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EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EUR BAROMETERPUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Report Number 50
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Release : March 1999 Fieldwork : October – November 1998
Directorate General X Telephone : (32.2) 299.91.72Rue de la Loi 200 (T120 – 4/8) Fax : (32.2) 299.45.77B - 1049 Brussels E-mail : Eurobarometer@dg10.cec.be
Internet : http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg10/infcom/epo/eb.html
Reproduction is authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged
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Introducing the Eurobarometer
Eurobarometer public opinion surveys ("standard Eurobarometer surveys") have been conducted on behalf ofthe Directorate-General for Information, Communication, Culture, Audiovisual of the European Commissioneach Spring and Autumn since Autumn 1973. They have included Greece since Autumn 1980, Portugal andSpain since Autumn 1985, the former German Democratic Republic since Autumn 1990 and Austria, Finlandand Sweden from Spring 1995 onwards.
An identical set of questions was asked of representative samples of the population aged fifteen years and overin each Member State. The regular sample in standard Eurobarometer surveys is 1000 people per countryexcept Luxembourg (500) and the United Kingdom (1000 in Great Britain and 300 in Northern Ireland). In orderto monitor the integration of the five new Länder into unified Germany and the European Union, 2000 personshave been sampled in Germany since Eurobarometer 34: 1000 in East Germany and 1000 in West Germany.
In each of the 15 Member States, the survey is carried out by national institutes associated with the "INRA(Europe) European Coordination Office". This network of institutes was selected by tender. All institutes aremembers of the "European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research" (ESOMAR) and comply with itsstandards.
The figures shown in this report for each of the Member States are weighted by sex, age, region and size oflocality. The figures given for the European Union as a whole are weighted on the basis of the adult populationin each country. In certain cases, the total percentage in a table does not always add up exactly to 100%, but anumber very close to it (e.g. 99 or 101), because of rounding. When questions allow for several responses,percentages often add up to more than 100%. Percentages shown in the graphics may display a difference of1% compared to the tables because of the way previously-rounded percentages are added.
This report, which was drawn up by the Public Opinion Analysis Unit (X.A.2 ; Head of Unit : Anna Melich) of theDirectorate-General for Information, Communication, Culture, Audiovisual, is an internal working document ofthe European Commission.
Types of surveys in the Eurobarometer series
The European Commission (Directorate General X) organises general public opinion, specifictarget group, as well as qualitative (group discussion, in-depth interview) surveys in all MemberStates and, occasionally, in third countries. There are three different types of polls available:
• Traditional Standard Eurobarometer with reports published twice a year• Telephone Flash EB, also used for special target group surveys
(e.g. Top Decision Makers)• Qualitative research ("focus groups"; in-depth interviews)• In the near future: Eurobarometer Applicant Countries (replacing the Central and
Eastern EB)
The face-to-face general public standard Eurobarometer polls and the future EB ApplicantCountries surveys, the telephone Flash EB polls and qualitative research serve primarily to carryout surveys for the different Directorates General and comparable special services of theCommission on their behalf and on their account.
The Eurobarometer Website address is :http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg10/infcom/epo/polls.html
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Highlights
• The findings presented in this 50th Eurobarometer report, which illustrate the state of publicopinion towards the European Union in the autumn of 1998 and also shed light on thedevelopment of public opinion during the 25 years that the Eurobarometer has been carriedout, can be summarised as follows:
Expectations for 1999
• Thirty-three percent of EU citizens are of the view that their life in general will be better in1999 and 52% think it will be the same. The proportion of EU citizens who believe their life ingeneral will be worse has steadily declined since the early nineties so that only 10% believe itfor 1999.
The process of European integration
• More than half of Europeans (55%) feel that a great deal or a fair amount has been achievedduring the past 50 years in terms of Europen integration. Only 34% feel that very little ornothing at all has been achieved.
• The public nowadays perceives Europe to be progressing at a faster pace than it did in thepast. Conversely, people's desired speed has in recent years been lower than it was whenthe question was first asked in 1986. However, the current desired speed is not as slow as itwas in the autumn of 1993.
• Many Europeans (52%) believe the European Union will play a more important role in theirdaily life at the beginning of the next century and 32% believe it will play the same role.Furthermore, most Europeans would like the EU to play a more important role in their daily life(48%) or believe that it should at least play the same role (27%). There are very few peoplewho believe the European Union will (7%) or should (14%) play a less important role in theirdaily life in the 21st century.
EU Support
• Support for the European Union has increased for the third time in a row. More than half ofthe EU population regards their country's membership as a good thing and around half of thepopulation feels that their country has benefited from EU membership. However, there arelarge variations in support levels between the 15 Member States and between the varioussocio-demographic groups in the population. While men (57%) are still more likely thanwomen (51%) to regard their country's membership to the European Union as a good thing,the gap between the genders is decreasing. Positive responses among the female populationcross the 50% mark for the first time since 1996.
The single currency
• In the autumn of 1998, support for the single currency - which was introduced on 1 January1999 - reached its highest level since the survey began measuring support in 1993. 64% ofEU citizens were in favour of the euro and only 25% opposed it. Support is significantlyhigher in the countries that introduced the euro from the start (70%) than in the 4 "pre-in"countries (42%).
• Over the years, people have become more optimistic about the perceived effects of the euro.While in 1996, 33% of the public still thought that the euro would have more disadvantagesthan advantages this view is now only shared by 28% of EU citizens.
• The large majority of people, both in the countries that have introduced the euro and in the"pre-in" countries, believe that euro notes and coins should be introduced transitionally andthat the period of dual circulation should last as long as is legally possible (i.e. 6 months).
• Eighty-three percent of EU citizens are now able to say that the single currency is called theeuro compared to only 46% in early 1996, when its name had just been decided.
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• The proportion of people living in the euro-zone countries who received information about theeuro increased significantly since the spring of 1998. People living in the euro-zone countriesare far more likely to say that they have received information about the euro than people inthe "pre-in" countries (70% vs. 25%).
Enlargement
• Many Europeans respond positively to the idea of enlarging the European Union to includenew European countries. 72% feel that the Union will be more important in the world if itincludes more countries and 64% regard a Union that consists of more member countries as acultural enrichment and believe that a larger Union will guarantee more peace and security.However, the results also reveal that quite a few people are concerned about the economicimplications of enlargement: 47% believe that enlargement will cost their own country moremoney and that their country will receive less financial aid once new countries have joined.
• Nonetheless, economic factors are not the only issues that the public takes into account.There is widespread consensus that new countries can only join the European Union if theyrespect Human Rights and the principles of democracy (94%), if they fight organised crimeand drug trafficking (92%) and if they protect the environment (91%).
Priorities in 1974 and 1998
• In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Eurobarometer a question that measuredwhat the most important problem facing the EEC in 1974 was has been repeated on theEB50. While fighting rising prices was top of the list in 1974, replacing the currencies is top ofthe (same) list in 1998.
• In 1998, there is widespread consensus among the European public when it comes toemployment: 92% believe the fight against unemployment should be a priority for theEuropean Union and 89% want the EU to fight poverty and social exclusion. Other prioritiesare the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking, maintaining peace and security inEurope (both 89%) and the environment (86%).
• Following the principle of subsidiarity, EU citizens are most likely to believe the EU shouldtake decisions in areas which transcend national borders like the fight against drugs (72%),foreign policy (71%), scientific and technological research and humanitarian aid (both 70%).
The June 1999 European Parliament elections
• More than 7 in 10 EU citizens intend to vote in the June 1999 European Parliament elections.Voting intentions are highest in Greece (92%) and lowest in Austria (58%).
Perceptions of how the media covers EU affairs
• In comparison to the autumn of 1997, the public is now less likely to feel that the amount ofEU news coverage on the television, the radio or in the daily newspapers is too little. Thepublic is now slightly more likely to believe that the media covers EU affairs in a fair way.
• EU citizens are most likely to consult the media when they look for information about theEuropean Union. 60% say they get their information from the television, 41% say they get itfrom the daily newspapers and 24% say they get it from the radio.
• However, few EU citizens feel they know much about the European Union so that the desirefor more information is widespread: 21% say they really need to know a lot more and 44%would like to have some more information. 32% feel happy with what they already know.
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Table of Contents
Page number
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1
1. The year to come - the expectations of Europeans ................................................................................ 2
1.1. People's expectations of their life in general................................................................................. 21.2. People's expectations of their country's economic situation......................................................... 41.3. People's expectations of their household financial situation......................................................... 61.4. People's expectations of their country's employment situation..................................................... 81.5. People's expectations of their personal job situation .................................................................. 11
2. 25 years of Eurobarometer surveys : have people's perceptions of the European Union changed? ... 13
2.1. The process of European Integration.......................................................................................... 132.2. The evolution of support for European Union membership ........................................................ 162.3. The evolution of the perceived benefit of EU membership ......................................................... 192.4. The evolution of people's attitude towards the continued existence of the EU........................... 372.5. People's priorities in the spring of 1974 - Do they still apply today?........................................... 38
3. Public opinion towards the European Union in 1998 ............................................................................ 41
3.1. Support for European Union membership in 1998...................................................................... 413.2. Benefit from European Union membership in 1998.................................................................... 433.3. People's emotive stance towards the EU in 1998....................................................................... 443.4. The "Euro-Dynamometer" in 1998 .............................................................................................. 473.5. The expected and desired role of the EU in the 21st century...................................................... 493.6. The European Union's priorities in 1998 ..................................................................................... 523.7. Support for joint EU decision-making.......................................................................................... 533.8. Support for key issues................................................................................................................. 563.9. European identity in 1998 ........................................................................................................... 593.10. Awareness and importance of the Council Presidency............................................................... 61
4. Current policy issues: the euro.............................................................................................................. 62
4.1. Support for the single currency ................................................................................................... 624.2. Perceived effects of the euro ...................................................................................................... 654.3. How should notes and coins be introduced in 2002 ................................................................... 674.4. Knowledge and information about the single currency ............................................................... 70
5. Current policy issues: enlargement ....................................................................................................... 83
5.1. Attitudes to enlargement ............................................................................................................. 835.2. Criteria that applicant countries should meet.............................................................................. 855.3. Support for enlargement ............................................................................................................. 88
6. Sources of Information and knowledge levels among EU citizens ....................................................... 90
6.1. Sources of information about the European Union..................................................................... 906.2. The news media and its coverage of EU affairs ......................................................................... 936.3. Knowledge of the European Union ........................................................................................... 1016.4. The need for more information.................................................................................................. 1046.5. Willingness to be pro-active in the search for information ........................................................ 1076.6. Knowledge of languages........................................................................................................... 108
7. The European Parliament ................................................................................................................... 115
7.1. Awareness of the European Parliament through the media ..................................................... 1157.2. Participation in the June 1999 European Parliament elections ................................................ 1187.3. The European Parliament's perceived and desired importance ............................................... 1207.4. Citizens' interests ...................................................................................................................... 124
8. The legacy of the 20th century ............................................................................................................. 128
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Table of Contents - Annexes
Page
A. Lists
A.1 List of graphs .......................................................................................................................... A1A.2 List of tables ............................................................................................................................ A6A.3 Text in German of the questions and answer categories used in the tables ...................... A11A.4 Explanatory note for table headings .................................................................................... A27
B. Tables................................................................................................................................................. B1
C. Technical Specifications
C.1 Co-operating Agencies and Research Executives ................................................................ C1C.2 Administrative Regional Units ................................................................................................ C2C.3 Sample Specifications ............................................................................................................ C3C.4 Definition and weighted distribution of the socio-demographic variables
used in cross-tabulations........................................................................................................ C6
D. Eurobarometer Surveys on Attitudes of Europeans ....................................................................... D1
REPORT
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Introduction
The launching of the Eurobarometer Number 50 has a very special significance for the EuropeanCommission. It means the celebration of the 25th year of existence of this survey instrument.At a rate of two per year, in spring and in autumn, the Eurobarometer reports have been published withoutfailure since 1973.In fact, in these past 25 years, the number of surveys that have been fielded is far higher than 50. Thedemand and needs of the Commission and other users to measure European public opinion in the mostvaried fields has been very important, mainly after the eighties, and several additional Eurobarometers havehad to be launched each season.In some European Parliament electoral years, 1989, 1994 and probably 1999, there has been a post-electoral Eurobarometer in June.Since 1973, a large majority of Directorates General of the European Commission, as well as the services ofthe European Parliament have inserted many varied special studies in the Eurobarometer questionnaires tomeasure opinions and attitudes towards subjects on which they were preparing legislation or conductingawareness campaigns1.National or regional administrations have done the same.Some academic scholars from all over the world, have also inserted their own studies for the development oftheir research on European integration or other subjects.The Eurobarometer is open and designed as a support for decision making, research and information.Its users belong to a very large range of occupations and tasks. First of all, the European Commission andits officials, the officials of all the other European institutions and the Members of the European Parliament.Outside the European Institutions, the main users of the Eurobarometer are to be found in national andregional public administrations, public and private services, universities and research centres and the writtenand audio-visual press.The Commission is very grateful to the fieldwork coordination polling institutes : Faits et Opinions from 1973to 1989 and INRA (ECO) from 1989 onwards, and all their associated institutes in the Member countries, forthe very important and careful work done to get the Eurobarometer survey data and special reports in themost proper way.Our gratitude also goes to the Social Science Data Archives, in Europe and in the United States2, for theway they assume the important task of distributing clean and documented Eurobarometer survey data to thenumerous interested researchers.All the different users greatly contribute with their analysis and use of Eurobarometer data to theadvancement of awareness, knowledge, research and theory on European integration.The European Commission is happy to put the appropriate tools at their disposal and welcomes theirsuggestions for improvement as we embark upon another period of rich collaboration.
Anna MelichHead of Unit "Public Opinion Analysis", DGX
1 A recent bibliography of the main books and papers on research conducted with Eurobarometer data is available onthe "European Public Opinion" website or by mail order.
2 Official depositories of Eurobarometer data are the Zentralarchiv für Empirische Sozialforschung in Cologne,Germany, and the Institute of Social Research in the University of Michigan, USA.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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1. The year to come - the expectations of Europeans
In the autumn of 1973, when the Eurobarometer was first fielded, two in ten people living in the 9 MemberStates of what was then still known as the European Community were very satisfied and six in ten were fairlysatisfied with their life in general3. Over the years, the general feeling of satisfaction or dissatisfaction hasremained remarkably stable so that when the measurement was last taken at the end of 19944, 8 in 10Europeans once again reported feeling satisfied.
Since 1980, the Eurobarometer has included an end-of-the-year question which initially only measuredpeople's expectations for the year to come in terms of their life in general. Later, other expectations, relatingfor instance to the economic and employment situation in their respective countries, were added. Whereasthe life satisfaction question is more a measure of people's views about society in general and is thusrelatively consistent, the end-of-the-year question is a more personal measure and is therefore more volatile.
1.1. People's expectations of their life in general
At the end of 1980, only 20% of European Community5 citizens believed their life in general would be betterin the year to come. With 43% of Europeans expecting their life to get worse, the mood was in fact quitepessimistic. After 1984 and until the early nineties, optimism dominated. Although a drop in optimism wasnoted in 1992 and 1993, the proportion of Europeans who believe their life will be worse in the year to comehas since then steadily declined, reaching a low of 10% in 1998.
3 The Member States were Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and theNetherlands. Until 1975, the Eurobarometer did not survey Northern Ireland.
4 EB42 (fieldwork from November 28 to December 31, 1994).5 Apart from the 9 countries that were members of the European Community at the end of 1980, the survey included
Greece, which joined at the beginning of 1981.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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The time-trend points to a strong relationship between how people feel about the year to come and theeconomic situation of their country. During the economic boom of the eighties, people's expectations weregenerally favourable, whereas the mini-recession in the early nineties brought about a considerable shift inpeople's expectations.
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% Better % Same % Worse
Expectations for 1999: Life in general
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.1bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Looking at the individual country results shows people in Sweden as being most likely to believe that 1999will be better (45%), followed by people in Italy (44%), Finland (43%) and Ireland (41%). Nearly a quarter ofpeople in Greece believes 1999 will be worse, followed by 17% of people in Portugal. However, in bothcountries people are now more likely to hold optimistic expectations than they were last year. The UK andIreland are the only countries where, in comparison to last year, people are both less likely to be optimisticand more likely to be pessimistic about the year to come. (Table 1.1a)
People's expectations for the year to come not only vary from country to country but also depend on anumber of socio-demographic factors. While there are no differences between the genders, the various agegroups in the population think quite differently. The youngest age group, that is people aged 15 to 24, ismost likely to think that life in general will be better (52%) and least likely to think it will be worse (5%) in1999. With age, people become less optimistic and more pessimistic: among the oldest age group, that ispeople aged 55 and over, only 18% say their life will be better and 16% say their life will be worse in 1999.
Age affects how people within the various categories of the economic activity scale respond to the question.52% of students believe 1999 will be better, compared to only 17% of retired people. However, there aresome differences that can not only be explained by age: manual workers (35%) are significantly less likelythan white-collar employees (43%) and self-employed people (41%) to believe that 1999 will be better.
Age also inter-relates with education. Since access to post-primary education has become more widespreadover time, people who left school aged 15 or younger tend to be older than people who stayed in full-timeeducation until the age of 20 or older. The first group is significantly less likely (23%) than the latter group(42%) to believe that 1999 will be better. We have already seen that students are most likely to beoptimistic6.
6 See Appendix C.4 for an explanation of the coding of the demographic variables.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Age and education also affect how people with varying levels of support for the European Union respond tothe question. Young and well educated people tend to be more likely than older and less well educatedpeople to consider their country's membership to the EU as a good thing. Thus, we find that 41% of peoplewho support their country's membership believe 1999 will be better, compared to only 24% of people whoregard their country's membership as a bad thing. (Table 1.1b)
1.2. People's expectations of their country's economic situation
Since 1990, the end-of-the-year question has also measured people's expectations of their country'seconomy in the year to come. At the EU-total level, people were most optimistic at the end of 1994, when36% indicated that they expected the following year to be better. As indicated earlier, this rise in optimismoccurred when Europe came out of the mini-recession of the early nineties. The two most recentmeasurements show a renewed rise in optimism in comparison to the two previous years.
30%33%
20%24%
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Expectations for "the year to come":Country's economic situation
Note : End 1990 - End 1995: EU12
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Worse* Change to the question from previous years: "same", is no longer a spontaneous reply, but is clearly offered
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.2aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage 'don't know' and 'same' not shown
Significant differences are noted between the 15 Member States when it comes to people's expectations oftheir country's economic situation in 1999. In Spain and Ireland, more than 3 in 10 people expect thesituation to get better and the proportion of people who believe next year will be worse is lowest (10% and14%, respectively). Greece is the only country where more than half of the population believes 1999 will beworse (55%), although widespread pessimism is also noted in Belgium (45%), Denmark, the UK (both 41%),the Netherlands and Italy (both 35%).
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Expectations for 1999:Country's economic situation
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.2bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
There are also significant shifts within many countries in comparison to last year. In Germany and Spain,people are now considerably more likely to be optimistic than last year, with the proportion of people sayingthe economic situation will be better increasing by 11 and 10 percentage points respectively. In Germany,only 30% believe next year will be worse economically compared to 50% at the end of 1997. Other countrieswhere the mood is significantly more optimistic are Austria, Luxembourg and France. In these countriesdrops of at least 10 percentage points are noted in the proportion of people who believe the economicsituation will get worse. In many of the Northern European countries, on the other hand, the mood is clearlymore pessimistic. In Denmark, the UK and the Netherlands, negative responses rose by 27, 24 and 18percentage points, respectively. In Sweden and Ireland, the negative responses increased by 8 percentagepoints. Less optimism is also noted in Finland, although the drop in positive responses is more offset by arise in neutral responses than by a rise in negative responses. (Table 1.2a)
Men are somewhat more likely than women to believe the economic situation in their country will be better in1999 (24% and 20%, respectively). Women are somewhat more likely to believe it will be worse (32%,compared to 30% of men) but also somewhat more likely to lack an opinion (10%, compared to 7% of men).Both sexes are equally likely to think that 1999 will be the same (both 38%).
Again we find significant differences between the various age groups. 27% of people aged 15 to 24 think1999 will be better, followed by 26% of people aged 25-39, 21% of people aged 40 to 54 and 18% of peopleaged 55 and over. Among the latter group 36% believe 1999 will be worse, compared to only 24% of peopleaged 15 to 24. People aged 40 to 54 are most likely to think that 1999 will be the same (40%).
An analysis of the economic activity scale shows that students are most likely to be optimistic (29%),followed by managers (25%) and white collar employees (24%), while people who look after the home (18%)and retired people (19%) are least likely to be optimistic.
In terms of education, we find that 26% of people who stayed in full-time education until the age of 20 andover believe 1999 will be better, compared to around 20% of people who stayed in full time education untilthe age of 19 or younger.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Once again, there are clear differences between supporters and opponents of the European Union. 29% ofpeople who believe their country's membership to the EU is a good thing believe the economic situation intheir country will be better in 1999, compared to 15% of people who consider EU membership as neithergood nor bad and 11% of people who consider it a bad thing. (Table 1.2b)
1.3. People's expectations of their household financial situation
Another item that was added to the end-of-the-year question in 1990 measures what people expect tohappen in terms of their household financial situation in the year to come.
Expectations for "the year to come":Household financial situation
32% 30%22% 22% 25% 22% 22% 25% 26%
-17% -18%-26% -24% -20% -20% -20% -16% -14%
End 1990 End 1991 End 1992 End 1993 End 1994 End 1995 End 1996 End 1997 End 1998
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* Change to the question from previous years: "same", is no longer a spontaneous reply, but is clearly offered
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.3aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage 'don't know' and 'same' not shown
At the EU level, a rise in levels of optimism is noted in recent years, with the proportion of people believingtheir household financial situation will be worse being the lowest measured to date.
The overwhelming feeling among Europeans is that the household financial situation will remain the same in1999 as it was in 1998. In every single Member State, this is the most frequently expressed expectation,ranging from 66% in Luxembourg to 49% in the UK and 48% in Greece. Furthermore, with the exception ofGreece, the proportion of people who believe that their financial situation will improve is higher than theproportion of people who believe it will get worse. Only 6% of people in Spain and Luxembourg believe thelatter will happen. In all other countries bar one, less than 2 in 10 people believe 1999 will be worse, Greecebeing the only country where negative expectations are voiced more frequently (29%).
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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% Better % Same % Worse
Expectations for 1999:Household financial situation
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.3bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
There are minor shifts in comparison to last year within some of the countries, although the mood is quitesimilar to last year's. In Luxembourg, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Germany and France, levels ofoptimism are higher than they were last year. In these countries, increases in the proportion of peoplesaying the financial situation of the household will get better or decreases in the proportion of people whobelieve it will get worse of at least 6 percentage points are recorded. Ireland, the UK and Denmark are theonly countries where the mood is less optimistic than it was last year. Drops of 9 and 7 percentage points,respectively, in the proportion of people who believe the financial situation of their household will get betterare recorded in these two countries. (Table 1.3a)
The demographic analyses show that men are somewhat more likely than women to be optimistic (28% and24%, respectively). Optimism decreases by age (38% of people aged 15 to 24 believe their householdfinancial situation will be better in 1999, compared to 10% of people aged 55 and over). In terms ofeducation, the data show that people who are still studying or who left school aged 20 or over are twice aslikely as people who left full-time education aged 15 or younger to think that 1999 will be better (34% and17%, respectively). The analyses of the economic activity scale shows that a third of unemployed peoplebelieve their household financial situation will be better in 1999 while 18% think it will be worse. At least 3 in10 managers (33%), employees, self-employed people (both 32%) and manual workers (30%) believe 1999will be better, compared to only 1 retired person in 10.
Supporters of the European Union are again more optimistic than opponents, with 32% of people whobelieve their country's membership to the EU is a good thing believing that 1999 will be better, compared toonly 18% of people who regard their country's membership as a bad thing. (Table 1.3b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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1.4. People's expectations of their country's employment situation
The survey results indicate that 23% of Europeans expect the employment situation in their country to getbetter in 1999, while 35% expect it to get worse. 56% expect the situation to remain the same. Over thepast two years, Europeans have been significantly more likely to have optimistic expectations than in 1995and 1996, although optimism is still less widespread than it was when the question was first asked at the endof 1994.
