how europeans see themselves - arnes

How Europeans see themselvesLooking through the mirror with public opinion surveys

European Commission

European documentation

A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int).

European Commission Press and Communication Service Rue de la Loi 200B-1049 Brussels

Manuscript completed in September 2000

Cover and illustrations: freeform communicationLayout: EC-EAC

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2001

ISBN 92-894-0077-3

© European Communities, 2001Reproduction is authorised.

Printed in Belgium

PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER

This publication in the ‘European documentation’ series is available in all the official languages of the EuropeanUnion: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

IN THE SAME COLLECTION:Europe from A to Z (1997)Europe in 10 points (1998)The ABC of Community law by Dr. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt (1999)The European Commission 2000-2005 (1999)A new idea for Europe — The Schuman declaration — 1950-2000 by Pascal Fontaine (2000)

How Europeans see themselvesLooking through the mirror with public opinion surveys

Contents

Introduction

Europeans at the end of the 20th century

European citizenship

The European Union

Policies of the EU at the end of the 20th century

European issues and priorities at the end of the 20th century

Shared opinions? Women, the younger generation, and leading professionals

Europeans and the future

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3

ince 1973, the European Commission has been measuring public opinionto inform itself about the views of European Union citizens and to share theobtained information with the general public through a plethora of sources,including more recently the electronic media.

Over the past 25 years, the Commission’s public opinion surveys have col-lected information about nearly every aspect of European Union life.Although much of the work has focused on public support for and knowledgeof the European Union, its policies and its institutions, the Eurobarometersurveys have also looked at how satisfied Europeans are with the life theylead, what their expectations of the future are and what their concerns are,to name but a few examples. The surveys have covered public opinion aboutissues as varied as modern biotechnology, the information society, the envi-ronment, poverty and the single market. Furthermore, the surveys have oftenfocused on the opinion of young people, women or top managers.

The purpose of this brochure is to present readers with a selection of find-ings from these Commission surveys. As the title of the brochure implies, itprovides readers with a picture of how Europeans see themselves by lookingat a variety of subjects: citizens’ values and life satisfaction at the end of the20th century, European citizenship, public opinion towards the EuropeanUnion, public support for the policies of the European Union, public opiniontowards a number of issues that EU citizens worry about … Particular cate-gories — the young, women and top decision-makers — are the focus of thesixth chapter. The final chapter of the brochure looks towards the future bylooking at people’s expectations of the 21st century, people’s perceived anddesired role of the European Union in the 21st century and by reporting onthe views of young Europeans who are, after all, Europe’s future leaders.

Introduction

S

ow that we are entering the 21st century, it seems appropriate to firstly look at howsatisfied the citizens of the European Union have been with their lives during the last quar-ter of the previous century. The Eurobarometer survey, which has been carried out twice ayear in all Member States since 1973, provides this information. In this chapter, we alsoaddress the legacy of the 20th century. Last but not least, we look at the values of Europeancitizens at the end of the second millennium.

Europeans at the end of the 20th century

How Europeans see themselves

4

N

Technical specifications

Eurobarometer surveys

Fieldwork: each spring and autumn since 1973.

Coverage: EU citizens aged 15 and over residing in any of the European Union Member States.

Sample size: 1 000 respondents per country except Luxembourg (500), the United Kingdom(1 000 in Great Britain and 300 in Northern Ireland) and Germany (1 000 in East Germany and1 000 in West Germany).

Margin of error: ± 3.1 %.

Institute responsible for fieldwork: INRA (ECO).

Next to the Eurobarometer, the Commission also carries out ad hoc public opinion polls (usu-ally over the telephone) under the name of the Flash Eurobarometer. Furthermore, a centraland east European Eurobarometer has been carried out since 1990 and has recently beenreplaced by the applicant countries’ Eurobarometer which measures public opinion towardsthe European Union in the countries that have applied to become part of the European Union.A continuous tracking survey (CTS) was fielded from January 1996 to December 1998. It suc-ceeded the small pilot telephone ‘Monthly monitoring’ created in 1994. These results wereregularly published in Europinion reports until the end of 1997. The Commission also carriesout qualitative studies to study certain topics more in-depth or to prepare a general popula-tion survey.

Flash Eurobarometer surveys

Fieldwork: ad hoc if and when needed by a service of the Commission or otherinstitutions/agencies of the EU.

Coverage: EU citizens aged 15 and over residing in any of the European Union Member States.Special target groups can also be investigated.

Sample size: Most of the time 1 000 respondents per country, with the exception of Germanywhere the sample has been set at 2 000 respondents.


Institute responsible for fieldwork: EOS Gallup Europe.

Continuous tracking surveys

Fieldwork: 6 days a week, 44 weeks a year from January 1996 until December 1998.

Coverage: EU citizens aged 15 and over residing in any of the European Union Member States.

Sample size: 800 respondents per country, with the exception of Germany where the samplehas been set at 1 600 respondents.


Institute responsible for fieldwork: Euroquest MRB.

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Life satisfaction

Over the years the survey has regularly askedEuropean Union citizens how satisfied theyare with their life in general. This life satis-faction question is a summary measure ofhow people feel about all things related totheir lives, ranging from their personal hap-piness, their health, their family and theireconomic situation to their views aboutsociety in general.

During the last quarter of the 20th century,at least 75 % of EU citizens have indicatedthat they are happy with the life they lead

with the latest measurement showing thatmore than 8 in 10 people feel positive abouttheir life. As Graph 1 shows, satisfaction lev-els are higher in periods of economic well-being and lower during more difficult times,such as in 1975 when people were feelingthe economic effects of the oil crisis.

6

'73 '75 '77 '79 '81 '83 '85 '87 '89 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 EU-9 EU-10 EU-12 EU-12+ EU-15

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork : October-November 1999.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Graph 1: Life satisfaction 1973—99 EU average

79 7977 76

79 79 8083 83

80 79 81 80 8177 78

82

75

%

The legacy of the 20th century

In the autumn of 1998, the Eurobarometerasked its respondents to rate the legacy ofthe 20th century for the following 11 areas:freedom, quality of life, equality, solidarity,social security and welfare, purchasingpower, working conditions, personal safety,morality and ethics, the environment andemployment (Graph 2) (1).

Nearly three in four EU citizens rate thelegacy left in the area of freedom as (fairly)positive (72 %) (2). More than half of thepublic also feel positive about what youngergenerations will find in terms of quality oflife (58 %) and equality (54 %). People aremost pessimistic when it comes to employ-ment (68 %) and the environment (66 %).

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The values of Europeans

We often read or hear about how individual-istic our society has become. Yet surveyresults indicate that Europeans are still veryinterested in their fellow citizens. More than9 in 10 EU citizens feel that it is extremelyor very important to help others and tovalue people for who they are (Graph 3).Furthermore, more than 8 in 10 Europeans

believe it is important to be involved in cre-ating a better society. These societal valuesare strong in each of the 15 Member States.

So while these results may calm concernsabout the extent to which individualism isaffecting life at the end of the 20th century,EU citizens nonetheless seem to have ayearning for traditionalism (Graph 4). Nearly7 in 10 want to live in a world in which peo-

72

58

54

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38

33

27

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21

33

36

42

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49

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66

68

Freedom

Quality of life

Equality

The spirit of cooperation, solidarity

Social security, welfare

Purchasing power

Working conditions

Personal safety

Morality, ethics

The environment

Employment

Graph 2: The legacy of the 20th century (EU-15)

Source: Eurobarometer 50.1 — Fieldwork : October-December 1998.

% fairly negative% fairly positive

(1) Respondents were asked the following question: ‘In less than two years, we will be in the 21st century. How would yourate the legacy left to young people by older generations in the following areas?’

(2) Respondents could rate the legacy as ‘fairly negative’ or ‘fairly positive’. As usual, they could also reply ‘don’t know’.

ple live by traditional values and just abouthalf of the people feel that we’d be betteroff if we returned to our traditional ways ofdoing things. However, a longing for tradi-tionalism does not necessarily mean thateverything should go back to the way it usedto be: only 25 % of Europeans agree that ahusband’s job is to earn the money and awife’s job is to look after the home.Traditional values are most prominent inGreece and least popular in the Netherlands,Denmark and Sweden.

