Major changes in European public opinion regarding the European … · 2017-01-12 · European Union in 2016 was the referendum in the United Kingdom on 23 June, which saw British

STUDYPublic Opinion Monitoring series

Directorate-General for CommunicationPublished by EPRS | European Parliament Research Service

Author : Jacques NancyPublic Opinion Monitoring Unit

PE 596.847 - November 2016

Major changes inEuropean publicopinion regarding theEuropean UnionExploratory studyUpdated November 2016

2

© European Union, 2016.Further information: [email protected]

DESK RESEARCH TRENDS IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 4

I. THE EUROPEAN UNION, ITS POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS ..................................... 6

1. Membership of the European Union and the benefits it brings...........................................................8

2. Trust in the European Union........................................................................................................................... 15

3. The image of the European Union and what it means to Europeans.............................................. 16

4. Trust in the European institutions ................................................................................................................ 20

5. Knowledge of how the European institutions work .............................................................................. 26

6. Trust in national institutions........................................................................................................................... 31

II. DEMOCRACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION ............................................................. 34

1. The voice of European citizens ...................................................................................................................... 34

2. A feeling of European citizenship which survives the crisis ................................................................ 38

3. An enduring attachment to the European Union................................................................................... 40

4. The components of an EU identity ............................................................................................................... 42

III. THE ECONOMY IN THE EU.................................................................................... 44

1. The European economic situation and that of the national economy............................................ 45

2. Economic projections........................................................................................................................................ 49

IV. THE LIVES OF EUROPEANS .................................................................................. 53

V. IMMIGRATION...................................................................................................... 57

CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 65


4

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 2016, the European Union has still to emerge from the

crisis, even if the economy is showing encouraging signs of recovery, particularly as regards the

unemployment rate, which has been falling steadily since 2011. On the political level, the major event in the

European Union in 2016 was the referendum in the United Kingdom on 23 June, which saw British voters

decide to leave the EU.

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). Kantar Public Brussels 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 2016 and the Special ‘Parlemeter’ Eurobarometer survey in September 2016,

the analysis should be updated. The Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2016 was carried out between

21 and 31 May 2016, right in the middle of the campaign for the British referendum, which was held on 23

June. The ‘Parlemeter’, for which the field work was undertaken between 24 September and 3 October 2016,

was the first Eurobarometer survey to be conducted following the vote in favour of Brexit.

The following aspects were studied:

- Changes in European public opinion regarding the European Union and its institutions;

- Democracy in the European Union;

- The economy of the European Union;

- The lives of Europeans;

- Immigration.

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.


5

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 in the graphs by itsnumber and by the period in which it was conducted. For example, we talk about EB78, autumn 2012 when referring to StandardEurobarometer survey 78, conducted in autumn 2012. In the case of a Special Eurobarometer, the survey is designated by the exactname 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 talkabout EB67.1, February 2007. In the text, each survey will be designated by the month in which it was carried out.


6

I. THE EUROPEAN UNION, ITS POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS

THE MAIN FINDINGS

The impact of the economic context on opinions regarding the European Union follows a complex

mechanism.

The onset of economic crises does not automatically result in a downgrading of opinions regarding

the European Union (at least, not at first): we have seen this with the oil crisis in the 1970s, the

economic slowdown of the early 2000s when the internet bubble burst, and even with the financial

crisis since 2008.

Initially, the European Union can be seen as a buffer against the crisis. Indicators of support for

the EU (opinions on a country’s membership, trust in the EU, image) do not improve, but they hold

firm.

Europeans seem to react more when the effects of these crises appear more ‘tangible’ and likely to

affect them directly. Opinions about the European Union fell more significantly in the periods of

monetary instability in the 1970s and also in the 1990s; since 2008, when the economic and financial

crisis became a debt crisis with a strong rise in unemployment in some Member States, is when

negative opinions about the EU start to rise (from 2010).

In contrast, 2007 was marked not only by the increase to 27 Member States (with the accession of

Romania and Bulgaria) but also by a more favourable economic environment in the European Union;

and it was a year of record support for and trust in the European Union.

The major institutional moments in the EU’s history often coincide with a rise in positive opinions

about the EU. This has particularly been the case with the enlargements and elections to the

European Parliament.

Before the enlargements there has often been a certain hardening of European public opinion

about the EU, probably because European citizens are concerned about the consequences of these

new countries joining. This was particularly the case in 2003, ahead of the enlargement from 15 to 25

members in 2004. However, surveys conducted after enlargements have mostly recorded

significant improvements in opinion, owing to the enthusiasm of the newcomers, and also to a

form of acceptance by other Europeans of this new stage.


7

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.

After a notable decline in autumn 2015, trust in the European Union stabilised in spring 2016.

The image which Europeans have of the EU is increasingly less positive, with ‘neutral’ becoming

the majority image.

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 also remaining at a high level, just below the

highest level, which was reached in spring 2015.


8

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 Union2 have remained

largely positive throughout the whole of the period under review (1973–2016). 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...?


