizens of Yerevan, conducted by AEPLAC and ICHD in October 2009, brought the following main results:

• Overall, the idea of European integration enjoys broad public support. Respondents are also strongly convinced that Armenia will benefit from the EU-Armenia cooperation. Overwhelming majority of the Yerevan residents (86.3%) think that Armenia should integrate into the European Community. The level of trust that citizens have in the European institutions is rather high (43% vs. 33% of those who tend not to trust), moreover it is 2.5 times higher than that placed in national institutions.

• The vast majority of respondents (above 75%) regard all issues covered by ENP and Eastern Partnership Initiatives (support to solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, economic development, strengthening of democratic structure, respect for human rights, improvement of investment climate, regional cooperation etc.) as important areas for cooperation between the EU and Armenia. Furthermore, citizens' ranking of country priorities and fields of cooperation are identical, indicating the Armenian public opinion's strong support in cooperation fields.

• Economic growth, improved living standards and visa free regime opportunities are among most frequently mentioned opportunities that will arise due to European integration. According to respondents the most priority initiatives included in Neighborhood policy are: solution of Nagorno Karabakh issue, economic development and strengthening of democratic structures. It is worth to note that every second respondent who prioritized the strengthening of democratic structures does not believe that this initiative will succeed with the contribution of EU while the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is seemed rather probable (have second highest probability of success among eight listed initiatives).

• Clear majority of Yerevan residents (58%) think that rapprochement with Turkey will ease the regional and European integration processes for Armenia.

• Against the background of the revealed positive attitudes, there are nevertheless two main concerns among Yerevan citizens regarding Armenia's European integration: possible loss of cultural identity and overvalued religious and sexual minority rights mentioned by 21% and 12% of respondents, respectively.

• Another conclusion drawn from the survey is that further effort is needed to enhance public awareness of the European integration. Every tenth respondent (9%) mentioned the names of one or more EU institutions, 13.4% of respondents have heard about the Eastern Partnership Initiative and around one fourth of respondents claim to have heard of the European Neighborhood Policy (25.9%). When asked five "quiz questions" on their knowledge of the European Union, 67.3% of respondents gave at least one correct answer to those and only 0.8% gave correct answers to all five questions.

• The survey registered drastic changes in respondents' self-identity, compared to 2007: When asked whether they think of themselves as not only Armenian, but also European, 81.4% said that they never considered themselves as European. Two years ago it was only 52.6% who never considered themselves as Europeans

• Many Yerevan residents have little or no interest in EU related information (62.8%). On the other hand, significant share of respondents (36.5) say they are interested in information about Europe.

• Regarding the most popular information sources, the overwhelming majority (96%) cited TV, followed by internet (used by every fourth respondent, 26%) and radio (22%). Print media came as least used (11%). The most trusted information source is the internet (3.7 confidence rate[1]) followed by radio, friends and relatives, independent and opposition print media. TV is neither trusted nor distrusted. Official print media is not trusted (2.7 confidence rate). 

• Journalists enjoy the highest level of confidence (50.7%) which means that every second respondent mentioned this category, although this level is 4 percentage points lower than in 2007 survey. Businessmen are in the second place (42.5%) followed by artists and sportsmen. Politicians enjoy the confidence of 32.4% of respondents. Clergy, science and education field representatives have confidence among only 13% of interviewees and only 3.7 percent mentioned one or more NGOs as a trusted opinion leader. 

[1] 1- lowest level of confidence, 5 - highest level of confidence, 3 neither trusted nor distrusted

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