February 20 (SeeNews) - Macedonian citizens' support for their country's membership in the European Union remains exceptionally high despite the slow progress that it has been making towards accession, a survey carried out by a Skopje-based think-tank showed.
As many as 77% of Macedonians would like to see their country join the EU, while 17% are against it, the survey conducted by the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis Skopje (IDSCS) last year showed. In 2014, the share of supporters of Macedonia's membership in the bloc was 80% versus 14% who were opposed to it.
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005 but has still not received a starting date for accession negotiations.
Macedonians, however, are increasingly sceptical of their country's progress towards EU integration, the survey indicated.
Some 39% believe their country has progressed significantly or partially to membership, whereas according to 30% it has made no progress at all. Back in 2014, 47% said the country is advancing on the EU path, whereas 26% said they see no change.
Most, 47%, believe the main reason for the slow pace of the accession process is that neighbouring countries are hindering it, against 39% who said their country has not implemented the needed reforms. In 2014, 59% said other countries were the main obstacle to accession, whereas 29% pointed to the lack of reforms.
Macedonia has been involved in a two-decade old dispute with Greece which objects to the use of the name Republic of Macedonia, saying it implies territorial claims to the northernmost Greek province of Macedonia.
According to the survey, the share of Macedonian citizens who would back EU accession if it is conditioned on a change of the country's name has declined to 22% in 2016 from 26% in 2014. Ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians living in the country are less divided on the issue, as the number of Albanians who do not support a compromise is growing.
According to the results of another IDSCS survey, whose results were also presented on Friday, the largest share of Macedonians, 26.2%, see the EU as their country's best foreign ally. Russia is the preferred ally for 25%, as ethnic Macedonians tend to be more pro-Russian than ethnic Albanians.
Both surveys were conducted among 1,100 people.