Why are Slovenians happier than ever two decades after joining the EU?

Slovenia has recently witnessed a remarkable level of life satisfaction among its citizens, as indicated by the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted this autumn. The data reveals that a staggering 94 percent of Slovenians are satisfied with their lives, marking the highest rate since the nation joined the European Union in 2004. This is a significant increase compared to the EU average of 86 percent, showcasing a unique trend in positive sentiment among Slovenians. However, while personal satisfaction is high, concerns regarding domestic and EU developments persist. In Slovenia, 65 percent of respondents reported that the country is not heading in the right direction, highlighting a disconnection between overall satisfaction and political or economic perceptions. Healthcare emerges as the most critical issue facing Slovenia, with 41 percent of the respondents identifying it as a major challenge. This concern is further compounded by rising prices, inflation, and housing issues, which have become increasingly pressing in the wake of recent global economic fluctuations. The overall sentiment suggests that while Slovenians may feel fulfilled in their personal lives, significant political and social anxieties overshadow this happiness at the national level. On an EU scale, Slovenians share a similar skepticism regarding the direction in which the union is heading. Only 36 percent of Europeans believe that things in the EU are progressing positively, whereas 61 percent of Slovenians express the opposite sentiment. This intensified pessimism reveals a profound worry about external developments that contradict the high level of life satisfaction reported domestically. Notably, the public response regarding the war in Ukraine has heightened anxieties regarding security and political stability in the region, influencing how Slovenians perceive their future within the EU context. Finally, the survey illustrates a burgeoning trend of mistrust among Slovenians towards the European connection when compared to their counterparts in other EU nations. As 87 percent of Europeans express trust in the EU, only a fraction of Slovenians share this confidence. The disillusionment with both domestic and EU affairs, juxtaposed with notable life satisfaction, paints a complex picture of Slovenia's current societal landscape, indicating that the nation's challenges are intertwined with broader European issues that need urgent addressing.