9

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%

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%

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%

13%

9%8%

9%

7%

9%

7%8%

7%

10%

8% 8%7%

8% 8% 8%7%

8%7%

8% 8%7%

5%

7% 7%

9%

7%

EB0 Autumn1973

EB1 Spring1974

EB2 Autumn1974

EB3 Spring1975

EB4 Autumn1975

EB5 Spring1976

EB6 Autumn1976

EB7 Spring1977

EB8 Autumn1977

EB9 Spring1978

EB10Autumn

1978

EB11 Spring1979

EB12Autumn

1979

EB13 Spring1980

EB14Autumn

1980

EB15 Spring1981

EB16Autumn

1981

EB17 Spring1982

EB18Autumn

1982

EB19 Spring1983

EB20Autumn

1983

EB21 Spring1984

EB22Autumn

1984

EB23 Spring1985

EB24Autumn

1985

EB25 Spring1986

EB26Autumn

1986

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

Oil crisis

EU91st

EP electionsEU10

2nd EPelections

EU12

Single EuropeanAct


10

60%

65%

58%

66%65% 65%

65%

68%

71%

69%

65%

60% 60%

57%

54%

58%

56%

53%

48% 48%

46%

49%

51%

54%

49%

51%

11%

8%

11%

8% 8% 8% 8%7% 7%

8%

10%

12% 12%13% 13% 12%

14%15% 15%

17%

15%14%

12% 12% 12% 13%

21%20%

25%

21% 21%

19%

21%

19%

17% 17%

19%

23%23%

25%

28%

24% 24%

26%28% 28%

30%28% 28%

26%27% 27%

8%7%

6%5%

6%7% 6%

6%5%

6% 6% 5% 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 6%

9%

8%9% 9% 9%

8%

12%

10%

EB27 Spring1987

EB28Autumn

1987

EB29 Spring1988

EB30Autumn

1988

EB31 Spring1989

EB32Autumn

1989

EB33 Spring1990

EB34Autumn

1990

EB35 Spring1991

EB36Autumn

1991

EB37 Spring1992

EB38Autumn

1992

EB39 Spring1993

EB40Autumn

1993

EB41 Spring1994

EB42Autumn

1994

EB43 Spring1995

EB44Autumn

1995

EB45 Spring1996

EB46Autumn

1996

EB47Spring 1997

EB48Autumn

1997

EB49 Spring1998

EB50Autumn

1998

EB51 Spring1999

EB52Autumn

1999

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 EPelections

3rdEP elections

Schengen

Maastricht Treaty4th EP

elections

EU15

Mad CowDisease

Fall of theBerlin wall

Germanunification

- Gulf War- Financial crisis

Stability andGrowth Pact


11

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%

53%

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%

16%

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%

29%

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% 2%

EB53 Spring2000

EB54Autumn

2000

EB55 Spring2001

EB56Autumn

2001

EB57 Spring2002

EB58Autumn

2002

EB59 Spring2003

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring 2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63 Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring 2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring 2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring 2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71 Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring 2010

EB75 Spring2011

EB77.4June2012

EB79.5June2013

EB82.4December

2014

EB84.1September

2015

EB86.1Sept. Oct.

2016

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

Euro

6th EPelections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure

BolkensteinDirective

Subprimes

EU27

Effects ofthe Crisis

7th EPelections

EU28

Election of theJuncker

Commission

8th EPelections

LisbonTreaty

TheUkrainian

Crisis

Brexit

Migrationcrisis


12

The benefits of membership of the European Union: always a majority over the period, with the highest level

ever in 2015 and 2016. 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 2016. In the September 2015 and September 2016 surveys it was 60%, which is the highest level

ever achieved since 1983. The response ‘has not benefited’ reached its highest ever level in the survey 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?


13

52%

46%48%

50%

53%

46%

51%49%

56%

52%

56% 55%

59% 59% 58% 59%

56%53%

49%47%

45%47%

48%46%

44% 45%42% 41%

44%

25%

30%

34%32%

30%32%

31%33%

28%30%

28% 28%

23% 24% 23% 24%26%

29%

33%35% 35% 34%

32%

36% 35% 34%37% 36%

35%

23% 24%

18% 18% 17%

22%

18% 18%16%

18%16% 17% 18% 18% 18%

17%18% 18% 18% 17%

20% 19%20%

18%20% 21% 21% 22%

21%

EB19Spring1983

EB21Spring1984

EB22Autumn

1984

EB23Spring 1985

EB24Autumn

1985

EB25Spring 1986

EB26Autumn

1986

EB27Spring 1987

EB28Autumn

1987

EB29Spring 1988

EB30Autumn

1988

EB31Spring 1989

EB32Autumn

1989

EB33Spring 1990

EB34Autumn

1990

EB35Spring 1991

EB36Autumn

1991

EB37Spring 1992

EB38Autumn

1992

EB39Spring 1993

EB40Autumn

1993

EB41Spring 1994

EB42Autumn

1994

EB43Spring 1995

EB44Autumn

1995

EB45Spring 1996

EB46Autumn

1996

EB47Spring 1997

EB48Autumn

1997

Taking everything into account, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) has on balance benefited or not from being a member of the EU?

Benefited Not benefited Don't know

Germanunification

2nd EPelections

3rd EPelections

SchengenMaastricht

Treaty

- Gulf War- Financial crisis

4th EPelections

EU15

Mad CowDiseaseSingle European Act

EU12

Fall of theBerlin Wall



14

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% 60%

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% 31%

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% 9%

EB49 Spring1998

EB50Autumn

1998

EB51 Spring1999

EB52Autumn

1999

EB53 Spring2000

EB54Autumn

2000

EB55 Spring2001

EB56Autumn

2001

EB57 Spring2002

EB58Autumn

2002

EB59 Spring2003

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring 2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63 Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring 2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring 2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring 2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71 Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring 2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75 Spring2011

EB79.5June2013

EB84.1September

2015

EB86.1Sept. Oct.

2016

Taking everything into account, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) has on balance benefited or not from being a member of the EU?

Benefited Not benefited Don't know

5th EPelections

Euro

6th EPelections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

Subprimes

EU27


7th EPelections

EU28

LisbonTreaty


Commission

8th EPelections

TheUkrainian

Crisis Brexit

Migration Crisis


15

2. Trust in the European Union

Europeans’ trust in the European Union was measured between autumn 1997 and spring 2016. After having been in the majority since autumn 2004 and the

enlargement to 25 Member States, trust in the EU has fallen back below 50% since the survey in spring 2010. Having stabilised at its lowest level in spring and autumn

2013 and in spring 2014, it recovered slightly in the autumn 2014 and spring 2015 surveys (when it reached 40%, against 46% for ‘tend not to trust’), while nevertheless

remaining in the minority. Trust in the European Union fell again in the autumn 2015 survey (32% against 55%) before stabilising at 33% in spring 2016 (against 55% for

‘tend not to trust’).

