Major changes in European public opinion towards the …€¦ · DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN...
Transcript of Major changes in European public opinion towards the …€¦ · DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN...
STUDYPublic Opinion Monitoring Series
Directorate-General for Communication
EPRS | European Parliamentary Research ServiceAuthor: Jacques Nancy, Public Opinion Monitoring Unit
PE 570.421- February 2016
Major changes inEuropean publicopinion towardsthe EU since1973Desk Research2015 Edition
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 2
1. THE EUROPEAN UNION, ITS POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS ............ 4
1. Membership of the European Union and the benefits it brings5
2. Trust in the European Union ................................................. 11
3. The image of the European Union and what it means to
Europeans ........................................................................... 12
4. Trust in the European institutions ........................................ 15
5. Knowledge of how the European institutions work .............. 21
6. Trust in national institutions ................................................ 26
II. DEMOCRACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION ........................................ 28
1. The voice of European citizens ............................................. 30
2. A feeling of European citizenship which survives the crisis .. 34
3. An enduring attachment to the European Union ................... 35
4. The components of an EU identity ........................................ 37
III. THE ECONOMY IN THE EU .............................................................. 39
1. The European economic situation and that of the national
economy .............................................................................. 40
2. Economic projections ........................................................... 43
3. The European Union in the face of the crisis ........................ 47
4. Performance of the European economy ................................ 53
IV. THE LIVES OF EUROPEANS ............................................................ 55
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................... 59
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
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INTRODUCTION
Since 1973 and the birth of the Eurobarometer, the European Union has gone through
various defining stages in its history and its institutional and political structure, affecting
a wide range of issues: the strengthening of the institutions, the first direct elections to
the European Parliament in 1979, successive enlargements, the signing of various
European Treaties, the opening of borders between Member States, referendums and the
introduction of the single currency. But the evolution of the European Union has also
taken place during various periods of economic and political difficulty. It has seen the
collapse of the Soviet bloc, international conflicts, several oil crises, periods of monetary
instability, and, since 2008, a global financial and economic crisis which has resulted in
aid plans being introduced for several Member States faced with very considerable
economic difficulties. In 2015, the European Union has still to emerge from the crisis,
even if the economy is showing encouraging signs of recovery.
The Standard Eurobarometer, a survey established in 1973 and conducted twice a year
(in spring and autumn), and the special Eurobarometers have ever since enabled
changes in European public opinion to be measured among an ever-increasing number of
Europeans as the various enlargements have taken place (from nine Member States in
1979 to 28 in 2013). TNS opinion has carried out an exploratory study for the European
Parliament's Public Opinion Monitoring Unit to analyse changes in European public
opinion over time on a number of issues. The first version of this study was carried out
in 2013, followed by an update in early 2015, which took into account the surveys
conducted in 2013 and 2014. Following the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring
2015 and the Special 'Parlemeter' Eurobarometer survey in September 2015, the
analysis should be updated.
The following aspects were studied:
- Changes in European public opinion with regard to the European Union
and its institutions;
- Democracy in the European Union;
- The Economy of the European Union;
- The lives of Europeans;
Several indicators will be analysed in each of these areas.
This analysis will attempt to take stock of European public opinion concerning these
major themes.
Each part starts with a box highlighting the main findings based on changes in the
indicators.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
3
This analysis is based on several quantitative Eurobarometer surveys conducted face-to-
face by the European Commission or European Parliament (Standard EB and Special
EB)1. It relates mainly to the Eurobarometer surveys conducted since autumn 1989
(EB32), even though in most cases the questions analysed have only been asked more
recently, sometimes only in a limited number of waves. On certain questions, the
analysis goes back to the first time the question was asked (EB0 in September 1973 in
the case of the question on membership of the EU, or EB19 in spring 1983 in the case of
the perceived benefits of membership of the European Union).
The analysis is based on the European average of the Member States which made up the
European Union at the time the survey was conducted This average is weighted to reflect
the population of each of the Member States.
The reader should take into account the fact that in today’s Europe of 28 Member States,
the six most populous countries represent 70% of the EU average
1 In the case of a Standard EB (a survey conducted twice a year, in spring and autumn), the survey is designated by its number and by the period in which it was conducted. For example, we talk about EB78, autumn 2012 when referring to Standard Eurobarometer survey 78, conducted in autumn 2012. In the case of a Special Eurobarometer, the survey is designated by the exact name of the wave in which it was conducted, as well as by the month(s) in which the field work was carried out. So, for example, we talk about EB67.1, February 2007.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
4
1. THE EUROPEAN UNION, ITS POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS
Elections to the European Parliament are also a time when indicators
of support for the European Union improve: these indicators improved
significantly after the 2004 vote, for example, but the improvement was
less marked after those of 2009 and 2014.
The year 2005, which was marked by the debate over ratification of
the Constitutional Treaty was an exception as far as major
institutional moments are concerned, because opinions tended to
decline: public perception of EU membership and the image of the EU
also went down. Trust in the EU, however, remained stable.
The impact of the single currency on the main indicators of opinion
regarding the European Union is also not unambiguous:
o on the eve of the single currency being put into circulation in the
first 11 countries of the eurozone, indicators tended to improve
(trust in the EU or opinion about a country's membership).
o In spring 2002, after the introduction of the euro, the EU's image
improved and opinions on membership held firm, but trust in the EU
fell.
Overall in the period under analysis – since 1997 for trust in the EU and
spring 2000 for the image of the EU – there has been a significant fall in
these two key indicators of support for the European Union. Europeans
blame it more for the economic weaknesses and associate it less with the
founding principles, such as democracy and influence in the world. Trust in
the institutions has also been strongly shaken by the economic crisis.
However, for both indicators the latest measurements (autumn 2014 and
September 2015) show an improvement.
Trust in the EU is higher than in national institutions (governments
and parliaments), but the gap has tended to close since the
onset of the crisis.
However, despite the crisis Europeans continue to associate the EU with
positive themes:
o Benefits of membership at the highest level since 1983.
o A feeling of both national and European citizenship is also at the
highest level.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
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1. MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE BENEFITS IT BRINGS
Membership of the European Union: above all, a good thing in the eyes of
Europeans from 1973 to 2015
The opinions expressed by Europeans on their country’s membership of the European
Union2have remained largely positive throughout the whole of the period under review
(1973–2015). Similarly, ‘neutral’ opinions, i.e. deeming one’s country’s membership of
the Union to be ‘neither a good thing nor a bad thing’, have remained greater than
negative opinions (i.e. classifying membership of the EU as a ‘bad thing’).
2 In general, do you think that the fact that (OUR COUNTRY) is part of the European Union is...?
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
6
56%
59%60%
59%
63%
53%
55%
57%56%
53%
60%59%
58%
55%
53%
50%
53%52%
51%
54%55% 55%
58%57%
60%
62% 62%
60%
65%
58%
66% 65% 65%
11%
14% 14%
9% 9%
14%13%
14% 14%13%
10%
12% 12%
15%16%
17%
14% 14%15%
13% 13%
11% 11%12%
11%
9% 9%
11%
8%
11%
8% 8% 8%
20%
18% 18%
23%
21%
24%25%
21%
23%24%
22%21%
23%22%
23%
25%26% 26%
27%
25%24%
27%26%
24%
22%
20%
22%21%
20%
25%
21% 21%
19%
13%
9%8%
7%
9%
7%8%
7%
10%
8% 8%7%
8% 8% 8%7%
8%7%
8% 8%7%
5%
7% 7% 7%8%
7%6%
5%6%
7%
EB0Autumn1973
EB1 Spring1974
EB2Autumn1974
EB3 Spring1975
EB4Autumn1975
EB5 Spring1976
EB6Autumn1976
EB7 Spring1977
EB8Autumn1977
EB9 Spring1978
EB10Autumn1978
EB11Spring1979
EB12Autumn1979
EB13Spring1980
EB14Autumn1980
EB15Spring1981
EB16Autumn1981
EB17Spring1982
EB18Autumn1982
EB19Spring1983
EB20Autumn1983
EB21Spring1984
EB22Autumn1984
EB23Spring1985
EB24Autumn1985
EB25Spring1986
EB26Autumn1986
EB27Spring1987
EB28Autumn1987
EB29Spring1988
EB30Autumn1988
EB31Spring1989
EB32Autumn1989
Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY'S) membership of the European Union is ... ?
