Romanian Preferences Revealed: INSCOP Survey Ranks Most Favorable Countries

Spain and Italy garner highest favorability among Romanians, INSCOP Survey for News.ro reveals. The poll also show a shift in rankings over the past decade, with positive sentiments toward Moldova and Ukraine increasing, while Russia ranks lowest, with sympathy halved compared to 2013.

82.8% of respondents express predominantly positive sentiments for Spain (compared to 72.9% in 2013), while 81.4% feel similarly about Italy (compared to 70.5% in 2013). Following closely are Germany at 77.6% positive sentiments (compared to 74.3% in 2013), France at 75.4% (compared to 73% in 2013), and the United Kingdom at 75.4% (compared to 75.5% in 2013). Additionally, 69.2% of survey participants report predominantly positive feelings toward Moldova (compared to 65.7% in 2013), while 67.5% express such sentiments for the United States (compared to 70.3% in 2013).

Ukraine enjoys predominantly positive sentiments from 43.3% of Romanians (compared to 41.8% in 2013), while Hungary receives favorable feelings from 39.7% (compared to 29.3% in 2013). The ranking concludes with China, with 36.3% expressing predominantly positive sentiments (compared to 56.5% in 2013), and Russia, with 18.3% (compared to 36.8% in 2013).

“Spain and Italy, the Western countries hosting the largest Romanian communities, dominate the ranking of positive sentiments toward countries. However, the most intriguing aspect is the comparison with the situation ten years ago (2013) when INSCOP Research posed a similar question within the Truth about Romania Barometer. A significant regression is observed, particularly in the case of Russia, where the proportion of positive sentiments has halved in 2023 compared to 2013, dropping from almost 37% a decade ago to 18% at present. These data correlate with the decline in trust in Russia, as the indicator for high and very high trust, reflecting a more critical evaluation by the population, has plummeted from around 18% to approximately 8% currently. The evident explanation for this sharp decrease is the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. On the other hand, compared to 2013, we note an increase in 2023 in the proportion of positive sentiments toward most Western European countries, as well as toward Moldova,” says Remus Ştefureac, director of INSCOP Research.