Expectations for "the year to come":Country's employment situation
27%
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End 1994 End 1995 End 1996 End 1997 End 1998
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Note : End 1990 - End 1995: EU12
* Change to the question from previous years: "same", is no longer a spontaneous reply, but is clearly offered
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.4aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage 'don't know' and 'same' not shown
Data from EUROSTAT shows that the unemployment rate has gone down in 13 of the 15 Member States ofthe European Union since the end-of-the-year question relating to employment was last asked on theAutumn 1997 Eurobarometer. In Austria unemployment levels have stayed at 4.4%, while they rosemarginally (+0.2%) in Italy.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, SEASONALLY ADJUSTED7
B DK D GR E F IRL I
1993.10 9.4 9.7 8.4 NA 23.7 12.3 15.4 10.8
1994.10 10.1 7.6 8.2 NA 23.9 12.1 14.5 11.8
1995.11 10.0 6.6 8.5 NA 22.7 11.8 12.4 11.9
1996.11 9.4 6.1 9.2 NA 21.7 12.4 11.0 12.1
1997.11 9.1 5.1 10.2 NA 20.2 12.3 9.8 12.1
1998.10 8.6 4.2 9.4 NA 18.4 11.8 8.6 12.3
L NL A P FIN S UK EU15
1993.10 2.9 6.9 NA 6.2 18.9 10.4 10.4 11.2
1994.10 3.7 7.1 NA 7.2 17.7 9.4 9.1 11.0
1995.11 2.9 7.0 4.0 7.4 16.2 9.3 8.6 10.8
1996.11 2.8 6.1 4.3 7.1 15.2 10.0 7.9 10.8
1997.11 2.5 4.6 4.4 6.5 11.9 9.0 6.5 10.5
1998.10 2.2 3.6 4.4 4.5 11.0 7.5 6.2 9.8
In Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and France, the positive labour market developments are mirrored bybroadened public optimism when comparing this year's results to last year's. In Germany, in particular,public confidence in the labour market is now clearly more widespread than it was at the end of 1997. Theproportion of people who believe the year to come will be better rose by 14 percentage points, while theproportion of people who believe the year to come will be worse dropped by 26 percentage points. Althoughunemployment levels are still quite high and many surveys indicate that unemployment is the number oneconcern for Germans, it may well be that the change in government has given the German public a renewedsense of hope that the employment situation will improve in the year to come.
In a number of other countries, optimism is, in comparison to last year, considerably less common, despitethe drop in unemployment levels. This is particularly true in the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland andSweden. Last year's turmoil on the world market and the possibility that this may slow down the Europeaneconomy is certainly one of the reasons why confidence about the employment situation in these countries isnow less widespread. Another likely contributing factor in the UK, Denmark and Sweden - countries that arenot participating in the euro from the start - is people's concern that being outside of the euro-zone may turnpotential investors away. (Table 1.4a)
7 Source: EUROSTAT News Release N° 1/99 (figures for Greece are not available). EUROSTAT uses the ILOdefinition of unemployment for its estimations.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
10
The country by country analyses show that the Irish (44%) are most likely to believe the employmentsituation in their country will get better in 1999, followed by the Finns (37%). In these countries, togetherwith Spain, Sweden and Denmark, there are more people who believe the situation will get better than thereare people who believe the situation will get worse. The Dutch are most likely to believe the situation willremain the same, with equal proportions (26%) thinking the situation will either get better or worse. In allother countries, there are more people who believe the employment situation in 1999 will get worse thanthere are people who believe it will get better. People in Greece are most likely to be pessimistic (60%),followed by people in the UK (48%) and Belgium (47%).
4437
3533
302726
23
2322
1917
1515
1311
3844
4240
4336
45
34
3434
3035
2829
3727
1116
162325
3226
35
3534
4035
4748
4360
IRLFIN
ES
DKF
NL
EU15
DLI
PB
UKA
GR
% Better % Same % Worse
Expectations for 1999:Country's employment situation
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.4bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The expectations for their country's employment situation in 1999 do not differ significantly between men andwomen. As was already noted for the 3 previous expectations, levels of optimism are highest among theyoungest age group and go down by age (from 30% to 17% for people aged 55 and over). The same is truefor education: 31% of people who are still studying believe the employment situation in their country willimprove, compared to only 19% of people who stayed in full-time education until the age of 15 or younger.On the economic activity scale, we find managers and white collar employees most likely to be optimistic(both 25%) while retired people and people who look after the home are least likely to be optimistic (both19%). 24% of unemployed people believe the employment situation in their country will be better in 1999,34% believe it will be worse and 37% believe it will be the same.
The cleavage between supporters and opponents of the European Union is also present with thisexpectation. 29% of people who believe their country's membership is a good thing believe 1999 will bebetter, compared to 14% of people who regard their country's membership as a bad thing. (Table 1.4b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
11
1.5. People's expectations of their personal job situation
As with previous surveys, the data indicate that EU citizens are rather more positive about their personal jobsituation than they are about the more general picture in their country8. 22% expect their own job situation toget better and 62% expect it to remain the same. Only 7% of Europeans expect it to get worse in 1999, thelowest figure obtained since the Eurobarometer began measuring this expectation at the end of 1994. Atthat time, people's expectations were more extreme, with a larger segment of the population expecting it toget better (28%) or worse (14%).
Expectations for "the year to come":Personal job situation
28%21% 20% 23% 22%
-14%-9% -11% -8% -7%
End 1994 End 1995 End 1996 End 1997 End 1998
0%
20%
40%
60%
-20%
-40%
-60%
*
*
Worse
Better
Note : End 1990 - End 1995: EU12
* Change to the question from previous years: "same", is no longer a spontaneous reply, but is clearly offered
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.5aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage 'don't know' and 'same' not shown
Spain tops the list in the proportion of people who believe their personal job situation will get better in 1999(31%), followed by Sweden (29%) and Italy (27%). While the feeling that 1999 will get better is lowest inGermany (15%) and Belgium (16%), the mood in these two countries is far from pessimistic. The largemajority of people in these two countries believe their personal job situation will remain the same (68% and64%, respectively) and only around 1 person in 10 believes it will get worse. The incidence of pessimisticexpectations is below 10% in all other countries, with the exception of Greece where 19% of the peoplebelieve their personal job situation will get worse in 1999. People's expectations of their personal jobsituation have generally not changed significantly over the past year. (Table 1.5a)
8 51% of the people interviewed for this wave of the Eurobarometer survey are in active employment. Unemployedpeople are underrepresented: around 6% of the respondents report being unemployed at the time of fieldwork,compared to the official unemployment rate of 10%.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
12
3129
27
2525
25
2222
2120
20
1918
1716
15
5965
58
6259
54
7062
6270
57
5868
5664
68
53
5
66
8
47
75
19
97
510
9
ES
I
FIRL
NL
DKEU15
UKFIN
GR
PA
LB
D
% Better % Same % Worse
Expectations for 1999:Personal job situation
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 1.5bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The demographic analyses show that men are significantly more likely than women to be optimistic abouttheir personal job situation (26% and 19%, respectively), although levels of pessimism are equally low forboth sexes (8% and 7%, respectively). 41% of people aged 15 to 24 are optimistic, compared to only 6% ofpeople aged 55 and over, the latter age group being most likely to think nothing will change (76%). Levels ofpessimism do not differ widely between the age groups and range from 4% among the youngest age groupto 9% among people aged 40 to 54. Among the various economic activity categories, we find thatunemployed people are both most likely to be optimistic (36%) and pessimistic (13%). 36% of people whoare still studying believe their personal job situation will be better in 1999, compared to only 13% of peoplewho left school aged 15 or younger. Levels of pessimism differ far less, ranging from 4% among students to9% among people who left school aged 15 or younger.
Again, we find clear differences between supporters and opponents of the European Union. 27% of peoplewho believe their country's membership to the European Union is a good thing believe their personal jobsituation will be better in 1999, compared to 17% of people who regard their country's membership as a badthing. (Table 1.5b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
13
2. 25 years of Eurobarometer surveys : have people's perceptions ofthe European Union changed?
In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Eurobarometer, this chapter is dedicated to the analysisof how people's attitudes towards the European Union have evolved over the past quarter century. Some ofthe measurements go back to the very beginning in 1973, when the first Eurobarometer survey was carriedout. As the survey matured over the years, other important questions were added. The last question wediscuss in this chapter, which looks at what people consider to be the most important problem for the EU,dates back to 1974. This is the second time we repeat it, the first time being five years ago when the EBexisted 20 years.
2.1. The process of European Integration
The 25th anniversary of the Eurobarometer more or less coincides with the 50th anniversary of the birth of theEuropean project. To measure people's perceptions of this milestone, the following question was asked:
"The process of European integration started 50 years ago. During this time, would you say that agreat deal, a fair amount, very little or nothing at all has been achieved in terms of integration?"
On average, 11% of Europeans believe a great deal has been achieved during the past 50 years and afurther 43% feel a fair amount has been achieved. Around a third of the European public feels that very little(29%) or nothing at all (5%) has been achieved.
75 7570
66 66 64 6360 59 57 55 53 52 51
42 41
11
18 17 17
29
22
31 33 33 32 3431
39
32
4348
L DK E IRL GR P NL F FIN D EU15 S B A UK I0
20
40
60
80
100%
% A great deal + a fair amount % Very little + nothing at all
European Integration: How much has been achievedduring the past 50 years?
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 2.1Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage 'don't know' not shown
Standard Eurobarometer 50
14
At 75%, people in Luxembourg and Denmark are most likely to feel that a great deal or a fair amount hasbeen achieved in terms of European integration, followed by people in Spain (70%), Ireland and Greece(both 66%). The only two countries where less than half of the people hold the view that a great deal or afair amount has been achieved are Italy (41%) and the UK (42%). It is rather surprising to find the generallypro-European Italians at the bottom of the list, something which should be interpreted as their way of sayingthat not enough has been achieved during these past 50 years9. (Table 2.1a)
The demographic analyses show that men are more likely than women to feel that a great deal or a fairamount has been achieved (58% and 52%, respectively). Women are significantly more likely than men tolack an opinion on this issue (15%, compared to 8% of men). 57% of people aged 15 to 54 believe a greatdeal or a fair amount has been achieved, compared to 50% of people aged 55 and over. The feeling thatvery little or nothing at all has been achieved tends to increase with age (29% of people aged 15 to 24 holdthis opinion, compared to 37% of people aged 55 and over). Education influences how people feel aboutthis issue, there being a 20 percentage point gap in the number of positive responses between people whostayed in school until the age of 20 or older (65%) and people who left school by the age of 15 or younger(45%). Analysis of the economic activity scale shows that managers (69%) are most likely to feel that agreat deal or a fair amount has been achieved, followed by white-collar employees (61%). Less than 50% ofpeople who look after the house (48%), unemployed people and retired people (both 49%) share this view.The proportion of don't know responses varies significantly among the socio-demographic groups in thepopulation and ranges from 5% of people who stayed in school until the age of 20 or older to 18% of peoplewho look after the home. (Table 2.1b)
The following table shows that there is clear disagreement between supporters and opponents of theEuropean Union on this issue.
Relationship between support for the European Union and attitudes to howmuch has been achieved during the past 50 years
Membership to the European Union is:
a good thing neither good nor bad a bad thingAchievement duringpast 50 years:
% % %
Great deal/fair amount 68 44 34
Very little/nothing at all 25 43 56
Don't know 7 12 10
Total 100 99 100
Since 1986, the Eurobarometer has measured public opinion with regard to the speed of Europeanintegration. The following question has been asked at regular intervals:
"In your opinion, what is the current speed of building Europe? Please look at these figures (showcard). N°1 is standing still, N° 7 is running as fast as possible. Choose the one which bestcorresponds with your opinion of the current speed of building Europe?
And which corresponds best to the speed you would like? (show card)"10
9 See Chapter 3, section 5.10 Until 1997, the introductory text was worded as follows: "In your opinion, how is the European Union, the European
unification advancing nowadays?"
Standard Eurobarometer 50
15
As the graph below shows, the public now perceives Europe to be progressing faster than it did in previousyears. Conversely, people's desired speed has been lower in recent years than it was in the beginning,although it is currently not as low as in October 1993, when the average desired speed was 4.4 on a scale of1 to 7. Consequently, the gap between the desired and current speed is now three times smaller than it wasin 1986.
The "Euro-Dynamometer"(EU12/EU15 average on 7-point scale - trend)
1986Oct
1987Oct
1990Oct
1992Mar
1993May
1993Oct
1994Apr
1994Dec
1995May
1995May
1995Dec
1996Feb
1996Dec
1997Oct
1998Oct
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Current Desired
3.4
5.5
4.9
5.4
3.4
5.0
3.93.8
5.1
3.53.6
4.4
5.0
3.43.6
4.8
2.02.1** 1.1 1.1 1.6 0.8 1.6 1.2 1.4
4.9
3.5
4.8
3.5
1.3
EU15
1.4
4.8
3.4
EU12
3.4
4.7
1.3
Europe's ProgressPerceived current speed, desired speed
1 = Stand still7 = As fast as possible
** Scale-value difference: "desired" minus "current"* percentage 'don't know' not shown
3.5
4.6
1.1
4.7
3.8
0.9
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 2.2aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
0.7
4.7
4.0
If we compare the 1998 results with those obtained in 1986, we find that the perceived speed at whichEuropean integration is progressing has increased in each of the 12 countries that belonged to the EuropeanEconomic Community (EEC) at that time11. The largest increases are noted in Luxembourg (1.4), WestGermany (1.3), Ireland and Denmark (both 1.2). In Greece (0.1) and Italy (0.2), the increases in theperceived current speed are lowest. While the desired speed decreased most in the UK (-1.2) and WestGermany (-1.1), decreases are noted in each of the 12 countries. The smallest shift is once again recordedin Greece (-0.1), followed by Spain, Ireland and Denmark (all -0.2). (Tables 2.2a+b)
11 Since Germany was not yet unified in 1986, the Eurobarometer survey was not carried out in the former GermanDemocratic Republic. Hence, the 1986-1998 comparison that follows applies only to the West GermanBundesländer.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
16
43,9
3,73,5
4,13,7
4,53,6
4,83,6
4,13,5
4,43
43,4
3,93,4
3,93,2
4,33
3,83,3
4,33,1
5,85,9
5,66,1
5,55,8
5,55,7
55,2
4,75,5
4,75,4
4,85,5
4,65,3
4,65,1
4,35,4
45,2
44,2
GR
I
P
E
IRL
F
L
EU12
B
NL
D (west)
UK
DK
CURRENT SPEED DESIRED SPEED
Average current speed in 1998
Average current speed in 1986
Average desired speed in 1998
Average desired speed in 1986
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork: Oct / Nov 1998Eurobarometer 26 - Fieldwork: Oct / Nov 1986
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 2.2b
The "Euro-Dynamometer"- Europe's progressPerceived current speed, desired speed in
1998 and 1986
2.2. The evolution of support for European Union membership
The most popular indicator of EU support, which was conceived in 1973, measures whether people thinktheir country's membership to the European Union is a good thing, a bad thing or neither good nor bad. In1973, support for the EEC stood at 56% and opposition at 11%, with 20% choosing the middle option12.Twenty-five years later, the situation is remarkably similar: 54% of citizens from the 15 European UnionMember States now regard their country's membership as a good thing, 12% see it as a bad thing and 26%perceive it as neither good nor bad. While this may give the impression that public opinion remained stableover the years, the graph below depicts a different reality.
12 In 1973, the following countries belonged to the EEC: Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, France,Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
17
During the years that the Community consisted of 9 countries, that is from 1973 to 1980, support fluctuatedbetween a high of 63%, measured in the autumn of 1975, and a low of 53%, measured in the spring of 1976,the spring of 1978 and the autumn of 1980. Although support for EEC membership was obtained from morethan half of the public during these early years, public opinion was still somewhat unstable as support levelsjumped up and down from one measurement to the next without the occurrence of any significant events13.
The next decade, during which the Community expanded to include Greece, Spain and Portugal14, is markedby a far less volatile public opinion, with support for membership increasing from 50% in 1981 to 65% in1987. In the spring of 1988 support dropped significantly in 9 of the 12 Member States, namelyPortugal (-15), West Germany (-13), Luxembourg, the UK (both -9), Greece, France (both -7), Belgium, Italyand the Netherlands (all -6), bringing the average support level down to 58%. This drop - possiblyrepresenting public anxiety concerning the reform of both the Community's financial system and the commonagricultural policy, which was agreed in February 1988 - turned out to be only temporary. In the autumn of1988, support levels rose to 66% and until the end of the eighties around 2 in 3 citizens supported theircountry's membership.
In the spring of 1991, support levels reached an all-time high of 72%. The economic well-being ofEuropeans was high and unemployment levels were low during this period. Furthermore, people werelooking forward to the advantages they would soon receive from the forthcoming European "single market".In Germany, the significant surge in support levels can in part be explained by the euphoria that existedfollowing the country's reunification. Support was particularly widespread among the citizens of the formerDemocratic Republic of Germany who have been included in the Eurobarometer sample from 1990 onwards.Unfortunately, the sense of optimism caused by the reunification was short-lived and this affected people'sperceptions of the European Community. In East Germany, support levels dropped from 87% in the autumnof 1990 to 55% in the autumn of 1992; in West Germany, they fell from 69% to 57% during this period.
13 Data from 1973 to 1980 can be found in the Eurobarometer Trends Report (1973-1994).14 Greece joined in 1981; Spain and Portugal joined in 1986.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
18
The mid-nineties clearly represent the period when public support for the European Union was at itsweakest. The Gulf War, the economic crisis and the high unemployment levels that followed, the debate onthe Maastricht Treaty, the war in Yugoslavia, the inclusion of three relatively euro-sceptic nations and theBSE crisis are but some of the reasons which help explain why support dropped from 72% in 1991 to 46% inthe spring of 1997. The late-nineties have seen popularity levels slowly but consistently increase. In thespring of 1998, support levels rose to above 50% for the first time since 1995 and the positive trend thatstarted in the autumn of 1997 continues with 54% of citizens now saying that their country's membership tothe European Union is a good thing. (See also individual country graphs, fig. 2.5a)
Next we look at the extent to which current levels of support for membership differ from the levels measuredin 1973 in the 9 countries that have been members since the start of the Eurobarometer.
56
6763
69
42
5661 63
57
31
79 77 75
68
56 54 52 5147
37
IRL L NL I DK EU9 F West D B UK0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100%
Autumn 1973 Autumn 1998
Support for EEC / EU membership% saying membership is "a good thing"
in autumn 1973 and autumn 1998
Source: Eurobarometer - TrendStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 2.3b
*
* 1973 results forGreat Britain only
As the graph above shows, the largest positive difference between support levels in 1973 and 1998 is foundin Ireland (+23). 79% of the Irish now see their country's membership to the EU as a good thing, compared to56% in 1973. Positive shifts are also recorded in Denmark (+14), the Netherlands (+12), Luxembourg (+10)and the UK (+6). In West Germany (-12), Belgium (-10) and France (-9), large negative differences arenoted between 1973 and 1998. Italy is the only country where levels of public support for membership arethe same in 1998 as they were in 1973, with 69% and 68% respectively believing their country's membershipis a good thing. (Table 2.3)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
19
2.3. The evolution of the perceived benefit of EU membership
Another long-standing question, introduced in 1983, measures whether people feel their country hasbenefited from membership. Back in 1983, 52% of the people living in the 10 Member States of the EECbelieved their country had benefited, compared to 25% who felt their country had not benefited. Nowadays,public opinion is slightly more divided on this issue: on average, 49% of the citizens from the 15 EU MemberStates feel their country has benefited while 31% hold the view that their country has not benefited. 2 in 10citizens are unable to make a judgement, which is very similar to the proportion of "don't know" responsesobtained in 1973 (23%).
The analyses of how the benefit question has evolved over time will be done separately for each countrybecause people's responses are influenced by a number of factors which vary from country to country.Firstly, the extent to which people can judge whether their country has benefited or not depends on how longit has been a member of the EU. Secondly, people's assessment is dependent on the size of the country inwhich they live. Thirdly, in some countries there is more of a tendency than in others to base theassessment solely on economic factors.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
20
The following graph depicts the proportion of people who feel their country has benefited from membershipin 1983 and 1998. The graph only includes the 10 Member States that formed the Community in 1983, asthese are the countries where this comparison can be made.
56
44
51
7478
54
69
52
59
49
32
85
7670 69 67
53 51 4944 42
37
IRL GR DK L NL F I EU10 B West D UK0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100%
Spring 1983 Autumn 1998
Benefit from EEC / EU membership% saying their country has benefited
in spring 1983 and autumn 1998
Source: Eurobarometer - TrendStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 2.4b
The largest positive difference beween 1983 and 1998 in the proportion of people who feel their country hasbenefited is noted in Greece (+32), followed by Ireland (+29) and Denmark (+19). The first two countrieshave always been large net recipients of EU funds. This is, however, not the case for Denmark. The Danes,who have become quite knowledgeable of EU affairs over time, might have become more positive becausethe range of benefits EU membership brings with it has broadened substantially since 198315. The largestnegative difference is noted in Italy (-18), followed by Belgium (-15) and the Netherlands (-11). Lesssignificant differences are noted in the remaining 4 countries. (Table 2.4)
Except for Austria , Finland and Sweden , where it is still too early to discern a trend, the evolution over timein each of the countries is as follows:
Belgium : The proportion of people who believe their country has benefited rose in the early eighties andwas highest throughout the mid-eighties, reaching 70% in 1986 and 1989. Since 1995, less than 50% ofBelgians believe their country has benefited.
Denmark : After an initial peak in 1986 (61%), positive responses stabilised at just over 50% during theremainder of the eighties. While a high of 73% was recorded in 1992, levels have fluctuated between 60%and 70% ever since with the exception of 1996 (55%).
15 Eurobarometer data from 1996 (EB 46) indicates, for instance, that awareness of the new rights citizens obtainedthrough the Maastricht Treaty is high in Denmark.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
21
Germany : Prior to the reunification of Germany, public opinion fluctuated from one measurement to thenext, with on average, around 50% of West Germans feeling that their country had benefited. Because ofthe initial widespread optimism among East Germans, the average for Germany as a whole was at a high(61%) in the autumn of 1990. Apart from a blip in 1994, a downward trend in the proportion of positiveresponses has been observed ever since.
Greece : While the early years are marked by a sense of undecisiveness, public conviction that their countryhas benefited steadily increased during the eighties and early nineties, reaching a high of 79% in 1990 and1993. In 1994 and 1995, a slight downward trend occurred but this has since reversed.
Spain : When Spain first joined in 1986 only 9% of people felt their country had benefited and it wasn't until1989 that this view was taken on by more than half of the population. Although public convinction of thebenefits of membership declined between 1992 and 1995, positive responses have steadily increased since.
France : Public opinion has been less volatile than in some of the other countries, with the proportion ofpositive responses fluctuating between 60% (spring 1987) and 39% (spring 1994). However, the data dopoint to a downward trend in the early nineties and an upward trend more recently.
Ireland : Since 1989, between 80% and 90% of the public have felt that their country has benefited.
Italy : The view that Italy has benefited increased significantly in the early years, reaching a high of 75% inthe autumn of 1988. Since then, Italians have become less and less convinced, although the level ofpositive responses has consistently been above (or on par with) the EC/EU average.
Luxembourg : The proportion of people who believe their country has benefited has been high and relativelystable over the years.
The Netherlands : As in Luxembourg, the proportion of people who believe their country has benefited hasbeen quite high and stable.
Portugal : The proportion of positive responses increased substantially between 1986 and 1990 when publicopinion stabilised at 82%. In recent years, around 70% of the people believe their country has benefitedfrom EU membership.
The UK : Throughout the period of measurement, the proportion of people who feel that their country hasbenefited has oscillated between 30% and 50% without there being a clear trend over time in any onedirection. (See country level graphs 2.5b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
22
BELGIUM
Standard Eurobarometer 50
23
DENMARK
Standard Eurobarometer 50
24
GERMANY
Standard Eurobarometer 50
25
GREECE
Standard Eurobarometer 50
26
SPAIN
Standard Eurobarometer 50
27
FRANCE
Standard Eurobarometer 50
28
IRELAND
Standard Eurobarometer 50
29
ITALY
Standard Eurobarometer 50
30
LUXEMBOURG
Standard Eurobarometer 50
31
THE NETHERLANDS
Standard Eurobarometer 50
32
AUSTRIA
Standard Eurobarometer 50
33
PORTUGAL
Standard Eurobarometer 50
34
FINLAND
Standard Eurobarometer 50
35
SWEDEN
Standard Eurobarometer 50
36
UNITED KINGDOM
Standard Eurobarometer 50
37
2.4. The evolution of people's attitude towards the continued existence of the EU
The following measure of public opinion towards the European Union dates back to the very beginning:
"If you were told tomorrow that the Common Market/European Union had been scrapped, would yoube very sorry about it, indifferent or very relieved?"16
In 1973, 41% of citizens from the 9 countries that were members at that stage said they'd feel very sorry ifthe Common Market ceased to exist, 36% felt indifferent and 10% said they'd be relieved. People from WestGermany were by far most likely to feel very sorry (57%), followed by people in Luxembourg (51%). TheBritish were by far least likely to feel very sorry (20%), followed at a distance by people from Belgium (39%).
In 1998, 36% of the people living in the current 15 Member States would feel very sorry if they were told thatthe European Union had been scrapped, 39% would feel indifferent and 13% would feel relieved.Nowadays, people in Luxembourg are most likely to feel very sorry (56%), followed by people in Ireland(54%) and Greece (52%). People in the United Kingdom are by far the least likely to feel very sorry (19%),followed by people in Sweden and people in Eastern Germany (both 21%).
As the following graph shows, there have been very few citizens who would feel relieved if the EuropeanUnion were no more throughout the past 25 years. The graph also shows that public opinion on this issuehas been very stable over time. The latest results do, however, indicate that people who show outrightsupport for the continued existence of the European Union are for the first time outnumbered by people whowould feel indifferent if the Union would be scrapped.