A good thing A bad thing Neither good nor bad Don't know
EU9 EU10
2nd
EP elections
3rd
EP elections
EU12
Single European
Act
Oil crisis
1st
EP elections
Fall of the
Berlin Wall
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
7
65%
68%
71%
69%
65%
60% 60%
57%
54%
58%
56%
53%
48% 48%
46%
49%
51%
54%
49%
51%
49%50%
48%
54% 53%55% 54%
48%48%
56%
54%
50%
55%
53%
57%58%
52%53% 53% 53%
49%
47%
50% 50%
54%55%
8%7% 7%
8%
10%
12% 12%13% 13% 12%
14%15% 15%
17%
15%14%
12% 12% 12% 13%
14% 14%13%
12%11% 10%
11%
15%
17%
13%
15%16%
13%
16%
15%
13%
14%15% 15% 15%
18% 18%
16%17%
14%15%
21%
19%
17% 17%
19%
23%23%
25%
28%
24% 24%
26%28% 28%
30%
28% 28%
26%27% 27% 28% 27%
29%
28% 28% 29%27%
31%
29%
28%27%
30%
28%27%
25% 25%
29%
27% 28%28%
29%
31% 31% 31%
29%28%
6%6%
5%
6% 6% 5% 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 6%
9%
8%
9% 9% 9%8%
10% 9%9%
10%
7%8%
6%7%
6% 6%
3%4% 4% 4% 4%
3%4%
5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4%3%
2%3%
2%
EB33Spring1990
EB34Autumn1990
EB35Spring1991
EB36Autumn1991
EB37Spring1992
EB38Autumn1992
EB39Spring1993
EB40Autumn1993
EB41Spring1994
EB42Autumn1994
EB43Spring1995
EB44Autumn1995
EB45Spring1996
EB46Autumn1996
EB47Spring1997
EB48Autumn1997
EB49Spring1998
EB50Autumn1998
EB51Spring1999
EB52Autumn1999
EB53Spring2000
EB54Autumn2000
EB55Spring2001
EB56Autumn2001
EB57Spring2002
EB58Autumn2002
EB59Spring2003
EB60Autumn2003
EB61Spring2004
EB62Autumn2004
EB63Spring2005
EB64Autumn2005
EB65Spring2006
EB66Autumn2006
EB67Spring2007
EB68Autumn2007
EB69Spring2008
EB70Autumn2008
EB71Spring2009
EB72Autumn2009
EB73Spring2010
EB75Spring2011
EB77.4June2012
EB79.5June2013
EB82.4December
2014
EB84.1September
2015
Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY'S) membership of the European Union is ... ?
A good thing A bad thing Neither good nor bad Don't know
5th
EP electionsEuro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
7th
EP elections
Schengen
Maastricht
Treaty 4th
EP elections
EU15
Mad cow
disease
- Gulf War
- Financial crisis
Effects
of the
Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
electionsGerman
unification
Stability and
Growth Pact
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
8
The benefits of membership of the European Union: always a majority over the
period, with the highest level ever in 2015
The feeling that one’s country has benefited from being a member of the European Union3 has remained a majority sentiment throughout the period under review, from spring
1983 to September 2015. In the September 2015 survey it reached as high as 60%,
which is the highest level ever achieved since 1983. The response ‘has not benefited’
reached its highest ever level in survey EB74 in autumn 2010 (39%), whilst nevertheless
remaining at a much lower level than that of the positive responses ‘has benefited’
(50%).
3 All things considered, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY) has or has not benefited from EU membership?
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
9
65%
68%
71%
69%
65%
60% 60%
57%
54%
58%
56%
53%
48% 48%
46%
49%
51%
54%
49%
51%
49%50%
48%
54% 53%55% 54%
48%48%
56%
54%
50%
55%
53%
57%58%
52%53% 53% 53%
49%
47%
50% 50%
54%55%
8%7% 7%
8%
10%
12% 12%13% 13% 12%
14%15% 15%
17%
15%14%
12% 12% 12% 13%
14% 14%13%
12%11% 10%
11%
15%
17%
13%
15%16%
13%
16%
15%
13%
14%15% 15% 15%
18% 18%
16%17%
14%15%
21%
19%
17% 17%
19%
23%23%
25%
28%
24% 24%
26%28% 28%
30%
28% 28%
26%27% 27% 28% 27%
29%
28% 28% 29%27%
31%
29%
28%27%
30%
28%27%
25% 25%
29%
27% 28%28%
29%
31% 31% 31%
29%28%
6%6%
5%
6% 6% 5% 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 6%
9%
8%
9% 9% 9%8%
10% 9%9%
10%
7%8%
6%7%
6% 6%
3%4% 4% 4% 4%
3%4%
5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4%3%
2%3%
2%
EB33Spring1990
EB34Autumn1990
EB35Spring1991
EB36Autumn1991
EB37Spring1992
EB38Autumn1992
EB39Spring1993
EB40Autumn1993
EB41Spring1994
EB42Autumn1994
EB43Spring1995
EB44Autumn1995
EB45Spring1996
EB46Autumn1996
EB47Spring1997
EB48Autumn1997
EB49Spring1998
EB50Autumn1998
EB51Spring1999
EB52Autumn1999
EB53Spring2000
EB54Autumn2000
EB55Spring2001
EB56Autumn2001
EB57Spring2002
EB58Autumn2002
EB59Spring2003
EB60Autumn2003
EB61Spring2004
EB62Autumn2004
EB63Spring2005
EB64Autumn2005
EB65Spring2006
EB66Autumn2006
EB67Spring2007
EB68Autumn2007
EB69Spring2008
EB70Autumn2008
EB71Spring2009
EB72Autumn2009
EB73Spring2010
EB75Spring2011
EB77.4June2012
EB79.5June2013
EB82.4December
2014
EB84.1September
2015
Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY'S) membership of the European Union is ... ?
A good thing A bad thing Neither good nor bad Don't know
5th
EP electionsEuro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
7th
EP elections
Schengen
Maastricht
Treaty 4th
EP elections
EU15
Mad cow
disease
- Gulf War
- Financial crisis
Effects
of the
Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
electionsGerman
unification
Stability and
Growth Pact
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
10
45%
42%41%
44%46%
49%
44%
46% 47% 47%45%
52% 51%50% 50%
46%47%
53%55%
52%
54% 54%
59% 58%
54%56% 56%
57%
53%
50%
52%54%
60%
34%
37% 36%35%
32% 31%29%
31%32% 32%
30%
27%26%
28% 29%
34%35% 35%
33%
36%
33% 34%
30%29%
31% 31% 31% 31%
35%
39%37% 37%
31%
21% 21%22%
21%22%
20%
27%
23%
21% 21%
25%
21%
23%22% 21%
20%18%
12% 12% 12% 12% 12%11%
13%
15%
13% 13% 12% 12%11% 11%
9% 9%
EB45 Spring
1996
EB46
Autumn
1996
EB47 Spring
1997
EB48
Autumn
1997
EB49 Spring
1998
EB50
Autumn
1998
EB51 Spring
1999
EB52
Autumn
1999
EB53 Spring
2000
EB54
Autumn
2000
EB55 Spring
2001
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB57 Spring
2002
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB59 Spring
2003
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61 Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63 Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65 Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67 Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69 Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71 Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73 Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75 Spring
2011
EB79.5
June
2013
EB84.1
September
2015
Taking everything into consideration, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) has on balance benefited or not from being a member of the European Union?
Benefited Not benefited Don't know
5th
EP elections
Euro
6th
EP
elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Effects
of the
Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
Mad cow
disease
Subprimes
EU27
Stability and
Growth Pact
Lisbon
Treaty
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
11
2. TRUST IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Europeans’ faith in the European Union was tested between autumn 1997 and spring 2015. After having been in the majority since
autumn 2004 and the enlargement to 25 Member States, faith in the EU has gone back into the minority since EB73 in spring 2010.
However, having stabilised at its lowest level in spring and autumn 2013, and in spring 2014 (EB81), it recovered
slightly in the autumn 2014 survey (37% against 50% ‘tend not to trust’) and the spring 2015 survey (40%
against 46%), while remaining in the minority.
37% 39%
41%
53%
46%44%
41% 41%
50%
44% 45%
48%
45%
57%
48%50%
47% 47% 48%
42%43% 41% 34%
31%33%
31% 31% 31%
37%40%
41%40%
40%
32%
37% 38%
42% 42%
36%
43% 43%
39%41%
32%
36% 36%
41% 41% 40%
47%45%
47% 55%
60%
57%
60%58%
56%
50%46%
22% 21% 20%
15%17% 18% 17% 17%
14% 13% 12% 13% 14%
11%
16%14%
12% 12% 12% 11% 12% 12% 11%9% 10% 9%
11%13% 13% 14%
EB48
Autumn
1997
EB51
Spring
1999
EB55
Spring
2001
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB57
Spring
2002
EB59
Spring
2003
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79
Spring
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain institutions.For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
- The European Union
5th
EP elections
Euro 6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
EU27
Effects
of the
Crisis
7th
EP elections
8th EP
elections
EU28 Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon
Treaty
SubprimesThe
Ukrainian
Crisis
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
12
3. THE IMAGE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO
EUROPEANS
The image of the European Union remains predominantly positive but has
waned over time
The image of the European Union among Europeans4 has changed since spring 2000.
Positive opinions remained clearly in the majority until autumn 2009 (EB72), before
starting to decline in spring 2010 (EB73). Since autumn 2010 (EB74), they have
remained below 42% and have been surpassed several times by neutral opinions (people
saying that they have a ‘neutral’ image). However, the share of respondents declaring a
positive image of the EU has progressed steadily since autumn 2013, increasing from
31% to 41% in spring 2015. Over the whole of the period under review, positive opinions
have exceeded negative ones, and the neutral image has been increasing since 2000.