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% 32% 33%

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%

55% 55%

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% 13% 12%

EB48Autumn

1997

EB51Spring1999

EB55Spring2001

EB56Autumn

2001

EB57Spring2002

EB59Spring2003

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79Spring2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

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.

- The European Union

Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don't know

5th EPelections

Euro6th EP

elections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

EU27

Effects of theCrisis

7th EPelections

8th EPelections

EU28


Commission

LisbonTreaty

Subprimes The UkrainianCrisis

Brexit

MigrationCrisis


16

3. The image of the European Union and what it means to Europeans

For a long time positive, the image of the European Union is fading 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, before starting to decline in spring 2010. Since autumn

2010, they have remained below 42% and have been surpassed several times by neutral opinions (people

saying that they have a ‘neutral’ image). This was the case in the latest surveys in autumn 2015 and spring

2016.

While over the whole of the period under review (2000-2016), positive opinions have exceeded negative

ones, the neutral image has been increasing slowly, and at 38% is the majority image in 2016.

4 In general, is your image of the EU very positive, quite positive, neutral, quite negative or very negative?


17

* Fieldwork Dates: 21/05 - 30/05 2016

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%

37%34%

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% 38%

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%23%

27%

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% 2% 1%

EB53Spring

2000

EB55Spring2001

EB57Spring2002

EB58Autumn

2002

EB59Spring2003

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring

2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85*Spring2016

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


7th EP elections

EU28

ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

EU27

Subprimes

8èmes

élections duPE


Commission

LisbonTreaty

The UkrainianCrisis

Brexit

MigrationCrisis


18

What the European Union means: a trio of positive dimensions

Throughout the survey period (from spring 2002 to spring 2016), ‘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, 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 position are occupied by negative concepts: bureaucracy and wasting money.

These have been gradually increasing since 2002.


19

50%53% 52%

50% 50%52%

49%

44%42%

46% 45% 45% 45%41% 41% 42% 43% 43% 44%

50% 49% 49% 50%

49% 44%

37%38% 39% 39%

35% 34% 33%37%

40% 40% 38%37% 37% 35%

26%

32%35%

39%35%

37%35%

32% 36% 32% 33% 33%

26% 27% 25%28%

24%

21%

26%

29% 29%27% 27% 27%

19%22% 21% 23% 21%

21%

18% 17% 19% 20% 21% 21% 21%

23%

23% 23% 21%24% 24%

26% 23%

24%26%19% 23% 22%

24% 22%

20%

19% 19% 20% 21%25% 24%

28% 27% 27% 27%25%

25%22%

25%

26%

EB57Spring 2002

EB62Autumn 2004

EB63Spring 2005

EB64Autumn 2005

EB65Spring 2006

EB67Spring 2007

EB69Spring 2008

EB70Autumn 2008

EB71Spring 2009

EB72Autumn 2009

EB73Spring 2010

EB74Autumn 2010

EB75Spring 2011

EB76Autumn 2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring 2015

EB84Autumn 2015

EB85Spring 2016

What does the EU mean to you personally?(Multiple responses possible)

Freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU Euro Peace Bureaucracy Waste of money


EU28 8th EPelections

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6th EPelections

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EU27

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20

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’ trust in the European institutions fell significantly between autumn 20045 and spring 2016.

Whilst people generally trusted most of the institutions, this pattern started to reverse starting in autumn

2011 (EB76).

Broadly positive in autumn 2004 (57%), there was a gradual reduction in the level of trust in the European

Parliament until it fell behind, starting in autumn 2011 (41% trusted the EP as opposed to 45% who tended

not to in the autumn 2011 survey). 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 (spring 2016),

‘trust’ is again below ‘not trust’ (40% as against 46%).

5 For each of the following European institutions, please state whether you trust them or not.


21

54%57%

52% 51% 52% 52%56% 55%

52% 51%48%

50% 48% 48%45%

41% 40%44%

48%

39%37%

42%

43%

40% 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% 46%

17% 16% 18%16%

19%16% 16%

18%21%

18%16% 17% 15% 15%

17%14% 14%

11%9%

13%15% 15% 16% 15% 14%

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84.1September

2015

EB85Spring2016

And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions.- The European Parliament -



7th EPelections 8th EP

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22

There was a similar trend for trust in the European Commission. The level of trust in this institution steadily fell until it lagged behind starting in autumn 2011 (43% for

‘tend not to trust’ against 36% for ‘tend to trust’). Since then, trust remained dominant until the spring 2016 survey (37% against 45%), apart from the spring 2015

survey, when trust and mistrust were both at the same level (40%).

48%

52%

46% 46% 47% 48%52% 50%

47% 47%44% 46% 45% 44%

40%36% 36%

40%

43% 35%32% 38%

40%

35%37%

29%27%

31%33%

29%31%

27% 26% 27%30%

34%32%

36% 36%

37%

43%46%

44% 44%47% 46%

42%40%

46% 45%

23%21%

23%21%

24%21% 21%

24%26%

23% 22% 22%19% 20%

23%21%

18%16%

13%

18%22%

20% 20% 19% 18%

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions.- The European Commission -



7th EPelections

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23

Trust in the Council of the European Union also diminished and became the lesser-held view starting in autumn 2011. However, people’s trust 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 the June 2013 survey).

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%

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions.- The Council of the European Union -



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24

Trust in the European Central Bank has followed the same pattern. This is the institution with the highest level of mistrust, even rising above 50% in June 2013 (51%).

In the latest measurement in spring 2016, mistrust was at 48% (against 34% for trust).

46%

50%47%

44%

49%46%

53%

47%50%

48%

44% 44%41%

43%40%

36% 35%37% 38%

34%31%

34% 35%33% 34%

27%25%

27%

28%25%

27%25%

24% 24%

30%33% 33%

39%37% 38%

46%49% 49%

51%49% 48%

46% 45%47% 48%

27%

26%

26%

28%26%

26%

22%

29%26%

22% 23% 23%20% 20%

22%

18%16%

14%11%

17%

21% 20% 20% 20%18%

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions.- The European Central Bank -



7th EPelections

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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 to June 2013). However, mistrust surged ahead starting in spring 2010, reaching 36% in spring 2012. It has since fallen back slightly since then, but is still

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%

EB61Spring 2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB68Autumn

2007

EB73Spring2010

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions.- The Court of Justice of the European Union -


EU28EU27

Subprimes Effects ofthe Crisis

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26

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 answered quite well, 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. 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 58% at the time of the last survey, in spring

2016.