A clear sign of modern times is the valuepeople attach to success and self-develop-ment. Three in four EU citizens regard beingsuccessful in life as important and half of thepeople feel this way about making a lot ofmoney. Furthermore, we find that 79 % of

EU citizens feel it is important to put moretime and effort into their own self-develop-ment and 68 % feel it is important to dis-cover more things about themselves.

8


95

92

84

79

75

68

49

To help others

To value people for who they are

To be involved in creating a better society

To put more time and effort into personal development

To be successful in life

To discover new things about yourself

To make a lot of money

Graph 3: The values of Europeans % saying it is extremely or very important

Source: Continuous tracking survey 97.8. — Fieldwork : August-September 1997.

68

51

25

‘I want a world where people liveby traditional values'

‘We'd be better off if we retumed toour traditional way of doing things'

‘A husband's job is to eam the money anda wife's job is to look after the home'

Graph 4: The values of Europeans % strongly or tending to agree

Source: Continuous tracking survey 97.8. — Fieldwork : August-September 1997.

9

ne of the main objectives of the European Union is to introduce European citizenship.The concept was first introduced by the Maastricht Treaty which states: ‘Every person hold-ing the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union’ . The 1997 AmsterdamTreaty clarifies the link between European and national citizenship. It states unequivocallythat ‘citizenship of the Union shall complement and not replace national citizenship’.Furthermore, the Amsterdam Treaty gives every citizen of the Union the right to write to anyof the EU institutions in one of the 11 languages of the Treaties and receive an answer in thesame language.

European citizenship

O

10


78

71

71

68

65

64

63

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53

49

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18

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EU-15

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UK

Graph 5: Feeling attached to Europe

Source: Eurobarometer 51.0 — Fieldwork : March-April 1999.

% not very + not at all attached% very + fairly attached

Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

Do citizens feel attached to Europe?

In order for people to feel like European cit-izens, they should first and foremost feelsome basic sense of geographic attachmentto Europe. The spring 1999 Eurobarometersurvey found that nearly 6 in 10 EU citizensfeel very or fairly attached to Europe. Peoplein Luxembourg (78 %) are most likely to feelvery or fairly attached, followed by people inSweden and Denmark (both 71 %) (Graph 5).People in the UK are least likely to feelattached (37 %), followed by people inGreece (41 %) and the Netherlands (49 %).More than half of the respondents living inthe nine remaining Member States feel veryor fairly attached to Europe.

Is there a European identity among citizens?

Apart from a sense of geographical attach-ment, in the context of European citizenshipit is also important that people feel psycho-logically attached to Europe. Although atthe end of the 20th century one can still notspeak of the existence of a truly Europeanidentity, the majority of EU citizens feel tosome extent European. However, this is anissue where opinions differ greatly betweencountries (Graph 6).

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49

45

32

20

16

11

7

3

1

—22

—8

—8

—13

—19

—23

—37

Net resultsFeeling European vs.

nationality only

20 11 41 23

6 9 56 26

4 6 53 31

4 7 48 39

7 8 42 41

1 5 49 44

4 6 42 45

3 5 42 47

4 8 37 48

2 2 42 52

3 4 38 53

3 3 37 56

1 2 38 60

1 3 35 61

2 4 32 61

3 3 24 67

L

I

E

F

B

NL

EU-15

A

D

P

IRL

DK

EL

FIN

S

UK

Graph 6: European and national identity

% European only % European and nationality

% nationality and European % nationality only

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork : October-November 1999. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

People in Luxembourg are most likely to feelEuropean only (20 %). This is much higherthan in any of the other countries and canbe explained by the high proportion of citi-zens from other EU countries that reside inLuxembourg. Nonetheless, there are sevenother countries where people who feel tosome extent European are in the majority.These are, in rank order, Italy (71 %), Spain(63 %), France (59 %), Belgium (57 %), theNetherlands (55 %), Austria (50 %) andGermany (49 %). In the other EU countries,people who identify only with their ownnationality are in the majority, although inPortugal (52 %) and Ireland (53 %) this

majority is very small. In the UK (67 %),Sweden, Finland (both 61 %), Greece (60 %)and, to a slightly lesser extent, Denmark(56 %) national identity is very strong.

12


Is there a shared European cultural identity?

The idea of citizenship also implies a sharedcultural identity. 38 % of EU citizens agreethat there is a shared European culturalidentity and 49 % disagree (1) (Graph 7).However, there are large differences of opin-ion about this issue among the 15 MemberStates.

People in Greece (49 %) and Portugal (47 %)are most likely to believe in a sharedEuropean cultural identity, followed by peo-ple in Germany (43 %) and Italy (42 %).People in Finland (65 %), France andDenmark (both 59 %) are most likely to dis-agree. Although we find lower levels ofagreement among nations where there aremore Eurosceptic people, feeling Europeanand believing in the existence of a sharedEuropean cultural identity do not go hand inhand.

(1) People were offered five answer options: completely agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, completely disagree and don’t know.

EL P D I S IRL A L EU-15 DK F B NL E FIN UK


100

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Graph 7: There is a European cultural identity shared by all Europeans

49

42 43 4347

42

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41 41 4244

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59

36

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%

% completely and slightly agree % slightly and completely disagree

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Satisfaction with the way democ-racy works in the European Union

Last but not least, people’s acceptance oftheir European citizenship is dependent onsatisfactory acceptance levels with the waydemocracy works in the European Union. Onaverage, 4 in 10 EU citizens are satisfied withthe way democracy works (Graph 8).

However, this average hides large differencesin opinion among the citizens from the 15Member States. In Spain and Ireland around6 in 10 people are satisfied while in Denmarkand Sweden around 6 in 10 people are notsatisfied.

E IRL P L A B I EU-15 F EL NL D FIN DK UK S


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Graph 8: Satisfaction with the way democracy works in the European Union

59

24

52

3034

49

35

48 48

39 3940 4140 4239

3638

52

46 47

35

47

34

60

32 31

31

57

28

58

17

%

% very and fairly % not very and not at all

The resignation of the European Commissionin March 1999 made a significant impact onhow people feel about the way democracyworks in the European Union. Following theCommission’s resignation, satisfaction levelsincreased significantly. The spring 1999Eurobarometer results indicate that 42 % ofEU citizens were satisfied with the waydemocracy works in the European Union,compared to only 35 % in the autumn of1998.

People who regard their country’s member-ship of the EU as a good thing (supporters)are significantly more likely to be satisfiedthan people who regard their country’smembership as a bad thing (opponents)(Graph 9).

Knowledge of citizens’ rights

For Europeans to start thinking of them-selves as European citizens, it is also impera-tive that they are aware of the rights whichEuropean citizenship confers on them. Inorder to measure people’s knowledge of theirrights as European citizens, respondents tothe autumn 1996 survey had a list of rightsand obligations read out to them and wereasked whether each of these was true orfalse (Graph 10).

14


Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork: October-November 1999.

80

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Graph 9: Satisfaction with EU democracy Differences between supporters, people who are undecided and opponents of the EU

53

33

14 16

32

48

18

66

21

% satisfied % not satisfied % don't know

Supporters Undecided Opponents

15

The large majority of citizens were awarethat they have the right to study and seekwork placements in other EU Member States.Many people also knew that it is not neces-sary to change driving licences when movingto another EU country and that one isallowed to have a savings account with abank or buy insurance in another EU country.

People were uncertain about the other state-ments with equal numbers believing them tobe true and false. To find out about yourrights, contact Europe Direct: http://europa.eu.int/europedirect


% false% true

Graph 10: Knowledge of citizens' rights

You are allowed to study in any EU country

You are allowed to seek work placements with firms in other EU countries

You are allowed to travel around the EUwithout showing your passport or identity card

You have to have a work permit in order to be able to work in another EU member country

You have to go through customs when you bringhome goods that you have bought in another EU

country for your personal use

You are allowed to vote in local elections inin another EU country, if you are resident there

You have no right to receive unemployment benefit from your country if you go to another

EU country to look for work

There is a common telephone number of emergency services in all EU countries

You have to change your driving licence whenyou move to another EU country

You are not allowed to have a savings account with a bank or buy insurance in another EU

country than the country you live in

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78

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42

4538

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2628

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Anumber of regularly asked questions from the Eurobarometer survey look at people’sknowledge about and support for the European Union.