4 In general, is your image of the EU very positive, quite positive, neutral, quite negative or very negative?
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
13
43%42%
49% 49%47%
44%
43%
50%
47%
44%
50%
46%
52%
49%
48%
45% 45%
48%
42%
38%
40%
31% 31% 30%
41%
31% 35%
39% 41%
31%33%
31%32%
32% 32% 32%
33%
32%34%
32%34%
31%
34%
35%
36% 36%35%
37%
40%
38%
41%
39% 39%
34%
39%38%
37%
38%
19%18%
13% 14%
17%18%
21%
16%
18%
20%
16%
18%
15%
14%15%
17%16%
15%
19% 20% 21%
26%
28%29%
24%
28%25%
22%
19%
7% 8% 7%5% 5% 5% 4%
2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1%2% 2% 2% 2%
EB53
Spring
2000
EB55
Spring
2001
EB57
Spring
2002
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB59
Spring
2003
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
In general, does the EU conjure up for you a very positive, fairly positive, neutral, fairly negative or very negative image?
Total 'Positive' Neutral Total 'Negative' Don't know
Euro6th
EP elections
EU25
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
8th EP
elections
EU28
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
EU27
Subprimes
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
14
What the European Union means: a trio of positive dimensions heads people's thinking
Throughout the survey period (from spring 2002 (EB57) to autumn 2014 (EB82)), 'freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in
the EU' was the principle which Europeans most commonly associated with the European Union. Next came the euro, with the exception
of the survey conducted in June 2013 (EB79.5), when it was briefly overtaken by peace. Peace occupied third place in most of the
surveys analysed. The concepts most frequently associated with the EU are therefore positive.
However, fourth and fifth positions are occupied by negative concepts: bureaucracy and wasting money. These have been gradually
increasing since 2002.
(TICK AS MANY CHOICES AS APPLY)
50%
53%52%
50% 50%52%
49%
44%42%
46% 45% 45% 45%
41% 41%42% 43% 43% 44%
50% 49%
49%44%
37%
38% 39% 39%
35% 34% 33%
37%40% 40%
38%37% 37% 35%
26%
32%
35%
39%
35%
32% 36% 32%33%
33%
26% 27%25%
28%
24%
24% 22%
21%
24%
26%
29%
25%
29%27%
19%
22%21%
23%21%
21%
18% 17%19%
20% 21% 21%21%
23%
23% 23%21%
24% 24%
26%23%
19%23% 22%
24% 22%
20%
19% 19% 20% 21% 23%
25%24%
28%27% 27%
23%
27%
25%
25%
22%
EB57
Spring 2002
EB62
Autumn 2004
EB63
Spring 2005
EB64
Autumn 2005
EB65
Spring 2006
EB67
Spring 2007
EB69
Spring 2008
EB70
Autumn 2008
EB71
Spring 2009
EB72
Autumn 2009
EB73
Spring 2010
EB74
Autumn 2010
EB75
Spring 2011
EB76
Autumn 2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring 2015
What does the European Union mean to you personally?
Freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU Euro Peace Bureaucracy Waste of money
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28 8th EP
elections
Euro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
FailureBolkestein
Directive
EU27
Subprimes
7th EP
elections
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Migrant
Crisis
Election of
Juncker
Commission
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
15
4. TRUST IN THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS
The European institutions have suffered a gradual erosion of trust, closely
linked to the onset of the international economic crisis.
Europeans’ faith in the European institutions fell significantly between autumn 2004
(EB62)5 and autumn 2015 (EB82). Whilst people generally trusted most of the
institutions, this pattern started to reverse starting in autumn 2011 (EB76).
Broadly positive in autumn 2004 (57% in EB62 of autumn 2004), there was a
gradual reduction in the level of faith in the European Parliament until it fell
behind starting in autumn 2011 (in EB76, 41% trusted the EP as opposed to 45% who
did not). It should be noted that the round of surveys conducted in autumn 2011 showed
up a sharp decline in all the indicators. Trust in the EP briefly held the upper hand in the
June 2013 (48% as against 43%) and spring 2015 (43% as against 41%) surveys. In
the most recent survey (September 2015), 'trust' is again below 'no trust' (40% as
against 45%).
5 For each of the following European institutions, please state if you trust them or not.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
16
54%
57%
52% 51% 52% 52%
56% 55%
52% 51%48%
50%48% 48%
45%
41%40%
44%
48%
39%
37%
42%
43%
40%
29%
26%
31%34%
30%32%
28% 27% 27%
31%
36%33%
37% 37%
38%
45% 46% 45%
43%
48% 48%
43%
41%
45%
17% 16%18%
16%
19%16% 16%
18%21%
18%16% 17%
15% 15%17%
14% 14%11%
9%
13%15% 15% 16% 15%
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
EB84.1
September
2015
For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.- The European Parliament -
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections8th EP
elections
EU27
Subprimes
EU28
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Election of
Juncker
Commission
6th
EP elections
EU25
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
17
There was a similar trend for faith in the European Commission. The level of trust in this institution steadily fell until it lagged behind
starting in autumn 2011 (43% for 'no trust' in EB76, with 36% for 'trust'). After that, mistrust was dominant until the spring 2014 survey
(38% as against 42%). The last spring 2015 survey (EB83) showed trust and mistrust as being equal (40% for each).
48%
52%
46% 46% 47% 48%
52%50%
47% 47%44%
46% 45% 44%
40%
36%
36%40%
43% 35%32% 38%
40%
29%27%
31%33%
29%31%
27%26% 27%
30%
34%32%
36%
36% 37%
43%46%
44%44%
47% 46%
42%40%
23%21%
23%21%
24%21%
21%
24%26%
23%22% 22%
19% 20%23%
21%18%
16%13%
18%
22%20% 20%
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
- The European Commission -
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU27
Subprimes
EU28
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
6th
EP elections
EU25
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
18
Faith in the Council of the European Union also diminished and became the lesser-
held view starting in autumn 2011 (EB76). However, people's faith showed an upturn
after autumn 2012, reaching 42% the last time this was recorded, in June 2013 (the
same figure as for mistrust). The proportion of no replies is high but has been steadily
falling since autumn 2011 (16% in EB79.5, June 2013).
40%
45%
42%40%
43% 42%
47%44%
43% 42% 41%39% 40%
36%
32% 32%
36%
42%
31%29% 29%
30%
27%
29%
26%25% 26%
29%31%
34%
34%
35%
41%
44%43% 42%
29%
26%
29%
30%
28%
27%
31% 31%
28%27% 26%
29%27%
24%
21%
16%
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it
- The Council of the European Union -
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
EU27
Subprimes
EU28
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Lisbon
Treaty
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
19
Faith in the European Central Bank has followed the same pattern. This is the institution with the highest level of mistrust, although
this has been in steady decline since autumn 2013 (EB80).
46%
50%47%
44%
49%46%
53%
47%50%
48%
44%
44%
41%
43%
40%
36%35%
37% 38%
34%
31%
34% 35%
27%25%
27%
28%25%
27%
25%
24% 24%
30%
33%
33%
39%37% 38%
46%
49% 49%51%
49% 48%46% 45%
27%26%
26%
28%
26%
26%
22%
29%
26%
22% 23% 23%
20% 20%22%
18%16%
14%
11%
17%
21% 20% 20%
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.- The European Central Bank-
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU27
Subprimes
EU28
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
6th
EP elections
EU25
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
20
The Court of Justice of the European Union stands out from the other institutions:
'trust' has remained comfortably ahead throughout the period in question (from autumn
2004 (EB62) to June 2013 (EB79.5)). However, mistrust made great strides starting in
spring 2010 (EB73), reaching 36% in spring 2012 (EB77). It has since fallen back slightly
but is over 30%.
52%
57%
52%
48%52% 51% 50% 50%
46%49%
57%
24%21%
23%25%
23%
25%21%
28% 36%34%
32%24%22%
24%27%
25%
24%
29%
22%
18% 17%
11%
EB61
Spring 2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB73
Spring
2010
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
For each of the following European bodies, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
- The Court of Justice of the European Union-
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
EU28EU27
Subprimes
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Lisbon
Treaty
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
21
5. KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS WORK
A majority of Europeans seem to know about some of the main workings of the
EU.
When asked a 'true/false' quiz question6 on their knowledge of how the European
institutions work, Europeans showed that they are quite well informed, with most
choosing the correct answer to the questions posed.
Knowledge of the principle of the election of Members of the European
Parliament by direct universal suffrage in every Member State has been
dominant since autumn 2002 (EB58). It has shown an increase at every European
election. The rise was particularly marked before the most recent elections, in May 2014
(71%, an increase of 17 percentage points), after which there was a fall to 59% at the
time of the last survey, in September 2015.