6 For each of the following statements about the EU, please state if you think they are true or false.


27

43%

50%

58%

50% 50%52%

48%45%

49%53%

59%57% 56%

58%

52% 52%

57%54%

71%

62% 62%59% 58%

36%

21%24%

30% 30% 29%31%

35%31%

23%

23%26% 27% 28%

30% 30% 31%29%

15%

22% 21%

26% 25%21%

29%

18%20% 20% 19%

21% 20% 21%24%

18%

17% 17%14%

18% 18%

12%

17%

14%

16% 17%15%

17%

EB58Autumn

2002

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB71.1Jan. - Feb.

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82.4December

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84.1Septembre

2015

EB85Spring2016

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 EPelections

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28

The majority of Europeans know that the Member States do not all have the same number of MEPs. After

rising between the January 2009 and January 2010 surveys (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%

EB71.1Jan. - Feb.

2009

EB73.1Jan. - Feb.

2010

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB79.5June2013

EB82.4December

2014

EB84.1September 2015

For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether youthink 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


7th EPelections

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29

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%

EB68Autumn

2007

EB71.1Jan. - Feb.

2009

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB79.5June2013

EB82.4December

2014


For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it istrue 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


7th EPelections

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30

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 2009 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%

EB71.1Jan. - Feb.

2009

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB79.5June2013

EB82.4December

2014


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 -


7th EPelections

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31

6. Trust in national institutions

A large majority of Europeans do not trust their national government, and trust fell overall between 2004 and 2016. After reaching its lowest level in autumn 2013 (23%),

trust in the national government was 27% in the spring 2016 survey (against 68% for ‘tend not to trust’).

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%

27% 27%

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% 66% 68%

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% 7% 5%

Sprin

g20

04

Autu

mn

2004

Sprin

g20

05

Autu

mn

2005

Sprin

g20

06

Autu

mn

2006

Nov

.-D

ec.2

006

Sprin

g20

07

Autu

mn

2007

Sprin

g20

08

Autu

mn

2008

Jan.

-Feb

.200

9

Sprin

g20

09

Autu

mn

2009

Sprin

g20

10

Autu

mn

2010

Sprin

g20

11

Autu

mn

2011

Sprin

g20

12

Autu

mn

2012

Sprin

g20

13

Autu

mn

2013

Sprin

g20

14

Autu

mn

2014

Sprin

g20

15

Autu

mn

2015

Sprin

g20

16

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 EB84 EB85

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 -


ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

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32

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 overall between 2004 and 2016, reaching its lowest level in autumn 2013. In the latest survey in spring 2016, it was at 28% (against 65% for mistrust). In each of the

surveys analysed, trust in the national parliament very slightly exceeded (or was equal to) 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% 28% 28%

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% 64% 65%

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% 8% 7%

Sprin

g20

04

Autu

mn

2004

Sprin

g20

05

Autu

mn

2005

Sprin

g20

06

Autu

mn

2006

Nov

.-D

ec.2

006

Sprin

g20

07

Autu

mn

2007

Sprin

g20

08

Autu

mn

2008

Jan.

-Feb

.200

9

Sprin

g20

09

Autu

mn

2009

Sprin

g20

10

Autu

mn

2010

Sprin

g20

11

Autu

mn

2011

Sprin

g20

12

Autu

mn

2012

Sprin

g20

13

Autu

mn

2013

Sprin

g20

14

Autu

mn

2014

Sprin

g20

15

Autu

mn

2015

Sprin

g20

16

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 EB84 EB85

For each of the following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not totrust it.

- The (NATIONALITY) Parliament -


ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

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33

THE MAIN FINDINGS

In 2002, one European in five believed that their voice counted in the EU. In 2016, it was nearly

two in five.

Over the same period, the proportion of those believing that their voice did not count fell from

almost seven in ten in 2002 to fewer than six in ten in 2016.

In most of the surveys analysed, the majority of European citizens believe that their voice counts

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 voice counts 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%,

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 2016.

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 in 2016 when it stabilised above 50%.

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% in

2015.

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, 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.

Time will tell whether Brexit will have an impact on these opinions. It is not possible to judge

from the minor changes detected in the September 2016 Parlemeter survey and we will have to

wait for future surveys to see if Brexit will have a significant impact on European public opinion

in relation to these questions.


34

II. DEMOCRACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

1. The voice of European citizens

Europeans have less and less of a conviction that their voice counts in their own country

Tested between spring 2008 and September 2016, more than half of Europeans believed that their voicecounted 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 voice countedin their own countries. After reaching a record level of 63% in September 2015, there has subsequently beena strong decline in this feeling, to 53% in September 2016.

48%

46%

51%

56%52% 52% 51% 50%

58%

47%

55%58% 57%

63%

54% 53%

45%

48%

43%

38%43%

45% 46% 47%

40%

50%

42%39% 38%

35%

42%44%

7% 6% 6% 6% 5%3% 3% 3% 2% 3% 3% 3%

5%2%

4% 3%

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB76.4December

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82.4December

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84.1September

2015

EB85.1April 2016

EB86.1Sept.-Oct.

2016

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.- My voice counts in (OUR COUNTRY) -

Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know


7th EPelections

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The UkrainianCrisis

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Migration Crisis

7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?My voice counts in (OUR COUNTRY) -


35

The majority of Europeans believe that their voice does not count in the EU.

Fewer than half of Europeans consulted between the beginning of 2002 and September 2016 believed that

their voice counted in the European Union8; 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 January 2002 to 37% in September 2016.

