Zagreb, 26 November 2009 – According to the survey conducted among the citizens of Croatia about the important issues, what worries them the most are the issues of unemployment, job creation and economic growth. The survey was conducted in November this year with a representative sample of 1000 Croatian citizens above 15 years of age.

Among the first ten very important issues which should be solved as soon as possible, besides the above mentioned, are the standard of living and increasing poverty in the country, child abuse, social justice/injustice, fighting corruption and crime, violence especially among the young, reform and development of health care system and protection of human rights. The problem of unemployment and lack of jobs was mentioned by 88 percent of the citizens, mostly those living in Zagreb and Istria, those with university education but also those with lowest levels of education. It is interesting that the problem of violence was especially pointed out by the citizens of Zagreb and Istria, women and young people between 15 and 24 years of age.

The other group of very important issues includes: comprehensive and fair solution of pension system, fight against drug and other addictions, reform and development of judiciary, development of agriculture, reform and development of education system, environment protection, climate change, etc.

The third group of very important issues for Croatian citizens are the status of persons with different sexual orientation, privatisation of state-owned companies, solving problems with Slovenia, accession to the EU, solving problems with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.

When asked about the accession of Croatia to the EU, 31 percent of the citizens responded that it is very important, for 38 percent this issue is somewhat important and for 31 percent not important at all.