6 For each of the following statements about the EU, please state if you think they are true or false.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
22
43%
50%
58%
50% 50%52%
48%45%
49%
53%
59%57% 56%
58%
52% 52%
57%54%
71%
62% 62%59%
36%
21%
24%
30% 30% 29%31%
35%
31%
23%
23%26% 27% 28%
30% 30% 31%29%
15%
22% 21%
26%
21%
29%
18%20% 20% 19%
21% 20% 21%
24%
18% 17% 17%14%
18% 18%
12%
17%
14%
16% 17% 15%
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82.4
December
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
EB84.1
September
2015
For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.- The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State-
True (correct answer) False (wrong answer) Don't know
6th
EP elections
EU25EU27
SubprimesEffects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Bolkestein
Directive
Constitution
Failure
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
23
The majority of Europeans know that the Member States do not all have the
same number of MEPs. After rising between January-February 2009 (EB71.1) and
January-February 2010 (EB73.1) (an increase of 8 points, from 48% to 56%),
Europeans' level of knowledge about the number of MEPs from each Member State has
continued to rise steadily.
20% 20% 21%
23% 23%
20%18%
48%
56% 55% 56%58% 58% 59%
32%
24% 24%
21%
19%
22% 23%
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB73.1
Jan. - Feb.
2010
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB82.4
December
2014
EB84.1
September 2015
For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.
- Each Member State has the same number of Members of the European Parliament -
True (wrong answer) False (correct answer) Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek elections
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
24
In terms of the principle of joint agreement between the European Parliament
and the Member States regarding determining the budget of the EU, here again
there is a prevalence of correct responses throughout the period in which the
question was asked, although there was no increase.
60%
54% 54%
59%61%
57% 56%
10%12%
18%16%
18%15%
17%
30%
34%
28%25%
21%
28% 27%
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB82.4
December
2014
EB84.1
September 2015
For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.
- The EU's budget is determined jointly by the European Parliament and the Member States-
True (correct answer) False (wrong answer) Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon
Treaty
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek elections
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
25
Broadly speaking, a majority of people are aware of the principle of agreement
between the European Parliament and the Member States on European
directives and regulations: this awareness crept up from January-February 2009
(EB71.1) to autumn 2011 (59%), and has remained at around 60% since.
54%
59%61% 62%
60% 60%
16%
19%
17%19%
17%
19%
31%
22% 22%
19%
23%21%
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB82.4
December
2014
EB84.1
September 2015
True (correct answer) False (wrong answer) Don't know
For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.- At the EU level, European laws (directives and regulations) have to be agreed jointly by the European Parliament
and the Member States -
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek elections
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
26
6. TRUST IN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
A large majority of Europeans do not trust their national government, and trust fell overall between 2004 and 2015. Having
reached its lowest level in autumn 2013 (23% in EB80), this trust in the national government has improved slightly since, reaching 31%
in the autumn 2015 survey.
30%34%
31% 31%35%
30% 31%
41%
34% 32% 34%38%
32%29% 29% 28%
32%
24%28% 27% 25% 23%
27% 29% 31%
61% 60%64% 62%
59%62% 62%
53%59%
62% 61%56%
63% 65% 66% 67%63%
70%67% 68%
71% 72%68%
65% 63%
9%6% 5% 7% 6% 8% 7% 6% 7% 6% 5% 6% 5% 6% 5% 5% 5% 6% 5% 5% 4% 5% 5% 6% 6%
Spring 2
004
Autu
mn 2
004
Spring 2
005
Autu
mn 2
005
Spring 2
006
Autu
mn 2
006
Nov.-
Dec. 2006
Spring 2
007
Autu
mn 2
007
Spring 2
008
Autu
mn 2
008
Jan.-
Feb.
2009
Spring 2
009
Autu
mn 2
009
Spring 2
010
Autu
mn 2
010
Spring 2
011
Autu
mn 2
011
Spring 2
012
Autu
mn 2
012
Spring 2
013
Autu
mn 2
013
Spring 2
014
Autu
mn 2
014
Spring 2
015
EB61 EB62 EB63 EB64 EB65 EB66 EB66.3 EB67 EB68 EB69 EB70 EB71.1 EB71 EB72 EB73 EB74 EB75 EB76 EB77 EB78 EB79 EB80 EB81 EB82 EB83
For each of the following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.The (NATIONALITY) Government - % EU
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
6th
EP elections
EU25
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
27
Similarly, only a minority of Europeans trust their national Parliament. This trust in the national Parliament follows the same
trends as trust in the national government: it fell slightly overall between 2004 and 2015, reaching its lowest level in autumn 2013 (25%
in EB80). It has, however, rallied recently, to 31% in spring 2015. In each of the surveys analysed, trust in the national
Parliament very slightly exceeded trust in the national Government. However, trust in national institutions is lower than
trust in the European Union, even though the gap has tended to reduce since the start of the economic crisis.
35%38%
35% 35%38%
33%
31%
43%
35% 34% 34% 36%32% 30% 31% 31% 33%
27% 28% 28% 26% 25%28% 30% 31%
54% 55% 57% 56% 54%58%
61%
50%56% 58% 58%
55%61% 63% 62% 62% 60%
66% 66% 66% 68% 69%65%
62% 62%
11%7% 8% 9% 8% 9% 8% 7% 9% 8% 8% 9% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 6% 6% 6% 6% 7% 8% 7%
Spring 2
004
Autu
mn 2
004
Spring 2
005
Autu
mn 2
005
Spring 2
006
Autu
mn 2
006
Nov.-
Dec. 2006
Spring 2
007
Autu
mn 2
007
Spring 2
008
Autu
mn 2
008
Jan.-
Feb.
2009
Spring 2
009
Autu
mn 2
009
Spring 2
010
Autu
mn 2
010
Spring 2
011
Autu
mn 2
011
Spring 2
012
Autu
mn 2
012
Spring 2
013
Autu
mn 2
013
Spring 2
014
Autu
mn 2
014
Spring 2
015
EB61 EB62 EB63 EB64 EB65 EB66 EB66.3 EB67 EB68 EB69 EB70 EB71.1 EB71 EB72 EB73 EB74 EB75 EB76 EB77 EB78 EB79 EB80 EB81 EB82 EB83
For each of the following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The (NATIONALITY) Parliament - % EU
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The
Ukrainian
Crisis
6th
EP
elections
EU25
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
28
II. DEMOCRACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
THE MAIN FINDINGS
In 2002, one European in five believed that their opinion mattered
in the EU. In 2015, it was nearly two in five.
Over the same period, the proportion of those believing that their
opinion did not matter fell from almost seven in ten in 2002 to
fewer than six in ten in 2015.
In most of the surveys analysed, the majority of European citizens
believe that their opinion matters in their country, a percentage
that has considerably increased since 2008. A little more than six
out of ten Europeans believe that their country’s opinion matters in
the EU, but the number of people who think the opposite has increased
since 2002.
The share of people feeling they are European citizens remained
stable at above 50 per cent, without being affected by the European
Union’s own issues and fluctuations in the economic and political climate.
There were no significant changes in this indicator between 1992 and 2015.
National identity was at its highest levels in the mid-1990s, on the eve of
the introduction of the euro, and again in spring 2010 in the midst of the
debt crisis engulfing several Member States. Feelings of European
citizenship increased following the adoption of the euro and even in the
midst of the economic crisis, in particular in 2012, and reached its highest
point in 2015.
Feelings of belonging to the European Union split public opinion in
two over the period under review: It increased during the slightly
contentious debate on the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty, which
appeared to have had the effect of making the European Union a more
tangible reality in the eyes of Europeans. The 2007 enlargement also had a
positive effect on this feeling. It then dropped off, as a result of the
financial and debt crisis in the Member States, which also affected all the
other indicators, before bouncing back and exceeding 50 per cent in 2015.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
29
Nevertheless, a clear majority of Europeans share the feeling that
what unites them in the EU is more important than what divides
them. They also identify as forcefully as ever, in spite of the crisis, several
European Union identity markers, and in particular democratic values and
the euro, which prove to be the principal elements constituting European
identity.
The feeling of European citizenship remains strong in spite of the
turmoil experienced by the European Union in recent years.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
30
1. THE VOICE OF EUROPEAN CITIZENS
Europeans have the increasingly strong conviction that their voice counts in
their own country
Tested between spring 2008 (EB69) and the end of 2015 (EB84.1), more than half of
Europeans believed that their opinion mattered in their own country7 with two
exceptions: autumn 2008 (48% ‘do not agree’, against 46% ‘agree’) and autumn 2013
(50% against 47%), when a small majority of Europeans believed that their opinion
mattered in their own countries.
7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? - My opinion matters in (OUR COUNTRY) -
48%
46%
51%
56%
52% 52% 51% 50%
58%
47%
55%58% 57%
63%
45%
48%
43%
38%
43%45% 46% 47%
40%
50%
42%39% 38%
35%
7%6% 6% 6% 5%
3% 3% 3% 2% 3% 3% 3%5%
2%
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB76.4
December
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82.4
December
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
EB84.1
September
2015
Please tell me for each statement, whether you tend to agree or tend to disagree. - My voice counts in (OUR COUNTRY)-
Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP
elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
31
The majority of Europeans believe that their opinion does not matter in the EU.