16 The Common Market is an often-used synonym for the EEC.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
38
If we compare the 1973 and 1998 for the 9 Member States that were already members in 1973, we see thatthe largest positive difference (measured by an increase in the percentage of "very sorry" responses)occurred in Ireland (+17). Significant positive difference are also noted in Italy (+9), Denmark (+7) andLuxembourg (+5). People in West Germany are now significantly less likely to feel "very sorry" than theywere in 1973 (-21). Significant negative differences are also noted in Belgium (-11) and France (-4). In theUK, the difference of -1% is not statistically significant. (Table 2.5)
51
3741
4642
30
57
41 39
20
56 5450
45
38 37 36 36
28
19
L IRL I NL F DK West D EU9 B UK0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100%
Autumn 1973 Autumn 1998
Feelings if the EEC / EU would be scrapped% saying they would feel "very sorry"
in autumn 1973 and autumn 1998
Source: Eurobarometer - TrendStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 2.6b
*
* 1973 results forGreat Britain only
2.5. People's priorities in the spring of 1974 - Do they still apply today?
In the spring of 1974, the Eurobarometer asked the following question:
"The nine countries of the EEC - The Common Market - are together dealing with a number ofshared problems. Here is a list of them. Could you please tell me which one of these problems isthe most important at the present time? And which is the next most important problem?"
In order to commemmorate the 25th anniversary of the Eurobarometer the question was asked again in theautumn of 1998, as follows:
"Twenty-five years ago, the Member States of the European Community were trying to solve acertain number of common problems together. Here is a list of them. Could you please tell me whichone of these problems is the most important at the present time? And which is the next mostimportant problem?"17
17 Although the subject of the items presented to respondents has not changed, the wording has in some cases beenmodified because some of the common policies that the items refer to have since been implemented and in order forthe items to be meaningful in today's context. The question was also asked on the 40th Eurobarometer survey, as partof its 20th anniversary.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
39
When the question was first asked, Western Europe was in the midst of what was at that time considered tobe the worst economic recession since the 1930's. Oil prices had doubled, bringing high inflation and themisery of what was regarded as large-scale unemployment. The economic crisis limited the hope for moreeconomic and monetary union within the EEC, a process which some thought had been encouraged by theadhesion in 1973 of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Socially, the 9 Member States had just agreed for the EEC to become active in the areas of employment andof living and working conditions. It was also decided that both sides of industry would participate in socialand economic policy decisions.
Politically, Europe was still the most significant Cold War frontline. The Helsinki negotiations strove torecognise the post-World War II frontiers of Eastern Europe, to further human rights in the East, to buildeconomic cooperation and to reduce as much as possible the risk of war.
Internationally, the United States was withdrawing from the Vietnam War amidst the turmoil of its domesticWatergate scandal. A coup d'état had overthrown the Allende Government in Chile on 11 September 1973,with the middle-East crisis blowing up a month later.
Most important problem for the EUin 1974 (EEC9) and 1998 (EU15)
44%
7%
6%
6%
6%
5%
4%
4%
3%
3%
2%
1%
1%
9%
15%
18%
11%
10%
2%
4%
17%
3%
3%
2%
3%
2%
3%
6%
A fight against rising prices
Replacing the currencies
Reducing the differences between regions
Environment
Achieving a common policy on energie supplies
Discussions with the Americans and the Russians
Co-ordinating the social policies
Modernising European agriculture
Equivalent education
Protecting consumers
Aid to underdevelopped countries
Scientific research
None of these
Don't know
% EB1 % EB50
Replacing the currencies
Co-ordinating the social policies
Fighting rising prices
Reducing differences betweenregions
Protecting the environment
Common Foreign policy
Modernising European agriculture
Equivalent education
Aid to underdevelopped countries
Protecting consumers
Achieving a common policy onenergy supplies
Scientific research
None of these
Don't know
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 2.7
Source: Survey no. 1 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1974Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
15%
20%
10%
10%
2%
5%
15%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
6%
(EU9 1998)
44%
1974 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
40
Despite the political turmoil on the international scene and the threat posed by the Cold War, the commonfight against rising prices was considered the most important problem for the EEC in 1974. On average,44% of citizens from the 9 EEC countries held this view, it being the top issue in all the Member States withscores ranging from 56% in Ireland to 34% in the Netherlands.
In 1998, economic turmoil was widespread in other parts of the world - the Asian and Russian marketscrashed in 1998 - but it was not a matter of grave concern for most Europeans. Due to the convergencecriteria for Economic and Monetary Union, inflation levels are currently very low in the European Union. As aresult, only 15% of citizens now regard the common fight against rising prices as the most important problemfor the European Union. However, it should be noted that the EU average deflects substantial variationsbetween the Member States. While less than 10% of the people in Denmark (4%) and the Netherlands (6%)regard the common fight against rising prices as the most important problem for the EU, public opinion isconsiderably different in Portugal (28%) and Belgium (26%) where it is the top issue. In Greece (23%),Ireland (22%), Austria and the UK (both 21%) the common fight against rising prices is also the top issue.
It should come as no surprise that replacing the currencies is currently considered the most importantproblem for the EU by the largest number of respondents (18%). In 5 Member States it is the top issue,namely the Netherlands (33%), Luxembourg (28%), Italy (23%), France (22%) and Germany (21%). These5 countries all introduced the euro on 1 January 1999. In Belgium, another founding country of the euro, theissue comes just behind the common fight against rising prices (26.2% versus 26.4%). Among theremaining 5 founding countries, the proportion of people considering it as the most important problem rankssecond in Ireland (18%) and Finland (15%), third in Austria (16%) and Spain (15%) and fifth in Portugal(8%). In the four countries that did not introduce the euro in January 1999, the issue comes second inDenmark (17%), third in Greece (16%), fourth in Sweden (10%) and fifth in the UK (8%).
While far more people considered the common fight against rising prices as the most important problem forthe EEC in 1974, replacing the currencies nonetheless came second on the list (7%).
Citizens of the 15 EU Member States are nowadays far more likely to consider the co-ordination the socialpolicies of the countries in the fields of employment and job training as the most important problem thancitizens from the 9 EEC countries were in 1974 (17% vs. 4%). In Spain this issue tops the list (27%), while itshares the first place in Austria (21%)18. These two countries joined after 1974, which is one of the reasonswhy the 1998 EU average score is higher than the EEC average score of 1974. However, the increasedscore in 1998 is also due to the fact that in every single of the 9 countries where the question was asked in1974 there are more people who now feel this issue represents the most important problem. The mostsignificant increase is noted in Belgium (+16), followed by Italy (+14), West Germany (+13) and France(+11). The lowest increase is recorded in the Netherlands (+4).
In comparison to 1974, citizens are now somewhat more likely to believe that reducing the differencesbetween the regions is the most important problem (6% and 11%, respectively). The current EuropeanUnion knows more disparity between regions than was the case for the 9 EEC countries. Thus, theproportion of people who regard this issue as the most important problem for the EU is significantly aboveaverage in Italy (21% - +9 since 1974) - where the economic gap between the North and the South hasincreased and in Spain, Portugal (both 20%) and Greece (15%) - which were not part of the EEC in 197419.
People are also somewhat more likely to consider the achievement of a common policy for the protection ofthe environment and to fight pollution as an important problem (+4). In Denmark, 30% hold this viewnowadays, compared to 11% in 1974, making it now the top issue. Belgium is the only country among the 9EEC members where people have not become more likely to regard this issue as important. Among thenewer members, it is the top issue in Sweden (34%) and Finland (19%). Conversely, there are very fewpeople who consider this issue important in Greece (3%), Belgium, Spain, Portugal (all 5%), France, Italy(both 6%) and Austria (9%).
18 As was already shown in Chapter 1, unemployment rates are highest in Spain (18%) which no doubt contributes tothe feeling among the Spanish that this is a problem the EU should tackle.
19 Apart from Italy, the only country where people are nowadays more likely than in 1974 to regard this issue as themost important problem for the EU is the UK (+5%).
Standard Eurobarometer 50
41
As in 1974, less than 10% of the public considers any of the other issues presented on the list as the mostimportant. Because many of the common policies that the list refers to were implemented after 1974, it is notsurprising to find that people are now somewhat more opiniated. What is more of a surprise is the fact thatthe proportion of people who consider none of these issues as important has hardly gone up since 1974.This provides further evidence that many of the issues that were relevant to people in 1974 still apply today,although the order of importance has changed. However, the relatively low proportion of people whoconsider any of these issues as the most important in no way suggests that there are no real issues whichconcern the public. One should bear in mind that this question was repeated for the purpose of making acomparison to one of the first Eurobarometer questions in commemoration of its 25th anniversary. Thefollowing chapter, which focuses on people's perceptions of the European Union in 1998, looks at whichissues the public currently considers as priorities. (Table 2.6)
3. Public opinion towards the European Union in 1998
While the previous chapter describes how attitudes towards the European Union have evolved over time,this chapter focuses on the current state of public opinion. We look at differences between the MemberStates and between the various socio-demographic groups in the population. Furthermore, we investigatewhether public opinion has changed since the spring of 199820.
3.1. Support for European Union membership in 1998
In the autumn of 1998, 54% of Europeans regard their country's membership to the European Union as agood thing. This is slightly higher than in the spring of 1998, when 51% of people supported their country'smembership to the EU.
Percentage 'don't know' and 'neither good nor bad' not shown
79%
77%
75%
68%
67%
63%
58%
56%
54%
52%
48%
47%
45%
38%
37%
35%
4%
6%
6%
5%
9%
7%
9%
20%
12%
12%
11%
9%
21%
19%
22%
36%
IRL
LNL
IGR
EP
DK
EU 15
FD
BFIN
AUK
S
Good thing Bad thing
Support for European Union membership
NET RESULTS
75
71
69
63
58
56
36
40
49
42
37
38
24
19
15
-1
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.1Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
20 Some of the questions that will be described were previously asked in the autumn of 1997 instead of the spring of1998.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
42
The country by country analyses show that support for European Union membership continues to be highestin Ireland, where 79% of citizens now regard their country's membership to the EU as a good thing. Supportis also obtained from 3 in 4 people in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, while around two-third of thepopulation in Italy, Greece and Spain regard their country's membership as a good thing. More than half ofthe Portuguese, Danes and French are in favour of EU membership, but in Denmark opposition levels aresignificantly above average. In Germany, Belgium and Finland support levels are just below the 50% mark,with opposition levels in Finland being significantly higher than in the two other countries. In Austria, the UKand Sweden, support is obtained from nearly 4 in 10 people, Sweden being the only country where there arejust as many people who regard their country's membership as a bad thing as there are people who regard itas a good thing.
Since the spring of 1998, support levels have increased significantly in Finland (+9), Greece, Spain (both+8), Germany (+7), Luxembourg (+6), Denmark and Sweden (both +3). The UK is the only country where asignificant drop in support levels (-4) and a significant increase in opposition levels (+3) is noted. (Table3.1a)
Analyses of the differences between the two genders show a well-established pattern with men (57%) morelikely than women (51%) to regard their country's membership as a good thing. However, the gap betweenthe genders is decreasing as support levels have increased more among women than among men (thefemale population crosses the 50% mark for the first time since the spring of 1996). In fact, opposition levelsare now slightly higher among men (13%) than among women (12%). Women continue to be more likelythan men to lack and opinion (11% vs. 5%) or to regard their country's membership as neither good nor bad(27% vs. 25%).
Education is an important factor in explaining all EU-attitude measurements: 69% of people who left full-timeeducation aged 20 or older support their country's membership, compared to only 44% of people who leftschool aged 15 or younger. Another important factor is people's age. Whereas the previous surveyrevealed no differences between people aged 15 to 54, we now once again find a stronger correlationbetween age and support levels. 60% of people aged 15 to 24 support EU membership, with supportdecreasing from one age bracket to the next, namely to 56% among people aged 25-39, to 53% among 40-54 year-olds and to 49% among people aged 55 and over. The analyses of the economic activity scalereveals a 24% gap in support levels between managers (69%) and people who look after the home (45%).
The data also reveal the extent of polarisation among supporters and opponents of the Union: 75% of thosewho want the European Union to play a more important role at the beginning of the next century support theircountry's membership, compared to only 21% of those who would like the EU to play a less important role.Public opinion in this respect is even more divided that it was a year ago. The difference in support levelsbetween those who want the EU to play a more important role and those who want it to play a less importantrole is now 54%, compared to 48% in the autumn of 1997. (Table 3.1b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
43
3.2. Benefit from European Union membership in 1998
The proportion of citizens that feels that their country has benefited from EU membership has increased by 3percentage points since the spring of 1998 to 49%. The proportion of negative responses has not changed,so that around a third of the population continues to believe that their country has not benefited. As thegraph below show, there are large differences between Member States.
Benefit from European Union membership
85%
76%
70%
69%
67%
67%
58%
53%
51%
49%
44%
41%
39%
39%
37%
27%
5%
17%
20%
14%
18%
22%
25%
27%
27%
31%
32%
34%
36%
44%
42%
53%
IRL
GRDK
L
PNL
E
F
I
EU 15
B
AD
FIN
UKS
Yes No
NET RESULTS
80
59
50
55
49
45
33
18
127
3
-5
-5
-26
2624
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.2Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
As in the spring of 1998, people in Ireland are most positive, with 85% saying their country has benefitedfrom EU membership and only 5% saying that their country has not benefited. At the other extreme, we findSweden, which is the only country where more than half of the population feels their country has notbenefited and only 27% of people hold positive views. The remaining 13 countries can be grouped into fourcategories, as follows:
1. In Greece, Denmark, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Netherlands, more than 2 in 3 people hold positiveviews, while less than a quarter of the population is of the opinion that their country has not benefitedfrom EU membership.
2. In Spain, France and Italy, more than half of the population holds favourable views and around a quarterof the population holds negative views.
3. Positive responses are below the 50% mark in Belgium, Austria and Germany but they outnumbernegative responses.
4. Negative responses outnumber positive responses in Finland and the UK, although the proportion ofnegative responses is below the 50% mark.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
44
The proportion of people who now feel their country has benefited has increased significantly in 8 of the 15Member States since the spring of 1998. In France (+7), Finland, Luxembourg (both +6) and Germany (+3),the increase in favourable responses concurs with significant decreases in negative responses. In Spain(+13), Greece (+8), Sweden (+7) and Denmark (+5), the increases are offset more by drops in the proportionof 'don't know' responses than by drops in the proportion of negative responses.
Italy, Portugal (both -6) and the UK (-3) are the only countries where the proportion of people who now feeltheir country has benefited decreased significantly and in all three countries this is off-set by a significant risein negative responses, although far more so in Italy (+10) than in Portugal (+4) or the UK (+3). In theNetherlands an increase in negative responses (+6) is offset by a decrease in 'don't know' responses (-5).
In Austria, an increase of 5 percentage points in the proportion of 'don't know' responses is balanced out bydecreases in both the proportion of positive (-2) and negative (-3) responses. Belgium and Ireland are thetwo countries where public opinion is exactly the same as in the spring of 1998. (Table 3.2a)
Demographic analyses show that people who stayed in full-time education the longest, managers (both62%), students (60%), employees and the young (both 56%) are most likely to feel that their country hasbenefited, while people who left school aged 15 or younger, people who look after the house (both 39%) andpeople who are retired (42%) are least likely to share this view.
The following comparison provides further evidence of the large degree of polarisation among supportersand opponents of the Union: 76% of people who support their country's membership believe their countryhas benefited, compared to 7% of people who oppose their country's membership. Once again, we note aslight increase in the gap between supporters and opponents. In the spring of 1998, the difference betweenthe two groups with relation to the benefit question was 64%, compared to today's 69%. (Table 3.2b)
3.3. People's emotive stance towards the EU in 1998
As we already cited in chapter 2, 36% of EU citizens would feel very sorry if they were told that the EuropeanUnion had been scrapped, 39% would feel indifferent and 13% would feel relieved. The table below showsthat there is a strong relationship between people's attitudes towards their country's membership to the EUand their emotive stance.
Relationship between people's attitudes towards their country'smembership to the EU and their emotive stance
Membership to the European Union is:
a good thing neither good nor bad a bad thing
Feeling if theEuropeanUnion werescrapped
% % %
Very sorry 61 9 5
Indifferent 28 62 30
Very relieved 2 15 60
Don't know 10 14 5
Total 101 100 100
Standard Eurobarometer 50
45
As can be seen, 61% of people who support their country's membership to the EU would feel very sorry ifthey were told that the EU had been scrapped, while 60% of people who regard their country's membershipas a bad thing feel very relieved. People who feel their country's membership is neither good nor bad aremost likely to feel indifferent (62%).
For each of the 15 Member States we have matched the net percent difference between the positive ("agood thing" and "very sorry") and negative responses ("a bad thing" and "very relieved") of both questions.This matching (see graph below) highlights which countries are more pro-European and which countries aremore Eurosceptic.
Feelings if EU were scrapped by support for EU membership
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
EU membership - Net % difference between"a good thing" and "a bad thing"
Fee
lings
ifE
Uw
ere
scra
pped
-N
et%
diffe
renc
ebe
twee
n"v
ery
sorr
y"an
d"r
elie
ved"
B
DK
Source: Eurobarometer Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
D
GR
S
A
EU15
FE
I
NL
P
LIRL
FINUK
The next graph shows that people in Luxembourg and Ireland are both most likely to feel very sorry if theywere told the EU had been scrapped and most likely to support their country's membership to the EU. Theemotional attachment level is also high in two other countries where support for EU membership iswidespread, namely Greece and Italy. In the UK, Sweden and Finland, where support for membership islow, people are most likely to feel relieved if the EU were scrapped.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
46
Feelings if the EU were to be scrapped
5654
5250
4645
383737
36
3330
2823
2119
273236
3430
3639
4531
39
3439
51394346
73
63
79
135
22
13
1614
925
3024
LIRLGR
IP
NLFE
DK
EU15
DAB
FINS
UK
% Very sorry % Indifferent % Very relieved
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.3Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.3Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The proportion of people who say they'd be indifferent if they were told that the EU were scrapped is quitehigh throughout the EU, ranging from 27% in Luxembourg to 51% in Belgium and there are quite a numberof countries (8 out of 15) where these people outnumber people who would feel very sorry. This points to ageneral lack of emotional involvement in politics that is affecting many Western societies. The situation isparticularly pronounced in Belgium. However, the proportion of people in Belgium that would feel relieved ifthe EU ceased to exist is very low (9%). Earlier surveys point to widespread doubt among Belgians in thefunctioning of democracy - both at the national and at the EU level - and to low levels of trust in the politicalsystem, factors which may help explain Belgian attitudes. (Table 3.3a)
The demographic analyses show that men are more likely than women to say that they would be very sorry(40% and 32%, respectively), although both genders are equally likely to feel very relieved (both 13%).While there are no large variations between the age groups when it comes to feeling "very sorry", there aresignificant differences when it comes to feeling "very relieved": only 7% of people aged 15 to 24 would feelthis way, compared to 17% of people aged 55 and over. In terms of education, we find that the level ofpositive responses on the emotive measure increases in line with the number of years that people havestayed in full-time education. Only 27% of people who left school by the age of 15 or younger say theywould be very sorry, compared to 53% of people who stayed in full-time education until the age of 20 orolder. Analysis of the economic activity scale shows that 53% of managers would feel very sorry, followed ata distance by white-collar employees (43%) and self-employed people (42%). Only 27% of people who lookafter the home and 28% of manual workers say they would be very sorry. Retired people (18%) are mostlikely to say they would feel very relieved. (Table 3.3b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
47
3.4. The "Euro-Dynamometer" in 1998
We have already looked at how the perceived current and desired speed of Europe's progress has evolvedover time. In this section we investigate how public opinion on this matter differs between the various EUcountries and how it differs between the various socio-demographic groups in the population21.
The "Euro-Dynamometer"Europe's Progress
Perceived current speed, desired speed
4,84,5 4,4 4,3 4,3 4,3
4,1 4,1 4,1 4 4 3,9 3,9 3,8 3,7 3,6
5
5,5
4,7
4,24 4
5,5
4,8 4,7
5,8
4,7 4,6 4,6
4
5,6
4,1
IRL E L D DK FIN P A F GR EU15 B NL UK I S1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Average current speed Average desired speed
0.2* 1.0 0.3 -0.1 -0.3 -0.3 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.2 1.9 0.5
*Scale-value difference "desired" minus "current"
"Runs as fastpossible"
"Stand still"
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.4Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Looking at the 15 Member States shows that the current speed of Europe's progress is rated fastest bypeople in Ireland (average current speed score is 4.8 on a scale of 1 to 7), followed by people in Spain (4.5)and Luxembourg (4.4) and slowest by people in Sweden (3.6), Italy (3.7) and the UK (3.8).
Greeks would like to see Europe progress at the fastest speed (average desired speed score is 5.8 on ascale of 1 to 7), followed by citizens from Italy (5.6), Spain and Portugal (both 5.5). In the Nordic countriesand the UK (all around 4), people desire the slowest speed of progress.
The gap between the speed at which Europe is perceived to be progressing and the speed at which peopledesire Europe to progress varies significantly from country to country. In Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain,people would clearly like to see Europe progress faster than they think it currently is. In decreasing order,this is also the case in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK.The only three countries where people believe Europe is progressing faster than it should are Denmark,Finland and Germany. However, the gap between the current and the desired speed is small in the first twocountries and virtually non-existent in Germany.
21 As a reminder, the question is formulated as follows: "In your opinion, what is the current speed of building Europe.Please look at these figures (SHOW CARD). N°1 is standing still; N°7 is running as fast as possible. Choose theone which best corresponds with your opinion of the current speed of building Europe. And which corresponds bestto the speed you would like? (SHOW SAME CARD)"
Standard Eurobarometer 50
48
The pattern described above is quite similar to the one obtained when the question was previously asked inthe autumn of 1997. The most notable shifts are recorded in France and Luxembourg, where the differencesbetween the desired and current speed has dropped by -0.8 and -0.7 points, respectively. To a lesser extentthis is also true in Portugal, Spain and Germany, where the gap has dropped by -0.4 points. There are nocountries where the gap between the desired and current speed has increased between 1997 and 1998.(Tables 3.4 and 3.5)
The following table depicts the average speed at which the various socio-demographic groups in thepopulation believe Europe is currently progressing, how fast they would like it to progress and the differencefor each socio-demographic group between the desired and perceived speed. The groups are ranked byshowing the difference score in decreasing order. Although there is some difference between the variousgroups, all would like Europe to progress faster than it currently does. This indicates that socio-demographicfactors do not contribute as strongly as the country variable does to variations in people's feelings about theperceived and desired speed of Europe's progress.
"The Euro-Dynamometer"Average scores for the socio-demographic groups (EU15)
Socio-demographicgroup:
Average currentspeed
Average desiredspeed
Difference desiredminus current
Still studying 4.1 5.1 1.0
Aged 15-24 4.1 5.1 1.0
In school until 20+ 4.1 5.0 0.9
Self-employed 4.1 5.0 0.9
White-collar employees 4.0 4.9 0.9
Managers 4.1 4.9 0.8
Men 4.1 4.8 0.7
Aged 25-39 4.1 4.8 0.7
Women 4.0 4.7 0.7
EU15 Average 4.0 4.7 0.7
Aged 40-54 4.1 4.7 0.6
Unemployed 4.1 4.7 0.6
In school until 15 < 4.0 4.6 0.6
In school until 16-19 4.0 4.6 0.6
Manual workers 4.0 4.6 0.6
House-persons 4.0 4.6 0.6
Aged 55 and over 4.0 4.5 0.5
Retired 4.0 4.5 0.5
Standard Eurobarometer 50
49
The next table shows how people's views towards the European Union in general relate to their perceivedcurrent and desired speed of Europe's progress.
"The Euro-Dynamometer"Average scores among people with pro-, neutral and anti-EU attitudes
(EU15)
Pro-EU attitudes: Average currentspeed
Average desiredspeed
Differencedesired minus
current
Desires more important role of EU 4.0 5.4 1.4
Very sorry if EU were scrapped 4.2 5.5 1.3
EU membership is a good thing 4.1 5.3 1.2
Neutral EU attitudes:
Indifferent if EU were scrapped 3.9 4.6 0.7
EU membership is neither goodnor bad
3.9 4.3 0.4
EU's role should not change 4.1 4.3 0.2
Anti-EU attitudes:
Desires less important role of EU 4.3 3.2 -1.1
EU membership is a bad thing 4.1 3.0 -1.1
Very relieved if EU were scrapped 4.2 2.9 -1.3
As expected, people with pro-European views would like Europe to progress faster than it currently does,whereas people with anti-European views would like it to progress slower than it currently does. People withneutral views are most likely to believe that Europe's actual progress is on par with the speed at which theywould like it to progress. Thus, general attitudes to the European Union are clearly good predictors of howpeople feel about the speed of Europe's progress.
3.5. The expected and desired role of the EU in the 21 st century
In the previous chapter we have shown how much people believe has been achieved in terms of Europeanintegration over the past 50 years. In this section, we look towards the future.