The European Union

(1) Respondents to the autumn 1999 Eurobarometer survey were asked how much they know about the European Union, itspolicies and its institutions by selecting from a card a number — on a scale from 1 to 10 — which best represents their per-ceived knowledge about the European Union. The higher the number they select, the more they feel they know about theEU.

Knowledge and awareness

As Table 1 shows, most people feel they donot know much about the European Union,as self-perceived knowledge levels are quite

low (1). Only 26 % of EU citizens feel theyknow quite a lot to a great deal (i.e. thosechoosing the numbers 6 through 10 on thescale).

These are average results for the populationof the 15 European Union Member States. Inorder to depict the large amount of variationthat exists between the 15 countries, Graph11 shows each country’s average score (1). Ascan be seen, knowledge levels range from alow of 3.4 in the UK to a high of 5.25 inAustria.

The survey also measures people’s awarenessof nine of the European Union’s institutions(Graph 12). The institutions included in thesurvey are the European Parliament, theEuropean Commission, the Council ofMinisters, the Court of Justice, the EuropeanOmbudsman, the European Central Bank, theEuropean Court of Auditors, the Committeeof the Regions and the Social and EconomicCommittee.

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1 (know nothing at all) 10

2 12

3 16

4 15

5 18

6 12

7 8

8 4

9 1

10 (know a great deal) 1

Don't know 2

Average score 4.24

Scale %

Table 1: Self-perceived knowledge ofEU affairs. Autumn 1999 (in %, EU-15)

A D DK L FIN I B EL F NL S EU-15 IRL E P UK

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork: October-November 1999. Average scores are based on a scale of 1-10

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9

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1

Graph 11: Levels of perceived knowledge about the EU

5.25

4.71 4.68 4.52 4.44 4.37 4.36 4.29 4.274.27 4.24 3.95 3.763.58 3.4

4.8

average

‘Knowa greatdeal'

‘Knownothingat all'

(1) The average scores, or means, show the central tendency of the responses and represent the sum of the responses for eachof the 10 points on the scale times the value of each point divided by the total number of responses.

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People are most likely to have heard of theEuropean Parliament (91 %), followed by theEuropean Commission (78 %) and theEuropean Central Bank (69 %). People areleast likely to have heard of the threeyoungest EU institutions — the Committee ofthe Regions (26 %) and the Social andEconomic Committee (34 %) — and theEuropean Ombudsman (31 %). The more

people feel they know about the EU, themore likely it is that they have heard of theEU institutions (Table 2).

% yes % no

The European Parliament

The European Commission

The European Central Bank

The Court of justice

The Council of Ministers

The European Court of Auditors

The Social and Economic Commitee

The European Ombudsman

The Commitee of the Regions

Graph 12: Have you ever heard of …? (EU-15)

91

78

69

62

60

46

34

31

26

8

18

27

33

34

49

58

62

66


European Parliament

Institution

European Commission

European Central Bank

Council of Ministers

Court of Justice

Court of Auditors

48 36 21European Ombudsman

Social and Economic Committee

Committee of the Regions

Highknowledge

level

Averageknowledge

level

Lowknowledge

level

Table 2: Awareness levels of the EU institutions by self-perceived knowledge about the European Union (in %)

97 96 83

93 87 64

91 79 53

86 71 41

84 72 45

76 55 28

67 42 19

56 32 14

19

Support for European Union membership

The Eurobarometer’s most popular indicatorof EU support was introduced in 1973. Itmeasures whether people think their coun-try’s membership to the European Union is agood thing, a bad thing or neither good norbad (Graph 13).

During the years that the Community con-sisted of nine countries, that is from 1973 to1980, support fluctuated between a high of63 %, measured in the autumn of 1975, anda low of 53 %, measured in the spring of1976, the spring of 1978 and the autumn of1980. Although support for EEC membershipwas obtained from more than half of thepublic during these early years, public opin-ion was still somewhat unstable as supportlevels jumped up and down from onemeasurement to the next without the occur-rence of any significant events.

The next decade, during which theCommunity expanded to include Greece,Spain and Portugal (1), is marked by a far lessvolatile public opinion, with support formembership increasing from 50 % in 1981 to65 % in 1987. In the spring of 1988, supportdropped significantly to 58 %. This drop —possibly representing public anxiety con-cerning the reform of both the Community’sfinancial system and the common agricul-tural policy, which was agreed in February1988 — turned out to be only temporary. Inthe autumn of 1988, support levels rose to66 % and until the end of the 1980s aroundtwo in three citizens supported their coun-try’s membership.

In the spring of 1991, support levels reachedan all-time high of 72 %. The economicwell-being of Europeans was high andunemployment levels were low during thisperiod. Furthermore, people were lookingforward to the advantages they would soonreceive from the forthcoming European‘single market’. In Germany, the significantsurge in support levels can in part beexplained by the euphoria that existed fol-lowing the country’s reunification. Supportwas particularly widespread among the citi-zens of the former Democratic Republic ofGermany who have been included in theEurobarometer sample from 1990 onwards.Unfortunately, the sense of optimism causedby the reunification was short-lived and thisaffected people’s perceptions of theEuropean Community. In East Germany, sup-port levels dropped from 87 % in the autumnof 1990 to 55 % in the autumn of 1992; inWest Germany, they fell from 69 % to 57 %during this period.

(1) Greece joined in 1981; Spain and Portugal joined in 1986.

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The 1990s clearly represent the period whenpublic support for the European Union wasat its weakest. The Gulf War, the economiccrisis and the high unemployment levels thatfollowed, the debate on the MaastrichtTreaty, the war in Yugoslavia, the inclusion ofthree relatively eurosceptic nations and theBSE crisis are but some of the reasons whichhelp explain why support dropped from72 % in 1991 to 46 % in the spring of 1997.The late 1990s have seen popularity levelsslowly but consistently increase. In thespring of 1998, support levels rose to above50 % for the first time since 1995 and thepositive trend that started in the autumn of1997 continued with 54 % of citizens sayingthat their country’s membership to theEuropean Union is a good thing. Following

the resignation of the European Commissionin March 1999, support for EU membershipfell to 49 % but this drop turned out to betemporary as support levels were back up to51 % by autumn 1999 (Graph 14).

Source: Eurobarometer — Trend. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

(1) EU average figure is for EU-15 from Spring 1995

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Graph 13: Support for European Union membership 1981—99 EU average

% %

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 M 46 48 50 51 52

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 96 97 98 99 99Year

13

27

51

Membership ‘good thing' (1)

Membership ‘bad thing' (1)

Membership ‘neither good nor bad' (1)

21

Another long-standing question measureswhether people feel their country has ben-efited from membership. Back in 1983,when the question was first asked, 52 % ofthe people living in the 10 Member Statesof the EEC believed their country had ben-efited, compared to 25 % who felt theircountry had not benefited. Nowadays, thepublic is more divided on this issue: onaverage, 46 % of the citizens from the 15

Member States feel their country has bene-fited while 31 % hold the view that theircountry has not benefited. At 23 %, theproportion of people who feel unable tomake a judgment is the same in 1999 as itwas in 1983 (Graph 15).

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net results

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29

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UK

Graph 14: Support for European Union membership

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork : October-November 1999. Percentage ‘don't know' and ‘neither good nor bad‘ not shown.

% Bad thing% Good thing

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People in Ireland are by far most likely to beof the opinion that their country has bene-fited (88 %), followed at a distance by peo-ple in Portugal (77 %) (Graph 16). At leasthalf of the people in Luxembourg, Greece,the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Italy andBelgium share this opinion. In Sweden and

the UK, less than 3 in 10 people feel thattheir country has benefited from EU mem-bership.

Source: Eurobarometer — Trend. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

(1) EU average figure is for EU-15 from Spring 1995

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Graph 15: Benefit for European Union membership 1983—99 EU average

% %

19 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 M 46 48

Year

46

31

‘Benefited' (1)

‘Not benefited' (1)

50 51 52

83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 96 97 98 98 99

23

The process and speed of European integration

The autumn 1998 Eurobarometer includedthe following question:

‘The process of European integration started50 years ago. During this time, would yousay that a great deal, a fair amount, verylittle or nothing at all has been achieved interms of integration?’