Less than half of Europeans consulted between the beginning of 2002 (EB56.3
January-February 2002) and September 2015 (EB84.1) believed that their opinion
mattered in the European Union;8 at no point in the period did this proportion
exceed 50%. As a trend, this feeling has gained traction since 2002, rising from 21% in
EB56.3 in 2002 to 39% in September 2015 (EB84.1). This conviction spiked in
surveys taken in the wake of European elections: in 2004 (+9 points, to 39% in
EB62), in 2009 (+8, to 38% in EB71), and in 2014 (+13 to 42% in EB81).9
8 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? - My opinion matters in the EU - 9 Survey EB61 in spring 2004 was conducted prior to the European elections of 2004. Surveys EB71 in spring 2009, and EB81 in spring 2014 were conducted on the day after the European elections.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
32
21%
30%
39% 38%
34%
36%34% 35%
30% 31%30%
38%
34% 33%
30%
26%
31% 31%
39%
29%
42%41%
42%
39%
68%
55%
52%53%
59%
54%
57%55%
61%
57%
61%
53%55%
57%
62%
65%63%
64%
57%
66%
52%53%
50%
56%
11%
15%
10% 9%7%
10%9%
10%9%
12%
9% 9%11%
10%8% 9%
6%5% 4%
5%6% 6%
8%
5%
EB56.3
Jan. -
Fév. 2002
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82.4
December
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
EB84.1
September
2015
Please tell me for each statement, whether you tend to agree or tend to disagree.- My voice counts in the EU -
Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
Euro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon
Treaty
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
33
More than six out of ten Europeans believe that their country’s opinion matters
in the EU
Considerably less than half of Europeans consulted between early 2002
(EB56.3) and September 2015 (EB84.1) believed that their country's opinion
mattered in the European Union.10 Despite minor fluctuations, this proportion
remained at or above 60% at all times. However, the proportion of people who do not
agree with this opinion is trending upwards, from 20% in EB56.3 in January-February
2002, to 34% in September 2015 (EB84.1).
10 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? - (OUR COUNTRY’S) opinion matters in the EU -
63% 63%
68%66%
61% 61% 60% 61% 62%65%
62% 61%
20%
26%24% 26%
31%29%
31% 30% 29%31%
34% 34%
17%11%
8% 8% 8%10% 9% 9% 9%
4% 4% 5%
EB56.3
Jan. - Feb.
2002
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB77.4
June
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB84.1
September
2015
Please tell me for each statement, whether you tend to agree or tend to disagree.
- (OUR COUNTRY)'s voice counts in the European Union -
Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
Euro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Lisbon Treaty
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
34
2. A FEELING OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP WHICH SURVIVES THE CRISIS
In most of the surveys analysed, the majority of Europeans say that they see themselves as national and European (in
proportions of between 40% and 50%), except in the most recent survey, which saw the proportion seeing themselves as European rise
to 52%. A significant proportion of people see themselves solely as national, a view held by the majority between autumn 1996
and spring 1998, in autumn 1999 and in spring 2010.
38%40%
33%
37%
46%45% 44%
45%
41%38% 38% 38%
40% 40%41% 41% 41%
43%
46%
39% 38% 38% 39%
42%
38%
48%45% 46% 45%
40% 40%41%
43%
42%
45%
49%
44%
48% 49%
44%47% 46% 47% 48%
44%
41%
46%49% 49%
47% 47%
52%
7% 7%10% 9%
6% 6% 6% 7% 6%8% 7% 6% 7% 7%
8%7%
6% 7% 7% 8% 7%8%
6%7% 7%
5% 6%
4%4%
7%6% 5%
5% 5% 4%4%
4% 4% 3% 4% 3%4%3% 4% 3%
2%
4% 3…4% 3… 3%
3% 2%2%
4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 4% 4%2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2%
3%
2% 2%1%
2% 3%
4%4%
1%
EB37
Spring
1992
EB40
Autumn
1993
EB42
Autumn
1994
EB43
Spring
1995
EB46
Autumn
1996
EB47
Spring
1997
EB49
Spring
1998
EB50
Autumn
1998
EB52
Autumn
1999
EB53
Spring
2000
EB54
Autumn
2000
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB57
Spring
2002
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB59
Spring
2003
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB67.1
February
2007
EB73
Spring
2010
EB76.4
December
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78.2
Nov.-Dec.
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB83
Spring
2015
Do you see yourself as …?
(NATIONALITY) only (NATIONALITY) and European European and (NATIONALITY) European only Don't know
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
5th
EP elections
4th
EP elections
EU15
Maastricht
Treaty
Mad cow
disease
Bolkestein
Directive
Euro
7th EP
electionsStability and
Growth Pact
Lisbon
Treaty
Subprimes
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
Migrant
Crisis
The Ukrainian
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
35
3. AN ENDURING ATTACHMENT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
The attachment of Europeans to their country at around 90% remains very strong and
stable over time (around 90% between EB56.3 in January-February 2002 and EB84.1 in
September 2015).
89% 89% 90% 91% 91%93%
91% 91% 91% 91% 90%
10% 10% 9% 9% 9% 7%9% 9% 9% 9% 10%
1% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
EB56.3
Jan. - Feb.
2002
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB65
Spring
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB73.3
March
2010
EB77
Spring
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB84.1
September
2015
People may feel different levels of attachment to their village, town or city, to their region, to their country or to the European Union. Please tell me how attached you feel to…
- (OUR COUNTRY) -
Total 'Attached' Total 'Not attached' Don't know
EU28
EuroBolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
Constitution
Failure
7th
EP elections
8th EP
elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
36
Europeans are clearly more divided when it comes to their attachment to the European
Union: after being in the majority between EB65 in spring 2006 and EB73.3 in March
2010, it once again dipped below 50% between EB77 in spring 2012 to autumn 2014.
This attachment then bounced back, returning to being a majority opinion in September
2015 (EB84.1).
40%
45%
50%53%
49%53%
46%48%
46% 45%
51%56%
52%
47%44% 48% 45%
52% 50% 52% 52%
47%
5% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 2%
EB56.3Jan. - Feb.
2002
EB58Autumn2002
EB65Spring2006
EB67Spring2007
EB68Autumn2007
EB73.3March2010
EB77Spring2012
EB79.5June2013
EB80Autumn2013
EB82Autumn2014
EB84.1September 2015
Please tell me how attached you feel to… - The European Union -
Total 'Attached' Total 'Not attached' Don't know
EU28
EuroBolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
7th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
The Ukrainian
Crisis
8th EP
elections
Lisbon
Treaty
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
37
4. THE COMPONENTS OF AN EU IDENTITY
Identity markers which persist despite the crisis
'The values of democracy and freedom' were identified by respondents as the
main element underpinning the EU's identity in their eyes11 (47% in EB84.1 of
September 2015). The euro came in second place (39% in September 2015). This was
followed by culture (30%) and history (27%). Other considerations are cited by less than
a fifth of Europeans.
(MAXIMUM 3 POSSIBLE RESPONSES)
11 European identity can be composed of several elements. In your opinion, which of the following are the most important elements that go to make up the European identity? (MAXIMUM 3 POSSIBLE RESPONSES)
37%
45%
40%
47%49%
40%43%
42%
40%39%
22%
27%
26%
28%30%
24%26%
27%
24% 27%
17% 19%
23%
18%
23%20%
21%
20% 19%
12%13%
10%
13% 13%
15%15%
7%5% 5% 5% 5%
Autumn 2008 June 2012 June 2013 Nov.-Dec. 2014 Sept. 2015
EB70 EB77.4 EB79.5 EB82.4 EB84.1
The European identity can be composed of several elements. In your opinion, which of the following are the most important elements that go to make up the European identity?
(MAX. 3 ANSWERS) - % EU
The values of democracy and freedom The single currency, the euro Culture
History Geography The successes of the European economy
The EU motto: "Unity in diversity" The European flag The European anthem
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Migrant
Crisis
Greek
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
7th
EP elections
8th EP
elections
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
38
Some three quarters of Europeans agree with the following statement regarding the
building of Europe: ‘what unites the citizens of the various countries is more
important than what divides them’. This has been the case on each occasion when
the question was asked, in autumn 2008 (EB70), autumn 2009 (EB72), June 2013
(EB79.5) and September 2015 (EB84.1).
22%27%
22%25%
50%
48%
50%47%
14%13%
15% 16%
3%3% 5% 5%
11% 9% 8% 7%
EB70
Autumn 2008
EB72
Autumn 2009
EB79.5
June 2013
EB84.1
September 2015
Don't know Totally disagree Tend to disagree Tend to agree Totally agree
Can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement:- What brings the citizens of the different EU Member States together is more important than what separates them. -
Total 'Disagree': 16%
Total 'Agree': 75%Total 'Agree': 72%
Total 'Disagree': 17%Total 'Disagree': 20%
Total 'Agree': 72%
Total 'Disagree': 21%
Total 'Agree': 72%
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
39
III. THE ECONOMY IN THE EU
THE MAIN FINDINGS
The economic crisis has had a major impact on how Europeans
perceive the economic situation in their countries and in the EU:
Both are currently perceived as bad, although this perception has
improved in recent surveys.