Fifty-two percent of Europeans believe the European Union will in the 21st century play a more important rolein their daily life, 32% believe it will play the same role and only 7% believe it will play a less important role.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
50
65 63
57 56 54 54 52 50 49 4945 45 45 44 43
40
3025
32 3329 28
3237 36 35 35
32 31
42 42
36
3 36 6 4 5 7 9 10
36
1115
610 10
GR I NL F IRL P EU15 DK S E UK A D L FIN B0
20
40
60
80
100%
% More important % Same role % Less important
* percentage "don't know" not shown
The 21st century: perceived role of the EU in people's daily life
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.5aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The country by country analyses show that people in Greece (65%) and Italy (63%) are most likely to thinkthat the EU will play a more important role in their daily life. In the Netherlands (57%), France (56%), Irelandand Portugal (both 54%), more than half of the people also share this view. Although public opinion issomewhat more divided in the other countries, the feeling that the EU will play a more important role isnonetheless the prevalent view. The proportion of people who think the EU will play the same role is highestin Luxembourg and Finland (both 42%), followed by people in Denmark (37%), Belgium, Sweden (both36%), Spain and the UK (both 35%). The view that the EU will play a less important role is low throughoutthe Member States, ranging from 3% in Greece, Italy and Spain to 15% in Germany.
In a number of countries people are now significantly more likely to think that the European Union will play amore important role than they were in the autumn of 1997 when the question was previously asked. Thesecountries are Germany (+11), Spain (+9), Greece (+7), France, the Netherlands (both +6), Ireland (+4) andItaly (+3). There are no countries where people are now significantly more likely to think that the EuropeanUnion will play a less important role in the 21st century. (Table 3.6a)
People's views vary depending on their socio-demographic characteristics. However, at the EU level theproportion believing that the EU's role will be less important is always below 10%, regardless of people's sex,age, economic activity or years of schooling. Only those who view membership to the EU as a bad thing aresomewhat more inclined to feel that in the future the EU will play a less important role in their daily life.(Table 3.6b)
Looking next at the role people would like the European Union to play in their daily life at the beginning of thenext Millennium shows that 48% of Europeans desire a more important role, 27% desire the same role, whileonly 14% desire a less important role.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
51
7773
6257
5348
43 43 4239 38 38 37
32 31 29
1612
21
28 28 27
34
28
38
2732 30
44 44
3633
6 4 49
5
14
6
15
9
26
11
22
1317
30
24
GR I P F E EU15 IRL A L S B D NL FIN DK UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% More important % Same role % Less important
* percentage "don't know" not shown
The 21st century: desired role of the EU in people's daily life
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.5bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The country analyses show that people in Greece (65%) and Italy (63%) are not only most likely to think thatthe EU will play a more important role, but also most likely to want it to play a more important role in theirdaily life (77% and 73%, respectively)22. In Portugal (62%), France (57%) and Spain (53%), more than halfof the population desires the European Union to play a more important role in their daily life at the beginningof the new Millennium. In the Netherlands, Finland (both 44%), Denmark (36%) and the UK (33%), the mostfrequently expressed desire is for the EU to continue to play the same role. The proportion of people whodesire a less important role for the EU is, as expected, highest in Denmark (30%), Sweden (26%) and theUK (24%). However, in none of these countries is this the most widely expressed view. In Sweden, thebalance clearly tips in favour of people who would like the EU to play a more important role (39%).
In Germany (+9), Austria (+7), Spain, Sweden (both +6), Greece and Italy (both +5), people are nowsignificantly more likely than they were in the autumn of 1997 to want the European Union to play a moreimportant role. In the Netherlands (+5), Portugal and Finland (both +4), the proportion of people who desirethe EU to play the same role has increased significantly. The UK (+6) and Denmark (+5) are the only twocountries where there is a clear shift towards wanting the European Union to play a less important role in the21st century. (Table 3.7a)
It should come as no surprise that people who support their country's EU membership (67%) are significantlymore likely than people who regard it as a bad thing (17%) to desire a more important role for the EU at thebeginning of the next century. The socio-demographic analyses show that students, people who left schoolaged 20 or over and managers (all 59%) are most inclined to want a more important role for the EuropeanUnion, while people who look after the home (39%) and people who left school aged 15 or younger (41%)are least likely to share this view. (Table 3.7b)
22 This finding, together with the finding that Italians feel the speed of European integration should be faster than iscurrently the case, helps explain why so many Italians rate the achievements of the past 50 years as low, as noted inChapter 2.
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52
3.6. The European Union's priorities in 1998
The five political priorities of the European Commission in 1998, as stated in its Work Programme, werebroadly speaking as follows23:
� To press for an integrated and coherent approach in the field of employment� To complete the preparations for the introduction of the single currency� To start the preparations necessary for the Union's enlargement 24
� To encourage collective and coherent Union action in the world at large� To serve the public for a better quality of life
In this section, we look at the extent to which the public considers these issues to be priorities for theEuropean Union25.
92%
89%
89%
89%
86%
79%
77%
72%
67%
50%
49%
27%
4%
7%
7%
7%
10%
13%
18%
21%
25%
38%
36%
60%
% Priority % Not a priority
EU15
EU actions: priority or not?
Fighting unemployment
Fighting poverty and socialexclusion
Fighting organised crime anddrug trafficking
Maintaining peace andsecurity in Europe
Protecting the environment
Guaranteeing the rights of theindividual and respect for theprinciples of democracy in Europe
Protecting consumers andguaranteeing the quality of products
Getting closer to European citizens,for example by giving them moreinformation about the EU
Successfully implementing the singleEuropean currency, the euro
Reforming the institutions ofthe EU and the way they work
Asserting the political and diplomaticimportance of the EU around the world
Welcoming new member countries
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 3.6Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
23 Further information can be found on the following Web-site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/off/work/1998/index_en.htm.24 Enlargement is part of the Commission's Agenda 2000. More information can be found at:http://europa.eu.int/comm/agenda2000.25 Individual country results are shown in Table 3.8 in the Appendix.
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There is widespread consensus among the European public when it comes to employment . 92% believethe fight against unemployment should be a priority for the European Union and 89% want the EU to fightpoverty and social exclusion. In its 1998 Work Programme, the Commission states that within the remit of acoherent and integrated approach to employment, one of its aims is "to encourage the emergence of a moreinclusive Europe, particularly in relation to the various forms of social exclusion, which are aggravated byhigh unemployment".
There is also widespread consensus that the EU should take actions to improve the quality of life of itscitizens. In this respect, we find that 89% of Europeans regard fighting organised crime and drug traffickingas a priority. This challenge has become more feasible through the justice and home affairs title of theAmsterdam Treaty. Furthermore, 86% of Europeans believe protecting the environment should be a priority.The Commission's Work Programme states that "the development of the Union should not jeopardise highenvironmental standards" and that "the Commission will be at pains to respond to public concern" in thisarea. The results also show that more than 3 in 4 Europeans believe that the European Union should takeactions to protect consumers and to guarantee the quality of products. Here the Work Programme statesthat "rules on labelling, testing for potential health risks and pre-sales checks on production procedures willall be strictly applied by the Commission, in the interest of strict consumer protection". In line with theopinion held by 72% of the public that getting closer to European citizens should be a priority, the WorkProgramme states that "both at national and Union level, European affairs must be handled with maximumeffectiveness, openness and competence".
The priorities of the European Union are also largely in line with public opinion when it comes to Unionaction in the world at large . Under this heading, the Commission's Work Programme states that "Europeneeds to meet growing demand from the public for greater unity, coherence and effectiveness in its efforts tobring peace", which 89% of Europeans consider as a priority. The programme also states that "theEuropean Union must continue to promote values such as democracy and human rights", which 79% of EUcitizens regard as a priority. Public opinion is somewhat more divided in terms of the Commission's view that"the presence of a strong Europe on the international scene is a factor for peace, stability and prosperity".50% of EU citizens believe that asserting the political and diplomatic importance of the EU around the worldis a priority, against 38% who disagree.
When it comes to the Union's priority to complete the preparations for the introduction of the singlecurrency , we find that 67% of EU citizens agree with this, against 25% who don't. Public opinion to the eurois analysed in more detail in Chapter 4.
When it comes to enlargement and its necessary preparations , we find that only 27% of Europeansregard welcoming new members as a priority. However, the priority to reform the Union's institutions and theway they work receives broader support: 49% regard it as a priority, against 36% who disagree. Publicopinion to enlargement is the focus of Chapter 5.
3.7. Support for joint EU decision-making
In order to measure the extent to which the public supports community action in various policy areas, theEurobarometer includes a question which asks whether decisions should be taken at the national or EUlevel. The question also taps into people's views on sovereignty. Furthermore, it enables us to see to whatextent people apply the principle of subsidiarity, which is based on the notion that the EU should focus onmatters that cannot be effectively handled at a lower level.
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The question lists 18 policy areas over which the Union has, to varying degrees, decision-makingcompetencies. On average, 57% of people support joint EU decision-making in these areas and EUdecision-making is favoured over national decision-making in 14 of the 18 areas.
SUPPORT FOR JOINT EU DECISION-MAKINGBY COUNTRY
CountryAverage level ofsupport for EU
decision-making
Number of areas where EUdecision-making is more
popular than nationaldecision-making
(18 areas maximum)
Italy 67% 18Belgium 64% 15
The Netherlands 63% 14Spain 63% 13
Greece 62% 14France 60% 14EU15 57% 14
Germany 57% 14Luxembourg 56% 14
Ireland 54% 13Austria 52% 11
Portugal 49% 11Denmark 46% 10
United Kingdom 45% 8Sweden 44% 9Finland 42% 8
Once more, the results identify Italy as a nation of EU supporters. Not only do we find the highest level ofsupport for EU decision-making in Italy; it is also the only country where joint EU decision-making is favouredover national decision-making in all the policy areas covered in the survey. It seems that part of the pro-European attitude of Italians is due to a feeling that the European Union offers a more promising form ofgovernment. Consequently, Italians place less importance on their country's sovereignty than people inother countries do. In those countries where national sovereignty is important to people, the public prefers amore restricted role for the EU in the decision-making process. Thus, we find that support for EU decision-making is lowest in Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark. However, this may be the righttime to point out that the Danes are in many respects less Eurosceptic than is often claimed. Although theyclearly do not want a United States of Europe, they do identify many positive aspects of their membership tothe European Union.
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18 Policy areas - EU15National or joint EU decision-making
72%
72%
71%
70%
70%
67%
66%
65%
64%
58%
57%
55%
51%
50%
38%
37%
35%
35%
21%
24%
21%
24%
25%
28%
31%
30%
29%
37%
40%
37%
41%
44%
55%
56%
60%
61%
EU National
Fight against drugs
Information about the EU
Science+technology research
Foreign Policy
Protection of the environment
Regional support
Fight against unemployment
Political asylum rules
Currency
Immigration policy
Defence
Humanitarian aid
Agriculture & fishing policy
Basic rules for broadcasting and press
Cultural policy
Health and Social welfare
Education
Fight against poverty and socialexclusion
Percentages "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 3.7Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
As one would expect, the majority of people believe it is the joint responsibility of the European UnionMember States to take decisions about how information about the European Union, its policies andinstitutions should be handled. However, the point to make here is that the graph above shows that people'sopinions towards EU decision-making appear to be based on the subsidiarity principle. People make adistinction between areas, which are more likely to affect them directly, and areas that are more removedfrom their daily lives. As usual, highest support for EU joint decision-making goes to areas which are lesslikely to affect people directly or which transcend national borders such as the fight against drugs, foreignpolicy, research and humanitarian aid. On the other hand, the majority of Europeans want the nationalgovernments to decide in areas that concern them more directly such as health and social welfare,education, cultural policy and broadcasting rules for the media. One policy area where people deviate fromthe notion of subsidiarity is currency. Contrary to what one would expect on the basis of this principle, 67%of Europeans believe that currency issues should be decided jointly by the EU. This finding points towidespread support for Economic and Monetary Union. (For individual country results, see table 3.9)
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3.8. Support for key issues
The Eurobarometer is used to gauge public opinion towards a number of key issues of the European Union.Some of the issues are clear cut policy matters while others relate to democratic processes which govern theway the European Union functions.
87%
75%
74%
73%
69%
66%
64%
64%
55%
6%
13%
10%
8%
14%
16%
18%
25%
21%
For Against
(EU15)
Support for key issues
Teach in schools howthe EU works
Common defence and securitypolicy
The Commission should haveParliament's support or resign
Common Foreign Policy
EU to support European TV and filmproduction against US and Japanese
The European Central Bank has tobe accountable for its decisions tothe European Parliament
EU should be responsible only formatters which national, regional andlocal governments can not deal with
There has to be a European CentralBank which is independent of theMember States
There has to be one single currency,the euro
Percentages "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 3.8Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
In all 15 Member States, there is widespread agreement that children should be taught in school about theway European Union institutions work, with support levels ranging from 96% in Greece and Sweden to 80%in Austria. Although a majority of Europeans are in favour of having a film and television policy whichsupports European productions over American and Japanese, support is lower than it is for the other issuesincluded in the survey. However, opinions differ significantly from country to country, with support levelsranging from 81% in Greece to 40% in Denmark and Sweden26.
26It should be noted that quite a few people lack an opinion on this matter.
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We find that support for the other policy issues relates more strongly to how people generally feel about theEuropean Union. Thus, we find that support for a common defence policy is highest in Italy, Greece,Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France and lowest in Sweden and Finland. Support levels are also belowaverage in Ireland, which has traditionally taken on a neutral position in international conflicts. The notion ofa common foreign policy is most favoured by people in Greece and least popular in Sweden, while supportfor the EMU policies is highest in Italy and lowest in the UK.
On the other hand, we find that in countries with more Eurosceptic people, support for the democraticprocesses listed in the questionnaire is equally, if not more, widespread. For instance, we find high levels ofsupport in Denmark and Sweden for the notion that the European Central Bank should be accountable for itsdecisions to the European Parliament, despite the fact that a significant proportion of people in thesecountries is against the euro. The fear that the European Union has too much power and the feeling thatthere are insufficient measures to control these powers is one of the reasons that makes people in theScandinavian countries Eurosceptic. Thus, people in these countries place great value in democraticprocesses. (Table 3.10)
In order to provide a general impression of support levels in each of the countries, we have calculated anaverage by summing up the percentage of favourable responses for each policy issue and dividing this bythe total number of issues (9). Because average results always conceal some information, we also show thedifference between the issue that receives the highest percentage support and the issue that receives thelowest percentage support. This way one can see whether the average is influenced by extremes. Oneshould also bear in mind that people who do not support an issue are not necessarily against it, but that theymay lack an opinion. Equally, low support levels may be a direct result of high levels of 'don't know'responses and thus do not necessarily convey high opposition levels.
SUPPORT FOR KEY ISSUESBY COUNTRY
Country Average level ofsupport
Spread between highest andlowest level of % support
Greece 83% 21The Netherlands 76% 51
Luxembourg 76% 28Italy 76% 35
France 75% 33Spain 72% 20EU15 70% 32
Ireland 69% 38Belgium 69% 36Germany 69% 35Finland 68% 39
Denmark 64% 51Austria 63% 33
Sweden 60% 56United Kingdom 58% 47
Portugal 58% 34
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Since the measurement of support for key issues has been a regular feature of the Eurobarometer for someyears, it is also possible to see how support for each of the issues has evolved over time.
SUPPORT FOR KEY ISSUES - TRENDS FROM 1995 TO 1998
Theme S95EB 43
A95EB 44
S96EB 45
A96EB 46
S97EB 47
A97EB 48
S98EB 49
A98EB 50
EMU
Singlecurrency 52 53 51 51 47 51 60 64
EuropeanCentral Bank
NA* NA NA NA NA NA 64 69
Common defence and foreign policy
Defence 75 73 60 68 68 69 73 75
Foreign 67 69 66 64 63 63 63 66
Democratic processes
EP to supportCommission
70 72 71 70 69 69 73 73
Subsidiarity 55 63 64 61 60 60 63 64
ECBaccountable toEP
NA NA NA NA NA NA 71 74
Education and Culture
Teach inschools aboutEU
84 86 84 84 87 85 86 87
Support for EUTV & Filmproduction
64 66 59 64 62 60 57 55
* NA = Not asked
In 1998, we witnessed a pronounced increase in support levels for the single currency. While we can not yetspeak of a trend, it appears that support for the European Central Bank, which is linked to support for theeuro, is also on the rise. Support levels for the other key issues have been relatively stable over the years,although we do notice a trend towards less support for European film and television productions.
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3.9. European identity in 1998
Although one can still not speak of the existence of a truly European identity, the majority of EU citizens feelsto some extent European. However, since this is an issue where opinions differ greatly between countries,generalisations can be deceiving.
Percentage 'don't know' not shown
European and National Identity
23
29
35
34
40
43
44
46
50
52
49
51
53
56
60
62
45
56
49
53
51
43
41
37
46
42
37
42
42
36
34
27
13
8
9
6
6
7
6
9
3
3
6
4
4
3
3
4
L
I
F
E
NL
EU 15
B
D
GR
DK
A
IRL
FIN
P
S
UK
% European only % European and nationality% Nationality and European % Nationality only
15
7
6
4
5
4
6
4
1
3
4
2
5
NET DIFFERENCE
50
40
30
29
19
11
9
4
0
-4
-2
-4
-6
-14
-21
-26
1
1
3
Feeling European vsNationality only
2
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.9Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Because Luxembourg contains a high proportion of citizens from other EU countries, we once again find thatpeople in this country are most likely to feel European only. However, at 15%, these people represent only aminority. In all other countries, 10% or less of the population feel European only. Nonetheless, there are 7countries where people who feel to some extent European are in the majority. Apart from Luxembourg(73%), these countries are Italy (69%), France (65%), Spain (63%), the Netherlands (59%), Belgium (53%)and Germany (50%). In Greece, the population is equally split between people who feel to some extentEuropean (50%) and people who feel only Greek (50%). In the other 7 countries, people who identify onlywith their own nationality are in the majority, although in Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Finland, this majorityis very small. The only three countries where national identity is clearly the prevalent sentiment are the UK(62%), Sweden (60%) and, to a slightly lesser extent, Portugal (56%). (Table 3.11a)
Whether people feel European or not is also strongly influenced by a number of socio-demographic factors.It is first of all clearly a generational issue with people who came into adulthood prior to the 1950'ssignificantly less likely to feel to some extent European than people who grew up after the first EuropeanTreaty was signed. At the moment, it also still appears to be an issue of age, meaning that as peoplebecome older they tend to identify more strongly with their own country. Education is another importantfactor, although as we have stated several times before, education inter-relates with age. Thus, we find thatpeople who left school by the age of 15 or younger - of whom many belong to the older generation - are mostlikely to have a strong sense of national identity, while this is least likely among people who are still studying.However, there are also clear differences between people who left school by the age of 19 and those whostayed in school longer, where age plays less of a role. On the economic activity scale, we find thatmanagers are most likely to feel European while retired people and people who look after the home are mostlikely to identify solely with their own nationality (again, older people are over-represented in thesecategories).
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The most important factor is how people feel about the European Union in general. Even though age,education and occupation all play a role in determining this attitude, it is nonetheless striking to find that 74%of people who regard their country's membership as a bad thing identify solely with their own nationality,compared to only 27% of people who regard their country's membership as a good thing. This findingexplains a great deal about the variations in the opinions that we have discussed in this chapter. (Table3.11b)
This Eurobarometer has also for the first time measured whether people agree or disagree that there is aEuropean cultural identity that is shared by all Europeans. The answers to this question show that peoplemake a clear distinction between feeling European and the existence of a European cultural identity so thatwe do not obtain the familiar country pattern, although we do find lower levels of agreement among nationswhere there are more Eurosceptic people.27
There is a European cultural identity shared by all Europeans
5045 44 44
41 41 40 39 38 37 37 36 36 34 3328
4336
4144 44
4853
57
4946
58
35
60 59
50
58
GR IRL A D I L F DK EU15 B NL P FIN S E UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Completely + slightly agree % Slightly + completely disagree
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 3.10Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
At a demographic level, we find less pronounced differences than we typically do. Rather, we find that thelevel of 'don't know' responses varies significantly, with younger well educated people with higheroccupational positions more likely to have an opinion than older less well educated people with less highoccupational positions. When it comes to general attitudes to the EU, we do find the typical distinction, with49% of people who support their country's membership to the EU agreeing, compared to only 17% of thosewho regard their country's membership as a bad thing. (Tables 3.12a+b)
27 People were offered 5 answer options: completely agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, completely disagree anddon't know.
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3.10. Awareness and importance of the Council Presidency
In the last section of this chapter, we look at both the awareness and the perceived importance of thePresidency of the Council of Ministers, which at the time of the survey was for the first time held by Austria28.
As the following graph shows, awareness levels among the Austrians were quite high, especially consideringthat this was the first time that Austria, which joined the European Union in 1995, held the Presidency.Around 2 in 3 Austrians believed it was important that their country held the Presidency.
Awareness and importance of theCouncil Presidency
82%
82%
82%
82%
81%
81%
79%
77%
74%
72%
71%
70%
68%
66%
63%
62%
55%
54%
52%
51%
43%
41%
41%
36%
22%
80%
75%
74%
71%
85%
57%
61%
65%
73%
78%
81%
75%
68%
73%
72%
61%
57%
73%
64%
56%
64%
45%
64%
63%
59%
GR 1994 (EB 41)
L 1991 (EB 35)
DK 1993 (EB 39)
NL 1997 (EB 47)
P 1992 (EB 37)
NL 1991 (EB 36)
DK 1987 (EB 28)
A 1998 (EB 50)
GR 1988 (EB 30)
E 1989 (EB 31)
IRL 1996 (EB 46)
IRL 1990 (EB 33)
L 1997 (EB 48)
E 1995 (EB 44)
I 1996 (EB 45)
B 1993 (EB 40)
D 1988 (EB 29)
I 1990 (EB 34)
UK 1992 (EB 38)
B 1987 (EB 27)
F 1989 (EB 32)
D 1994 (EB 42)
F 1995 (EB 43)
UK 1998 (EB49)
UK 1986 (EB 26)
Awareness Importance
Not aware/not important and'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 3.11
Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
28 Each Member State of the European Union holds, in turn, the Presidency for a period of six months. Since 1986, theEB has fielded the question in the respective country.
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62
4. Current policy issues: the euro
In this chapter we look at public support for the euro, as measured in the period just prior to its introduction.We also look at the perceived effects of the euro, how people would like the transition in the year 2002 toeuro notes and coins to take place, how much people know about the euro, whether and from whom theyhave already received information and where they would like to find information about the change-over to theeuro.
4.1. Support for the single currency
The Eurobarometer has measured public support for the single currency since 1993, when the MaastrichtTreaty established that the single currency would be introduced by 1 January 1999. While only around halfof EU citizens were in favour of the single currency until 1997, support levels increased significantly in 1998.The latest results show the highest level of support to date, with 64% of EU citizens in favour of the singlecurrency and only 25% against.
At the time of the survey, it had already been decided that the euro-zone would initially consist of 11 MemberStates29. The 11 euro-zone countries, i.e. those that introduced the euro on 1 January 1999, are Austria,Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.Throughout the remainder of this report we will refer to the euro-zone as the "EURO 11" countries. The 4countries outside of the euro-zone - Denmark, Greece, Sweden and the United Kingdom - will be referred toas the "pre-in" countries. The results show that people in the "EURO 11" countries (70%) tend to be moresupportive of the single currency than people in the "pre-in" countries (42%) are.
29 The Heads of State and Government of the European Union Member States took this decision on 2 May 1998 duringthe special European Council held in Brussels.
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Looking first at the "EURO 11" countries shows that support levels are highest in Italy (88%), Luxembourgand the Netherlands (both 79%). In four further "EURO 11" countries, around 3 in 4 people are in favour ofthe single currency, while in 4 other countries more than half of the population supports it. Highestopposition levels are noted in Finland and Germany (both 32%), although these are significantly lower thanthey were in the spring of 1998.
Looking next at the "pre-in" countries shows that people in Greece (75%) are significantly more likely tosupport the euro than people in Denmark, the UK and Sweden are. In these three countries there are morepeople who oppose the euro than people who support it. However, in Sweden (-2) the gap betweenopponents and supporters is very small.
The euro: For or against?
88%
79%
79%
75%
75%
75%
74%
74%
70%
64%
61%
58%
57%
54%
44%
42%
41%
36%
6%
14%
18%
11%
13%
19%
16%
20%
20%
25%
32%
18%
28%
32%
46%
44%
53%
48%
IL
NLIRL
EGR
BF
EURO11
EU15
FINPADS
"PRE-INS"DKUK
For Against
NET RESULTS
82
65
61
64
62
56
58
54
39
40
29
-2
-2
-12
-12
29
50
Percentage "don't know" not shown
22
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.2aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Since the spring of 1998, support for the euro increased in 14 of the Member States, with no changerecorded in Luxembourg. Among the "EURO 11" countries, the largest positive increases are noted inFinland (+8), Ireland (+7), the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Portugal (all +6). With the exception ofAustria, where no significant change is noted, opposition levels dropped in all of the "EURO 11" countries.Support for the euro also increased in all of the "pre-in" countries. The negative difference between theproportion of the public that supports the euro and the proportion of the public that opposes the euro is nowsignificantly smaller in Sweden (-2 instead of -11), Denmark (-12 instead of -23) and the UK (-12 instead of-15) than it was in the spring of 1998. (Table 4.1a)
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64
The euro: For or against?