This conviction spiked in the Standard Eurobarometer surveys taken in the wake of European elections: in

October 20049 (+9 points, to 39%), in June 2009 (+8, to 38%), and in May 2014 (+13 to 42%).

8 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? - My voice counts 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 spring2014 were carried out immediately after the European elections.


36

21%

30%

39% 38%

34%36%

34% 35%

30% 31% 30%

38%

34% 33%

30%26%

31% 31%

39%

29%

42% 41% 42%39% 38% 37%

68%

55%52% 53%

59%

54%57%

55%

61%

57%

61%

53%55%

57%

62%65%

63% 64%

57%

66%

52% 53%50%

56% 55%

59%

11%

15%

10% 9%7%

10% 9% 10%9%

12%9% 9%

11% 10%8% 9%

6%5% 4% 5% 6% 6%

8%5%

7%4%

EB56.3Jan.-Feb.

2002

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82.4December

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84.1Sept.2015

EB85.1April2016

EB86.1Sept.-Oct.

2016

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.- My voice counts in the EU -


Euro

6th EPelections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

Subprimes

EU27


7th EPelections

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8th EPelections


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LisbonTreaty

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Crisis

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MigrationCrisis


37

More than six out of ten Europeans believe that their country’s voice counts in the EU.

The feeling held by Europeans that their country’s voice counts in the European Union10 was clearly in the

majority over the period from the start of 2002 to September 2015; there were some minor fluctuations but it

was always at or above 60%. However, the proportion of people who do not agree with this opinion is

trending upwards, from 20% in January 2002 to 34% in September 2015.

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%

EB56.3Jan.-Feb.

2002

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB73Spring2010

EB77.4June2012

EB79.5June2013

EB84.1September

2015

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the followingstatements?

- (OUR COUNTRY)’s voice counts in the EU -


Euro

6th EPelections

EU25


7th EPelections

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Failure

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10 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?- (OUR COUNTRY’S) voice counts in the EU -


38

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 52%). In the last three measurements (spring 2015, autumn

2015 and spring 2016), this proportion exceeded 50%, whereas it was below 50% between spring 1992 and

spring 2013. 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.


39

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%41%

39%

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% 51% 51%

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% 5%

6%

4%

7%

6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% 4% 3% 2%4% 3%

4%3%

3% 2%2% 1% 2%

4% 4% 3% 3% 4% 4%2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 3%

4%

1%EB37

Spring1992

EB40Autumn

1993

EB42Autumn

1994

EB43Spring1995

EB46Autumn

1996

EB47Spring1997

EB49Spring1998

EB50Autumn

1998

EB52Autumn

1999

EB53Spring2000

EB54Autumn

2000

EB56Autumn

2001

EB57Spring2002

EB58Autumn

2002

EB59Spring2003

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB64Autumn

2005

EB67.1February

2007

EB73Spring2010

EB76.4Decembre

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78.2Nov.-Dec.

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

Do you see yourself as...?

(NATIONALITY) only (NATIONALITY) and European European and (NATIONALITY) European only Don't know

6th EPelections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure Effects of the

Crisis

EU28

5th EPelections

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EU15

Mad CowDisease

BolkesteinDirective

Euro

7th EPelections


LisbonTreaty

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MaastrichtTreaty

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40

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 January 2002 and 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%

EB56.3Jan.-Feb.

2002

EB58Autumn

2002

EB65Spring2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB73.3March2010

EB77Spring2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB82Autumn

2014

EB84.1September

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 attachedyou feel to…

- (OUR COUNTRY) -

Total 'Attached' Total 'Not attached' Don't know

EU28

EuroBolkesteinDirective

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ConstitutionFailure

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41

Europeans are clearly more divided when it comes to their attachment to the European Union: after being in the majority between spring 2006 and March 2010, it once

again dipped below 50% between spring 2012 and autumn 2014. This attachment then bounced back, returning to being a majority opinion in September 2015.

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

EB58Autumn

2002

EB65Spring2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB73.3March2010

EB77Spring2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB82Autumn

2014


Please tell me how attached you feel to…- The European Union -

Total 'Attached' Total 'Not attached' Don't know

EU28

EuroBolkesteinDirective

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EU27


6th EPelections

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ConstitutionFailure

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42

4. The components of an EU identity

The euro: a less important element for European citizens.

‘The values of democracy and freedom’ were identified by respondents as the main element underpinning

the EU’s identity in their eyes11 (50% in the September 2016 survey). The euro came in second place (33% in

September 2016), although it has markedly declined in importance in the last two years. This was followed by

culture (32%) and history (28%). Other considerations are cited by fewer than a quarter of Europeans.

37%

45%

40%

47%49% 50%

40%43%

42%

40% 39% 33%

22%

27%

26%

28%30% 32%

24%26%

27%

24% 27% 28%

17% 19%

23%

18%20%

23% 20%

21%20% 19% 22%

12% 13%

10%13% 13%

15%15%

11%

7%5% 5% 5% 5% 5%

Autumn 2008 June 2012 June 2013 Nov.-Dec. 2014 Sept. 2015 Sept.-Oct. 2016

EB70 EB77.4 EB79.5 EB82.4 EB84.1 EB86.1

The European identity can be composed of several elements. In your opinion, which of the followingare the most important elements that go to make up the European identity?

(MAX. 3 RESPONSES) - % UE

Democratic values 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


7th EPelections

EU28

MigrationCrisis

BrexitThe UkrainianCrisis


Commission

8th EPelections

11 European identity can be composed of several elements. In your opinion, which of the following are the most important elementsthat go to make up the European identity? (MAXIMUM 3 POSSIBLE RESPONSES)


43

More than seven out of ten 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 was the

case each time this question was asked, on six occasions between autumn 2008 and September 2016.