On average, 11 % of Europeans believe agreat deal has been achieved during the past50 years and a further 43 % feel a fairamount has been achieved. Around a thirdof the European public feels that very little(29 %) or nothing at all (5 %) has beenachieved.

At 75 %, people in Luxembourg and Denmarkare most likely to feel that a great deal or afair amount has been achieved in terms ofEuropean integration, followed by people inSpain (70 %), Ireland and Greece (both 66%).The only two countries where less than halfof the people hold the view that a great dealor a fair amount has been achieved are Italy(41 %) and the UK (42 %). It is rather sur-prising to find the generally pro-EuropeanItalians at the bottom of the list, somethingwhich can probably be interpreted as theirway of saying that not enough has beenachieved during these past 50 years (Graph17).

85

72

55

60

45

43

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24

22

15

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13

-1

-2

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net results

88

77

72

70

65

64

61

50

50

46

46

45

40

37

29

29

3

9

12

15

20

21

16

26

28

31

31

32

41

39

42

49

IRL

P

L

EL

NL

DK

E

I

B

EU-15

F

A

FIN

D

UK

S

Graph 16: Benefit from European Union membership


% Not benefited% Benefited


24


There is clear disagreement between sup-porters and opponents of the EuropeanUnion on this issue (Table 3).

L DK E IRL EL P NL F FIN D EU-15 S B A UK I

Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 — Fieldwork: October-November 1998. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

100

80

60

40

20

0

Graph 17: European integration: how much has been achieved during the past 50 years?

%

% a great deal and a fair amount % very little and nothing at all

75

11

70

17 17

66

29

66 64

22

31

63

33

60

33

5955

57

3432 31

53

39

52

32

51

42 43

48

41

75

18

Great deal/fair amount

Very little/nothing at all

Total

Don't know

Achievement during the past 50 yearsneither good or bad

%

Membership to the European Union is:

a good thing

%

a bad thing

%

Table 3: Relationship between support for the European Union and attitudes to how much has been achieved during the past 50 years

68 44 34

25 43 56

7 12 10

100 99 100

25

Since 1986, the Eurobarometer has mea-sured public opinion with regard to thespeed of European integration.

As Graph 18 shows, the speed at whichEurope is perceived to be built has increasedsince 1996 from an average score of 3.4 (ona scale of 1 to 7) to an average score of 4.0(Graph 18). The desired speed, on the otherhand, has remained more or less unchangedduring the last few years. The gap betweenthe perceived and desired speed has becomeconsiderably smaller since the question wasfirst asked in 1986 (the latest measurementshows a net score difference of 0.8 comparedto a difference of 2.1 in 1986).

The gap between the speed at which Europeis perceived to be progressing and the speedat which people desire it to progress variessignificantly from country to country. Inmost countries people would like to seeEurope built at a faster speed than what theyperceive it to be with the largest positive netscore found in Italy, Greece, Portugal andBelgium. In Denmark and Finland, there is asmall negative net score between the per-ceived and desired speed (Graph 19).

Source: Eurobarometer — Trend. (1) Scale-value difference:‘desired' minus ‘current'.

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Graph 18: The ‘Euro-dynamometer' (EU-12/EU-15 average on seven point scale — trend)

3.4

5.5 5.45.0 5.05.14.9 4.94.8

4.4

3.9 3.8 4,0 4,03.83.5 3.6

3.4 3.4 3.43.6 3.5

4.8 4.8 4.84.7 4.7 4.74.6

3.5 3.53.4

current1 = Stand still7 = As fast as possible

desired

'86 '87 '90 '92 '93 '93 '94 '94 '95 '95 '95 '96 '96 '97 '98 '99

2.1(1) 2.0 1.1 1.1 1.6 0.8 1.6 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.7 0.8

Oct. Oct. Oct. Mar. May Oct. Apr. Dec. May May Dec. Feb. Dec. Oct. Oct. Oct.

EU-12 EU-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Europe's progress Perceived current speed, desired speed (EU-15)

26


In the spring 1999 survey, respondents wereshown a list of 11 things which people saythey are afraid of and were asked for each

one to say if they, personally, were afraid ofit or not (Graph 20).

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork: October-November 1999. (1) Scale-value difference:‘desired' minus ‘current'.

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Graph 19: The ‘Euro-dynamometer'Europe's progress Perceived current speed, desired speed

4.75.1

5.4

4.04.3

5.9

4.0

4.84.94.7

4.4 4.3

3.7 3.63.74.2 4.2 4.2 4.0 3.94.0 4.0

4.84.6

5.1

5.7 5.6

4.34.14.0 3.9

4.6

Average current speed Average desired speed

IRL E DK FIN P A D L F EU-15 NL EL UK I S B

0.4 (1) 0.8 -0.4 -0.3 1.7 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.6 1.8 0.2 1.9 0.6 1.5 ‘Runsas fast aspossible'

‘Standstill'

27

The idea of jobs transferring to countrieswhich have lower production costs is mostlikely to scare people in the context of clos-er unification (61 %), followed by an increasein drug trafficking and international organ-ised crime (57 %). More than half of thepublic is also afraid that the farmers in theircountry will have more difficulties (56 %),that they will lose social benefits (53 %) andthat they will lose their national currency(51 %).

Trust in the European Union and itsinstitutions

On average, 39 % of Europeans say they tendto trust the European Union, 40 % say theytend not to trust it and 21 % lack an opin-ion (1). However, there are large variationsbetween the Member States (Graph 21).More than half of the public in Portugal(57 %), Spain (55 %), Italy (53 %) andLuxembourg (52 %) trusts the EuropeanUnion compared to less than a third of thepublic in the UK (20 %), Sweden (21 %),Germany (31 %), Denmark and Austria (both32 %) (2).

(1) Eurobarometer 51.0 — Fieldwork: March–April 1999.(2) The proportion of people who tend not to trust the European Union is highest in Sweden (61 %) and Denmark (58 %). The

proportion of don’t know responses is highest in the UK and Ireland (both 32 %).

The transfer of jobs to countries whichhave lower production costs

An increase in drug trafficking andinternational organised crime

More difficulties for one's country's farmer

The loss of social benefits

The end of one's country's national currency

Other countries joining the EU will cost

member countries too much money

Less subsidies from the EU for their country

The loss of one's country's national identity and culture

Richer countries paying more for the others

One's language being used less and less

A loss of power for smaller Member States

61

57

56

53

51

49

49

46

43

39

36

Graph 20: Fears among European Union citizens (EU-15)

%

Source: Eurobarometer 51.0 — Fieldwork : March-April 1999.

28


Whether people trust the European Union ornot also depends on how they generally feelabout their country’s membership of the EU.Those who regard their country’s member-ship as a good thing are significantly more

likely to say they tend to trust the EuropeanUnion than those who regard their country’smembership as a bad thing (Table 4).

Graph 21: Trust in the European Union

100

80

60

40

20

0

P E I L EL NL IRL B EU-15 F FIN A DK D S UK

Source: Eurobarometer 51.0 — Fieldwork: March-April 1999. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown.

% tend to trust % tend not to trust

57

21

53

23

33

5247

4543

40

25

4246

41 403936

39

454448

32

58

32

46

31

21

61

48

20

55

29

%

Tend to trust

Tend not to trust

Don't know

Total

EU membershipis a good

thing

EU membershipis neither

good nor bad

EU membershipis a badthing

Table 4: Trust in the European Union by support levels (in %)

57 26 11

27 50 74

16 24 15

100 100 100

29

Graph 22 shows the extent to whichEuropeans tend to trust and tend not to trustnine of the Union’s institutions.

At 53 %, the European Parliament receivesthe most widespread trust, with the Court ofJustice and the European Commission in sec-ond and third place, respectively (both45 %). However, the Commission alsoreceives the highest proportion of peoplewho say they tend not to trust it (30 %)although this figure is lower than it was inthe spring of 1999 (33 %).