8883
7979
7973
7568
7572
7567
7468
7468
7066
6460
6153
5852
5756
5451
4439
4239
4134
3634
68
1418
1823
1114
1317
1917
1623
2025
2023
2528
3238
1822
2827
3236
4650
4446
5357
4849
I
L
NL
IRL
E
GR
B
F
EURO11
EU15
FIN
P
A
D
S
"PRE-INS"
DK
UK
FOR AGAINST
% For in Autumn 1998
% For in Spring 1998
% Against in Autumn 1998
% Against in Spring 1998
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork: Oct - Nov 1998Eurobarometer 49 - Fieldwork: Apr - May 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig 4.2b Percentage "don't know" not shown
88
The analysis by standard demographic variables shows that men (68%) are still more supportive of the eurothan women (60%), although the gap between the genders continues to narrow. Support increased andopposition decreased among all age groups and all educational groups in the population. For the first time,opposition levels have fallen below 20% among some of these groups, namely people who stayed in schooluntil the age of 20 or older (18%) and students (19%). Among the various occupational groups, managersand self-employed people continue to be most likely to support the euro. Opposition levels among these twooccupational groups have also fallen below the 20% mark for the first time. Due to significant increases insupport levels among manual workers (+7), this group is no longer the least supportive. Retired people andpeople who look after the home are the only two groups where opposition levels have increased, albeit notsignificantly.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
65
The euro: for or against ?by gender - EU15
68
65
64
60
60
56
24
27
25
28
26
30
Men
EU15
Women
Pour Contre
% For in Autumn 1998 % Against in Autumn 1998
% For in Spring 1998 % Against in Spring 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.2c
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998Eurobarometer 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998
Percentage "don't know" not shown
The gap between those who regard their country's membership as a good thing (84%) and those who regardtheir country's membership as a bad thing (24%) remains very large. (Table 4.1b)
4.2. Perceived effects of the euro
Over the years, people have become more optimistic about the perceived effects of the euro. In 1996, 33%still thought that the euro would have more disadvantages than advantages; nowadays, only 28% of peopleshare this view. As in 1996, people are most likely to think that the euro will make life easier for people whotravel across borders (86%), make it easier to shop around Europe as all prices will be comparable (83%)and eliminate charges for changing from one currency to another (81%). Furthermore, 62% of peoplebelieve that the euro will cut down the cost of doing business between monetary union member states and48% believe that it will reduce turmoil in international currency markets. However, as in 1996, far fewerpeople believe that the euro will create faster economic growth (37%) or more jobs (29%).
Compared to 1996, there are generally fewer people who believe the euro will have negative effects. Onlyaround a quarter now think that it will increase the volatility in international currency markets (24%; -2) andbring higher inflation (26%; -3). Around a third of the public believes the euro will increase the differencesbetween the rich and the poor (33%; -4), lead countries to lose control over their economic policy (35%; -5)and lead countries to lose too much of their identity (39%; -2). However, the view that the euro will makeeveryday shopping more difficult became more widespread (44%; +5).
Standard Eurobarometer 50
66
8685
8380
8177
6262
4849
4439
3941
3735
3540
3337
2927
2833
2629
2426
79
912
913
1719
2325
4448
4645
4046
4340
4541
5255
4845
3535
3535
Make life easier for people who travel across bord
Make it easier to shop around Europe as all prices
Eliminate charges for changing from one currency t
Cut down the cost of doing business between moneta
Reduce turmoil in international currency markets
Make everyday shopping more difficult as new price
Imply that our country will lose too much of its i
Create faster economic growth
Imply that our country will lose control over its
Result in increasing the difference between the ri
Create more jobs
Have more disadvantages than advantages
Result in higher inflation
Result in increasing volatility in international c
Perceived effects of the euroDo you believe the euro will or will not...?
(EU15)
Make life easier for people who travelacross borders
Make it easier to shop around Europeas all prices will be comparable
Eliminate charges for changing fromone currency to another
Cut down the cost of doing businessbetween monetary union member states
Reduce turmoil in international currencymarkets
Make everyday shopping more difficult asnew prices will be harder to understand
Imply that our country will lose too muchof its identity
Create faster economic growth
Imply that our country will lose controlover its economic policy
Result in increasing the differencebetween the rich and the poor
Create more jobs
Have more disadvantages than advantages
Result in higher inflation
Result in increasing volatility in internationalcurrency markets
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork: Oct - Nov 1998Eurobarometer 46 - Fieldwork: Oct - Nov 1996
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.3 Percentage "don't know" not shown
YES NO
% Yes in Autumn 1998
%Yes in Autumn 1996
% No in Autumn 1998
% No in Autumn 1996
The following section describes the country pattern for each of the perceived effects of the euro, beginningwith the positive ones.
Positive effects
1. Travelling across borders : Agreement that the euro will make life easier for people who do this iswidespread, ranging from 97% in Greece to 79% in Germany.
2. Shopping around Europe : The view that this will be easier as prices will be comparable is held bymore than 9 in 10 people in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. At 73%, people inPortugal are least likely to hold this view, although this is partly due to a higher than average occurrenceof "don't know" responses (18%).
3. Exchange charges : At 87%, Italians are most likely to believe that the euro will eliminate thesecharges. At least 7 in 10 people in the other Member States share this view.
4. Cost of doing business : The view that the euro will reduce the cost of doing business in monetaryunion countires ranges from 78% in Denmark to 54% in Spain. In Spain and Portugal, more than 3 in 10respondents lack an opinion on this issue.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
67
5. International currency markets : The view that there will be less turmoil as a result of the euro is heldby 73% of people in Luxembourg. Other countries where more than half of the population believes thisto be the case are Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Italy. The level of "don'tknow" responses is high and ranges from 15% in Denmark to 52% in Portugal.
6. Economic growth : Greece (60%) and Italy (54%) are the only countries where more than half of thepopulation believes that the euro will create faster economic growth. People in the UK (27%) andGermany (28%) are least likely to share this view.
7. Job creation : People in Ireland (48%) and Italy (43%) are most likely to believe the euro will createmore jobs while people in Germany (21%) are least likely to share this view.
Negative effects
1. Everyday shopping : The view that this will become more difficult as new prices will be harder tounderstand is most widespread in France (59%), Belgium (58%) and Portugal (51%) and leastwidespread in Denmark (26%) and the Netherlands (28%).
2. National identity : At 61%, people in the UK are most likely to think that the euro will cause their countryto lose too much of its identity. In all other countries, less than half of the population believes this willhappen, with people in Italy (21%) and Spain (22%) least likely to hold this view.
3. Economic policy : People in the UK (61%) are also most likely to think that their country will lose controlover its economic policy as a result of the euro, Sweden being the only other country where this view isvoiced by half of the people (50%). People in Italy (20%), Portugal and Luxembourg (both 21%) areleast likely to believe this will happen.
4. Inequality : People in Greece (46%) and Germany (43% - 59% in the former Democratic Republic ofGermany) are most likely to believe that the euro will increase the difference between the rich and thepoor. People in Italy (19%) and the Netherlands (26%) are least likely to share this view.
5. Disadvantages : The view that the euro will have more disadvantages than advantages is held by nearly4 in 10 people in the UK and Germany, compared to less than 2 in 10 people in Italy, the Netherlands,Portugal and Greece.
6. Inflation : People in Ireland (41%), the UK (38%) and Germany (36%) are most likely to think that theeuro will result in higher inflation, while people in Finland (13%), Italy (14%), Portugal (16%) and Spain(17%) are least likely to share this view, although more than 50% of people in the latter two countrieslack an opinion on this issue.
7. International currency markets : The view that the euro will result in increasing volatility is held bymore than 4 in 10 people in Denmark and Sweden, compared to less than 2 in 10 people in Portugal,Finland, Spain, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. The propoprtion of "don't know" responses is high,ranging from 21% in Finland to 57% in Portugal. (See also Table 4.2)
4.3. How should notes and coins be introduced in 2002
The euro notes and coins will be introduced on 1 January 2002 while the national currencies must bewithdrawn from circulation by July of that year at the latest. The countries involved will need to decide howthey will go about withdrawing their national currency from circulation. The Eurobarometer askedrespondents whether they thought this should happen overnight so that the euro would be the only legaltender on the 1st of January 2002 or whether there should be a transitional period during which both thenational currency and the euro would be legal tender. Respondents who preferred a transitional period werethen asked whether the transitional period should last up to 6 weeks, over 6 weeks and up to 3 months orover 3 months and up to 6 months. Although the questions were formulated slightly differently in the "pre-in"countries, where the debate is more hypothetical, it is clear that throughout the European Union peopleprefer a transitional period which should last as long as is legally possible.
In the "EURO 11" countries, preference for a transitional period ranges from 85% in Italy to 57% inLuxembourg. In the "pre-in" countries, it ranges from 87% in Sweden and Greece to 74% in the UK. (Table4.3)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
68
When euro notes and coins are introduced in 2002,how would you like it to happen?
8581 81
7673 73 72 71 71 69
6257
914 16 17 18 20 20 19
2629
24
37
I E FIN P IRL EURO11 B A F NL D L0
20
40
60
80
100%
Overnight, on the 1st of January 2002, thenational currency will be totally withdrawn fromcirculation and replaced by the euro
With a transitional period when you can still pay in nationalcurrency but where you can already get your change in euros,and vice versa
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.4aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
87 87
77 75 74
811 12
21
13
S GR "PRE-INS" DK UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
When euro notes and coins are introduced in 2002in participating countries
how do you think it should happen?
Overnight, on the 1st of January 2002, thenational currencies will be totally withdrawnfrom circulation and replaced by the euro
With a transitional period when you can still use in nationalcurrencies but where one can already get change in euros,and vice versa
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.4bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
69
Seventy-one percent of the respondents in the "EURO 11" countries who want a transitional period believe itshould last up to six months (i.e. as long as is legally possible); in the "pre-in" countries this view is held by74% of the respondents who want a transitional period. 19% of respondents in both the "EURO 11" and the"pre-in" countries said the euro and the national currencies should be in circulation for more than 6 weeksbut less than 3 months, while less than 10% of all respondents believe the transitional period should last lessthan 6 weeks. (Table 4.4)
How long would you like the period of dual circulation to last?(Asked of those who would like a transitional period)
Overnight20%
Don't know8%
Transitional period73%
1 to 6 weeks 6%
Over 6 weeks - up to3 months
19%
Over 3 months - upto 6 months
71%
Don't know 3%
(EURO11)
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.5aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
How long would you like the period of dual circulation to last?(Asked of those who would like a transitional period)
Overnight12%
Don't know10%
Transitional period77%
1 to 6 weeks 4%
Over 6 weeks - up to3 months
19%
Over 3 months - upto 6 months
74%
Don't know 3%
("PRE - INS")
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.5bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
70
4.4. Knowledge and information about the single currency
The decision to call the single currency "the euro" was taken by the Heads of State and Government duringthe December 1995 Madrid Council. Soon after, the Eurobarometer found that 46% of EU citizens correctlyidentified the "euro" as the name of the single currency during the first few months of 199630. The latestEurobarometer survey shows that knowledge levels have risen significantly since early 1996, with 83% of EUcitizens now saying that the single currency is called the euro.
Do you know the name of the single currency?
67
59
67
44 4651
67
32
46
28
43
32 3135
1926
95 95 94 92 92 91 91 8983
80 7976
6964
4946
D F L E NL B A I EU15 P S FIN IRL DK GR UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Saying euro in Winter 1996 % Saying euro in Autumn 1998
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.6
Source: Survey no. 44 Mega - Fieldwork Jan - Mar 1996Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
In 7 of the 15 Member States, more than 9 in 10 people now know the name of the single currency. These 7countries are all part of the euro-zone, where knowledge levels are generally higher than in the "pre-in"countries. Ireland (69%) is the only "EURO 11" country where less than 7 in 10 people know the name of thesingle currency. In the "pre-in" countries, knowledge levels range from 79% in Sweden to 46% in the UK.The latter is, together with Greece (49%), the only country where less than half of the population is able tocorrectly name the single currency.
The largest increases in knowledge levels are noted in "EURO 11" countries - Italy (+57), followed byPortugal (+52%), Spain (+48), the Netherlands (+46), Finland (+44) and Belgium (+40) - while the smallestincrease, albeit still quite large, is noted in the UK (+20), a "pre-in" country. (Table 4.5a)
The demographic analyses indicate that, despite some differences, knowledge of the single currency's nameis high among all socio-demographic groups in the population. Even three in four people who feel they knowvery little about the European Union know that the single currency is called the euro. (Table 4.5b)
30 Eurobarometer 44.2bis - fieldwork : January to March, 1996.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
71
Respondents were also presented with a short knowledge quiz consisting of a number of statements, whichthey had to identify as being either true or false.
Euro quiz% correctly or wrongly identifying whether statement is true or false
(EU15)
84
70
70
54
45
42
7
7
13
24
36
37
The euro will be used to pay for goods and service
Once there is a euro, there will be a European cen
The countries that will take part in the single Eu
The euro will still need be changed into the curre
All of the member countries of the EU will take pa
Notes and coins in euros will be introduced on Jan
% Correct answer % Wrong answer
The euro will be used to pay for goods andservices in all participating countries (True)
The countries that will take part in the singleEuropean currency from the start have alreadybeen chosen (True)
Once there is a euro, there will be a EuropeanCentral Bank (True)
Notes and coins in euros will be introduced onJanuary 1st 1999 (False)
All of the member countries of the EU will takepart in the euro from the start (False)
The euro will still need to be changed into the currencyof another participating Member State in order to pay forgoods and services bought in that Member State (False)
Percentage "don't know" not shown
84
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.7Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The results show that more than 8 in 10 respondents correctly identified the statement "the euro will be usedto pay for goods and services in all participating countries" as true. 7 in 10 respondents were able tocorrectly identify the other 2 "true" statements. The "false" statements proved to be more difficult forrespondents. Just over half knew that it is not true that currency exchanges will still be necessary inparticipating Member States, while less than half knew that it is not true that all countries would introduce theeuro from the start and that euro notes and coins will be introduced in 1999. (Table 4.6)
Looking at variations in knowledge levels between the 15 Member States shows that on average more than7 in 10 people in the Netherlands, Finland and Luxembourg answered the items on the quiz correctly. Oneof the reasons why knowledge levels are on average quite high in Denmark and Sweden is that nearly allrespondents in these two countries knew that it is not true that all of the member countries of the EU will takepart in the euro from the start. In fact, Swedes and Danes were much more likely to know that this would notbe the case than people in the other 2 "pre-in" countries. Portugal is the only country where, on average,less than half of the respondents answered the items on the quiz correctly.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
72
Average % giving correct answers onthe euro quiz by country
Country Average % ofcorrect answers
The Netherlands 77%
Finland 74%
Luxembourg 71%
Denmark 69%
France 68%
Sweden 66%
Germany 64%
Austria 62%
EU15 61%
Belgium 60%
Italy 57%
Greece 56%
Ireland 56%
Spain 55%
The UK 53%
Portugal 48%
The average score on the euro quiz is a good predictor of how high levels of feeling informed about the euroare in a country. In the 3 countries where people did best on the euro quiz, levels of information about theeuro are highest while they are lowest in the country where people did least well on the quiz.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
73
43 43
34
42
33 31 32
42
2825
2217 17 15 16
13 12 11
6360
5247 47 45 44
40 3834
2825 24
18 17 17 15 15
L NL FIN A F B D DK EURO11
EU15 E IRL I "PRE-INS"
S UK GR P0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Very well + well informed in Spring 1998 % Very well + well informed in Autumn 1998
Feeling informed about the single currency
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.8
Source: Survey no 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Levels of feeling very well and well informed about the euro tend to be significantly higher in the "EURO 11"countries than in the "pre-in" countries and it is in the euro-zone countries where we note the most significantincreases since the question was last asked in the spring of 1998. At 63%, levels of feeling informed arenow highest in Luxembourg (+20), followed by the Netherlands (60%; +17) and Finland (52%; +18). Apartfrom Denmark (40%), less than 20% of people living in the "pre-in" countries feel well informed. Portugal isthe only "EURO 11" country where levels of feeling informed are this low. (Table 4.7a)
There are a host of other factors which help explain levels of feeling informed. The first relates to howstrongly people feel about the European Union in general. The results indicate that 48% of people whowould feel very sorry if the EU were scrapped feel well informed, compared to only 25% of people who wouldfeel indifferent if they were told the EU had been scrapped. Similarly, 43% of people who feel their country'smembership to the European Union is a good thing feel well informed about the euro, compared to only 26%of those who consider their country's membership as neither good nor bad.
Furthermore, as the table below shows, 76% of the people who feel they know a lot about the EU feel wellinformed about the euro, compared to only 16% of those who feel they know very little about the EU. Othersocio-economic groups that are more likely than the average EU citizen to feel well informed are people whoscore high on the opinion leadership index, managers and those who stayed in full-time education until theage of 20 or older. (See also table 4.7b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
74
% feeling well informed about thesingle currency
(EU15)
Group %
Score 8-10 on knowledge scale 76Opinion leadership index: ++ 54
Managers 53Educated up to age 20+ 51
Media use index:+++ 43Score 4-7 on knowledge scale 43
Opinion leadership index: + 42Men 41
Employees 41Students 39
Happy with knowledge of EUAged 40-54 38Aged 25-39 36
Self-employed 35Educated to age 16-19 35
Average for EU15 34Media use index: ++ 34
Aged 15-24 34Manual workers 32
Opinion leadership index: - 31Aged 55+ 29
Unemployed 29Retired 29
Really desire info about EUWomen 27
House persons 24Media use index: -- 23Media use index: --- 22
Educated to age 15 or younger 21Opinion leadership index: -- 18
Score 1-3 on knowledge scale 16
Whether one feels informed about the euro or not also depends on whether one has already receivedinformation about the euro. Besides giving the breakdown in levels of feeling informed about the euro for theEU population as a whole, the following table shows the difference between those who say they have andthose who say they have not received any information about the euro. As can be seen, 45% of people whoreceived information about the euro feel well informed, compared to only 17% of people who did not receiveany information. Among the latter group, 82% feel not very well or not at all well informed about the euro.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
75
Relationship between receiving information about the euro andfeeling well informed about it
Received information about thesingle currency
EU15 Yes NoHow well informed do you
feel about the singlecurrency?
% % %
Very well+ well 34 45 17
Not very well+not at all well 65 54 82
Don't know 1 1 1
Total 100 100 100
The following graph shows the extent to which people living in the 15 Member States say they have receivedinformation about the euro. As can be seen, more than 9 in 10 people in Finland and Luxembourg say theyhave received information compared to only around 1 person in 10 in the UK. Clearly people living in theeuro-zone countries are far more likely to have received information than people living in the countries thatdid not introduce the euro on 1 January 1999. Furthermore, the proportion of people who receivedinformation increased significantly in most of the "EURO 11" countries (NL: +26; IRL: +18; B: +15; I: +14),while increases of a far smaller scale are noted in the "pre-in" countries with a drop noted in Denmark.
8589
61 60
6963 62 64 66
34
53 51 51 52
41
20 21
8
93 91
76 74 73 71 70 68 68
60 60 58
51 50
4138
25
13
FIN L B I D F EURO11
A E NL EU15 GR S DK P IRL "PRE-INS"
UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Yes in Spring 1998 % Yes in Autum 1998
Have people received any information about the single currency?
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.9a
Source: Survey no 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
76
In some countries, a large increase since the spring of 1998 in the proportion of people who sat they havereceived information about the euro is matched by a large increase in levels of feeling informed. This isparticularly the case in the Netherlands (+26/+17) but is also the case in Belgium (+15/+14), Ireland(+18/+8), Finland (+8/+18), France (+8/+14) and Italy (+14/+7). Since the proportion of people who hadreceived information was already very high in Luxembourg in the spring of 1998, only a small insignificantincrease is noted (+2). We have already noted that levels of feeling informed increased significantly (+20).This may indicate that people started to take note of the information about the euro only when it was about tobe introduced. Denmark is the only country where a drop in the proportion of people who say they havereceived information (-2) is matched by an equal drop in levels of feeling informed.
What happens to levels of feeling informed when theproportion of people who have received information
changes?
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
People who say they have received information about the euro% increase since Spring 1998
Peo
ple
who
feel
wel
linf
orm
edab
outt
heeu
ro%
incr
ease
sinc
eS
prin
g19
98 B
DK
Source: Eurobarometer Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
D
GR
S
A
EU15
F
EI
NL
P
L
IRL
FIN
UK
Standard Eurobarometer 50
77
Looking at the sources from which people have received information about the euro shows that the televisionis the most popular, having provided information to around 4 in 10 respondents. More than a quarter ofrespondents have received information from financial institutions and through the written press. The radiohas provided information to 16% of the respondents31.
From whom have people received informationabout the single currency?
(EU15)*
39%
27%
26%
16%
9%
7%
4%
4%
4%
4%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
Television
Banks,saving banks
Newspapers, magazines
Radio
Letter / information left in mail box
Family, friends
Shop, supermarket
Workplace
National government
School, university
Local government
Internet, Teletext, Minitel
Trade union, professional organisation
Consumer organisation
Regional government
Other* Asked of those who have received information
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.9bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The next table shows that the television is the most mentioned source in 13 of the 15 Member States. InFrance it comes in second place while in the Netherlands it comes in third place, with financial institutionstaking top place in both countries. The financial institutions also make the top four in six other countrieswhich are all in the euro-zone. The written press makes the top four in all the countries, while the radiomakes the top four in all countries except France, Italy and Luxembourg. A mailed letter/information makesthe top four for the first time in 6 countries. Family and friends makes the top four in Greece and Portugal.In France, 20% of respondents received information in a shop or supermarket. It is the only country wherethis makes the top four. In Belgium, 6% of the people say they received information while shopping. In allother countries, this is the case for less than 5% of the population. (See also table 4.8)32
31 The combined total of the responses is greater than the percentage of people who have received informationbecause respondents could list any of the sources presented to them from whom they had received information.
32 It may be interesting for readers to check how frequently EU citizens watch the news on television, read the news indaily newspapers and listen to the news on the radio. This information is shown in Chapter 6.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
78
TOP FOUR MOST MENTIONED SOURCES FROM WHICH PEOPLEHAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EURO
(IN %, BY MEMBER STATE)
Belgium Luxembourg
Television 56 Television 51
Newspapers, magazines 36 Financial institutions 47
Radio 33 Newspapers, magazines 43
Financial institutions 30 Mailed letter/information 40
Denmark Netherlands
Television 40 Financial institutions 39
Newspapers, magazines 27 Newspapers, magazines 33
Radio 23 Television 32
Mailed letter/information 5 Radio 18
Germany Austria
Television 49 Television 36
Newspapers, magazines 41 Financial institutions 31
Financial institutions 38 Newspapers, magazines 30
Radio 23 Radio 24
Greece Portugal
Television 50 Television 33
Newspapers, magazines 14 Newspapers, magazines 10
Radio 10 Family & friends 8
Family & friends 9 Radio 8
Spain Finland
Television 51 Television 73
Financial institutions 27 Newspapers, magazines 60
Newspapers, magazines 25 Radio 41
Radio 19 Mailed letter/information 35
France Sweden
Financial institutions 52 Television 42
Television 36 Newspapers, magazines 37
Newspapers, magazines 22 Radio 24
Shop, supermarket 20 Place of education 4
Ireland United Kingdom
Television 16 Television 8
Mailed letter/information 11 Newspapers, magazines 6
Newspapers, magazines 10 Radio 3
Radio 9 The workplace 2
Italy
Television 43
Newspapers, magazines 28
Mailed letter/information 23
Financial institutions 20
Standard Eurobarometer 50
79
Looking next at the country results for the three most mentioned sources shows that the percentage ofrespondents who have received information about the euro from the television is, like in the spring of 1998,highest in Finland (73%). In the Netherlands (+13), Belgium (+9), Ireland (+7) and Greece (+5), theproportion of people who received information from the television increased significantly since the spring of1998. A very large drop is noted in Luxembourg (-24) while smaller, but still significant, drops are also notedin Italy (-9), Spain (-7), Germany and Austria (both -5). The fluctuations between the spring and autumn of1998 are no doubt caused by the timing of euro information campaigns that were launched through themedia.
Percentage of people who have received informationabout the single currency on TV
76
47
75
58
45
54
47
54
4541 43 41
34 35
19 17
95
73
5651 51 50 49
44 43 4239 40
36 3633 32
1916
8
FIN B L E GR D EURO11 I S EU15 DK A F P NL "PRE -INS"
IRL UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% in Spring 1998 % in Autumn 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.9c
Source: Survey no 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
There are hardly any respondents in the "pre-in" countries who have received information about the eurofrom a financial institution. However, there are also two "EURO 11" countries - Portugal and Ireland - whereless than 1 respondent in 10 has received information this way. Among the remaining 9 countries in theeuro-zone, the proportion ranges from 52% in France to 20% in Italy. In all these countries, large increasesare noted since the spring of 1998.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
80
Percentage of people who have received informationabout the single currency from financial institutions
39
25
1721 19
25
14
22
1510
5 4 4 3 3 1 1 0
5247
39 3834
31 31 3027 27
20
85 4 3 2 1 1
F L NL D EURO11 A FIN B EU15 E I IRL P DK S GR "PRE-INS"
UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% in Spring 1998 % in Autumn 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.9d
Source: Survey no 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Finland is the only country where more than half of the respondents have received information from thepress. At 43%, Luxembourg comes in second place, although a sharp drop is noted since the spring of 1998(-15). In the Netherlands (+12) and Belgium (+8), the proportion of people who have received informationabout the euro from the press increased significantly since the spring of 1998.