72%75%

72% 72%74%

71%

17% 16%

20% 21%19%

22%

11%9% 8% 7% 7% 7%

EB70Autumn 2008

EB72Autumn 2009

EB79.5June 2013


EB85.1April 2016

EB86.1Sept.-Oct. 2016

Can you tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding the building of Europe?- What brings the citizens of the different countries together is more important thanwhat separates them -

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

TheUkrainian

Crisis

Effectsof theCrisis

EU28

8th EPelections


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Brexit

MigrationCrisis

7th EPelections


44

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 optimism (respondents thinking that the next 12

months would be better) and pessimism (‘worse’) curves have frequently crossed over from one

survey to the next since the one carried out in spring 2014. In the last two surveys however, in

autumn 2015 and spring 2016, pessimism was ahead for 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.


45

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 until autumn 2007 became negative from autumn 2008. They

reached their lowest level in autumn 2011 (18%), right in the midst of the debt crisis. Since then, they have

grown almost continuously, reaching 38% in autumn 2016, before falling back again in the latest survey in

spring 2016 (35%). Over the same period, negative judgments have fallen from 77% in autumn 2011 to 53%

in spring 2016.

12 How would you judge the current situation in each of the following? Situation in (OUR COUNTRY’S) economy/Situation in theEuropean economy/Employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY).


46

49% 50%53%

58% 58%

33%

24%30%

22%26%

30%

18% 19% 19% 21%

28%31% 30%

37% 38%35%37% 36%

31%28% 27%

58%

68%

62%

70%63% 61%

77% 75% 75%72%

65%

56%59%

51% 50%53%

13% 14% 15% 15% 15%

9% 9% 9% 8% 10% 9%5% 6% 6% 7% 7%

13% 11% 12% 12% 12%

EB62.1Nov.2004

EB63Spring2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB68Autumn

2007

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

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2012

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2014

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EB85Spring2016

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

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JunckerCommission

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47

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% ‘bad’). Since 2009, these judgments have gradually improved, rising from 21% in spring

2009 to 39% in spring 2016.

Subprimes

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35% 36%41%

46%

52%

48%

29%

21%23% 22%

28%31%

28% 27% 27% 26%31%

34% 34%38% 40% 39%

62% 61%56%

50%44%

49%

69%

78%75% 77%

70%68%

71% 71% 72% 72%68%

63% 63%59% 57% 57%

4% 3% 2% 3% 4% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 2% 1% 3% 3% 3% 3% 4%

EB62.1November

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79Spring2013

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2013

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2014

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How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?- The situation of the (NATIONALITY) economy -



Commission

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48

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 (65%

negative judgements in spring 2016).

22% 20%24%

27%

36%

28%

13% 15%19%

24%20% 21% 20% 19% 21% 23% 24%

28% 30% 31%

76% 77%74%

70%

62%

69%

85% 83%79%

74%78% 77% 79% 80%

77%74% 73%

69% 67% 65%

3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 4%

EB62.1Nov.2004

EB63Spring2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB68Autumn

2007

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79Spring2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

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2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

How would you judge the current situation in each of the following?- The employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY) -


ConstitutionFailure

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7th EPelections

EU28


Commission

8th EPelections

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Treaty

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49

2. Economic projections

Economic projections as a whole are fairly gloomy and unchanged for almost half of European citizens.

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 to

autumn 2013). Since spring 2014, the optimism and pessimism curves have regularly crossed, but in the

latest two surveys in autumn 2015 and spring 2016 pessimism is slightly ahead: in spring 2016, 26% of

Europeans thought that the next 12 months would be ‘worse’ against 21% ‘better’.

Nevertheless, it is the response ‘no change’ which takes a clear lead.

13 What are your expectations for the year to come: will the next twelve months be better, worse or the same when it comes to...? Theeconomic situation in (OUR COUNTRY)/the economic situation in the EU/the employment situation in (OUR COUNTRY).


50

18% 19% 19%21% 20%

28%

24%

16% 15%

25%28%

24% 24% 23%

16%19%

17%

21% 21%24%

22%

26%

24%21%

43%

37%

39%

35%35%

27%

26%

46%

51%

34% 31%

36%

31%28%

44%

37%

40%

36%

30%

23%

28%

21%

26%26%

33%

38%

37%

38%40%

38%

44%

33%29%

36% 37%

35%

41%44%

36%

40%

39%

40%

45%47%

45%48%

44%46%

6% 6% 5% 5% 5%7% 6% 5% 5% 5% 4% 5% 4% 5%

4% 4% 4% 3% 4%6% 5% 5% 6% 7%

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

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

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51

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 spring 2007,autumn 2007 and spring 2015 surveys being the only exceptions).

17% 18%20% 21%

23%

31%

26%

21%

13%

20%22% 22% 23%

24%

15%18%

16% 16%

20% 20%24%

21%

26%

24%

22%

47%

42%40%

38%

34%

27%25%

39%

53%

44%

40%38%

35% 30%

46%

40%42%

45%42%

35%

26%

30%

23%

28% 27%31%

34% 35%

36%

38%35%

43%

34% 29%32%

34%

35%

38%41%

35%38% 38%

36% 35%

41%44% 44%

46%43%

45%

6% 6% 5% 6% 5%7% 6% 6% 5% 4% 4% 5% 4% 5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 4%

6% 5% 5% 5% 6%

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77.4June2012

EB78.1Autumn

2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

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) -


ConstitutionFailure

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52

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

to spring 2016), 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%

20%18%

16%13%

26%

41%

28%

21%

32% 27% 25%

44%

39% 39%

34%

27%

18%

24%

19%

26% 26%

38%

46%

38%

31%

38% 38%35%

40%42%

31%

35%

37%

38%

43% 42% 42%44%

42% 43%

18%17%

18%

12%

10% 11% 11% 12% 12%9% 9% 8% 7%

9% 16%14%

13% 12% 13%

EB66Autumn

2006

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

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EB84Autumn 2015

EB85Spring 2016

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 -


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53

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 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, positive expectations among the European public increased from autumn 2011,

before stabilising from spring 2015.

In general, the same is true for the career prospects of respondents to surveys between 1998

and 2016. Positive expectations have been relatively stable since spring 2014, at around 20%.

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 from autumn 2011. It was not until spring 2014 that

optimism overtook pessimism again.