While prior to the crisis Europeans perceived their national economies to
be in worse shape than the EU economy, this has been reversed due to
the debt crisis. The EU therefore no longer seems to be a reassuring
point of reference in the crisis.
In terms of short-term expectations, the most recent survey from
spring 2015 (EB83) brings the first signs of optimism regarding the
various aspects that were examined (national and European
economic situation, national employment situation). Over the whole
period under review, the predominant sentiment was that things would
not change.
Other signs of tension: Although European public opinion remains
largely in favour of coordinated responses to deal with the crisis, an
increasing proportion of Europeans would like to see individual measures
taken.
Today, the proportion of Europeans who want to wait until all the
Member States are ready before stepping up the development of a
common European policy is significantly higher than the proportion
who want to do it without waiting until the other Member States are
ready.
Nonetheless, the fact that Europeans continue to view the EU as the
most credible actor to act effectively in response to the crisis is an
encouraging sign.
The keys to strengthening economic performance are training
and innovation, but the crisis has brought other issues to
light, such as reducing public debts, and has undermined
investment strategies.
Europeans' expectations of the EU are mainly focused on the
economy: they would like the European budget to be allocated, first and
foremost, to social affairs, employment and economic growth.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
40
1. THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC SITUATION AND THAT OF THE NATIONAL
ECONOMY
Judgments about the European economy and about the national economy
veered wildly towards negative in 2008, after the onset of the economic crisis.
The judgments of Europeans about the economic situation of the European Union12,
which were positive and on an upward trend from November 2004 (EB62.1) until autumn
2007 (EB68) became negative from autumn 2008 (EB70). They reached their lowest
level in autumn 2011 (EB76), right in the midst of the debt crisis (18%). Since then,
they have grown almost continuously, reaching 37% in spring 2015 (EB83). Over the
same period, negative judgments have fallen from 77% in autumn 2011 to 51% in spring
2015.
12 How would you judge the current situation in each of the following? Situation in (OUR COUNTRY'S) economy/Situation in the European economy/Employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY).
49% 50%53%
58% 58%
33%
24%
30%
22%
26%30%
18% 19% 19%21%
28%31% 30%
37%37% 36%
31%28% 27%
58%
68%
62%
70%
63%61%
77%75% 75%
72%
65%
56%59%
51%
13% 14% 15% 15% 15%
9% 9% 9% 8%10% 9%
5% 6% 6% 7% 7%
13%11% 12%
EB62.1
Nov.
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79
Spring
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?- The situation of the European economy -
Total 'Good' Total 'Bad' Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
41
The judgments of Europeans about the situation of the economy in their country follow
the same trend: increase from 2004 to 2007, then rapid deterioration in 2008.
The main difference in the perception of the European economy was that the judgments
were negative in 2004 and remained negative throughout the period under review, with
the exception of spring 2007 (52% of the total ‘good’ against 44% in EB67). Since 2009,
these judgments have gradually improved, rising from 21% in spring 2009 (EB72) to
38% in spring 2015 (EB83).
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
EU28
35% 36%
41%46%
52%
48%
29%
21%23% 22%
28%31%
28% 27% 27% 26%
31%34% 34%
38%
62% 61%
56%
50%
44%
49%
69%
78%75% 77%
70%68%
71% 71% 72% 72%68%
63% 63%59%
4% 3% 2% 3% 4% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% 1%3% 3% 3%
EB62.1
November
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79
Spring
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?- The situation of the (NATIONALITY) economy -
Total 'Good' Total 'Bad' Don't know
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
42
The assessment of the employment situation at national level has seen a similar
change over the period, with negative judgments a clear majority, an improvement in
2007 and a significant deterioration in autumn 2008 and spring 2009. Since then,
judgments have improved slightly, whilst still remaining broadly negative.
22% 20%24%
27%
36%
28%
13%15%
19%24%
20% 21%20% 19%
21%23% 24%
28%
76% 77%74%
70%
62%
69%
85%83%
79%74%
78% 77%79% 80%
77%74% 73%
69%
3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2% 3% 3% 3%
EB62.1
Nov.
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79
Spring
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?- The employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY) -
Total 'Good' Total 'Bad' Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
CrisisLisbon
Treaty
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
43
2. ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS
Economic projections as a whole are fairly gloomy: fewer than one third are
optimistic, whichever indicator is analysed.
Projections about the national economic situation for the coming 12 months13
are dominated by pessimism, which wins out over optimism across virtually the whole
of the period analysed (from autumn 2004 (EB62) to spring 2015 (EB83)).
A key development occurred in spring 2015, and for only the third time: optimism once
again started to predominate (26% thought that the coming 12 months would be
'better', while 21% thought they would be 'worse').
Over and above these two aspects, it is the response ‘no change’ which takes a clear
lead.
13 What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same when it comes to...? Situation in the economy (NATIONALITY)/Situation in the European economy/Employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY).
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
44
18%19% 19%
21%20%
28%
24%
16%15%
25%
28%
24% 24% 23%
16%19%
17%
21% 21%
24%
22%
26%
43%
37%
39%
35% 35%
27%
26%
46%
51%
34%31%
36%
31%28%
44%
37%
40%
36%
30%
23%
28%
21%
33%
38%
37%
38%40%
38%
44%
33%
29%
36% 37%
35%
41%44%
36%
40%
39%
40%
45%47%
45%
48%
6% 6% 5% 5% 5%7% 6% 5% 5% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5%
4% 4% 4% 3% 4%6% 5% 5%
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months:Will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to…? - The economic situation in (OUR COUNTRY) -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
7th
EP elections
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
45
The projections for employment at national level have also, for the most part, remained pessimistic across a large part of
the period under review (the surveys in spring 2007 (EB67), autumn 2007 (EB68) and spring 2015 (EB83) being the only exceptions).
17%18%
20%21%
23%
31%
26%
21%
13%
20%22% 22% 23%
24%
15%18%
16%
20% 20%24%
21%
26%
47%
42%40%
38%
34%
27% 25%
39%
53%
44%
40%38%
35% 30%
46%
40%
45%
42%
35%
26%
30%
23%
31%
34% 35%
36%
38%
35%
43%
34% 29%32%
34%
35%
38%41%
35%
38%
36% 35%
41%
44% 44%46%
6% 6% 5% 6% 5%7%
6% 6%5% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 4%
6% 5% 5%
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77.4
June
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...?
- The Employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY) -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
7th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
TreatyMigrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
46
In the case of the projections for the European economy, the pessimists mostly prevail over the optimists. However, across the
whole of the period (from autumn 2006 (EB66) to spring 2015 (EB83)), the response ‘no change’ is in the majority in most of the surveys
analysed.
28%
25%
18%
16%
24%
30%
22% 21% 21%
16% 17% 16%
21% 21%
24%
20%
24%
16%
13%
26%
41%
28%
21%
32%
27%25%
44%
39% 39%
34%
27%
18%
24%
19%
38%
46%
38%
31%
38% 38%
35%
40%42%
31% 35% 37%
38%
43% 42% 42%44%
18%17%
12%
10% 11% 11%12% 12%
9% 9% 8%7%
9%16%
14% 13%
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...? - The economic situation in the EU -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of the
Crisis
EU28
7th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
47
3. THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE FACE OF THE CRISIS
In spite of serious concerns relating to the economic difficulties, Europeans
continue to favour joint action by means of coordinated measures to individual
measures.
The proportion of Europeans who believe that they would be better protected
against the financial and economic crisis if their country adopted measures
individually rose between the start of 2009 and June 201314: it moved gradually
from 26% to 41%. Over the same period, the proportion of those advocating measures
taken in a coordinated manner with other EU countries went from 61% to 50%: they
remain in the majority, however.
14 As a citizen, do you feel that you would be better protected against the current crisis if...? (OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied them individually/(OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied them in a coordinated manner with other EU countries/ Don't know.
26%
33%
36%
29%
38%
41%
61%
52%
56%
62%
55%
50%
13%15%
8%9%
7%9%
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB74.1
Sep.
2010
EB75.2
April
2011
EB76.1
Sep.
2011
EB77.2
Mar.
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
As a citizen would you say that you would be better protected in the face of the current crisis if…?
(OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied them individually
(OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied them in a coordinated way with the other EU countries
Don't know
EU28
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
48
The European Union remains the player best placed to take effective action in
response to the crisis
The European Union heads the field of players seemingly best placed to take
effective action against the effects of the crisis, closely followed by national
governments. Other players such as the G20, the IMF and the United States were cited
less often.
12%
19% 19%20% 20% 20%
21%
20% 20%22%
19%
21%22%
26%
23%22%
23% 23% 23%22%
24%
16%
12%
7% 6% 7%5%
7%
8%
8% 8% 8%
20%
18%14%
16%
14%
16%
14%
14% 14%
12%13%
14%
11%
14%15%
15%
14%
15%
13%13% 13%
13%
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
In your opinion, which of the following is best able to take effective actions against the effects of the financial and economic crisis?