Related to trust is the issue as to whetherpeople support EU decision-making. Thesurvey regularly includes a question that askswhether decisions should be taken at thenational or EU level. It lists 25 policy areasover which the Union has, to varyingdegrees, decision-making competencies. Inautumn 1999, on average, 53 % of peoplesupport joint EU decision-making in theseareas and EU decision-making is favouredover national decision-making in 17 of the25 areas.

% tend to trust % tend not to trust

The European Parliament

The Court of Justice

The European Commission

The European Central Bank

The Council of Ministers

The European Court of Auditors

The Social and Economic Commitee

The European Ombudsman

The Commitee of the Regions

Graph 22: Trust in EU institutions (EU-15)

53

45

45

44

38

35

29

28

25

27

24

30

25

29

24

24

23

25


30


Graph 23 shows people’s support for EUdecision-making with respect to theMaastricht Treaty policy areas.

As can be seen, people are most likely to beof the opinion that decisions concerninginformation about the EU, its policies andinstitutions should be taken jointly by theEuropean Union. The next four areas wheresupport for joint EU decision-making is mostwidespread are foreign policy, humanitarianaid, science and technological research andthe fight against poverty and social exclu-sion. People are least likely to want EU deci-sion-making for education, health and socialpolicy and broadcasting rules for the media.

When it comes to the Amsterdam Treaty pol-icy areas, we find that support for EU jointdecision-making is most widespread for thefight against human trade and exploitationwhile people are most likely to supportnational decision-making in the areas ofpolicing and justice (Graph 24).

% National% European Union

Information about EU

Foreign policy

Humanitarian aid

Scientific and technological research

Fight against poverty/social exclusion

Currency

Support for regions in economic difficulty

Protection of the environment

Fight against unemployment

Defence

Agriculture and fishing policy

Cultural policy

Education

Health and social welfare

Basic rules for broadcasting and the press

70

69

67

66

62

60

60

59

52

48

48

39

34

34

34

23

22

28

29

34

35

33

37

44

46

44

53

62

62

58

Graph 23: National or joint EU decision-making (EU-15)


31

From these figures one can see that peoplefollow the Union’s subsidiarity principle.They support joint EU decision-making inareas that either transcend national bordersor have a limited impact on their day-to-day

life but want the national governments todecide in areas that concern them, theirfamilies or their country more directly.


% National% European Union

The fight against the trade in, andexploitation of, human rights

The fight against organised crime

The fight against drugs

Accepting refugees

Rules for political asylum

Immigration policy

Juvenile crime prevention

Urban crime prevention

Justice

Police

74

67

67

53

51

49

44

39

38

33

21

29

29

42

43

46

51

57

58

63

Graph 24: National or joint decision-making after the Amsterdam Treaty (EU-15)


32


Support for the work of the EU

Does the public regard the current actions ofthe European Union as priorities? Nearly allEU citizens believe the fight against unem-ployment should be a priority for theEuropean Union (Graph 25). The largemajority of Europeans also believes thatmaintaining peace and security in Europe,fighting organised crime and drug traffick-ing and fighting poverty and social exclusionshould be priority actions for the EuropeanUnion. Graph 25 shows that EU citizens wantthe EU to improve or safeguard current

standards but that they are less likely towant any immediate changes to the statusquo. Hence we find that the public is leastlikely to view enlargement as a priority.

Policies of the EU at the end of the 20th century

33

Support for the single currency

The Eurobarometer has measured public sup-port for the single currency since 1993,when the Maastricht Treaty established thatthe euro would be introduced by 1 January1999. While only around half of EU citizenswere in favour of the single currency until1997, support levels increased significantlyin 1998. The 1999 results show a slightdecrease in support which is to be expectednow that pre-introduction enthusiasm hasbeen replaced by the reality (Graph 26).

Nonetheless, people are still much more like-ly to be in favour of the euro than they werea few years ago (1).

(1) More information about the euro can be found at http://europa.eu.int/euro/html/entry.html

% not a priority% priority

90

89

88

87

83

80

80

70

60

51

50

28

6

6

8

8

12

12

14

20

31

33

37

59

Fighting unemployment

Maintaining peace and security in Europe

Fighting organised crime and drug trafficking

Fighting poverty and social exclusion

Protecting the environment

Guaranteeing the rights of the individual andrespect for the principles of democracy in Europe

Protecting consumers andguaranteeing the quality of products

Getting closer to European citizens, for exampleby giving them more information about the EU

Successfully implementing the singleEuropean currency, the euro

Reforming the institutions of the EUand the way they work

Asserting the political and diplomaticimportance of the EU around the world

Welcoming new member countries

Graph 25: EU actions: priority or not? (EU-15)


34


In 1999, the euro was being introduced in 11countries, the ‘EUR-11’, namely Austria,Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland,Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugaland Spain. At that moment, the four coun-tries outside the euro zone, known as the‘pre-in’ countries were Denmark, Greece,Sweden and the United Kingdom. People in

the first group of countries tend to be moresupportive of the single currency (68 %)than are people in the ‘pre-in’ countries(34 %) (Graph 27).

Source: Eurobarometer — Trend. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown

80

60

40

20

0

Graph 26: Support for the single currency 1993—99

% %

39 40 41 42 43 44.1 44.2 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 93 93 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 97 98 98 99 99Year

32

60

68

% For — euro zone average (1)

% Against EU average (2)

% For — EU average (2)

(1) EU-9 until 1994; EU-11 since 1995

(2) EU-12 until 1994; EU-15 since 1995

35

Among the ‘pre-in’ countries, people inGreece (70 %) continue to be more likely tosupport the euro than are people in the UK,Denmark and Sweden. In Sweden andDenmark, around 4 in 10 people support theeuro and 5 in 10 people are against it. In theUK supporters of the euro (25 %) are greatlyoutnumbered by opponents (59 %).

Support for the single currency varies great-ly depending on how interested and on howwell informed people feel about the euro(Table 5).

85

79

78

77

75

72

70

68

65

64

60

58

55

47

43

42

34

25

11

15

13

18

22

18

20

26

22

32

32

30

36

49

48

50

53

59

74

64

65

59

53

54

50

42

43

32

28

28

19

—2

—5

—8

—19

—34

I

L

IRL

B

NL

E

EL

EU-11

P

F

EU-15

A

D

FIN

S

DK

PRE-INS

UK

Graph 27: The euro: for or against?

net results


% against% for

Percentage ‘don't know' not shown

36


Support for the common foreignand security policy

The common foreign and security policy(CFSP) was established by the MaastrichtTreaty and came into force on 1 November1993. Following the Amsterdam Treaty,which came into force on 1 May 1999, aHigh Representative for the CFSP wasappointed at the Cologne European Councilin June 1999.

The Maastricht Treaty enables the EuropeanUnion to make its voice heard on the inter-national stage and express its position onarmed conflicts, human rights and any othersubject.

The Treaty also provides the Union with acommon security policy that covers all mat-ters relating to its security, including thegradual formulation of a common defencepolicy. This common defence policy couldlead to a common defence.

People who feel very or fairlyinterested in the euro

People who feel very well/wellinformed about the euro

People who feel not very/not at all well informed about the euro

People who feel not very or not at all interested about the euro

EU-15 average

% in favourof the euro

% againstthe euro

% don'tknow

Table 5: Support for the single currency

75 20 5

73 23 5

60 32 8

51 38 11

41 47 12

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork : Oct. - Nov. 1999.

37

As Graph 28 shows, public support for acommon foreign policy has been obtainedfrom over 6 in 10 EU citizens while around 7in 10 people have supported a commondefence policy.

Support for enlargement

In December 1997, the process of enlargingthe European Union to the south and theeast was launched. Some 13 new countrieshave applied to join the EU (1). They shouldbe in a position to join the Union as soon asthey have demonstrated their ability toassume the obligations of membership.

As we have seen earlier, many EU citizens donot believe that enlargement should be animmediate priority for the European Union.Furthermore, public opinion on enlargementhas not yet crystallised with many peoplestill opting for the ‘don’t know’ responsewhen asked about their support for coun-tries to become part of the European Union(Graph 29). Nonetheless, EU citizens feelmore favourable about some of the 13 appli-cant countries joining the EU than they feelabout some of the others.

(1) The 13 applicant countries are Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey. More information about enlargement can be found at:http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index.htm

Source: Eurobarometer — Trend.

