Unpacking negative public attitudes towards European union integration: insights from a qualitative study in Slovakia

In the past decade, the European Union (EU) has faced multiple crises that have weakened support for the concept of an 'ever closer union,' particularly among the Visegrad Group's political elite. Euroscepticism has become a prominent feature of national politics and now extends beyond party lines to individual perspectives. This study explores negative perceptions of European integration in Slovakia, a Visegrad Group member, using focus group methodology. Conducted from 2016 to 2019, it involved 30 focus group sessions. The findings reveal that declining support for EU membership is driven by self-interested motives, emotional factors, and populist rhetoric. While the region has seen macroeconomic progress, many Slovakians feel the personal benefits from EU funds are lacking, exacerbated by perceptions of corruption. Additionally, the EU's unified labor market is viewed as disruptive, straining family ties and daily life, particularly in disadvantaged areas.