The (NATIONALITY) Government The European Union
The United States The G20
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
EU287th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
The
Ukrainian
crisis
8th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
49
High but differing expectations of the European Union
When asked where they would like to see the European Union’s budget
allocated to as a priority15, Europeans cited a range of areas, reflecting high
but differing expectations of the EU. Two economic matters head the list: social
affairs and employment (50% in June 2013 – i.e. +14 points since the first time this
question was asked, in autumn 2008, in the EB70), and economic growth (48%, +10
points). These are followed by education and training (43%, +13 points), and public
health (41%, +9 points). Other considerations are cited by less than a quarter of
Europeans.
15 And on which of the following would you like the EU budget to be spent? Firstly? And then? (YOU MAY SELECT UP TO 4 AREAS)
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
50
(PLEASE SELECT A MAXIMUM OF 4 AREAS)
9%
3%
1%
3%
4%
7%
5%
7%
12%
13%
17%
23%
14%
22%
19%
32%
30%
38%
36%
3%
1%
1%
3%
4%
5%
5%
6%
12%
14%
14%
22%
19%
22%
20%
36%
39%
40%
42%
2%
2%
1%
3%
5%
5%
6%
7%
12%
14%
15%
17%
18%
18%
22%
41%
43%
48%
50%
Don't know
None (SPONTANEOUS)
Other (SPONTANEOUS)
Administrative and personnel costs, buildings
Culture and media
Assistance to EU neighbours, and to candidate countries (if
necessary: explain that candidate countries are countries thatare officially candidates for accessing the EU)
Transport
Development and humanitarian aid to countries outside the EU
Immigration issues
Regional investment
Defence and security
Climate change and environmental protection
Agriculture and rural development
Energy issues
Scientific research
Public health
Education and training
Economic growth
Social affairs and employment
And on which of the following would you like EU budget to be spent? Firstly? And then?
EB79.5 June 2013 EB75 Spring 2011 EB70 Autumn 2008
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
51
A growing majority do not feel that the euro has limited the impact of the crisis
Although Europeans see the European Union as a credible player when it comes to
addressing the financial and economic crisis, they do not feel that the single
currency has played a part in limiting the impact of the crisis16. A majority of
Europeans have since early 2009 (EB71.1) disagreed with the view that the euro has
mitigated the adverse effects of the crisis. This figure has grown overall, passing the
50% mark in spring 2011 (EB75).
Yet in the eyes of the same Europeans, as is shown on page 15, the euro is the second
most important thing in terms of what the EU represents for them personally. The euro is
also one of the most important factors in European identity, coming in second place after
democratic values (page 38).
16 Could you tell me to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: overall the euro has mitigated the negative effects of the crisis
39%41%
37%39%
37%
34%
38%
44%45%
49% 48%51%
54%51%
17% 17% 17% 17% 17% 17%
11%
EB71.1
Jan. - Feb.
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76.1
September
2011
EB79.5
June
2013
Could you tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement: Overall the euro has mitigated the negative effects of the crisis.
Total 'Agree' Total 'Disagree' Don't know
EU28
7th
EP elections
Effects of
the Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
52
Europeans divided on the pace of integration
The view that Europe should wait until all Member States are ready before
stepping up the development of common European policies in key areas has
gained ground since this question was first asked in spring 2007 (EB67.2): it has
become the majority view, rising from 37% in spring 2007 to 48% in September 2015
(EB84.1).
47% 47%45%
43%
47%
39%
41%
37%
40%42%
46%
43%
49%48%
16%13% 13%
11% 10%12% 11%
EB67
Spring
2007
EB76.4
December
2011
EB78.2
Nov.-Dec.
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB81.1
January
2014
EB82.4
Dec.
2014
EB84.1
September
2015
When it comes to EU’s activities, some Member States are ready to set up common
European policy in certain important areas. Do you think that they should…?
Do so without waiting for the other EU Member States
Wait for all the EU Member States to be ready to do it
Don't know
Subprimes
EU27
7th EP
elections
Effects of
the Crisis
EU28
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Election of
Juncker
Commission
Lisbon
Treaty
Greek
elections
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
53
4. PERFORMANCE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY
Strengthening the European Union's economic performance
Europeans have been asked, since autumn 2004, to state what initiatives they
consider would strengthen the economic performance of the EU17: during the
period under review (autumn 2004 to June 2013)18, they consistently placed
‘improving education and professional training’ at the top of their list. 60%
respondents cited this item in the period up until the start of the economic crisis in 2008.
From 2009 onwards – i.e. from the start of the crisis, but also with the addition of new
items – it is cited less often, while remaining top of the list by some way.
Between 2004 and 2009, the second-placed initiative for improving the economic
performance of the European Union was investing in research and innovation. From
the EB72 in autumn 2009, around a year after the start of the crisis, it remains a key
priority in the eyes of Europeans, even though it is cited less often. Reducing public
deficits and debt, which was added at the time the crisis became a debt crisis, in
the EB72 of spring 2010, has grown in importance and took over in second place from
autumn 2010.
Making it easier to start a business is also perceived as a priority lever for improving
the performance of the European economy: it occupies third place in most of the surveys
reviewed.
17 Which three initiatives could most improve the performance of the European economy? (YOU MAY SELECT UP TO 3 INITIATIVES) 18 N.B. New items were gradually added to this field in 2009 and 2010, which altered the order of priority of the responses. It would nevertheless seem worthwhile considering those changes, which reflect the economic crisis, while factoring in the usual methodological precautions arising from the changes to the list of initiatives given to respondents.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
54
(PLEASE SELECT A MAXIMUM OF 3 INITIATIVES)
Most cited answer 2nd most cited answer 3rd most cited answer
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
63% 49% 43%
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
60% 49% 46%
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
58% 43% 42%
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
62% 47% 43%
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
65% 47% 43%
Improve education and
professional trainingInvest in research and innovation
Make it easier to set up a
business
52% 40% 34%
Improve education and
professional training
Make it easier to set up a
businessInvest in research and innovation
42% 33% 28%
Improve education and
professional trainingReduce public deficits and debt
Make it easier to set up a
business
47% 35% 33%
Improve education and
professional trainingReduce public deficits and debt
Make it easier to set up a
business
48% 34% 34%
Improve education and
professional trainingReduce public deficits and debt
Make it easier to set up a
business
46% 38% 35%
Improve education and
professional trainingReduce public deficits and debt
Make it easier to set up a
business
46% 39% 33%
Improve education and
professional trainingReduce public deficits and debt
Make it easier to set up a
business
47% 32% 32%
EB66
Autumn 2006
EB79.5
June 2013
Which three initiatives could most improve the performance of the European economy?
EB62.1
Nov. 2004
EB63
Spring 2005
EB64
Autumn 2005
EB65
Spring 2006
EB72
Autumn 2009
EB73
Spring 2010
EB74
Autumn 2010
EB75
Spring 2011
EB77
Spring 2012
EB78
Autumn 2012
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
55
IV. THE LIVES OF EUROPEANS
THE MAIN FINDINGS
Europeans’ expectations concerning their personal lives are
dominated by the feeling that things will remain the same over in the
year to come. More respondents viewed the future positively than
negatively in most of the surveys reviewed. The crisis had a clear impact
on their expectations.
In their replies concerning 'life in general', fewer respondents were
optimistic and more became pessimistic: this trend began in autumn 2007
and took off again in autumn 2011. However, since autumn 2011,
there has been an increase in positive expectations among the
European public.
The same is true in the case of the personal job situation of
respondents to surveys between 1998 and 2015.
The area worst affected by the events of recent years has been the
financial situation of households, with pessimism concerning the
coming months being greater than optimism as early as spring 2008, and
markedly so as from autumn 2011. It was not until spring 2014 that
optimism overtook pessimism again (EB81).
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
56
Personal outlooks have been consistent over time
Throughout the period autumn 1995 to autumn 2014, a clear majority of Europeans felt their ‘life in general’ was going to
remain the ‘same’ over the next 12 months (with percentages ranging from 49% to 59% over the period as a whole)19. Optimism
has always won out over pessimism, although the gap between the two shrank significantly with the start of the economic crisis (from a
27-point gap in the EB54 in autumn 2000, to a 1-point gap in the EB76 in autumn 2011). However, since autumn 2013 (EB80), the gap
has again started to widen (20 points in the EB83 survey in spring 2015).
