EU means better opportunities, more red tape for Czechs

Three-quarters of Czechs are of the opinion that the country’s EU membership offers them better living conditions and work opportunities, but it also leads to increasing red tape, according to the latest poll conducted by the CVVM agency. Enumerating the advantages, respondents praised subsidies from EU funds and said membership had increased the country’s visibility. Among the disadvantages cited was the brain drain to other EU states and the limitations imposed by EU legislation. The Czech Republic joined the EU in May, 2004.