Percentage of people who have received informationabout the single currency through the press
65
58
4539
28
21
33 34 33 3428
31
2216
11 127
4
60
43 4137 36
33 31 30 28 27 26 2522
1411 10 10
6
FIN L D S B NL EURO11
A I DK EU15 E F GR "PRE-INS"
P IRL UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% in Spring 1998 % in Autumn 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.9e
Source: Survey no 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
81
Seven in ten European Union citizens are of the view that information about the euro should be availablefrom financial institutions and the television. The other media sources are also quite popular.
70
69
53
40
33
33
30
27
22
21
19
19
13
9
3
1
In banks, saving banks and the like
On television
In the press
On radio
In public offices
In schools/other places of education
In supermarkets and shops
In my letter box
In the workplace
From consumer organisations
On the Internet, Teletext, Minitel, Ceefax, etc.
In public libraries
From unions, professional organisations
From family and friends
Don't know
Somewhere else
Where should useful information on the euro and thechange-over be available?
(EU15)
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 4.10Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The following table shows, for each Member State, the top four sources where people would believeinformation about the euro should be available. In every country, financial institutions and the televisioncome in first or second place. Even in the "pre-in" countries, more than half of the public believes financialinstitutions should provide information. Thus, in the "pre-in" countries, demand is far higher than supply asless than 10 percent of respondents say they have received information this way. The proportion of peoplewho would like to receive information about the euro on television ranges from 81% in Sweden to 59% inIreland. Newspapers and magazines make the top four in all Member States with the exception of Portugal(31%). People in Sweden (72%) are most likely to believe that information should be available in the press,while this is least the case in Greece (30%). The radio makes the top four in 9 of the 15 Member States,being most popular in Sweden (64%) and least popular in Italy (26%) . Public libraries make the top four inthe Netherlands (55%) Denmark (51%) and the UK (45%). They are also quite popular in Sweden (46%). InGreece (4%), Austria (8%), Spain and Italy (both 9%), less than 10% of the public believes public librariesshould provide useful information. France (49%) and Portugal (37%) are the only two countries where shopsand supermarkets make the top four. However, demand is also quite widespread in Belgium (44%), the UK(39%) and Ireland (37%). It is least widespread in Denmark (8%) and Greece (9%). Italy is the only countrywhere places of education (39%) makes the top four. However, this source is even more popular in Sweden(57%), the Netherlands (45%), France (43%) and the UK (40%). Spain and Greece (both 17%) are the onlycountry where less than 2 in 10 people think useful information about the euro should be available in placesof education. (See also table 4.9)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
82
TOP FOUR MOST MENTIONED SOURCES WHERE PEOPLEBELIEVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EURO SHOULD BE AVAILABLE
(IN %, BY MEMBER STATE)
Belgium Luxembourg
Financial institutions 79 Financial institutions 74
Television 75 Television 64
Newspapers, magazines 55 Newspapers, magazines 55
Radio 49 Radio 48
Denmark Netherlands
Financial institutions 77 Financial institutions 83
Television 71 Television 71
Newspapers, magazines 55 Newspapers, magazines 67
Public libraries 51 Public libraries 55
Germany Austria
Financial institutions 79 Financial institutions 66
Television 71 Television 60
Newspapers, magazines 60 Newspapers, magazines 47
Radio 41 Radio 45
Greece Portugal
Television 77 Television 67
Financial institutions 51 Financial institutions 57
Public offices 31 Shop, supermarket 37
Newspapers, magazines 30 Radio 34
Spain Finland
Television 67 Television 78
Financial institutions 62 Financial institutions 69
Newspapers, magazines 43 Newspapers, magazines 64
Radio 38 Radio 50
France Sweden
Financial institutions 88 Television 81
Television 65 Financial institutions 75
Newspapers, magazines 54 Newspapers, magazines 72
Shop, supermarket 49 Radio 64
Ireland United Kingdom
Television 59 Television 69
Financial institutions 59 Financial institutions 57
Radio 44 Newspapers, magazines 54
Newspapers, magazines 42 Public libraries 45
Italy
Television 71
Financial institutions 56
Newspapers, magazines 47
Places of education 39
Standard Eurobarometer 50
83
5. Current policy issues: enlargement
As we already noted in Chapter 3, the European Union is preparing for enlargement as numerous central,eastern and southern European nations have applied for membership. In the spring of 1998, accessionnegotiations commenced with the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia.Simultaneously, the Commission set up Accession Partnerships with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romaniaand Slovakia to help speed up their preparations for membership33. In September 1998, the Maltesegovernment asked to reactivate its 1990 membership application, which the previous government suspendedin 1996. In this chapter, we look at how the public feels about each of these 12 countries becoming part ofthe European Union. We begin, however, with an assessment of people's general attitudes towardsenlargement. We also examine the importance people place on the enlargement criteria34.
5.1. Attitudes to enlargement
Although quite a few EU citizens still lack an opinion when it comes to enlargement35, it is in many respectsviewed positively. 72% believe that an increase in the number of Member States will make the EuropeanUnion a more important player on the world stage. Furthermore, 64% of EU citizens believe that enlargementwill increase the cultural richness of the European Union and that more peace and security will beguaranteed in a larger European Union. (Only 36% of people are of the opinion that their country willbecome less important as a result of enlargement.)
However, people are less optimistic when it comes to the economic aspects of enlargement. 47% of EUcitizens believe that their country will receive less financial aid from the European Union once new countrieshave joined. An equal proportion disagrees with the statement that "enlargement will not cost more toexisting member countries". Nonetheless, quite a few citizens (36%) show an altruistic side in agreeing thatfuture member countries should start to receive financial aid from the EU to help them prepare to join.Another less optimistic finding is that a substantial minority of EU citizens (35%) agree that "the morecountries there are, the more unemployment there will be" in their country.
When it comes to preparing the European Union for enlargement, the majority of the public shares the viewof the policymakers. 54% and 52%, respectively, agree that the EU must reform the way its institutions workand that the euro has to be in place before new members can join36. The individual country results areshown in Table 5.1.
33 These countries were not yet in a position to fulfil the criteria for joining. These criteria were agreed in June 1993during the European Council in Copenhagen.
34 More information about the Commission's enlargement policy can be found on the Internet:http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/enlarge/index.htm
35 The proportion of "don't know" responses for all the statements about enlargement continues to be substantiallyhigher than what we usually find on this survey, which indicates that public opinion has not yet fully developed andcould still change as the enlargement process progresses.
36 In Chapter 3, we already noted that reforming the European Union is seen as a priority by 49% of Europeans and thatsuccessfully implementing the euro is seen as a priority by 67% of Europeans.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
84
Attitudes towards enlargement of the EU(EU15)
72
64
64
54
52
47
36
36
35
30
14
19
22
16
25
28
44
48
41
47
The more member countries within the EU, the more
With more member countries, Europe will be cultura
The more countries are in the EU, the more peace a
The EU must reform the way its institutions work b
The single European currency, the euro, has to be
Once new countries have joined the EU, our country
From now on, future member countries should start
After the enlargement to new countries, our countr
The more countries there are, the more unemploymen
The enlargement will no cost more to existing memb
% Tend to agree % Tend to disagree
The more countries within the EU, the moreimportant it will be in the world
With more member countries, Europe will beculturally richer
The single European currency, the euro, has to bein place before new countries join the EU
The EU must reform the way its institutions workbefore welcoming new members
Once new countries have joined the EU, ourcountry will receive less financial aid from it
The more countries there are in the EU, the morepeace and security will be guaranteed in Europe
The more countries there are, the moreunemployment there will be in our country
After the enlargement to new countries, ourcountry will become less important in Europe
From now on, future member countries should startto receive financial aid from the EU to help themprepare to join
The enlargement will not cost more to existingmember countries
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 5.1Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Percentage "don't know" not shown
Standard Eurobarometer 50
85
5.2. Criteria that applicant countries should meet
During the 1993 Copenhagen European Council, the Heads of State and Government agreed on a numberof criteria which countries wishing to join the European Union had to meet37. Eurobarometer results showthat there is widespread public support for these criteria, with a large majority of EU citizens saying that eachof them is important.
Importance of enlargement criteria(EU15)
94
92
91
83
80
79
73
67
2
3
4
8
12
11
18
19
The country has to respect human rights and the pr
It has to fight organised crime and drug trafficki
It has to protect the environment
It has to be able to pay its share of the EU budge
Its joining should not be costly for existing memb
It has to accept whatever has already been decided
Its level of economic development should be close
It has to be prepared to put the interest of the E
% Important % Not important
The country has to respect Human Rights and theprinciples of democracy
It has to fight organised crime and drug trafficking
It has to accept whatever has already beendecided and put in place throughout the processof building Europe
It has to be able to pay its share of the EU budget
Its joining should not be costly for existing membercountries
It has to protect the environment
Its level of economic development should be closeto that of other Member States
It has to be prepared to put the interest of the EUabove its own
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 5.2Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The public is more or less unanimous in its view that applicant countries should a) respect Human Rightsand the principles of democracy, b) fight organised crime and drug trafficking and c) protect the environmentif they wish to join the European Union. The public's concern about the financial implications of enlargementis also evident from the widespread importance placed on the economic criteria.
The majority of EU citizens also feels that applicant countries have to accept whatever has already beendecided and put in place throughout the process of building Europe and that these countries have to put theinterests of the EU above its own. (Table 5.2)
The next table shows that the average level of support for the 8 criteria ranges from nearly 90% in Greece,France and the Netherlands to 73% in Portugal, which comes last not because people don't consider thecriteria as important but because quite a few people lack an opinion. While this factor also explains Spain'sscore, below average scores in Denmark and Sweden are more linked to the fact that people in these twocountries are significantly less likely than people in the other Member States are to consider some of thecriteria as important. This is further highlighted by the high spread in these two countries between the itemwith the lowest % saying "important" and the item with the highest % saying "important". In Finland, thespread is also significantly above average.
37 The Commission on November 4, 1998 published a report, detailing the applicant countries' progress in meetingthese criteria. It can be found on the Internet:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/enlarge/report_11_98_en/index.htm
Standard Eurobarometer 50
86
% OF POPULATION IN EACH OF THE MEMBER STATES THATREGARDS THE ENLARGEMENT
CRITERIA AS IMPORTANT(AVERAGE % OF 8 CRITERIA AND SPREAD FROM LOWEST %
IMPORTANT TO HIGHEST % IMPORTANT)
Country Average % Spread
Greece 89% 20
France 88% 21
The Netherlands 87% 29
Germany 85% 21
Belgium 84% 30
Luxembourg 83% 25
EU15 83% 27
Ireland 82% 30
Austria 82% 21
Italy 81% 26
Finland 80% 53
United Kingdom 79% 37
Sweden 78% 56
Spain 77% 29
Denmark 74% 61
Portugal 73% 36
The next table provides further insight. It shows that people in Denmark (37%), Sweden (42%) and Finland(45%) are considerably less likely than other EU citizens to believe that in order for applicant countries to jointhey should put the interests of the EU above their own. However, the table also shows that people in allthree countries, but particularly in Finland and Denmark, are now more likely to regard this criteria asimportant than they were in the spring of 1998.
As can be seen, some interesting shifts have taken place since the question was last asked. In manycountries, people are significantly less likely to consider the economic development of the applicant countryas an important criteria. On the other hand, besides Finland and Denmark, there are several other countrieswhere the proportion of people who believe it is important that applicant countries put the interests of the EUabove their own has increased significantly.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
87
CRITERIA FOR JOINING THE EU% CONSIDERING EACH CRITERIA AS IMPORTANT AND % CHANGE BETWEEN
SPRING 1998 (EB49) AND AUTUMN 1998 (EB50) FOR EACH MEMBER STATE
MemberState
HumanRights
Econ.dev.
AcceptAcquis
Not becostly
Put EUintereston top
Fightcrime &drugs
Protectenviron-
ment
Paybudgetshare
B95%
-165%-12
87%-2
86%+4
68%-6
92%-1
93%+2
88%0
DK98%
056%
-372%+3
58%+4
37%+4
98%+2
99%+1
76%+1
D95%
080%
-476%
-483%
-274%
-192%
092%
087%
0
GR98%+2
78%-4
85%+2
92%+9
79%+11
98%+5
97%+3
88%+4
E92%
-265%
-973%
074%
064%+1
89%-1
88%-1
72%-4
F98%
079%
091%+2
83%+4
77%+3
95%+1
93%0
90%+4
IRL94%
065%
-880%
-378%
-173%+1
95%+1
93%0
74%-3
I95%+1
72%-5
78%+4
79%+2
68%+5
91%+3
88%-1
77%-2
L94%+4
78%-3
86%+3
70%-4
75%0
91%+4
92%+6
77%-5
NL99%+1
73%-3
95%+1
79%+2
69%0
98%0
95%-3
84%-5
A88%
-881%
-678%
-380%
-768%
-389%
-489%
-582%
-6
P86%
-653%-17
72%-3
67%-4
60%-4
89%-1
87%-2
68%-6
FIN98%+1
68%-3
71%+1
83%+2
45%+7
96%+1
95%+1
87%-1
S98%
063%
080%+1
70%-5
42%+2
97%-1
98%0
82%-3
UK91%
-171%
074%
-278%
-155%
-292%
090%
-284%
-1
EU1594%
-173%
-479%
080%+1
67%+1
92%0
91%-1
83%-1
Standard Eurobarometer 50
88
5.3. Support for enlargement
For each of the 11 applicant countries and Malta, respondents were asked whether they are in favour of oragainst it becoming part of the European Union.
52
50
47
45
45
40
39
39
39
38
37
36
25
28
32
31
31
36
36
36
36
36
40
38
Malta
Hungary
Poland
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Estonia
Bulgaria
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania
Slovenia
% In favour % Against
Support for enlargement(EU15)
Percentage "don't know" not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 5.3Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Support is highest for the Mediterranean island of Malta and ranges from 72% in Greece to 39% in Belgium.The league table shows that the next highest levels of support are for 4 of the 6 countries with whomaccession talks have now started. Support for Hungary ranges from 69% in Denmark and 68% in Swedenand Finland to 30% in Belgium. For Poland, which comes third, support ranges from 76% in Denmark to24% in Austria. As expected, support for Cyprus - which comes fourth in the support league - is highest inGreece (89%), followed at a distance by Sweden (56%) and the UK (55%). Support for Cyprus is lowest inBelgium (34%). The Czech Republic comes 5th in the support league, with people in Sweden (69%) mostfavourable and people in Belgium (30%) least favourable. Support for Estonia, another "qualifying" nation isobtained from more than 7 in 10 Scandinavians but less than 3 in 10 people from Belgium and Austria. Thefive other applicant countries come next in the league table. Support for Bulgaria ranges from 56% inSweden and Greece to 17% in Austria. Support for Latvia ranges from 77% in Denmark to 26% in Belgium.Support for Lithuania ranges from 77% in Denmark to 23% in Belgium. Support for Romania ranges from58% in Greece to 15% in Austria. Support is lowest for Slovenia - which is a "qualifying" nation and rangesfrom 54% in Sweden to 23% in Belgium. (Table 5.3)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
89
The above-mentioned ranges indicate that people in some of the EU Member States are more in favour ofenlargement than people in other Member States are. The next table shows the average support level forthe 11 applicant countries and Malta as a whole. On average, people in Sweden (63%) tend to be mostsupportive while people in Belgium (28%) tend to be least supportive. The table also shows the spread ofsupport levels in each of the Member States. In some countries, where the spread is low, people holdsimilar attitudes towards all the applicant countries. This is particularly the case for Spain and Portugal, butalso holds in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Ireland and Sweden. In Austria and Greece, the spread is thehighest. In Greece this is due to the fact that support for Cyprus is significantly above average. In Austriathis is due to the fact that support for Hungary is significantly above average while support for Romania andBulgaria is significantly below average. The last column of the table depicts the average % of "don't know"responses in each Member State. Once again, we note that a significant proportion of Europeans does notyet hold an opinion, which implies that support levels may change as the enlargement process develops.
% OF POPULATION IN EACH OF THE MEMBER STATES IN FAVOUR OFAPPLICANT COUNTRIES BECOMING PART OF THE EU
(AVERAGE % SUPPORT FOR THE 12 APPLICANT COUNTRIES,SPREAD FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST % SUPPORT,AND AVERAGE % OF 'DON'T KNOW' RESPONSES )
Country Average %Support Spread
Average % of'Don't know'responses
Sweden 63% 18 19%
Denmark 61% 32 13%
Greece 61% 38 11%
Finland 52% 34 16%
The Netherlands 51% 21 16%
Spain 51% 5 34%
Italy 48% 20 24%
United Kingdom 44% 30 29%
EU15 42% 16 24%
Portugal 42% 7 37%
Ireland 41% 18 36%
Luxembourg 36% 17 23%
France 35% 16 20%
Germany 34% 31 22%
Austria 30% 38 19%
Belgium 28% 16 20%
Standard Eurobarometer 50
90
6. Sources of Information and knowledge levels among EU citizens
In this chapter we look at where people look for information about the European Union, the role of the media,and people's self-perceived knowledge of the European Union. We also look at the extent to which EUcitizens speak other languages besides their mother tongue.
6.1. Sources of information about the European Union
When asked where they look for information about the European Union, six in ten respondents say they turnon the television38. 41% of respondents read the daily newspapers and 24% listen to the radio in order toget information about the European Union. With any other source mentioned by less than 2 in 10respondents, the media is clearly the most popular place where EU citizens look for information about theEuropean Union.
The country by country analyses show that the use of the television as a source of information about the EUis most widespread in Belgium, Luxembourg (both 70%) and Germany (69%) and least widespread in theNetherlands (41%), the UK (44%) and Sweden (46%).
Daily newspapers are most widely read to obtain EU information by people in Germany (58%) andLuxembourg (57%) and least widely consulted in Greece (17%) and Portugal (18%).
Around half of the people in Luxembourg and East Germany listen to the radio when they seek informationabout the EU. In Belgium (43%) and Austria (40%) the radio is also a fairly widely consulted source ofinformation, while less than 2 in 10 people in the UK (13%), Italy (15%), Portugal, Greece (both 17%) andthe Netherlands (19%) listen to it for this purpose.
The Internet is mentioned as a source of information about the EU by around 2 in 10 people in theNetherlands, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. In all other countries, this source of information is consulted byless than 1 person in 10. (Table 6.1)
38 This is asked as an "open" question meaning that respondents spontaneously answer without being given anyprompts. Interviewers are instructed to probe fully.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
91
60
41
24
17
16
13
6
5
3
2
2
2
1
1
17
1
4
The television
Daily newspapers
The radio
Discussions with relatives, friends, colleagues
Other newspapers, magazines
Books, brochures, information leaflets
The Internet
Notice boards in libraries, town halls, stations,
EU-information offices, Euro info-Centers,
Meetings
Specialised national or regional government
Trade unions or professional associations
Contact with a member of European Parliament or
Other organisations
Never look for such information / not interested
Other
Don't know
Where do people look for informationabout the EU
(EU15)
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork: Oct / Nov 1998Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.1
post offices
information offices
Euro info - points, Euro - libraries
of national Parliament
Standard Eurobarometer 50
92
Respondents were also asked to indicate their preferred method(s) of receiving information about theEuropean Union from a list of 12 pre-defined sources. The television is not only the most widely consultedmedium; it is also clearly the most preferred source (56%). At 35%, daily newspapers come in second place,followed by "a detailed brochure" (26%) and the radio (22%). The newer non-printed information tools, suchas videotapes, the Internet (both 8%), CD-ROMs (6%) and computer databases (4%) continue to be lesspopular than printed sources. Of these "modern" tools, only the Internet is increasing, albeit slowly, inpopularity.
Preferred method for receiving information about the EU
56%
35%
26%
22%
19%
14%
11%
8%
8%
6%
4%
2%
3%
5%
From the television
From daily newspapers
A more detailed brochure
From the radio
A short leaflet
From other newspapers, magazines
A book giving you a complete description
A video tape
On the Internet
A CD-ROM
From data bases on a computer terminal
None of these ways
Don't know
I do not want information
(EU15)
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.2Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The country analyses reveal that people in Greece (74%) are most likely to prefer the television as a sourceof EU information, followed by people in Portugal (69%), Denmark (64%), Belgium and Italy (both 61%).Austria (44%), Ireland and the Netherlands (both 49%) are the only countries where less than half of therespondents choose the television as one of their preferred sources of EU information.
Daily newspapers are a preferred source of information for 45% of people in Sweden and Germany, 43% ofpeople in Finland and 42% of people in the Netherlands. Portugal (21%) and Greece (23%) are the only twocountries where less than a quarter of the population chooses the daily newspapers as one of the preferredsources of EU information.
Preference for a more detailed brochure is most widespread in Belgium (37%), the Netherlands, France(both 34%) and Austria (33%) and least widespread in Portugal (12%) and Italy (16%).
Preference for the radio is most widespread in Belgium, Luxembourg (both 33%) and Denmark (32%).People in the UK (17%), Portugal (18%) and Italy (19%) are least interested in this source.
The country analyses also reveal that preference for the Internet continues to be most widespread in thenorthern European nations. At 24% and 22%, the Danes and Swedes are, respectively, the most likely toconsider the Internet as a preferred source. As we have shown in our previous EB report, access to theInternet is highest in these two countries39. (Table 6.2)
39 The 49th Eurobarometer Report, which is based on findings from the spring 1998 survey is available through theInternet: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg10/infcom/epo/eb.html.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
93
6.2. The news media and its coverage of EU affairs
Having noted that the media is both a widely consulted and preferred source of EU information, we next lookat the frequency at which EU citizens watch the news on television, read the news in daily newspapers andlisten to the news on the radio. As shall be shown, these media are all commonly used by the public toobtain news information, which explains their popularity when it comes to getting information about theEuropean Union.
News viewership on television
As the table below shows 68% of respondents watch the news on television on a daily basis, with a further19% watching it several times a week.
8178
757473
7170
68
676666
646363
5858
1215
1817
141820
19
1721
19222423
2921
454
4976
8
8611107810
11
22
23322
4
55
33
54
37
11
122
11
2
31112
21
4
FINI
GRNLUK
SDK
EU15
EB
IRLPDLAF
% Everyday % Several times a week % Once or twice a week Less often % Never
News viewership on television
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.3aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998 Percentage 'don't know' not shown
There is relatively little variation between the 15 Member States in the proportion of people who watch thenews on television at least several times a week. At 79%, France is the only country where less than 8 in 10respondents watch the news on television this frequently. (Table 6.3a)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
94
News readership of daily newspapers
Around 6 in 10 respondents read the news in daily newspapers every day (42%) or several times a week(17%).
7468
615858
545150
47
42
30292828
1918
1314
1320
1612
251420
17
132123
1513
13
69
108
816
1314
19
15
1919
1421
1419
57
89
911
68
8
13
1516
1619
2018
22
95
875
135
14
2214
1818
3432
SFINNL
DL
DKA
UKIRL
EU15
EI
BF
GRP
% Everyday % Several times a week % Once or twice a week Less often % Never
News readership of daily newspapers
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.3bSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998 Percentage 'don't know' not shown
The country analyses show that in Sweden (87%), Finland (82%), Germany (78%) and Austria (76%), morethan 3 in 4 people read the news in daily newspapers at least several times a week. In the Netherlands,Luxembourg (both 74%), Denmark (66%) and Ireland (67%) this applies to at least 2 in 3 people. Portugal(31%) and Greece (32%) are the only countries where this applies to less than 1 person in 3. (Table 6.3b)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
95
News listenership on the radio
News listenership on the radio is also fairly common with around 6 in 10 respondents doing this every day(40%) or several times a week (17%).
6664
6158
5656
5250
45
40
3636
3427
2319
1119
2316
1514
1222
12
17
2715
1516
1515
898
8710
1210
11
11
1311
1118
119
1166
1011
1418
1213
15
1519
1621
2019
632
811
665
19
17
1020
2318
3038
DKIRL
AL
NLS
FIND
UK
EU15
BFEPI
GR
% Everyday % Several times a week % Once or twice a week Less often % Never
News listenership on the radio
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.3cSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998 Percentage 'don't know' not shown
Country analyses show that more than 3 in 4 people in Austria (84%), Ireland (83%) and Denmark (77%)listen to the news several times a week or more. In Greece (34%), Italy (38%), Portugal (43%) and Spain(49%) less than half of the population listens to the news on the radio at least several times a week.(Table 6.3c)
Standard Eurobarometer 50
96
News coverage of EU affairs in the media
Next, we examine what Europeans think about the amount of coverage dedicated by the media to EuropeanUnion affairs. Respondents were asked the following question:
"Do you think that the amount of coverage given to European Union affairs is far toomuch, too much, about right, too little or far too little in…
a) the news on (NATIONALITY) television?b) the news in (NATIONALITY) daily papers?c) the news on (NATIONALITY) radio stations?"
As the chart below shows, less than 10 % of Europeans believe that any of the three media provide toomuch news coverage of European affairs.
9%
45%
38%
8%
8%
45%
31%
17%
6%
37%
35%
22%
Too much
About right
Too little
Don't know
Television Daily newspapers Radio
Assessment of amount of news coverage ofEU affairs in the media
(EU15)
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.4aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
While a substantial proportion of the population believes the media coverage of EU affairs is about right,there are quite a few people who feel it is too little. 38% feel the television shows too little coverage of EUaffairs, 35% feel this way about the radio and 31% feel this way about the daily newspapers.
