European Parliament Flash EurobarometerFIRST RESULTSFocus on EE19 Lead Candidate Process and EP Media Recall

STUDY - Public Opinion Monitoring Series

Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament

DG COMMUNICATIONPublic Opinion Monitoring Unit

IMAGE OF THE EU& MEMBERSHIP

In 26 EU MS, the largest share of respondents havea positive image of the EU

Base: 26,071 respondents

Continued rise of support for EU Membership -Absolute majority in 26 Member States

Base: 26,071 respondents

THELEAD CANDIDATE

PROCESS

Lead candidate process:A detailed explanation read to the respondents

The following text was read to the respondents before the question:

“In 2014, based on the results of the EU elections, a lead candidate of a European political family was elected President of the European Commission. Europeans could therefore not only vote for who should represent them in the European Parliament, but also take part in the process of electing the President of the European Commission. In the next European elections, voters would have for the second time the opportunity to take part in the process of electing the President of the Commission.”

More than half say that the lead candidates process will make them more likely to vote in the European elections

Q8 Would this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections make you more likely to vote than at present? (% EU)

Yes, definitely24%

Yes, probably33%

No, probably not19%

No, definitely not17%

Don't know7%

Base: 26,071 respondents

Total ‘yes’: 57%

Men: 57%Women: 58%

15-24: 62%25-39: 58%40-54: 55%55+: 58%

15-: 51%16-19: 56%20+: 59%

The share of those is overall highest in Hungary (70%),with 44% saying “yes, definitely” Q8 Would this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the

results of the European elections make you more likely to vote than at present? (%)

44

33 29 29 29 28 28 27 27 27 26 26 26 26 24 24 23 23 22 22 21 19 19 16 13 10 8 7

26

24 31 30 28 2936 34 38 40

3125

3628 33

20

39 39

29 30 3231

36 38

33

2337

27

15

19 15 14 20 16

19 24 19 14

20

19

15

1919

27

16 12

22 23 1728

2825

33

35

35

31

1119

15 1718 24

13 13 11 13 1721

17 23 1717

1514

23 1921

18 11 18 16

26

14

20

4 510 10

5 3 4 2 5 6 6 9 6 4 712

712

4 6 94 6 3 5 6 6

15

HU NL IT LT SK EL LU CZ IE AT FR CY PT SI EU27 MT DE RO ES HR BG BE PL LV SE DK FI EE

Yes, definitely Yes, probably No, probably not No, definitely not Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents

Q9 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements regarding this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections? (% Total)

41

27

26

23

16

15

36

40

41

40

30

30

9

15

14

16

28

27

6

9

8

9

16

14

8

9

11

12

10

14

It only makes sense if it is accompanied by a real debate about European issuesand the future of the EU

It represents significant progress for democracy within the EU

It brings more transparency to the process of electing the President of theEuropean Commission

It gives more legitimacy to the European Commission

It has no real impact, it does not change much

It prevents Member States’ governments from choosing the best candidate for the job

Totally agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Totally disagree Don't know

Rising support for the lead candidate process- Citizens call for a real debate

Base: 26,071 respondents

77%

67%

46%

45%

63%

67%

70%

61%

45%

46%

60%

63%

Parlemeter 04/2018 (%)

Q9.6

It only makes sense if it is accompanied by a real debate about European issues and the future of the EU

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements regarding this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections? (%)

86 85 84 81 81 80 80 80 80 79 78 78 77 76 76 76 75 75 75 75 74 74 73 73 73 72 71 68

129 11

12 14 17 16 15 14 14 13 15 15 17 13 15 18 14 12 12 11 10 1018

139 12

13

2 6 5 7 5 3 4 5 6 7 9 7 8 7 11 9 7 11 13 13 15 16 179

1419 17 19

LU PT IE FI EL BE ES FR CZ SK LV AT EU27 PL HR DE NL IT HU BG SE CY MT SI DK EE RO LT

Total 'Agree' Total 'Disagree' Don't know

Across the EU-27, more than two thirds of citizens want thelead candidates process to be accompanied by a real debate

Base: 26,071 respondents

EP MEDIA RECALL

Six in ten EU citizens have heard recently aboutthe European Parliament’s activities

Base: 26,071 respondents

Q3 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the European Parliament’s activities? (% EU)

Yes60%

No39%

Don't know1%

Men: 64%Women: 56%

15-24: 55%25-39: 56%40-54: 61%55+: 62%

15-: 43%16-19: 56%20+: 66%

In Poland, three in four have heard aboutParliament’s activities; just above a third in Greece Q3 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio

something about the European Parliament’s activities? (%)