19 What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same when it comes to...? Your life in general / The financial situation of your household / Your personal job situation
33%31%
34% 33% 33% 34% 33% 34% 33% 32%35% 34% 35% 35% 34%
37%
30%32%
24%
27%26%
24%26% 26%
21%23% 22% 22%
25%27% 28% 29%
13%16%
12%10%
7% 7%8%
11%12%
15%13% 11%
13% 12% 12%11%
13%16% 22%
14%15%
18%15%
14% 20%
17%
19%19%
15%
10% 11%9%
51% 51% 50%52%
56% 55%54%
51% 51% 50% 50%51%
49%51% 51%
49%
54%
49%51%
56% 56%55% 56% 57% 56% 56% 56% 57% 57%
59% 58% 59%
3% 3%5% 4% 4% 4% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 4% 3% 2% 3% 4% 3% 3%
EB44
Autumn
1995
EB46
Autumn
1996
EB48
Autumn
1997
EB50
Autumn
1998
EB52
Autumn
1999
EB54
Autumn
2000
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB 71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to…?- Your life in general -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Euro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
Mad cow
disease 5th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Stability and
Growth Pact Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
57
The findings are quite similar, but even more consistent, when Europeans are asked more specifically about their career
prospects: an absolute majority of Europeans, varying very little between 1998 and 2015, think that things will stay the
same in the coming year. Over the whole of the period under review, the proportion of Europeans who think that their personal job
situation will improve is consistently higher than the proportion expecting it to deteriorate. That gap decreases with the start of the crisis,
but not as much as for ‘life in general’.
22%24% 25%
23% 23%21% 21% 22% 22% 22% 22% 23% 23%
22%20%
18% 19% 19% 18% 19% 19%16% 16% 17% 17% 18%
20% 20%22%
7%5% 6% 6%
9%
10% 10% 9% 9% 9%
8% 8%
10%
10% 10%9%
13%
12% 12% 12%
13%
7% 8% 8%
62% 61% 61% 62% 61% 60% 60% 60% 61% 60% 61%60% 60% 61% 61%
58% 59% 59% 60% 60% 60% 59% 60% 59% 59%61% 60% 60% 60%
8% 9% 9% 9% 8%10%
9% 8% 8%
9%
8% 8%
9% 9%
9%
12% 12% 11% 11% 11% 12%
12%8%
13% 12%10%
EB50
Autumn
1998
EB52
Autumn
1999
EB54
Autumn
2000
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB661
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB 77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to…?- Your personal job situation -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Euro6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
5th
EP elections
Subprimes
EU27EU28
Bolkestein
Directive
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty
Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
58
The same general trends emerge when Europeans are asked how they expect the financial situation of their household to
change: a majority expect their situation to remain the same in the coming year (between 50% and 60% over the period 1998 to 2012
as a whole).
26% 27% 27%25% 24%
23% 22%24% 24%
25% 25% 24%
27%25%
22%
18%
21% 21%
19%
20% 20%
17% 18%
18%19% 19%
21%22%
23%14%
10% 11% 11%
16%
20%21% 21%
18%19% 19% 19%
16%
19%
25%27%
18%19%
20%
19%17%
24%
21%23% 24%
19% 14% 14%
11%
56%58% 58% 59%
55%53% 54%
52%
55%53% 54% 55% 54% 53%
50%52%
58% 57% 58% 58%60%
56%58%
56% 55%
59%
62% 61%63%
5% 5% 4% 5% 5% 5%3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3%
EB50
Autumn
1998
EB52
Autumn
1999
EB54
Autumn
2000
EB56
Autumn
2001
EB58
Autumn
2002
EB60
Autumn
2003
EB61
Spring
2004
EB62
Autumn
2004
EB63
Spring
2005
EB64
Autumn
2005
EB65
Spring
2006
EB66
Autumn
2006
EB67
Spring
2007
EB68
Autumn
2007
EB69
Spring
2008
EB70
Autumn
2008
EB71
Spring
2009
EB72
Autumn
2009
EB73
Spring
2010
EB74
Autumn
2010
EB75
Spring
2011
EB76
Autumn
2011
EB77
Spring
2012
EB78
Autumn
2012
EB79.5
June
2013
EB80
Autumn
2013
EB81
Spring
2014
EB82
Autumn
2014
EB83
Spring
2015
What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same, when it comes to…?- The financial situation of your household -
Better Worse Same Don't know
Euro
6th
EP elections
EU25
Constitution
Failure
Bolkestein
Directive
Subprimes
EU27
Effects of
the Crisis
7th
EP elections
EU28
5th
EP elections
Election of
Juncker
Commission
8th EP
elections
The Ukrainian
Crisis
Lisbon
Treaty Migrant
Crisis
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
59
CONCLUSION
The main findings to emerge from this review were as follows:
1/ A number of trends can be detected from an assessment of the changes in
European public opinion over the period of more than forty years from 1973 to
2014:
- Since 1973, the feeling that membership of the EU is a good thing has been
shared by a clear majority of Europeans.
- Moreover, since 1983 and reaching a peak in 2015, a majority of respondents
have felt their country has benefited from membership of the EU.
- Despite some fluctuations, economic circumstances and political changes have
had little impact on the feeling of attachment to the European Union.
2/ However, the major institutional and political developments affecting the EU
and in particular successive enlargements and the eight European elections held since
1979 have frequently brought about changes in opinion:
- Enlargements have often proved to be occasions on which views on the EU have
improved after an initial hardening of opinion. This is particularly true in the case
of feelings about membership of the EU, as well as confidence in the EU and the
image of the EU.
- In the case of European elections, this swing is less clear. However, in the
aftermath of European elections, one sees an increase in the feeling among
European citizens that '[their] vote counts in the EU'. There was a particularly
sharp increase in that feeling after the elections in May 2014.
3/ Throughout the period under review, economic circumstances have had a
determining effect on swings in European public opinion. Economic crises have
triggered a serious worsening of opinions about the European Union, especially when
those crises are likely to impact directly on the lives of European citizens. This is
especially true of the 2008 economic crisis, which produced significant changes in the
indicators reflecting support for the European Union:
- There was a significant deterioration of the EU's image between autumn
2011 and autumn 2013, when the economic crisis became a Member State
public debt crisis; since autumn 2013, there has been a gradual increase in the
number of respondents having a positive image of the EU.
- confidence in the European Union and its institutions deteriorated from
spring 2010: confidence in the EU reached a low point in spring 2012, spring
2013, autumn 2013 and spring 2014, before recovering in autumn 2014 and in
spring 2015, while remaining the minority opinion.
- The crisis also had an adverse impact on the feeling among European citizens that
their voices were not taken into account in the European Union.
DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
60
Unsurprisingly, the assessment indicators for the economic situation have
also deteriorated, sometimes spectacularly, since the start of the crisis. Since
autumn 2008, the economic situation in Europe has been judged increasingly
‘bad’ by Europeans, and this reached a low-point in autumn 2011. Since then,
however, the number of respondents viewing the economic situation positively
has started to increase.
- There has also been an impact on outlook indicators: between 2009 and 2011,
the proportion of Europeans feeling that the national and European economic
situations would improve over the next 12 months fell, before recovering again as
from 2011.
- However, an absolute majority of Europeans has continued to believe that their
life, their personal job situation and the financial situation of their
household would remain stable over the coming 12 months.
- The changeover to the euro does not seem to have had a major impact on
European public opinion: all that happened was national sentiments peaked
very slightly immediately before the launch of the single currency (in 2002).
- On the other hand, a majority of Europeans feel that the euro has not
mitigated the negative effects of the crisis. Nevertheless, it remains a key
factor in European identity and an important symbol of what the EU means to
Europeans.
4/ The economic crisis has understandably had repercussions on Europeans' opinions,
especially when it comes to indicators of support for the EU, but there are several
positive considerations:
- Even though some indicators show support for the EU to have hardened during
the crisis, a clear majority of Europeans still feel that there is more that unites
the citizens of the Member States than divides them: this was the case each
time this question was asked, in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015.
- Europeans believe that they would be better protected against the crisis if
their country took coordinated measures with the other Member States,
rather than individual measures. However, this feeling decreased between
September 2011 and June 2013, despite remaining the majority feeling.
- Between 2009 and 2015, the EU was always considered by Europeans to be
the player best placed to take effective action against the effects of the
financial and economic crisis.
This desk research focusses on the major shifts in Europeanpublic opinion towards the European Union since 1973, whenEurobarometer was created by Jacques-René Rabier. The resultsare presented in a timeline and illustrate the evolution ofcitizens' opinion in the key phases of the Union's institutional,political, economic and social development. This is the secondedition of the 2014 Desk Research, updated with results of the2015 Parlemeter.
The main findings on the evolution of public opinion in the last 40years from 1973 to 2014 show that it has gone up and down,notably in response to financial, economic and social crises. Themajor institutional and political staging-posts in the EU'sdevelopment have generally improved the perception of the EU.This is particularly true of enlargements and elections to theEuropean Parliament.
This analysis shows the overriding influence of the economic andsocial context on public opinion. This is very well illustrated bythe financial and economic crisis which began in 2008, promptinga sharp decline in indicators of support for the EU. However,even in this context of crisis, results show that Europeans remaincommitted to Europe when it comes to basic EU values.
PE 570 421ISBN 978-92-823-8596-8doi:10.2861/003001QA-04-16-026-EN-N
This is a publication of the Public Opinion Monitoring UnitDirectorate-General for Communication, European Parliament
The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the author and any opinionsexpressed therein do not necessarily represent the official position of the EuropeanParliament. It is addressed to the Members and staff of the EP for their parliamentary work.