Euroscepticism and European Unions' New Member States: Secession Tendencies vs. Euro Introduction

Euroscepticism implies (usually critical and negative) attitudes toward European integration project. It is a complex phenomenon that changes over time under the influence of both domestic and external factors. The emergence of Global crisis became an important factor in cost/benefit analyses of European Union and euro zone membership, encouraging Eurosceptics' dilemmas. Ongoing discussions on procedures and consequences of secession from European integrations intensified especially during the Greek crisis in 2015 and after the referendum in United Kingdom in June 2016. The focus of the paper is on Eurosceptic attitudes in European Unions' new member states that are confronting the benefits of switching to euro and secession tendencies at the same time. Analyses in the paper are based on Eurobarometer reports on euro introduction in NMS, considering questions that reflect the fears of losing control over national economic policy and perception of euro introduction. Results did not indicate a clear trend, varying over years and between countries.