54

Personal outlooks have been consistent over time

Throughout the period from autumn 1995 to spring 2016, 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)14. 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 autumn 2000 survey to a 1-point gap in the autumn 2011 survey). However, from autumn

2013 the gap between optimists and pessimists widened again slightly, before stabilising since spring 2015, to reach 17 points in the latest survey in spring 2016.

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% 28% 28%

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% 11% 11%

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% 58% 58%

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% 3% 3%

EB44Autumn

1995

EB46Autumn

1996

EB48Autumn

1997

EB50Autumn

1998

EB52Autumn

1999

EB54Autumn

2000

EB56Autumn

2001

EB58Autumn

2002

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB 71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

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2012

EB79.5June2013

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2013

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What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will it be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...?- Your life in general -


Euro

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14 What are your expectations for the year to come: 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 jobsituation


55

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 2016, 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% 22% 20%

7% 5% 6% 6% 8% 9% 10%

10%

9% 9% 9% 9% 8% 8% 10%12%

10% 11% 11% 10% 9%13% 12% 12% 12%

13%

7% 8% 8% 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% 60% 61%

8% 9% 9% 9% 8% 10% 9%

8%

8% 9% 8% 8% 9% 9% 9%12% 12% 11% 11% 11% 12% 12% 12%

8%

13% 12% 10% 10% 11%

EB50Autumn

1998

EB52Autumn

1999

EB54Autumn

2000

EB56Autumn

2001

EB58Autumn

2002

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB661Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB 77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will it be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...?- Your personal job situation -


Euro6th EP

elections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure


7th EPelections

5th EPelections

Subprimes

EU27 EU28

BolkesteinDirective


Commission

8th EPelections

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LisbonTreaty

MigrationCrisis

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56

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 63% over the period from 1998 to 2016 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% 23% 22%

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% 12% 13%

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% 62% 62%

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% 3% 3%

EB50Autumn

1998

EB52Autumn

1999

EB54Autumn

2000

EB56Autumn

2001

EB58Autumn

2002

EB60Autumn

2003

EB61Spring2004

EB62Autumn

2004

EB63Spring2005

EB64Autumn

2005

EB65Spring2006

EB66Autumn

2006

EB67Spring2007

EB68Autumn

2007

EB69Spring2008

EB70Autumn

2008

EB71Spring2009

EB72Autumn

2009

EB73Spring2010

EB74Autumn

2010

EB75Spring2011

EB76Autumn

2011

EB77Spring2012

EB78Autumn

2012

EB79.5June2013

EB80Autumn

2013

EB81Spring2014

EB82Autumn

2014

EB83Spring2015

EB84Autumn

2015

EB85Spring2016

What are your expectations for the next twelve months: will it be better, worse or the same, when it comes to...?- The financial situation of your household -


Euro6th EP elections

EU25

ConstitutionFailure

BolkesteinDirective

Subprimes

EU27


7th EPelections

EU28

5th EP elections


Commission

8th EP elections

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LisbonTreaty

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57

V. IMMIGRATION

THE MAIN FINDINGS

Since 2015, ‘an immigration policy implemented in consultation with countries of origin’has become a major political priority in the hierarchy of priority policies which Europeans want

to see defended by the EP.

Immigration is a subject which divides Europeans: a majority of them do not agree that

immigrants contribute a lot to their countries. This has been the majority opinion again since

spring 2015.

Almost six out of ten Europeans view immigration of people from other EU Member States

positively, while a little over a third view it negatively.

European public opinion is markedly more critical of immigration of people from outside

the EU: only just over a third view it positively, compared with six out of ten who say they have a

negative view of it.

In five Member States a majority of the population have a negative view of immigration,

whether from within or outside the EU: Cyprus, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and

Italy.


58

European citizens now rank ‘an immigration policy implemented in consultation with countries of origin’

third among the policies which should be a priority for the European Parliament. Following a period from

January 2010 to June 2013 when this aspect was secondary among Europeans’ responses, cited by around

20% of Europeans, it began to increase markedly from December 2014, to reach 38% in the September 2015

survey (coming in second place). In the latest survey in September 2016, ‘an immigration policy

implemented in consultation with countries of origin’ lost ground a little, falling back into third place among

the priorities with a score of 33%. This hierarchy of policies remains largely dominated by ‘the fight against

poverty and social exclusion’ (cited by between 49% and 54% of respondents since August-September 2010).

Over the whole period, another aspect has made very significant gains: ‘combatting terrorism while

respecting individual freedom’ rose from 22% in November 2012 to 42% in the latest survey in September

2016 (second place). In that last survey, a ‘security and defence policy that enables the EU to face up to

international crises’ (28%), ‘improving consumer and public health protection’ (27%) and ‘coordinating

economic, budgetary and taxation policies’ (25%) ranked fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.


59

44%

52%51%

49%50%

53%

51%

54%

51%50%

24% 27%

28%

37% 37%

35%

30%31%

25%

35%

33%32%

30%31%

30%

33%

25%

27%

34%28%

25%

22%

24%

22%

25%

34%

42%

30%

23%24%

29%28% 28%

26%

28% 28%

20% 20%

22%

19% 19%18%

19%

25%

38%

33%

Jan.-Feb.2010

Aug.-Sept.2010

April-May2011

November2011

June2012

Nov.-Dec.2012

June2013

December2014

September 2015 Sept.-Oct. 2016

EB73.1 EB74.1 EB75.2 EB76.3 EB77.4 EB78.2 EB79.5 EB82.4 EB84.1 EB86.1

The European Parliament promotes the development of certain policies at EU level. In your opinion which of the followingpolicies should be given priority? Firstly? And then? (MAX. 4 RESPONSES) - % EU

Tackling poverty and social exclusion

Coordinating economic, budget and tax policies

Improving consumer and public health protection

Combating terrorism while respecting individual freedoms

A security and defence policy that enables the EU to face up to international crises

An immigration policy implemented in consultation with countries of origin

Brexit


EU28 Election of theJuncker

Commission

8th EPelections

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For a majority of Europeans, ‘immigration of people from other EU Member States’ evokes something

positive (58%, against 35% for whom it evokes something negative). This sentiment increased between

autumn 2014 and spring 2016, from 52% to 58%.