80

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

Graph 28: Support for a common forein and defence policy % in favour

Spring 95 Autumn 95 Spring 96 Autumn 96 Spring 97 Autumn 97 Spring 98 Autumn 98 Spring 99 Autumn 99

75

67

73

69

60

6668

64

68

63

69

63

73

63

75

66

71

63

73

64

Foreign policy Defence policy

38


Although these results indicate that thepublic appears to be quite hesitant aboutnew countries joining the EU, general atti-tudes about enlargement are in fact quitepositive (Graph 30). Seventy-two per cent ofEU citizens believe that an increase in thenumber of Member States will make theEuropean Union a more important player onthe world stage. Furthermore, 64 % believethat enlargement will increase the cultural

richness of the European Union and thatmore peace and security will be guaranteedin a larger European Union. (Only 36 % ofpeople are of the opinion that their countrywill become less important as a result ofenlargement.)

49

47

44

43

42

37

37

37

36

36

34

34

30

27

31

34

33

35

38

38

38

39

39

42

41

47

Malta

Hungary

Poland

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Romania

Slovenia

Turkey

Graph 29: Support for enlargement (EU-15)


% against% in favour


39

However, people are less optimistic when itcomes to the economic aspects of enlarge-ment. Forty-seven per cent of EU citizensbelieve that their country will receive lessfinancial aid from the European Union oncenew countries have joined. An equal propor-tion disagrees with the statement that‘enlargement will not cost more to existingmember countries’. Nonetheless, quite a fewcitizens (36 %) show an altruistic side inagreeing that future member countriesshould start to receive financial aid from theEU to help them prepare to join. Anotherless optimistic finding is that a substantialminority of EU citizens (35 %) agree that ‘the

more countries there are, the more unem-ployment there will be’ in their country.

When it comes to preparing the EuropeanUnion for enlargement, the majority of thepublic shares the view of the policy-makers.Fifty-four per cent and fifty-two per cent,respectively, agree that the EU must reformthe way its institutions work and that theeuro has to be in place before new memberscan join (1).

(1) Earlier, we already noted that reforming the European Union is seen as a priority by 51 % of Europeans and that succesfully implementing the euro is seen as a priority by 60 % of Europeans.


% tend to disagree% tend to agree

Graph 30: Attitudes towards enlargement of the EU (EU-15)

The more countries within the EU, the more important it will be in the world

With more member countries, Europe will beculturally richer

The more countries there are in the EU, the morepeace and security will be guaranteed in Europe

The EU must reform the way its institutions workbefore welcoming new members

The single European currency, the euro, has to bein place before countries join the EU

Once new countries have joined the EU, ourcountry will receive less financial aid from it

From now on, future member countries should start to receive financial aid from the EU to help them

prepare to join

After the enlargement to new countries, ourcountry will become less important in Europe

The more countries there are, the moreunemployment there will be in our country

The enlargement will not cost more to existingmember countries

72

14

64

64

19

22

54

16

5225

47

28

36

44

3648

3541

3047

40


The worries of Europeans

In the spring of 1997, respondents were pre-sented with a list of some of the big politicaland social issues of our time and asked themto indicate which ones they were most wor-ried about (Graph 31).

Environment and unemployment are themost widespread concerns and hence it isnot surprising that the public wants the EUto make the fight against both issues a pri-ority, as we have shown in the previouschapter. Crime is the third most widespreadconcern with nearly half of all EU citizens

listing this as one of their main worries. At44 %, poverty comes in fourth place. As wesaw in the previous chapter, there is wide-spread support among EU citizens for priori-tising EU actions both in fighting crime andfighting poverty. Around a quarter ofEuropeans say they are worried about drugabuse and more than 2 in 10 are worriedabout racism. The other issues shown in thegraph worry less than 20 % of the EU popu-lation.

European issues and priorities at the end of the 20th century

At the end of the 20th century what issues are most on people’s minds, that is to say,what issues are people most likely to worry about?

41

Results to a question asking people which ofthese issues they were least worried showsthat the ageing population comes in firstplace (39 %), European integration and glob-alisation come in shared second and thirdplace (both 31 %) and the loss of traditionalvalues comes in fourth place (29 %).

The environment

Since the environment is the issue thatreceives most widespread public concern, webegin by looking in more detail at the resultsof a spring 1999 Eurobarometer questionabout the environment. Respondents wereasked the following question:

‘Some people are concerned about environ-mental protection and the fight against pol-lution. In your opinion, is it an immediateand urgent problem, more of a problem forthe future or not really a problem?’

According to 69 % of EU citizens, environ-mental protection and the fight against pol-lution is an immediate and urgent problemcompared to only 4 % who think it is notreally a problem. 23 % see it as more of a

problem for the future and 3 % lack an opin-ion (Graph 32).

In all Member States more than half of thepeople regard environmental protection andthe fight against pollution as an immediateand urgent problem. Nonetheless, publicconcern is clearly more widespread in somecountries than it is in others. People inGreece (91 %) are most likely to voice strongconcern, followed by people in Sweden(87 %) and Portugal (82 %). At 52 %, peo-ple in France are least likely to consider envi-ronmental protection and the fight againstpollution an immediate and urgent problem.Belgium (55 %) and Ireland (56 %) are theonly two other countries where less than 6 in10 people voice strong concern.

63

56

49

44

26

22

16

14

13

10

8

4

Environment

Unemployment

Crime

Poverty

Drug abuse

Racism

Aids

Immigration

Loss of traditional values

Globalisation

Ageing population

European integration

Graph 31: The worries of Europeans (in % for EU-15)

Source: Young Europeans-Continuous tracking survey 47.1. — Fieldwork : March-April 1997.

42


The causes of unemployment andways to fight it

As part of a special Flash Eurobarometer sur-vey on the November 1997 LuxembourgEmployment Summit, 16 113 randomlyselected European Union citizens were sur-veyed about what they regard as the causesand solutions to unemployment in theircountry.

Graph 33 shows that the public is most like-ly to regard the behaviour of companies, i.e.downsizing and restructuring, as a cause ofunemployment. Furthermore, nearly two inthree EU citizens are of the view that unem-ployment is caused because people lack thetraining and qualifications that are requiredin today’s labour market. As can be seen, thepublic voices dissatisfaction with the

employment policies of their respectivecountry but is less likely to blame EU policiesas a cause of unemployment. Globalisationis another widely regarded cause of unem-ployment.

91

87

82

80

74

73

70

70

70

69

68

67

66

56

55

52

EL

S

P

I

FIN

E

DK

D

NL

EU-15

L

A

UK

IRL

B

F

Graph 32: Environmental protection and the fight against pollution % saying it is an immediate and urgent problem

Source: Eurobarometer 51.1 — Fieldwork : April-May 1999.

43

People are most likely to regard stimulatingthe growth of small and medium-sizedenterprises as a solution to unemployment(Graph 34). There is also widespread supportfor a number of other measures such asimproving the chances for unemployed peo-

ple to find work, easing young people’s tran-sition from school to work and improvingeducational and vocational training.

78

64

56

53

39

33

28

17

Downsizing, restructuring of companies

Lack of right training/qualifications

Governments' employment policies

Globalisation

Excessively high salaries

EU policy in general

The single market

The single currency, the euro

Graph 33: The causes of unemployment (in % for EU-15)

Source: Flash Eurobarometer 60 — Fieldwork : 24-26 November 1997.

Source: Flash Eurobarometer 60 — Fieldwork : 24-26 November 1997.

% No, not a priority% Yes, a priority

Stimulating the growth of SMEs

Improving the chances forunemployed people to find workEasing young people's transition

from school to workImproving educational

and vocational training

Making it easier to start up businesses

Improving equal opportunities

Increasing the cooperation in the field of employmentpolicy between the Member States of the EU

Reducing employers'social security contributions

Reducing weekly working hours

Reducing unemployment benefits

92

89

88

87

85

83

70

54

39

35

5

9

9

11

12

13

20

38

55

58

Graph 34: Priorities for combating unemployment (EU-15)

Percentage ‘don't know' not shown

The public is least likely to consider reducingunemployment benefits and reducing week-

ly working hours as solutions to unemploy-ment.

