The first major survey by DiaNEOsis, a new research corporation founded by Dimitris Daskalopoulos, former head of the Association of Greek Industries (SEV), found that 46.2 percent of Greeks believe that the country has recorded net losses in terms of financial growth and well-being because of its membership in the European Union. The fact that only half of that percentage, or 23 percent, wishes that Greece leaves the EU is due to fears that Greece’s position outside the bloc would deteriorate further.
“After 35 years of membership in the European institutional and economic mechanism, Greek society today appears practically divided between Europhiles and Euroskeptics. This is a split which, as long as Greece remains in a structural crisis, could evolve into a new division,” Daskalopoulos argued on Tuesday during a presentation of the new research organization and the generalities of the survey’s findings. He went on to forecast that this will be the worst of the consequences of the Greek crisis.
Daskalopoulos attributed the growing Euroskepticism among Greek society to “the continuing crisis, the pointless clash between supporters and enemies of the bailouts for six years, as well as the inflexible economic dogma for austerity that has been testing the stamina of our society.”
The full results of the “What Do Greeks Believe?” survey will be published on February 10.