75 73 73 72 70 70 6964 64 63 60 59 58 58 58 57 57 56 56 56 56 53 52 49

43 39 36 34

25 26 27 27 30 29 3035 34 36 39 39 41 39 41 42 42 44 42 43 43 46 47 49

55 60 63 65

0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1

PL FI SE DE HU AT IE NL SK ES EU27 CZ DK EE SI LU RO BE BG IT PT HR LV LT MT CY FR EL

Yes No Don't knowBase: 26,071 respondents

Media Recall on European Parliament’s activities

The main topic recalled was immigration;seven topics are recalled by more than half of respondents

Base: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents)

Q4 From what you recall, which of the following topics were discussed? (% Total)

7770

6359

5857

5348

4543

3329

42

Immigration

Combating climate change and protecting the environment

Economy and growth

Protection of external borders

Security and defence policy

Protection of personal data

Fight against terrorism

Promoting human rights and democracy

Consumer protection and food safety

The way the EU should be working in the future

Social protection of EU citizens

Combatting youth unemployment

Other

Don't know

In most countries, immigration is the first topicto be recalledin connectionwith the EPBase: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents)

Q4

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Pro

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The

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sh

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Sec

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Con

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Don

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ow

EU27 77 63 29 53 70 48 33 43 58 45 59 57 4 2

BE 87 66 29 62 79 58 40 47 62 53 65 67 3 1BG 68 46 31 50 55 35 32 35 45 58 61 58 5 3CZ 87 60 17 72 72 57 40 56 72 71 76 77 2 1DK 64 46 18 37 62 34 27 34 47 39 60 53 13 4DE 81 65 30 58 82 57 36 49 73 52 76 70 5 2EE 85 37 19 46 48 33 20 37 54 20 48 42 7 3IE 69 64 25 47 73 47 45 48 49 46 69 68 3 1EL 75 61 37 40 55 45 33 41 41 30 47 50 2 2ES 88 75 36 53 76 46 40 44 49 50 67 62 1 1FR 71 67 24 57 84 36 26 41 61 45 47 53 3 1HR 72 34 29 33 39 29 21 29 29 53 51 41 9 2IT 69 61 34 33 42 30 21 24 36 30 28 32 5 3

CY 76 62 38 45 50 38 32 29 47 36 46 50 3 5LV 77 62 38 65 62 49 36 49 69 53 68 70 4 2LT 53 40 28 37 46 29 27 26 43 36 35 43 10 9LU 83 68 37 57 77 50 43 49 58 52 62 67 3 1HU 91 60 39 72 69 66 39 56 64 45 82 50 2 0MT 52 33 15 23 32 19 16 17 20 19 20 26 25 7NL 75 67 21 64 77 51 30 45 61 49 62 70 7 2AT 84 64 35 56 70 53 39 46 65 46 78 70 5 1PL 77 58 17 55 78 64 32 57 66 42 59 60 4 2PT 81 78 40 72 76 57 48 48 55 44 59 67 3 2RO 59 47 34 47 42 43 42 34 44 41 33 38 3 4SI 83 47 32 48 63 43 30 43 51 43 60 51 5 2SK 73 36 26 41 43 33 22 31 36 42 45 46 5 1FI 67 60 27 45 80 45 23 38 71 32 57 47 7 3SE 69 57 21 44 71 52 25 47 58 33 59 47 8 3

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

From what you recall, which of the following topics were discussed? (%)

In seven Member States,environmental protection is the most recalled topic

Base: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents)

Immigration: first position in 20 MS,most mentioned in

Combatting climate change and protecting the environment: first place in

Nearly half say that they have recently heard aboutthe next European elections

Q5 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the next European elections? (% EU)

Yes47%

No52%

Don't know1%

Base: 26,071 respondents

Men: 50%Women: 44%

15-24: 33%25-39: 33%40-54: 45%55+: 60%

15-: 42%16-19: 43%20+: 52%

EE19 Media Recall: Large variations between countriesQ5 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio

something about the next European elections? (%)

60 59 57 57 56 55 54 51 50 47 47 46 46 44 41 41 41 41 39 38 37 37 37 36 36 35 34 32

39 40 43 42 44 43 44 48 49 52 53 54 52 54 59 58 58 58 61 61 62 62 62 63 63 63 63 67

1 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1

FI AT HU MT DE LT SK PL LU EU27 FR IT RO BG ES HR LV SE BE PT EL CY SI DK NL CZ EE IE

Yes No Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents

EE19 Media Recall across the EU-27

Methodology

• Coverage: EU27 Population • Number of interviews: 26,071 respondents • Population: General population aged 15 or more • Methodology: Telephone • Fieldwork: 26 November to 3 December 2018 • Survey conducted by Kantar Public, commissioned by the Public Opinion Monitoring

Unit, Directorate-General for Communication, European Parliament

Contact: Public Opinion Monitoring Unitpublic.opinion.monitoring@europarl.europa.euPhilipp.schulmeister@ep.europa.eu