File photo
An official public survey revealed on Wednesday the dissatisfaction of half of the European citizens with the direction EU heads in.
Eurobarometer, which conducts official surveys of the EU revealed the the findings about people’s opinions. The fieldwork of survey was carried out between Sept. 8-26, 2018 among 27,474 Europeans aged 16 or more in 28 EU member states.
The survey revealed that 50 percent of Europeans aren’t satisfied with the direction EU is heading in while a clear appreciation for EU membership, reaching 68 percent.
Austria fully supports Serbia's path to the European Union, but first it must resolve its issues with Kosovo, said Austria’s president on Wednesday, on a two-day visit to the capital Belgrade."The Union must insist that open bilateral issues, border issues [with Kosovo] must be clarified," said Alexander Van der Bellen at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.Van der Bellen, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, added that there is a prevailing opinion in the EU that these issues have to be overcome and he believes Vucic is working hard to resolve them.Austria has concerns about UN migration pact, might back outKosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade insists the country remains part of Serbia. Since then tensions have remained high between Kosovo’s ethnic-Albanian majority and a small Serb minority in the north.Kosovo is recognized by over 100 countries, including Turkey, U.S., Britain, France, and Germany."If there is a conciliatory solution between the two sides, then the European Union, the United States, and all the direct and indirect participants will be very happy to examine this peaceful and agreeable solution," said Van der Bellen.He added that Serbia is in the leading position among candidates for EU membership.Austria's ex-chancellor Kern quits politics, will not run in European elections"It is quite clear and I think it is obvious that Austria fully supports the path of Serbia to the EU, and maybe this visit is small proof of that," said Van der Bellen.Vucic, for his part, said he had told Bellen that Serbia is always ready to talk with Kosovo and hold an open dialogue on key issues, but repeated that a compromise solution is needed.The two presidents are set to attend a Serbian-Austrian Business Forum, and Van der Bellen will meet with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.On day two of the visit, Van der Bellen and Vucic will take part in the eighth Belgrade Security Forum.This is the third meeting of the two presidents this year.
'Serbia must solve issues with Kosovo on EU path'
Public opinion also seems quite stable in terms of expectations about the role of the EU in the future, with 48 percent wanting the EU to play a more important role, as opposed to 27% preferring less.
The survey also revealed that the immigration topped the agenda with 50 percent, followed by economy with 47 percent and youth unemployment with 47 percent, while combatting terrorism moved down to the fourth place with 44 percent as problems considered by EU citizens.
Some 66 percent of respondents would vote for their country to remain a member of the EU and only 17 percent would contemplate leaving, according to the survey.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was still a chance of concluding an agreement for an orderly exit for Britain from the European Union, but Berlin was preparing for all options, including the possibility of a no-deal departure.Addressing the German parliament ahead of a Wednesday evening European summit on issues including Brexit, Merkel said agreement had yet to be reached on arrangements for the border between the north and south of Ireland.Germany's preparations for the possibility of Britain leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement included looking at the status of the roughly 100,000 British citizens who lived in Germany and the status of those of them who were German state employees.Longer Brexit transition period would not hurt Europe"I want Britain to be a close and trusting partner for Europe after leaving," she said. "Now, as before, there is a chance of reaching a good and solid withdrawal agreement."But it must be clear that in the end there will always be a difference between membership of the EU and being a partner," she added. 
Berlin braced for all Brexit scenarios, including no deal: Merkel
Europe may need to amend its relations with Saudi Arabia, depending on the outcome of an investigation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and a critic of the Saudi crown prince, vanished after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Turkish officials say they believe he was killed there and his body removed, which the Saudis strongly deny."We have a very ambivalent picture of Saudi Arabia, especially with what has happened in the Khashoggi case in recent days, and what emerges in the coming days will complete that picture. Europe may need to correct its policies toward Saudi Arabia," Juergen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman for Merkel's conservatives, told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.'Turkey to solve Saudi journalist case'"We need to use our economic leverage so that Saudi Arabia remains on a course of stability in the region," he added.He said it was too soon to make concrete proposals for policy changes and there were no plans for sanctions against Saudi Arabia.U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Saudi Arabia the benefit of the doubt in Khashoggi's disappearance even as U.S. lawmakers pointed the finger at the Saudi leadership and Western pressure mounted on Riyadh to provide answers.Norbert Roettgen, chairman of the German parliamentary foreign affairs committee and an ally of Merkel, criticised Trump's comments."The decisive factor now is the behaviour of the U.S. president, who basically told the crown prince, we are giving you free rein as long as you buy enough weapons and other things from us," he told broadcaster ARD. Saudi owes Khashoggi family apology: US newspaper CEOUS's Pompeo to meet President Erdoğan, Turkish counterpartTrump says Saudi prince denies knowledge of Khashoggi case
Europe may need to change Saudi policies over Khashoggi case: Merkel ally