The next chart shows how public opinion on this issue varies from country to country and how it has changedin each Member State since the question was last asked in the autumn of 1997.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
97
Assessment of amount of news coverageof EU affairs in the media
534342
5043
40
3634
37
5838
43
3625
30
4133
35
4234
36
3330
33
3532
35
3827
31
4329
35
3527
34
2318
23
3427
30
3327
28
3621
27
504041
4841
39
3934
41
4530
36
4431
35
3831
35
3830
33
3230
34
3326
33
3327
31
3724
27
2923
28
2922
29
262323
2421
23
3213
23
I
S
D
NL
GR
EU15
UK
IRL
A
F
DK
P
B
E
FIN
L
% Too little inAutumn 1997
% Too little inAutumn 1998
% Television % Daily papers % Radio
Source: Eurobarometer 50.0 - Fieldwork: Oct / Nov 1998Eurobarometer 48 - Fieldwork: Oct / Nov 1997
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.4b
Standard Eurobarometer 50
98
Focusing first on the current situation shows that people in Italy (50%), Sweden (48%), the Netherlands(45%) and Greece (44%) are most likely to feel that the television doesn't show enough coverage of EUaffairs, while people in Finland (24%), Spain (26%), Belgium and Portugal (both 29%) are least likely toshare this view. People in Sweden (41%) and Italy (40%) are most likely to feel that the daily papers don'tpublish enough about EU affairs, while people in Luxembourg (13%), followed at a distance by people inFinland (21%), are least likely to share this view. Finally, the data shows that people in Italy, Germany (both41%) and Sweden (39%) are most likely to feel that the radio doesn't broadcast enough about EU affairs,while people in Luxembourg, Finland and Spain (all 23%) are least likely to share this view.
Looking next at how public opinion has changed since the autumn of 1997 shows that in most of the MemberStates people are now generally less likely to feel that the amount of news coverage of EU affairs in all 3media is too little. Exceptions are Greece, where people are now significantly more likely to feel that all threemedia don't provide enough coverage of EU affairs, Germany - where this holds for the television and theradio - and Belgium - where this holds for the daily papers. In Ireland and France, the proportion who feelsthat both the daily papers and the radio provide too little coverage has remained the same. (See also tables6.4a-c)
Perceived fairness of the media's coverage of EU affairs
The survey also measures whether people believe the media covers EU affairs in a fair way. In comparisonto the autumn of 1997, the EU public has on average become slightly more likely to perceive the media'scoverage of EU affairs as fair. The results indicate that frequent users of the news media are more likely tofeel positive about the way the media covers EU affairs than are people who use the news media lessfrequently40. The view that the media's coverage is not fair is held by around a third of the populationregardless of how often people use the news media. The less people use the news media, the more likely itis that they don't feel able to judge whether its coverage of EU affairs is fair or not.
Perceived fairness of the media's coverage of EU affairs byscores on the Media Use Index
Media Use Index:
% sayingmedia
coverage isvery + quite fair
% sayingmedia
coverage is notvery + not at all
fair
+++ 58% 29%
++ 50% 31%
-- 42% 33%
--- 33% 29%
People's views also vary depending on how much they feel they know about the European Union41. 60% ofpeople who feel they know a great deal (i.e. those who put themselves on the higher end of the scale)believe the media's coverage of EU affairs is fair, compared to only 40% of people who feel they know verylittle about the European Union. However, people who feel they know a great deal are also most likely tofeel that the coverage of EU affairs is not fair, while people who feel they know very little are most likely tolack an opinion on the issue.
40 A definition of the Media Use Index is provided in Appendix C.4.6.41 A definition of the Self-Perceived Knowledge Scale is provided in Appendix C.4.7. A more detailed discussion follows
in the next section of this chapter.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
99
Perceived fairness of the media's coverage of EU affairs by self-perceived knowledge of the European Union
Self perceived knowledge ofEU affairs (score on scale
From 1-10):
% sayingmedia
coverage isvery + quite fair
% sayingmedia
coverage is notvery + not at all
fair
Knows a great deal about theEU (score 8-10)
60% 35%
Knows a bit about the EU(score 4-7)
57% 31%
Knows very little about the EU(score 1-3)
40% 29%
People's assessment of whether the media covers EU affairs in a fair way also depends on how they feelabout the European Union in general. Those who hold favourable attitudes are far more likely to feel that themedia's coverage is fair than those who hold negative attitudes towards the EU. The view that the media'scoverage of EU affairs is not fair also varies significantly depending on how people feel about the EuropeanUnion in general.
Perceived fairness of the media's coverage of EU affairs bypeople's attitudes towards the European Union
Attitude:
% sayingmedia
coverage isvery + quite fair
% sayingmedia
coverage is notvery + not at all
fair
Much has been achieved interms of integration
60% 27%
Very sorry if EU werescrapped
60% 31%
EU membership is a goodthing
59% 28%
Little has been achieved interms of integration 42% 39%
Relieved if EU were scrapped 40% 39%
EU membership is a bad thing 37% 41%
Standard Eurobarometer 50
100
Looking next at how the perceived fairness of the media's coverage varies from country to country showsthat, at 68%, people in Ireland are most likely to believe it is very or quite fair. The Irish were also mostfavourable in the autumn of 1997. 6 in 10 people in Denmark and the Netherlands give the media a positivemark, although a slight drop is noted in both countries since the autumn of 1997. Germany (58%) andFinland (55%) come in fourth and fifth place, respectively, and in both countries an increase in favourableresponses is noted. In Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria more than half of the population is of the view thatthe media's coverage of EU affairs is very or quite fair, while this view is shared by at least 4 in 10 people inall but one of the other countries. Portugal is the exception: it is the only country where 50% of thepopulation believes the media's coverage of EU affairs is not very or not at all fair. (Table 6.5a)
6865 63
5248
57 55
47 47 46 46 4539
44 43
21
68
60 60 5855 54 54 52 50 49 48 46 45 44
40
24
IRL DK NL D FIN L B A EU15 I UK F E GR S P0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Very + quite fair in Autumn 1997 % Very + quite fair in Autumn 1998
Perceived fairness of the media's coverage of EU affairs
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.5
Source: Survey no. 48 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1997Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The socio-demographic analyses show that the lower the proportion of "don't know" responses is, the morelikely it is that a group is of the view that the media covers EU affairs in a fair way. There are no significantdifferences among the various groups in the proportions of people who believe that the media's coverage isnot fair42. (Table 6.6b)
42 Self-employed people represent the only socio-demographic group where the proportion of people who feel themedia's coverage is not fair is significantly above average.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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6.3. Knowledge of the European Union
The large majority of Europeans continue to perceive their knowledge level of European Union affairs asrelatively low43. The EU15 results presented in the table below show that only 25% of EU citizens feel theyknow quite a lot to a great deal about the European Union (i.e. those choosing the numbers 6 through 10 onthe scale).
Self-perceived knowledge of EU affairsin Autumn 1998 (EB50) compared to
Spring 1998 (EB49), in % (EU15)
Scale EB 50 ChangeEB49
Know nothing at all 11% +1%
2 12% +1%
3 16% -1%
4 15% -1%
5 19% 0%
6 11% 0%
7 8% 0%
8 4% 0%
9 1% 0%
Know a great deal 1% 0%
Don’t know 2% 0%
Average score 4.15 -.04
43 Respondents were asked: "how much do you feel you know about the European Union, its policies, its institutions"and were asked to select from a card a number - on a scale from 1 to 10 - which best represents their perceivedknowledge about the European Union. The higher the number they select, the more they feel they know about theEU.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
102
Looking at the country results shows that self-perceived knowledge levels vary significantly from oneMember State to the next. The following graph depicts the average scores44 for each of the 15 countries.
Levels of perceived knowledge about the EU
5.154.83 4.6 4.48 4.47 4.42 4.39 4.28 4.17 4.15 4.08 3.89 3.81 3.69
3.42 3.33
A D DK B GR L FIN NL I EU15 F S IRL E UK P1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Average score
Average scores are based on ascale of 1 - 10
"Knowa greatdeal"
"Knownothingat all"
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.6Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The average scores range from a low of 3.3 in Portugal to a high of 5.2 in Austria. An inspection of thedistribution of responses shows that 41% of Austrians (up from 38% in the spring) feel they know quite a lotto a great deal about the European Union, followed by 35% of Germans (+1) and 32% of Belgians (+7).Only 11% of Portuguese feel this way (up from 9%). Spain (16%; no change), the UK (17%; -1), Sweden(18%; -3) and Ireland (19%; +2) are other countries where less than 2 in 10 people place themselves at thehigher end of the scale. (Table 6.645)
The following table shows the average scores for various socio-demographic groups in the EU. It shows thatopinion leaders, managers, people who stayed in full-time education the longest and the most frequent usersof the media are the groups that give themselves the highest score on the self-perceived knowledge scale.At the bottom of the table we find people who score lowest on the Opinion Leadership Index46 and the MediaUse Index.
44 The average scores, or means, show the central tendency of the responses and represent the sum of the responsesfor each of the ten points on the scale times the value of each point divided by the total number of responses.
45 To make the table easier to read, a recoded version of the scale is presented consisting of four categories: 'know(almost) nothing' - points 1+2; 'know a little' - points 3 -5; 'know quite a lot' - points 6-8 and 'know a great deal' - points9+10.
46 A definition of the Opinion Leadership Index is provided in Appendix C.4.5.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
103
Average scores on perceivedknowledge scale for various groups at
the EU15 level
Group Score
Opinion Leadership Index: ++ 5.62
Managers 5.42
Educated up to age 20+ 5.09
Media Use Index:+++ 4.75
Opinion Leadership Index: + 4.67
Self-employed 4.60
Employees 4.59
Men 4.58
Students 4.42
Aged 40-54 4.40
Aged 25-39 4.29
Educated to age 16-19 4.15
Average for EU15 4.15
Media Use Index: ++ 4.10
Aged 15-24 4.02
Opinion Leadership Index: - 4.02
Aged 55+ 3.92
Manual workers 3.89
Unemployed 3.85
Retired 3.83
Women 3.75
Media Use Index: -- 3.54
Educated to age 15 or younger 3.47
House persons 3.43
Media Use Index: --- 2.99
Opinion Leadership Index: -- 2.98
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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6.4. The need for more information
Not surprisingly, people who feel they know a great deal about the European Union are significantly lesslikely than people who feel they know less to desire more information about the European Union. Peoplewho place themselves on the mid-range of the scale (i.e. points 4-7) are, at 71%, particularly keen to find outmore about the European Union.
The desire for more information about the European Union byself-perceived knowledge
Self perceived knowledge ofEU affairs
(score on scale from 1-10):
% wanting toknow more
% happy withwhat they
already know
Knows a great deal about theEU (score 8-10)
52% 46%
Knows a bit about the EU(score 4-7) 71% 27%
Knows very little about the EU(score 1-3)
59% 35%
In the autumn of 1998, 21% of EU citizens feel they really need to know a lot more about the EuropeanUnion, with a further 44% saying they would like to have some more information. Less than a third of thepublic is happy with what it already knows about the European Union.
Although self-perceived knowledge is not the only factor which influences whether people want moreinformation about the European Union, it is thus very likely that the demand for information will be high aslong as there are not many people who feel they know a lot about the European Union.
People in Greece (81%), Italy (79%) and Sweden (77%) are most likely to desire more information. Belgiumis the only country where there are more people who are happy with what they already know (50%) thanpeople who want more information (45%). Other countries where more than 4 in 10 people are happy withwhat they already know are Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
105
5961
474444
48
44
5341
4937
50303232
34
1816
2226
2028
32
34353837
4243434650
2318
30282719
21
1021
1322
622201811
GRI
SFPE
EU15
FINIRLDKUKNL
ADLB
Desire to know more about the EU
Percentage 'don't know' not shown
% Really needing to knowa lot more
% Wanting to have some moreinformation
% Happy with what they already know
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.7aSource: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
In a number of countries, a significant increase is noted since the spring of 1998 in the proportion of peoplewho are happy with what they already know about the European Union. These are Finland (+11), Denmark(+10), the Netherlands (+9), Luxembourg (+6), France (+5), Belgium and Germany (both +4). (Table 6.7a)
The following graph matches the percentage of people who feel happy with what they already know aboutthe European Union with the percentage of people who score high (i.e. points 6-10) on the self-perceivedknowledge scale in each country.
Feeling happy with what one already knows about the EUby high scores on the EU knowledge scale
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55% scoring 6-10 on the knowledge scale
%ha
ppy
with
wha
tthe
yal
read
ykn
ow
L
B
IRL
UK
ADNL
EU15
DK
FIN
S
FE
P
GR
I
Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.7b
Standard Eurobarometer 50
106
� There are 6 countries where an above average proportion of people who score high on the self-perceived knowledge scale is matched by an above average proportion of people who feel happy withwhat they already know (see top right-hand quadrangle of the graph)47.
� There are 4 countries where a below average proportion of people who score high on the self-perceivedknowledge scale is matched by a below average proportion of people who feel happy with what theyalready know (see bottom left-hand quadrangle of the graph).
� In the UK and Ireland, the proportion of people who score high on the knowledge scale is below the EUaverage, yet people are more likely than average to feel happy with what the already know (see top left-hand quadrangle of the graph).
� In Greece and Italy, the proportion of people that scores high on the knowledge scale is just above theEU average, yet people are significantly less likely than average to feel happy with what they alreadyknow (see bottom right-hand quadrangle of the graph).
People's desire for more information not only varies depending on how much they feel they know about theEuropean Union. It also depends on their general attitudes towards the European Union.
The need for more information by people's attitudes towards theEuropean Union
Attitude: % wanting toknow more
% happy withwhat they
already know
Very sorry if EU werescrapped
76% 22%
EU membership is a goodthing
71% 26%
Relieved if EU were scrapped 55% 41%
EU membership is a bad thing 54% 42%
The analysis of socio-demographic variables shows that students (76%) are most likely to desire moreinformation about the European Union while people aged 55 and over, including the retired (39%),unemployed people (38%) and people who left full-time education by the age of 15 or younger (37%) aremost likely to feel happy with what they already know. (Table 6.7b)
47 Luxembourg can be considered part of this group of countries, although the proportion of people who score high onthe knowledge scale is somewhat lower than in the other 6 countries and just below the EU average.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
107
6.5. Willingness to be pro-active in the search for information
We have seen that:
� very few people feel they know a lot about the European Union
� there is widespread desire for more information about the European Union
� the preferred source of EU information is the television - a passive medium
The question that will be answered next is whether people are willing to be pro-active in the search forinformation.
The graph below shows that 63% of people would be prepared to call a specially reserved free-phonenumber to obtain information about the European Union. Picking up the telephone not only requiresrelatively little work, the fact that the phone call is free also means that it's an action for which people wouldnot incur any financial costs. Only 15% of respondents would be willing to make the phone call if they had topay for it and only 11% would be willing to send a fax if they had to pay for it. This is not to say, however,that some people are not willing to be more pro-active. 46% of the respondents would be willing to go to apublic information office, 36% would be willing to do some research on a computer in a public place, 32%would be willing to go to an information office of the European Commission and 27% would be willing to writeand send a letter to a competent person.
Willingness to be pro-active% saying they would be prepared to...
(EU15)
63%
46%
38%
36%
34%
32%
27%
15%
14%
11%
Call a specially reserved free-phone number
Go to a public information office
Do some research on a computer at home or in the o
Do some research on a computer in a public place
Send a fax to a specially reserved number free of
Go to an information office of the European Commis
Write, send a letter to a person competent in this
Call a specially reserved phone number and pay for
Go to a journalist, who is informed about European
Send a fax to a specially reserved number and pay
Call a specially reserved free-phone number
Go to a public information office
Go to an information office of the European Commission
Send a fax to aspecially reserved number free of charge
Write, send a letter to a person competent in this area
Go to a journalist, who is informed about European affairs
Call a specially reserved phone number and pay for it
Send a fax to a specially reserved number and pay for it
Do some research on a computer at home or in the office
Do some research on a computer in a public place
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.8Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Standard Eurobarometer 50
108
6.6. Knowledge of languages
Nearly half of EU citizens can take part in a conversation in another language than their mother tongue48. Asthe following graph shows, there are large variations between the Member States. In Luxembourg, nearlyeveryone speaks another language well enough. This is also true for more than 8 in 10 people living in theNetherlands, Denmark and Sweden. People in the UK and Ireland are least likely to speak anotherlanguage. In Ireland the proportion who speak another language is higher than in the UK because there arequite a few Gaelic speakers and those Irish for whom Gaelic is their mother tongue nearly all also knowEnglish.
Percentage who can take part in a conversation in anotherlanguage than their mother tongue
98
8683 81
6259 58
5045 45 45 43
3632 31
21
L NL DK S B A FIN D F EU15 GR I E P IRL UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.9Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Among the various socio-demographic groups in the population, the proportion who can take part in aconversation in another language than their mother tongue ranges from 77% of students to only 19% ofpeople who left school by the age of 15 or younger.
48 Respondents were asked: "Which languages can you speak well enough to take part in a conversation, apart fromyour mother tongue?" The percentage in each country that speaks another language is calculated by subtracting thepercentage of "don't know" responses from the total.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
109
Percentage speaking anotherlanguages besides the mother tongue
well enough to take part in aconversation (EU15)
Socio-demographic group %
Students 77
Educated up to age 20+ 72
Managers 69
Aged 15-24 65
Employees 57
Aged 25-39 55
Self-employed 50
Men 47
Average for EU15 45
Educated to age 16-19 44
Aged 40-54 43
Women 43
Manual workers 41
Unemployed 40
House persons 31
Aged 55+ 28
Retired 26
Educated to age 15 or younger 19
English is the language which is most widely "spoken" in the EU. While it is the mother tongue for 16% ofthe EU population, a further 31% of EU citizens speak it well enough to hold a conversation. Apart fromEnglish, the rank order of languages more or less follows the rank order of inhabitants. Thus we find thatGerman is the mother tongue for 24% of EU citizens and spoken well enough as a "second" language by 8%of EU citizens. French is spoken by 28% of the EU population, of which more than half are native speakers.Italian is the fourth most widely known language - it counts as many native speakers as French, while theproportion of non-native speakers is significantly smaller (2%). 15% of the EU population speaks Spanish(11% as mother tongue and 4% as other language).
Standard Eurobarometer 50
110
Languages and European Union Citizens
16
24
16
16
11
6
2
3
3
1
1
1
31
8
12
2
4
1
1
1
1
4
English
German
French
Italian
Spanish
Dutch
Swedish
Greek
Portuguese
Danish
Finnish
Russian
Other
% Mother tongue % Other language
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.10Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
47
32
28
18
15
7
3
3
3
2
1
1
5
TOTAL
The next table shows the proportion of non-native speakers of English, French, German and Spanish todayin each Member State. The table also depicts how the knowledge of these 4 languages has changed since199049.
Apart from their mother tongue, around 3 in 4 people in the Netherlands, Denmark (both 77%) and Sweden(75%) can speak English well enough to take part in a conversation. Not surprisingly, people in Luxembourg(86%) are most likely to speak French well enough to take part in a conversation. In Belgium, this is the casefor 38% of the population. In both countries, French is one of the official languages. In Luxembourg, 77% ofpeople who do not consider German as their mother tongue can speak it well enough to take part in aconversation. Other countries where many people know German are the Netherlands (59%) and Denmark(49%). The knowledge of Spanish as a non-native language is most widespread in France (11%).
In comparison to 1990, the proportion of people who can speak English well enough to take part in aconversation increased in most of the Member States. The largest increases are noted in the Netherlands(+15), Greece (+13), Belgium, Denmark and Italy (all +9). The knowledge of French increased significantlyamong people in Belgium (+6). The proportion of non-native German speakers dropped significantly inLuxembourg (-11).
49 Before being asked what languages, apart from their mother tongue, they speak well enough to take part in aconversation, respondents in 1990 were asked what other languages they have learned. Since this was not asked in1998, potential context effects require us to be careful in interpreting any change over time. Since Austria, Finlandand Sweden were not yet part of the European Union in 1990 no trend comparison can be made in these countries.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Knowledge of English, French, German and Spanish as a "second" language(in %, by Member State)
Year:Country Language
1990 1998 Difference
EU12/15 English 23 31 +8French 11 12 +1
German 7 8 +1Spanish 5 4 -1
B English 32 41 +9French 32 38 +6
German 18 14 -4Spanish 3 3 0
DK English 68 77 +9French 7 10 +3
German 45 49 +4Spanish 2 3 +1
D English 34 41 +7French 8 11 +3
Spanish 1 3 +2GR English 25 38 +13
French 6 7 +1German 4 5 +1Spanish 1 0 -1
E English 10 17 +7French 9 8 -1
German 1 1 0F English 26 32 +6
German 9 9 0Spanish 12 11 -1
IRL French 14 12 -2German 3 4 +1Spanish 2 1 -1
I English 18 27 +9French 16 19 +3
German 3 3 0Spanish 2 4 +2
L English 37 45 +8French 86 86 0
German 88 77 -11Spanish 4 4 0
NL English 62 77 +15French 14 15 +1
German 55 59 +4Spanish 2 2 0
A English NA 50 -French NA 8 -
Spanish NA 3 -P English 23 21 -2
French 23 18 -5German 2 2 0Spanish 7 7 0
FIN English NA 49 -French NA 3 -
German NA 13 -Spanish NA 1 -
S English NA 75 -French NA 5 -
German NA 24 -Spanish NA 4 -
UK French 16 14 -2German 6 5 -1Spanish 2 2 0
Standard Eurobarometer 50
112
The next table shows the 3 languages, which are the most widely spoken besides one's mother tongue ineach Member State.
THREE MOST WIDELY SPOKEN LANGUAGES APART FROM THE MOTHER TONGUE(IN %, BY MEMBER STATE)
Belgium Luxembourg
English 41 French 86
French 38 German 77
German 14 English 45
Denmark Netherlands
English 77 English 77
German 49 German 59
French 10 French 15
Germany Austria
English 41 English 50
French 11 French 8
Russian 4 Italian 5
Greece Portugal
English 38 English 21
French 7 French 18
German 5 Spanish 7
Spain Finland
English 17 English 49
Other 1750 Swedish 35
French 8 German 13
France Sweden
English 32 English 75
Spanish 11 German 24
German 9 Danish 11
Ireland United Kingdom
Other 1751 French 14
French 12 German 5
German 4 Spanish 2
Italy
English 27
French 19
Spanish 4
50 Other = not one of the 11 languages of the European Union nor Russian, Arabic, Chinese or Japanese.51 Idem.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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Apart from what we have already shown, the table brings the following to the fore:
• In Ireland, most respondents indicated that the other language they spoke was not on the list provided tothem. We assume that this is Gaelic.
• In Spain, 17% of respondents chose 'other', which no doubt refers to Catalan, Galician, Basque andother regional languages of Spain.
• 35% of people in Finland speak Swedish apart from Finnish.• Apart from Luxembourg and Belgium, French is most widely spoken by people in Italy (19%) and
Portugal (18%).• Danish (11%) is the third most widely spoken other language in Sweden.• Russian is the fourth most widely spoken other language in Germany. In East Germany, 13% of the
population can speak it well enough to take part in a conversation.• Italian is the third most widely spoken other language in Austria.
Asked which two languages people consider the most useful to know apart from their mother tongue52, wefind that English is by far the most popular, followed by French, German and Spanish.
What are the 2 most useful languages to know apart from yourmother tongue?
(EU15)
69%
37%
26%
15%
4%
4%
1%
14%
English
French
German
Spanish
Other official EU languages
Other non - EU languages
Other
Don't know
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 6.11Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
52 People were asked to name two languages in order to increase the selection of other languages besides English.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
114
The following table shows which 2 languages are considered most useful in each of the 15 Member States.
TWO MOST USEFUL LANGUAGES APART FROM THE MOTHER TONGUE(IN %, BY MEMBER STATE)
Belgium Luxembourg
English 83 French 72
French 49 English 60
Denmark Netherlands
English 91 English 94
German 51 German 42
Germany Austria
English 73 English 82
French 37 French 44
Greece Portugal
English 95 English 79
German 42 French 60
Spain Finland
English 85 English 79
French 45 German 30
France Sweden
English 88 English 91
Spanish 37 German 49
Ireland United Kingdom
French 66 French 66
German 56 German 50
Italy
English 83
French 36
In summary, the table shows that the most popular languages are:
• English and German in the Nordic countries and the Netherlands.• English and French in the German-speaking nations, Belgium and the Mediterranean countries, except
for Greece, where German is more popular than French.• English and Spanish in France.• French and English in Luxembourg.• French and German in the two English-speaking nations.
More detailed results on the knowledge and importance of 'foreign' languages in each of the Member Statescan be found in tables 6.9 and 6.10.
Standard Eurobarometer 50
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7. The European Parliament
In June 1999, citizens of the European Union will have the chance to elect the Members of the EuropeanParliament. The powers of the European Parliament have increased significantly since the Assembly waselected directly by the people for the first time in 1979. While in those days the Parliament was in mostinstances only consulted in the decision-making process, the Maastricht Treaty has given the Parliament theco-decision right together with the Council of Ministers in a number of areas. As a result of the AmsterdamTreaty, the number of areas in which the European Parliament shares co-decision-making powers will beextended to cover most of the Union's policies.
