Majority of Italians want to keep euro

(ANSA) - Rome, July 24 - More than half of Italians think their country needs to remain in the euro currency, mainly for arguments of rationality and convenience rather than emotional and political convictions, a survey by Italy's biggest trade union CGIL and research institute Tecnè showed on Friday.
    Confidence in European Union institutions is low, with 67.5% of respondents saying they have little or no confidence in EU structures. However, that compares to 86.1% of respondents who have little or no confidence in Italy's national institutions, the survey showed.
    About 55% of respondents said they have a negative image of Europe, up from 50.7% in a similar survey in December 2013.
    About 66.5% said they did not think that being in the European Union had helped Italy become a more stable country.
    Nevertheless, 47.6% said that being in the European Union is an advantage for Italy, even if 83% think that Italy does not have major influence in the 28-member bloc.
    About 67% of respondents said they thought Italy should remain in the euro currency, and 69.4% said the country should remain in the EU.