A survey has revealed that Irish people are among the most positive about the benefits of European Union membership.
The Eurobarometer opinion poll found that almost 80 per cent of people surveyed believe Ireland has benefited from EU membership, more than any other EU country.
On the question of whether EU membership is good thing, Ireland ranked third highest behind the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The country was ranked second to Romania in terms of a positive perception of the EU.
However, the survey also found that the recent economic downturn has taken its toll on optimism both in Ireland and across the EU.
Only 17 per cent of Irish people think that the current employment situation is "good", a fall of 55 per cent from a year ago, and outlook on the economy is also disappointing.
Only 11 per cent of Irish people described the current global economic situation as "good".
"There's no doubt that Irish people, like all Europeans, are very concerned by the economic crisis. The challenge for the EU is to follow through on the recovery plan recently promoted by the European Commission and approved by the European Council," director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland Martin Territt said.
"I note that the Irish figures for support for EU membership and the perceived benefits of membership remain among the highest in the EU. This suggests that people see the EU as part of the solution."
Despite the doom and gloom, few of those polled in Ireland believe the situation will affect them personally, with only 16 per cent expecting their job situation to worsen within the next 12 months.
In contrast, 55 per cent class their personal job situation as good at the moment, and 61 per cent expect it to remain so over the coming year.
In the wider European survey, those living in new EU member states believe enlargement has strengthened the EU. However, more extablished states, such as Germany, Belgium, France, Austria and Luxembourg, believe the opposite, with 27 per cent of people in Ireland holding the opinion that it has become weaker as a result.
More than 30,000 people across Europe were surveyed as part of the poll, which was carried out during October and November. TNS mrbi surveyed 1,000 Irish people in the study.