In this chapter we examine the public's awareness of the European Parliament and the extent to whichpeople intend to use their democratic right to vote in the June 1999 elections. We also look at the rolepeople think the Parliament plays and should play within the European Union and at people's assessment ofthe European Parliament's ability to protect their interest. We end the chapter by examining which areaspeople think the Parliament should treat as priorities.
7.1. Awareness of the European Parliament through the media
Since 1977, the Eurobarometer has measured the extent to which the public has recently seen or heardanything about the European Parliament in the papers, on the radio or on television. The latestmeasurement shows that 43% of EU citizens have received information about the European Parliamentthrough these three media. As was shown in the previous chapter, these media are the main sources ofinformation about the European Union for most people.
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How much people have heard or read about the European Parliament through the media depends first andforemost on the extent to which the Parliament has received media coverage in the period just prior to whenthe measurement was taken. Since media coverage of the European Parliament was not particularly intensejust prior to the latest measurement, awareness levels are relatively low53. As the graph above shows,awareness levels are always highest just prior to or shortly after elections when media coverage is mostintense. Awareness levels were highest just before the 1984 elections (75%) and the 1989 elections (70%).They were slightly lower, but still much higher than during non-election periods, in the run-up to the 1979elections (65%) and the 1994 elections (63%).
Awareness levels also depend on how often people watch the news on television, read about it in the dailypapers or hear about it on the radio. As the following table shows, 53% of the most frequent news mediausers heard something about the European Parliament through the media, compared to only 17% of theleast frequent media users.
Awareness of the European Parliament through the media byscores on the Media Use Index
Media Use Index: % Aware % Not aware
+++ 53% 39%
++ 45% 49%
-- 32% 60%
--- 17% 71%
Looking at the country results shows that awareness levels are highest in Finland (62%), Luxembourg (59%)and Austria (58%). In these three countries, the proportion of people who use the media frequently (i.e.those coded as +++ or ++ on the Media Use Index - see Appendix C.4.6) is significantly above the EUaverage (87% in Finland and Austria, 83% in Luxembourg compared to 70% in the EU as a whole). At leasthalf of the people in Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece also heard, saw or read something aboutthe European Parliament in the media in the months just prior to the Autumn 1998 Eurobarometer fieldworkperiod. Awareness levels were lowest the UK (31%), Ireland (32%) and France (38%), which are the onlycountries where less than 4 in 10 people heard, saw or read something about the European Parliamentthrough the media.
53 The Parliament received widespread media coverage in December 1997/January 1998 so that awareness levelswould no doubt have been higher if fieldwork for the survey had been carried out a few months later.
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51 4946
5350
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4841
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55 54 5350 49 48
43 42 40 40 3832 31
FIN L A DK NL I GR S P EU15 D E B F IRL UK0
20
40
60
80
100%
% Yes in Spring 1998 % Yes in Autumn 1998
Awareness of the European Parliament through the media
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.2
Source: Survey no. 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The graph also shows that in some Member States significant shifts in awareness levels are recorded sincethe spring of 1998. Awareness levels increased significantly in the Netherlands, Sweden (both +8), Austria(+7) and Denmark (+6). In Finland, Luxembourg (both -7) and Germany (-6), awareness levels decreasedsignificantly. (Table 7.1a)
Demographic analyses show that awareness levels are higher among men (50%) then they are amongwomen (37%). Managers (60%) and people who stayed in full-time education until the age of 20 or older(58%) are most likely to have heard, seen or read something about the European Parliament in the mediawhile this is least likely among people aged 15 to 24, people who look after the house and people who leftschool by the age of 15 or younger (all 34%). How much people feel they know about the European Union isanother important factor: 73% of people who place themselves on points 8 to 10 on the scale heard, read orsaw something about the European Parliament, compared to only 28% of people who place themselves onpoint 3 or lower of the self-perceived knowledge scale. (Table 7.1b)
Our analyses also show that people who score highest on the EP Voting Index (see Appendix C.4.8) aresignificantly more likely to have heard, seen or read something about the European Parliament through themedia than people who score lowest on this Index.
Awareness of the European Parliament through the media byscores on the EP Voting Index
EP Voting Index Score : % Aware % Not aware
+ 51% 43%
0 33% 57%
- 27% 64%
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7.2. Participation in the June 1999 European Parliament elections
More than 7 in 10 EU citizens intend to vote in the June 1999 European Parliament elections. Only 13% ofrespondents say they will not vote while a further 3% say they will not be eligible and 12% don't yet knowwhether they will vote or not.
9289
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72
70676664
6158
346
412
7131413
13
101416
201820
GRDK
BI
FIRLFINNL
L
EU15
EPS
UKDA
% Yes % No
Percentages 'don't know' and "not applicable" not shown
European Parliament : intention to vote in June 1999 elections
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.3Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
Country by country analyses show that 92% of the people in Greece intend to vote in the elections. The nexthighest levels are found in Denmark (89%), Belgium (86%) and Italy (85%). In all these countries butDenmark voting is compulsory. While Austria is the only country where less than 6 in 10 people say they willvote, the proportion that will not vote is, at 20%, still quite small.
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GR DK B I F NL FIN IRL L EU15 E P S UK D A0
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% Yes in Spring 1998 % Yes in Autumn 1998
European Parliament : intention to vote in June 1999 elections
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.4
Source: Survey no. 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
A comparison with the spring 1998 results shows that in most countries the intention to vote has not becomemore widespread now that the date of the elections is less far away. Only in Greece, Sweden (both +4) andIreland (+3) has the proportion of people who say that they will vote increased significantly. In theNetherlands, on the other hand, people are now significantly less likely to say that they will vote than theywere in the spring of 1998 (-8). To a lesser extent, this is also the case in the UK (-4) and Denmark (-3). Inall other countries, the proportion of people who intend to vote has not changed significantly. (See also table7.2a)
Voting intentions are lowest among students (60%) and people aged 15 to 24 (61%), which is of course dueto the fact that many of these people will be too young to vote in June 1999. Managers (84%) and peoplewho stayed in school until the age of 20 or older (83%) are most likely to say that they will vote. Whetherpeople say they will vote or not also depends on how they generally feel about the European Union: 80% ofthose who regard their country's membership to the European Union as a good thing intend to vote,compared to only 59% of people who regard their country's membership as a bad thing. (Table 7.2b)
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7.3. The European Parliament's perceived and desired importance
As mentioned earlier, the European Parliament will play a more important role in the life of the EuropeanUnion once the Amsterdam Treaty enters into force. At the moment, 55% of EU citizens hold the view thatthe Parliament plays an important role, compared to only 25% who think its role is not important.
People in Greece (74%) are most likely to believe that the Parliament plays an important role in the life of theEuropean Union, followed by people in Luxembourg (70%). At 48%, the UK is the only country where lessthan half of the population perceives the role of the Parliament as important.
65
73
62 6256 56
53 5154 54
5955 55 56
50 51
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63 63 6158 57 57 56 56 55 55 53 51 51
48
GR L IRL FIN F P E B DK A I EU15 D NL S UK0
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% Important in Spring 1998 % Important in Autumn 1998
Current importance of the European Parliament
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.5
Source: Survey no. 49 - Fieldwork Apr - May 1998Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
The latest results do not differ significantly from those obtained in the spring of 1998. The only exceptionsare Greece (+9), Belgium (+6), France (+5) and Spain (+4), where people are now significantly more likely toperceive the Parliament's role as important, and the Netherlands (-5) and Italy (-4), where people are nowsignificantly less likely to perceive the Parliament's role as important. (Table 7.3a)
One would expect that people nowadays are more likely to perceive the Parliament's role as important thanthey were prior to the Maastricht Treaty when the Parliament did not yet have any co-decision-makingpowers. The table below, which compares the results of the Eurobarometer survey that was carried out justbefore the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1991 with the latest results, shows that this is indeed the case inDenmark, France, Greece (all +11), Belgium (+8), the Netherlands (+7). However, the opposite is true inPortugal (-15), Italy (-11), Spain (-9) and the UK (-5).
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Country shifts in % saying the European Parliamentplays an important role in the life of the
European Union
Country EB 36October 1991
EB50Oct - Nov 1998 % change
B 49 57 +8
DK 45 56 +11
D 54 53 -1
GR 63 74 +11
E 66 57 -9
F 50 61 +11
IRL 65 63 -2
I 64 55 -11
L 67 70 +3
NL 44 51 +7
P 73 58 -15
UK 53 48 -5
EU12 56 55 -1
Analyses of the demographic results show that differences between the various sub-groups in the EUpopulation are mostly explained by variations in the level of "don't know" responses. (Table 7.3b)
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Looking next at the role the public desires the European Union to play shows that 45% of EU citizens wouldpersonally like it to play a more important role than it does now, while 23% are happy with the role it currentlyplays. Only 10% of people would like the European Parliament to play a less important role than it currentlydoes.
7261
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45
4241
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3434
28
1515
1926
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23
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8
10
148
1319
716148
19
GRI
PNL
EF
EU15
FINLD
DKBAS
IRLUK
% More important % The same % Less important
Desired importance of the European Parliament
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.6Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
People in Greece (72%) are most likely to desire a more important role for the European Parliament,followed by people in Italy (61%) and Portugal (58%). In all Member States only a minority of people wouldlike it to play a less important role, with people in Denmark, the UK (both 19%) and Austria (16%) mostinclined to feel this way. In Italy, Portugal (both 2%), Greece and Spain (both 3%) there are hardly anypeople who believe the Parliament should play a less important role. It should be noted that quite a fewpeople lack an opinion, with a particularly high occurrence of "don't know" responses recorded in Ireland(31%), the UK, Sweden (both 29%) and Austria (27%).
In a number of Member States large increases are recorded since the spring of 1998 in the proportion ofpeople who would like the European Parliament to play a more important role. These are Greece (+11),Italy, Portugal (both +7) and Ireland (+5). While, people in the Netherlands and Belgium (both -7) are nowless likely to want the Parliament to play a more important role, this does not mean that they want it to play aless important role. Instead, the proportion of people who want it to play the same role has increased in bothcountries. (Table 7.4a)
The demographic analyses show that people who stayed in full-time education until the age of 20 or older(55%), the self-employed and managers (both 53%) are most likely to desire a more important role for theEuropean Union. People who look after the home (38%) and people who left school by the age of 15 oryounger (39%) are least likely to share this view. (Table 7.4b)
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Whether people want the Parliament to play a more important role than it currently does depends on howthey feel about the European Union in general. The table below shows that 65% of people who would feelvery sorry if the EU were scrapped want the Parliament to play a more important role, while only 26% ofpeople who consider their country's membership to the EU as a bad thing or who desire a less important roleof the EU in their daily life share this view.
% wanting the EP to play a moreimportant role than it currently does
Attitude: %
Would feel very sorry if the EUwere scrapped
65
Desires more important role of EUin daily life 63
Feels European and(NATIONALITY)
61
Thinks country’s membership to theEU is a good thing
57
EU15 average 45
Feels nationality only 32
Would feel relieved if EU werescrapped
27
Thinks country's membership to theEU is a bad thing
26
Desires less important role of theEU in daily life 26
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7.4. Citizens' interests
The survey also measures the extent to which EU citizens feel the European Parliament protects theirinterests. 37% of EU citizens feel their interests are very or fairly well protected by the European Parliamentand 34% feel their interests are fairly or very badly protected. Around 3 in 10 people can't say whether theirinterests are protected well or badly by the European Parliament.
5754
41393938
37
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34
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38
IRLLI
BDK
A
EU15
FNL
FINGR
EDP
UKS
% Very well + Fairly well % Fairly badly + Very badly
Percentage 'don't know' not shown
Ability of European Parliament to protect citizens' interests
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.7Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
People from Ireland (57%) and Luxembourg (54%) are by far the most likely to feel that the EuropeanParliament does a good job in protecting their interests. In all other countries less than half of the populationshares this view.
When comparing the data with the results obtained in the spring of 1998, significant positive developmentsare noted in Greece, Portugal (both +5), Belgium (+4) and France (+3). However, the mood is less optimisticin a number of other countries. In the Netherlands (-9), Luxembourg and the UK (both -6), people are nowsignificantly less likely to feel that the European Parliament does a good job in protecting their interests.Furthermore, in the Netherlands (+8), Denmark (+7), Ireland (+6) and Italy (+5), there are now more peoplewho feel the Parliament does a bad job. (Table 7.5a)
The percentage of "don't know" responses is high and ranges from 11% in Finland to 39% in Sweden.(Table 7.5a)
Demographic analyses show that students (44%), people who stayed in school until the age of 20 or older,managers (both 43%), employees (41%) and self-employed people (40%) are most likely to feel that theEuropean Parliament does a good job in protecting their interests. People who look after the home or wholeft school aged 15 or younger (both 30%) are least likely to share this view. As usual, supporters of theEuropean Union (49%) are much more positive than opponents (13%) of the European Union are. (Table7.5b)
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The survey also measures which area(s) EU citizens want the European Parliament to pay particularattention to in order to defend their interests54.
According to 55% of EU citizens, the European Parliament should pay particular attention to employment .The next most popular area is the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime , mentioned by 37%of EU citizens, followed by environmental and consumer protection (29%). In Chapter 3 we alreadynoted that more than 8 in 10 EU citizens regard these 3 areas as priorities for the European Union as awhole (see Section 3.6). Very few people are of the opinion that the European Parliament should payparticular attention to areas which do not affect them directly, like the Third World (6%) and research (8%) orareas which are seen as the responsibility of national governments, like education and cultural policy (11%)and immigration policy (14%).
Areas for priority action by the EuropeanParliament
(EU15)
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Employment
Fight against drug trafficking and organized crime
Protection of the environment and of the consumer
Economic policy
Foreign policy and security
Fight against cancer and AIDS
Human rights throughout the world
Social policy
Currency
Immigration policy
Education and cultural policy
Scientific and technological research
Cooperation with developing countries, the Third W
Don't know
% Spring 1998 % Autumn 1998
Employment
Fight against drug traffickingand organised crime
Protection of the environmentand of the consumer
Economic policy
Foreign policy and security
Fight against cancer and AIDS
Human rights throughout theworld
Currency
Social policy
Immigration policy
Education and cultural policy
Scientific and technologicalresearch
Cooperation with developingcountries, the Third World
Don't know
Standard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 7.8Source: Survey no. 50.0 - Fieldwork Oct - Nov 1998
54 Respondents were shown a card listing 13 policy areas and were able to choose a maximum of 3 of these areas.
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The next table shows that employment tops the list in 11 of the 15 Member States and makes the top four in3 further countries. People in Belgium (73%), Spain (70%), France (69%) are most likely to regard this areaas the top priority for the European Parliament. At 21%, people in Denmark are least likely to regardemployment as a priority and it is the only country where it doesn't make the top four.
The fight against drug trafficking and organised crime tops the list in the Netherlands, Sweden and theUnited Kingdom and makes the top four in all other countries except Spain, where it comes in 5th place.People in Sweden (53%), Ireland (48%), the UK and Denmark (both 47%) are most likely to regard it as apriority, while people in Spain (21%) are least likely to share this view.
Protection of the environment and of the consumer tops the list in Denmark (59%) and makes the topfour in all other countries except Germany and Greece. After Denmark, people in Sweden (51%) are mostlikely to see it as a priority. People in Belgium, Greece and Italy (all 23%) are least likely to share this view.
Economic policy makes the top four in Greece (43%), the Netherlands (35%), Germany (29%), Austria(28%), Italy (27%), Spain (26%) and Belgium (25%). The only countries where less than 2 in 10 peopleregard this area as a priority are Denmark (16%), Luxembourg (17%), Portugal (18%) and Ireland (19%).
Foreign policy and security makes the top four in Germany, Greece (both 37%), Finland (34%) andDenmark (22%). People in Portugal (5%) are by far the least likely to consider this area as a priority for theEuropean Parliament, followed by people in Belgium (11%), Ireland, the UK (both 14%) and Spain (15%).
The fight against cancer and AIDS makes the top four in Portugal (35%), Luxembourg (30%), Ireland(29%) and France (24%). While it doesn't make the top four, a quarter of the population in the UK sees thisissue as a priority for the European Parliament. People in Germany (13%), Sweden (15%), Finland (16%),the Netherlands and Spain (both 17%) are least likely to feel that the European Parliament should payparticular attention to the fight against cancer and AIDS.
Human rights throughout the world makes the top four in Sweden (37%), Denmark (31%), the UK (25%)and Spain (23%). People in Austria (9%), Belgium (10%), Italy (14%) and Portugal (15%) are least likely toview this area as a priority.
The remaining areas do not make the top four in any of the Member States. Social policy is most likely tobe regarded a priority in Germany (25%), the Netherlands and France (both 21%), while this is least likely tobe the case in Sweden, Italy (both 10%), the UK, Ireland and Denmark (all 11%). Currency receives mostwidespread mention in Belgium (23%), Germany (21%) and France (19%) and least widespread mention inSweden (6%), Denmark (7%) and Finland (8%). Germany (22%) is the only country where more than 2 in 10people mention immigration policy . It is mentioned by less than 1 person in 10 in Portugal (2%), Spain,Greece (both 3%), Ireland (6%), Luxembourg, Finland (both 7%), Sweden and Belgium (both 8%). People inthe UK (22%) are most likely to believe that the European Parliament should pay particular attention toeducation and cultural policy , while people in Germany (6%), France (7%) and Italy (8%) are least likely toshare this view. At 14%, scientific and technological research receives most widespread mention inDenmark, while it is least popular in Portugal (3%), Greece and Ireland (both 4%). Denmark (11%) is theonly country where more than 1 person in 10 believes that the European Parliament should pay particularattention to matters relating to the Third World . (Table 7.6)
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TOP FOUR PRIORITY AREASFOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN THE MEMBER STATES (IN %)
Belgium Luxembourg
Employment 73 Employment 41
Drugs & crime 43 Drugs & crime 40
Economic policy 25 Environment/Consumers 35
Environment/Consumers 23 AIDS/Cancer 30
Denmark The Netherlands
Environment/Consumers 59 Drugs & crime 44
Drugs & crime 47 Environment/Consumers 38
Human rights 31 Economic policy 35
Foreign policy & security 22 Employment 34
Germany Austria
Employment 44 Employment 50
Foreign policy & security 37 Environment/Consumers 31
Drugs & crime 37 Drugs & crime 31
Economic policy 29 Economic policy 28
Greece Portugal
Employment 53 Employment 62
Economic policy 43 Drugs & crime 45
Drugs & crime 41 AIDS/Cancer 35
Foreign policy & security 37 Environment/Consumers 28
Spain Finland
Employment 70 Employment 55
Environment/Consumers 29 Drugs & crime 42
Economic policy 26 Foreign policy & security 34
Human rights 23 Environment/Consumers 33
France Sweden
Employment 69 Drugs & crime 53
Environment/Consumers 32 Environment/Consumers 51
Drugs & crime 32 Employment 43
AIDS/Cancer 24 Human rights 37
Ireland United Kingdom
Employment 57 Drugs & crime 47
Drugs & crime 48 Employment 45
AIDS/Cancer 29 Human rights 25
Environment/Consumers 27 Environment/Consumers 25
Italy
Employment 62
Drugs & crime 33
Economic policy 27
Environment/Consumers 23
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8. The legacy of the 20 th century
The Eurobarometer No.50 was carried out over two waves. Whereas all the results that have beendiscussed so far were asked on the first wave (EB 50.0), this chapter presents the results of a question thatwas asked on the second wave (50.1)55.
Respondents were asked to rate the legacy left to young people in their country by older generations in 11social, economic and political fields.
People in Greece, Finland, Denmark and Ireland are, on average, most likely to view the legacy left to youngpeople as positive. People in Italy, Belgium and France are least likely to share this view.
% OF POPULATION IN EACH MEMBER STATE THAT VIEWS THELEGACY LEFT TO YOUNG PEOPLE AS POSITIVE
(AVERAGE % OF POSITIVE REPONSES FOR THE 11 FIELDS)
Country Average %
Greece
Finland
Denmark
Ireland
The Netherlands
Austria
Sweden
United Kingdom
Spain
Luxembourg
EU15
Germany
Portugal
Belgium
France
Italy
69%
68%
65%
65%
61%
55%
51%
49%
47%
46%
44%
42%
40%
37%
36%
35%
55 The second wave of the Eurobarometer No.50 was carried out between 29 October and 10 December, 1998. Intotal, 16224 respondents from the 15 Member States were interviewed.
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Nearly 3 in 4 EU citizen rate the legacy left in the area of freedom as (fairly) positive56 (72%). More than halfof the public also feels positive about what younger generations will find in terms of quality of life (58%) andequality (54%). People are most pessimistic when it comes to employment (68%) and the environment(66%).
The legacy of the 20th century(EU15)
72
58
54
47
47
46
42
38
33
27
24
21
33
36
42
43
41
49
52
54
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
% Fairly positive % Fairly negative
Percentage 'don't know' not shownStandard Eurobarometer 50 - Fig. 8.1Source: Survey no. 50.1 - Fieldwork Oct - Dec 1998
56 Respondents could rate the legacy as "fairly negative" or "fairly positive". As usual, they could also reply "don'tknow".
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The next table lists for each country the four most widely positively rated areas.
TOP FOUR MOST WIDELY POSITIVELY RATED AREAS(IN %, BY MEMBER STATE)
Belgium Luxembourg
Freedom 65 Freedom 71
Quality of life 48 Social security/welfare 61
Working conditions 43 Quality of life 60
Equality 43 Equality 53
Denmark Netherlands
Freedom 84 Freedom 83
Purchasing power 79 Purchasing power 77
Working conditions 75 Working conditions 77
Social security/welfare 74 Quality of life 75
Germany Austria
Freedom 77 Freedom 77
Quality of life 61 Personal safety 69
Equality 52 Quality of life 69
Purchasing power 50 Social security/welfare 62
Greece Portugal
Freedom 89 Freedom 63
Equality 76 Equality 52
Cooperation, solidarity 75 Quality of life 47
Quality of life 74 Cooperation, solidarity 46
Spain Finland
Freedom 72 Freedom 89
Quality of life 66 Quality of life 82
Cooperation, solidarity 63 Equality 81
Equality 60 Social security/welfare 76
France Sweden
Freedom 64 Freedom 79
Social security/welfare 53 Equality 76
Quality of life 44 Quality of life 62
Working conditions 42 Purchasing power 60
Ireland United Kingdom
Quality of life 81 Freedom 70
Freedom 80 Equality 64
Working conditions 77 Quality of life 63
Equality 73 Working conditions 62
Italy
Freedom 68
Cooperation, solidarity 49
Quality of life 47
Equality 46
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Freedom :This is the area that most people view as positive in all Member States, with the exception of Ireland whereat 80% it comes in second place. Positive views are most widespread in Finland and Greece (both 89%)and least widespread in Portugal (63%), France (64%) and Belgium (65%).
Quality of life :This area comes in first place in Ireland and makes the top four in 13 further Member States. The legacy leftto young people is rated as positive by more than 8 in 10 people in Finland (82%) and Ireland (81%) at theone extreme and less than half of the public in France (44%), Italy, Portugal (both 47%) and Belgium (48%)at the other extreme.
Equality :This area makes the top four in 10 of the 15 Member States. At 81%, Finnish people are most likely to ratethe legacy left to young people as positive, a view that is also shared by more than 7 in 10 people inSweden, Greece and Ireland. Positive ratings are least frequent in France (36%), Belgium (43%) and Italy(46%). They are also fairly sparse in the East German Bundesländer (38%).
The spirit of cooperation, solidarity :This area makes the top four in all the Mediterranean nation. The legacy left to young people is most widelyrated as positive in Greece (75%), followed by Finland (65%), Spain and Ireland (both 63%). At 31%, peoplein East Germany are least likely to feel positive.
Social security, welfare :This area makes the top four in Finland, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and France. People in Finland(76%), Denmark (74%) and the Netherlands (73%) are most inclined to rate the legacy as positive, while thisis least likely in Portugal (30%) and Italy (33%).
Purchasing power :This area makes the top four in Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany. People in Denmark(79%), the Netherlands (77%) and Finland (72%) are most inclined to rate the legacy as positive. France(28%) and Italy (29%) are the only two countries where less than 3 in 10 people share this view.
Working conditions :This area makes the top four in 6 EU nations. People in Ireland and the Netherlands (both 77%) are mostlikely to rate the legacy as positive, followed by people in Denmark (75%) and Greece (70%). People in Italy(21%), Spain (29%) and Germany (33%) are least likely to give a positive rating.
Personal safety :The only country where this area makes the top four is Austria and, at 69%, its people are most likely to bepositive, followed by people in Finland (68%) and Denmark (67%). People in Belgium are least likely to bepositive (21%). Very few positive ratings are also noted in the East German Bundesländer (26%).
Morality, ethics :Positive ratings are most widespread in Greece (71%), followed at a distance by Finland (55%) and leastwidespread in France (25%), Belgium (28%), the UK (29%), Sweden and Germany (both 30%).
The environment :Finland (58%) and Greece (50%) are the only two countries where more than half of the public rates thelegacy in this area as positive. In Belgium, Italy (both 18%) and Germany (19%), this hold for less than 2 in10 people.
Employment :Around 7 in 10 people in the Netherlands (73%), Denmark and Ireland (both 70%) view this area as positive.In Italy, France (both 12%), Spain (17%) and Germany (18%) less than 2 in 10 people share this view.(Table 8.1)