44


Racism and xenophobia

In spring 1997 nearly 8 in 10 EU citizens heldthe view that it is a good thing for any soci-ety to be made up of people from differentraces, religions and cultures (1).

Despite this positive finding, at the close ofthe 20th century, racism remains a seriousproblem in our society. The survey foundthat when respondents were asked to placethemselves on a scale of 1 to 10, rangingfrom ‘not at all racist’ to ‘very racist’, 9 %classified themselves as ‘very racist’ (scores7–10). A further 24 % fell in the ‘quiteracist’ category (scores 4–6). This self-assessment is supported by people’s attitudestowards foreigners or other minority groups.For instance, 41 % of respondents are of the

opinion that there are too many people fromminority groups in terms of race, religionand culture living in their country.

The good news is that the public wants theEuropean institutions to take a stronger rolein the fight against racism (Graph 35). Themajority of Europeans across the 15 MemberStates shares this view.

(1) The report ‘Racism and xenophobia in Europe’ can be obtained from the European Commission and is available on the Internet at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/epo/eb/racism/racism_en.pdf

Source: Eurobarometer 47.1 — Fieldwork March-April 1997.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Graph 35: The European institutions should take a stronger role in the fight against racism

(% tend to agree, by country)

9592 91 91 90 88 87

84 8380 79 77 76

7165

95%

P E S EL I NL IRL L EU-15 UK D FIN F DK A B

45

Domestic violence against women

In 1999, the European Union conducted aEuropean campaign to raise awareness onviolence against women. The campaignaimed to promote increased awareness ofviolence against women among Europeancitizens, with a particular emphasis ondomestic violence. A survey made in spring1999 to serve as the vehicle to gauge publicopinion in preparation of the campaign,found that three in four EU citizens believethat violence against women is very or fairlycommon in their country.

According to 96 % of people, alcoholism is acause of domestic violence against womenand 94 % regard drug addiction as a cause.Unemployment was listed by 79 % ofrespondents while poverty and social exclu-sion was listed by 75 %.

When asked to say whether domestic vio-lence against women is acceptable or unac-ceptable, nearly two in three people felt thatit is unacceptable under all circumstancesand always punishable by law.

Nearly all people interviewed believed thatpunishing perpetrators is a useful way offighting domestic violence. Around 9 in 10people said that teaching young peopleabout mutual respect and tougher enforce-ment of existing laws are good ways offighting the problems. Graph 36 depicts theextent to which the public supports othersuggested methods.

There are, of course, many other issues occu-pying the minds of Europeans at the end ofthe 20th century and numerous Europeansurveys have been carried out to obtain a

better understanding of how the public feelsabout these issues.

95

91

91

89

86

86

85

84

81

78

65

Punishing perpetrators

Teaching young people about mutual respect

Tougher enforcement of laws

A freephone number

Tougher laws

Information leaflets

Laws to prevent sexual discrimination

Campaigns to raise public awareness

Small card with emergency contact numbers

Teaching women's rights to police officers

Rehabilitation of perpetrators

Graph 36: Ways of fighting domestic violence (% saying method is useful, for EU-15)

Source: Eurobarometer 51.0. — Fieldwork : March-May 1999.

46


Shared opinions? Women, the younger generation, and leading professionals

ost of our analyses in this report have focused on the total population of EU citizensaged 15 and over. We have done so because the purpose of this brochure is to present anoverview of public opinion on a wide range of issues and not to provide in-depth analyses onone specific topic which would have included looking at differences between various groupsin the population. Nonetheless, it is also interesting to make a brief overview of the opinionstowards the European Union of groups, such as women, the young and top decision-makers.

M

47

Women and the European Union

As one would expect, Europe’s women do notall think alike when it comes to the EuropeanUnion. In fact, in-depth analyses have shownthat there are five groups within the femalepopulation, each group having a distinct setof views on the European Union (Graph 37).

• Sympathisers are women who want astrong and large European Union thatdecides policy issues. This group represents25 % of the female population.

• Pragmatics have rationally decided thatthe European Union represents a positivedevelopment. However, as a result of herrationality, the pragmatic woman is lessinclined than the sympathiser woman is togive the EU the same amount of decision-making power. This group represents 20 %of the female population.

• ‘Middle-of-the-roaders’ are ambivalentabout the Union, supporting some issues andopposing others. They represent 14 % of thefemale population.

• The undecisives are fairly uninterested inthe European Union and often lack an opin-ion on issues related to the Union. When

they do have an opinion, it tends to be fair-ly negative. This group represents 22 % ofthe female population.

• Sceptics regard the European Union as lesspositive than what they have known so far —the concept of independent nation States.The 19 % of women that belong to thisgroup are the strongest opponents of theUnion.

Graph 37 shows the extent to which womenbelonging to each of the five groups supporttheir country’s membership to the EuropeanUnion. As can be seen, more than 6 in 10women who are pragmatics or sympathisersbelieve their country’s membership is a goodthing, compared to less than 2 in 10 womenwho belong to the ‘undecisives’ or ‘sceptics’group (1).

(1) More information about the in-depth analyses of women’s views towards the European Union can be found in the following report: ‘Women’s attitudes to the European Union — A typology of public opinion among Europe’s women’. The report can be found on the European Commission’s web site at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/epo/eb/eb47/typology.html

67

63

36

19

16

Pragmatics

Sympathisers

‘Middle-of-the-roaders'

Indecisives

Sceptics

Graph 37: Women and support for the European Union% of each group that regards her country's membership as a good thing

Source: Eurobarometer 47.1. — Fieldwork : March-April 1997.

48


Young people and the EuropeanUnion

Like women, Europe’s young people alsodon’t all think alike when it comes to theEuropean Union. In-depth analyses showthat EU citizens aged 15 to 29 can be placedinto three distinct attitudinal groupsdepending on how they feel about theEuropean Union (Graph 38).

• Sympathisers are young Europeans whowant a powerful European Union that takespolicy decisions. As dedicated supporters,they also know the most about the EU andare most interested in learning more. Thisgroup represents 38 % of EU citizens aged 15to 29.

• Positive pragmatics are young Europeanswho have rationally decided that theEuropean Union represents a positive devel-opment. However, their rationality makesthem less inclined than sympathisers to givethe EU the same amount of decision-makingpower. This group represents 33 % of theyoung population.

• Sceptics are young Europeans who holdlargely negative feelings about the EuropeanUnion. Of the three groups, they are alsoleast interested in the EU. Their scepticismisn’t limited to the European Union; they arealso most pessimistic when it comes to theirown country and their own personal life.Twenty-eight per cent of young Europeansbelong to this group.

Not classified 1.0%

Sympathisers 38.0%

Sceptics 28.0%

Positive pragmatics 33.0%

Graph 38: Young people and the European Union Three distinct sets of attitudes

Source: Eurobarometer 47.1 — Fieldwork: March-April 1997.

49

Graph 39 shows the extent to which youngpeople belonging to each of the three groupssupport their country’s membership to theEuropean Union. As can be seen, more than6 in 10 young people who are sympathisersand more than half of the positive pragmat-ics believe their country’s membership is a

good thing, compared to only 2 in 10 youngEuropeans who belong to the ‘sceptics’group (1).

(1) More information about the in-depth analyses of young Europeans’ views towards the European Union can be found inthe following report: ‘Young people’s attitudes to the European Union — A typology of public opinion among youngEuropeans’. The report can be found on the European Commission’s web site at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/epo/eb.html

63

56

20

Sympathisers

Positive pragmatics

Sceptics

Graph 39: Young Europeans and support for the European Union% of each group that regards their country's membership as a good thing

Source: Eurobarometer 47.1. — Fieldwork : March-April 1997.

50


The sample consisted of the following fivecategories of TDM’s: civil servants, electedpoliticians, business and labour leaders,media leaders, academic, cultural and reli-gious leaders. The survey found very littlevariation in support levels for the EuropeanUnion among these groups.

In comparison to the general public, topdecision-makers are also considerably morelikely to believe that their country has bene-fited from EU membership. As many as 9 in

10 top decision-makers hold this view, com-pared to only 4 in 10 members of the gener-al public (Graph 41).