52% 51%55% 58%

41% 40% 38% 35%

7% 9% 7% 7%

EB82Autumn 2014

EB83Spring 2015

EB84Autumn 2015

EB85Spring 2016

Please tell me whether each of the following statementsevokes a positive or negative feeling for you.

- Immigration of people from other EU Member States -

Total 'Positive' Total 'Negative' Don't know


The UkrainianCrisis

MigrationCrisis

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The proportion of Europeans for whom ‘immigration of people from non-EU countries’ evokes something

negative is predominant, and remained relatively stable over the period under review, from autumn 2014 to

spring 2016, ranging from 56% to 59%. Over the same period, the proportion of people for whom

immigration from non-EU countries evokes something positive has remained slightly above one-third

(ranging from 34% to 35%).

35% 34% 34% 34%

57% 56% 59% 58%

8% 10% 7% 8%

EB82Autumn 2014

EB83Spring 2015

EB84Autumn 2015

EB85Spring 2016

Please tell me whether each of the following statements evokes apositive or negative feeling for you.

- Immigration of people from outside the EU -

Total 'Positive' Total 'Negative' Don't know


The UkrainianCrisis

MigrationCrisis

Brexit


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In the latest survey, the immigration of people from other EU Member States elicited positive feelings in a

large majority of Member States (23). By contrast, negative feelings were in the majority in Cyprus,

Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Italy.

EB85 Spring 2016


63

Immigration of people from outside the EU was viewed positively in only four countries in the spring 2016

survey: in Sweden, quite comfortably, but also in Luxembourg, Ireland and Spain. In all other Member States,

immigration of people from non-EU countries evoked a negative feeling among a majority of the population.

EB85 Spring 2016


64

Europeans are divided as to the contribution of immigration in their country: in the latest survey in spring

2016, more than five out of ten respondents did not agree with the proposition that ‘immigrants

contribute a lot to (OUR COUNTRY)’, whereas four out of ten (40%) did agree. These were exactly the same

proportions as in the autumn 2006 survey, when the question was asked for the first time. After becoming

the majority opinion between the spring 2012 and spring 2015 surveys, the opinion that immigrants

contribute a lot to a country has become the minority opinion again since the autumn 2015 survey.

40%44%

49% 48% 46%41% 40%

52%47%

43% 45% 44%

50% 52%

8%

9%

8% 7% 10% 9% 8%

EB66Autumn

2006

EB69Spring2008

EB77Spring2012

EB81.2Mars2014

EB83Spring 2015

EB84Autumn 2015

EB85Spring 2016

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each if the following statements?- Immigrants contribute a lot to (OUR COUNTRY) -

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

Effectsof theCrisis

EU28

Subprimes

EU27

7th EPelections

LisbonTreaty

The UkrainianCrisis

Migration Crisis

Brexit


Commission

8th EPelections


65

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 2016:

- 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 and 2016, 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] voice counts in

the EU’. There was a particularly sharp increase in that feeling after the elections in May 2014.

- While the September 2016 Parlemeter survey shows no dramatic changes in support for the

European Union, the next surveys will need to be analysed to take into account the impact Brexitmay have on European opinion.

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; from autumn 2013, the

number of respondents having a positive image of the EU was gaining ground until spring 2015,

before falling back again slightly until spring 2016.

- Trust in the European Union and its institutions deteriorated from spring 2010: trust in the EU

reached a low point in spring 2012, spring 2013, autumn 2013 and spring 2014. After recovering in

autumn 2014, it fell back again from autumn 2015.


66

- 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.

- Unsurprisingly, the assessment indicators for the economic situation have also deteriorated,

sometimes dramatically, 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 risen more or less continuously.

- 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 from 2011 and then losing ground again slightly in autumn

2015 and spring 2016: in these two surveys, negative projections outweigh positive ones.

- 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). The euro remains a key factor in European identity and an

important symbol of what the EU means to Europeans.

- 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 has been the case on all six occasions that this question has been asked

between 2008 and 2016.

4/ Europeans’ expectations concerning their personal lives are dominated by the feeling that things will

remain unchanged in the year to come. More respondents viewed the future positively than negatively in

most of the surveys analysed. This was true both for the outlook concerning people’s lives in general and for

their job situation.

- The area worst affected by the events of recent years has been the financial situation of

households, with pessimism for the coming months being greater than optimism as early as spring

2008, and markedly so from autumn 2011. It was not until spring 2014 that optimism overtook

pessimism again.

5/ Europeans are divided over immigration, which became one of their main concerns in 2015 and 2016:

in spring 2016, a third of Europeans thought it should be a European Parliament priority. In addition,

Europeans make an important distinction between immigration from other EU countries and immigration

from non-EU countries.

- For almost six out of ten Europeans, immigration of people from other EU countries evokes a

positive feeling, while a little over a third of them have the opposite opinion. In five countries,

immigration from other EU countries evokes something negative.

- In contrast, immigration of people from non-EU countries evokes a negative feeling for a clear

majority of Europeans and is an opinion shared in 24 Member States.

- Europeans are split when it comes to the proposition that ‘immigrants contribute a lot to (OUR

COUNTRY)’. After being the majority opinion between spring 2012 and spring 2015, this became the

minority opinion again in the latest two surveys in autumn 2015 and spring 2016.


67


68

This exploratory study on major changes in European public opinion

(updated in November 2016) was carried out on the basis of the

Eurobarometer surveys carried out between 1973 and 2016.

The following aspects were studied: changes in European public

opinion regarding the European Union and its institutions; democracy

in the European Union; the economy of the European Union; the lives

of Europeans; immigration.

The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the author and any opinions whichmay be expressed herein 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.© European Union, 2016

Published by the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit,Directorate-General for Communication, European Parliament

PE 596.847ISBN: 978-92-846-0403-6DOI: 10.2861/914504QA-07-16-107-EN-N

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