Top decision-makers and theEuropean Union

In May 1996, a special survey was carried outamong a sample of Europe’s top decision-makers (TDM’s). As Graph 40 shows, topdecision-makers are considerably more likelythan the general public is to support theEuropean Union. They are also much moredecisive, with only 4 % considering their

country’s membership as neither good norbad, compared to 28 % among the generalpublic.

Good 92.2%

Don't know 2.0%

Neither 3.9%

Bad 2.0%

Good 48.0%

Don't know 9.0%Neither 28.0%

Bad 15.0%

Graph 40: Support for the European Union Membership to the European Union is …

Top decision-makers General public

Source: Top decision-makers survey — Fieldwork: May 1996.

51

Looking again at the five categories of topdecision-makers shows that civil servants aremost likely to feel that their country hasbenefited from EU membership while medialeaders are least likely to share this view.

However, all groups of top decision-makersare at least twice as likely as members of thegeneral public to hold the view that EUmembership is beneficial to their country (1).

(1) The report ‘A view from the top’ can be found at http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/epo/polls.html

Source: Top decision-makers survey — Fieldwork: May 1996.

Benefited 90.0%

Don't know 2.0%

Not benefited 8.0%

Graph 41: Perceived benefit of EU membership % holding the view that their country has …

Don't know 21.0%

Not benefited 36.0%

Benefited 43.0%

Top decision-makers General public

52


Europeans and the future

Expectations for the 21st century

The autumn 1997 Eurobarometer survey pre-sented its respondents with a list of 11

statements about the 21st century (Graphs42 and 43).

53

All in all, the future holds more good thanbad for the majority of Europeans. Nearlyhalf of EU citizens believe that their childrenand grandchildren will have a better lifethan they have had. Equally, half of thepopulation disagrees that the next centurywill be worse and 4 in 10 people disagreethat their country’s society will get worseand worse.

In many respects, life will change a lot (56 %of respondents hold this view). Nearly 8 in10 people believe the 21st century will bemarked by significant technological changeand nearly 7 in 10 believe that it will be pos-

sible to eliminate or cure serious diseases likeAIDS or cancer.

When it comes to economic and politicalprogress, Europeans are less optimistic aboutthe future. Nearly 7 in 10 EU citizens believethat unemployment will be at least as impor-tant as it is today and 61 % feel that therewill be even more poor and socially excludedpeople. Less than 4 in 10 people are of theview that the overall economic situation intheir country will improve and only 3 in 10people agree that there will be fewer warsand less violence in the world.

% tend to agree % tend to disagree

Technological progress will be significant

It will be possible to eliminate or cure serious diseases like AIDS or cancer

Our way of life will change a lot

Our children and grandchildren will have a better lifethan our parents and grandparents had

The overall economic situation in our countrywill improve

There will be fewer wars and less violence inthe world

I can't wait for the 21st century

Graph 42: Feelings about the 21st century positively worded statements (EU-15)

78

68

56

46

39

31

21

11

15

31

33

37

47

67

Source: Eurobarometer 48 — Fieldwork : October-November 1997. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown

% tend to agree% tend to disagree

The 21st century will be worse than this century

(Nationality) society will get worse and worse

There will be even more people who are poorand socially excluded

Unemployment will be at least as important as today

Graph 43: Feelings about the 21st century negatively worded statements (EU-15)

34

34

61

68

47

43

22

18

Source: Eurobarometer 48 — Fieldwork : October-November 1997. Percentage ‘don't know' not shown

54


The European Union in the 21st century

As the left-hand pie in Graph 44 shows, 51 %of Europeans believe that in five years’ timethe European Union will play a more impor-tant role in their daily life, 30 % believe itwill play the same role and only 7 % believeit will play a less important role.

Looking at the role people would like theEuropean Union to play in their daily life infive years’ time (the right-hand pie in thegraph) shows that 45 % of Europeans desirea more important role, 27 % desire the samerole, while only 14 % desire a less importantrole.

As one would expect people who supporttheir country’s EU membership (65 %) aresignificantly more likely to desire a moreimportant role for the EU at the beginning ofthe next century than people who regard itas a bad thing (17 %). Of the latter group,46 % would like the EU to play a less impor-tant role in five years’ time.

More important 51.0 %

Don't know 12.0 %

Don't know 14.0 %Less important 7.0 % Less important 14.0 %Same 30.0 %

Same 27.0 %

Graph 44: The role of the European Union in the 21st century

More important 45.0 %

Source: Eurobarometer 52.0 — Fieldwork: October-November 1999.

Perceived Desired

55

The future leaders —young Europeans

Earlier we reported that the large majority ofyoung Europeans are in favour of the EuropeanUnion. In the final section of this brochure welook at some concerns, priorities and views ofyoung people. This information was collectedfrom a spring 1997 Eurobarometer study whichoversampled young people (1).

The survey measured young people’s attitudestowards a range of social and moral issueswhich shows that young people are more tol-erant and open-minded than older generationstend to be although they are by no means ‘soft’under all circumstances (Graph 45).

87

69

55

52

49

45

36

28

18

In favour of premarital sex

Against compulsory military service

Against the death penalty

In favour of homosexual marriages

In favour of euthanasia

Against controlling poor peoples number of children

In favour of homosexuals adopting children

Against compulsory AIDS test

Against physically/chemically punishing child molester

Graph 45: Young people and their attitudes (In % from most tolerant to least tolerant)

Source: Young Europeans — Eurobarometer 47.2. — Fieldwork : April-June 1997.

35

34

34

29

26

14

13

12

8

5

1

Being able to go where I want

A better future

A better economic situation

More jobs

European government

A lot of bureaucracy

Citizens' rights

Loss of cultural diversity

A dream, Utopian idea

Don't know

Something else

Graph 46: The meaning of the European Union % of young Europeans saying it

Source: Young Europeans — Eurobarometer 47.2. — Fieldwork : April-June 1997.

(1) In total, 9 400 young people aged 15 to 24 were interviewed.

56


The large majority of young people approveof premarital sex and more than half areagainst the death penalty. However, as canbe seen, young people do believe in quiteharsh forms of punishment for certaincrimes.

The survey also found that around a third ofthe young population feels that their gener-ation has a responsibility towards the elder-ly (34 %) and that 25 % feel that the pres-ence of foreigners adds to their country’sstrength.

Employment is the issue that young peoplewere most likely to choose when askedwhich areas the European Union should pri-oritise in the next five years (76 %). Theenvironment (60 %) and research and devel-opment in new technologies (54 %) areother areas which the majority of youngEuropeans would like to see as EU priorities.

As regard to what the European Unionmeans to young people, the results indicatethat it represents the freedom to move with-in the 15 Member States, a better future anda better economic situation, as these werethe most popular responses (Graph 46). Veryfew young people felt that the EuropeanUnion represented negative elements liketoo much bureaucracy, loss of Europe’s cul-tural diversity or the EU being unrealistic.

Since 1973, the European Commission has been measuring public opinion to inform itselfabout the views of European Union citizens and to share the obtained information with thegeneral public. The purpose of this brochure is to present a selection of findings from thesesurveys. It provides readers with a picture of how Europeans see themselves by looking at avariety of subjects: citizens’ values and life satisfaction at the end of the 20th century,European citizenship, public opinion towards the European Union, public support for the poli-cies of the European Union, public opinion towards a number of issues that EU citizens worryabout, people’s expectations of the 21st century, etc.

European Commission

How Europeans see themselves — Looking through the mirror with public opinion surveys

‘European documentation’ series

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2001 — 56 pp. — 16.2 x 22.9 cm

ISBN 92-894-0077-3

Since 1973, the EuropeanCommission has been measuring public opinion toinform itself about the views ofEuropean Union citizens and toshare the obtained informationwith the general public. The purpose of this brochure is to present a selection of findingsfrom these surveys. It providesreaders with a picture of howEuropeans see themselves by looking at a variety of subjects:citizens’ values and life satisfaction at the end of the

20th century, European citizenship, public opinion towards theEuropean Union, public support for the policies of the EuropeanUnion, public opinion towards a number of issues that EU citi-zens worry about, people’s expectations of the 21st century, etc.

OFFICE FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIESL-2985 Luxembourg

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1 1617

NC-31-00-910-EN

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