The Financial Crisis and Food Security

June 2011

Methodology

Methodology

o Survey conducted face-to-face in the respondent’s home

o Fieldwork: mid-April – beginning of May 2011

o Population: representative sample of population 15+

o Coverage: European Union, 27 Member States

o Number of interviews: 26,825

Special Eurobarometer

3

Agenda

Agenda

A. Europeans and the crisis

• Support for a tax on financial transactions

• Impact of crisis: short or long term?

• Euro: mitigating the impact?

• Facing crisis: a co-ordinated approach

• Austerity or growth?

• Priority for policies

B. Food security

5

A. Europeans and the crisis

Support for a tax on financial transactions

8

1.1 TFT – Majority of Europeans are in favour of a financial transaction tax

Total ‘In favour’: 61%

Total ‘Opposed’ : 26%

9

1.1 TFT – Differences by group of countries

Total 'In favour'Total

'Opposed'Don't know

EU27 61% 26% 13%

EURO ZONE

63% 25% 12%

NON EURO

54% 30% 16%

PRE-2004 64% 25% 11%

POST-2004/07

48% 32% 20%

10

1.1 TFT: Europeans similarly support both TFT at a global level and at EU level first

6.2 & 6.3 Please tell me if you are in favour or opposed to each of the following statements related to this tax.

Introducing a tax on financial transactions, but only at a global level, if international agreement is reached

Introducing a tax on financial transactions in the EU at first, if international agreement is not reached

Total ‘In favour’: 85%

Total ‘Opposed’ : 11% Total ‘Opposed’ : 14%

Total ‘In favour’: 81%

*Basis : Questions asked to 61% of respondents in favour of a TFT

11

1.1 In favour of a TFT: the reasons

*

*Basis : Questions asked to 61% of respondents in favour of a TFT

Impact of crisis: short or long term?

13

1.2 The crisis is going to last for many years: a significant deterioration in perceptions

+10

-4

+1

-4

-3

14

1.2 Pessimism has increased most in the countries with the highest unemployment rates

QA5 When it comes to a return to growth in (OUR COUNTRY), which one of the following opinions is closest to your own?

We are already returning to growth

Diff. EB75.2 - EB74.1

UE27 14% +1

NL 29% +7

BE 21% +5

SE 58% +5

DK 15% +5

DE 35% +4

IT 9% +4

… …

PL 8% -3

SI 3% -3

FI 34% -4

UK 8% -6

CY 4% -7

The crisis is going to last for many years

Diff. EB75.2 - EB74.1

UE27 36% +10

LV 53% +20

ES 44% +18

PT 57% +17

UK 38% +17

CY 29% +17

EL 63% +16

… …

EE 28% +4

LT 48% +3

DK 18% +2

CZ 32% +1

RO 38% =

Euro: mitigating the impact?

1.3 Public opinion in Europe on the cushioning role of the euro is deteriorating

16

39% 41%37%

33% 34%

44% 45%49% 50%

57%

17%14% 14%

17%

9%

EB71.1 Jan.-Feb. 2009

EB72 Aut. 2009

EB73 Sp.2010

EB74.1 Aug.-Sept. 2010

EB75.2 Apr-May 2011

QA2 Could you tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement: Overall the euro has mitigated the negative effects of the crisis.

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

Total “Agree” : 34%

Total “Disagree” : 57%

17

1.3 Public opinion in Europe on the cushioning role of the euro is deteriorating

18

Total 'Disagree'

Diff. EB75.2 - EB74.1

Total 'Agree'Diff. EB75.2 -

EB74.1Don't know

Diff. EB75.2 - EB74.1

EU27 57% +7 34% +1 9% -8

EURO ZONE

56% +5 38% = 6% -5

NON EURO

57% +9 28% +6 15% -15

BG 60% +23 21% +1 19% -24

ES 68% +21 27% -14 5% -7

RO 47% +18 35% +1 18% -19

CY 69% +17 26% -10 5% -7

LT 59% +16 22% -3 19% -13

EL 61% +15 36% -11 3% -4

PT 62% +12 33% -6 5% -6

… … … … … …

MT 50% +2 42% +9 8% -11

SE 57% +1 31% +11 12% -12

IT 43% +1 53% +4 4% -5

DE 58% = 36% +5 6% -5

AT 41% -1 53% +7 6% -6

NL 48% -5 44% +9 8% -4

QA2 Could you tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement: Overall the euro has mitigated the negative effects of the crisis.

1.3 In almost all Member States, the feeling that the euro has mitigated the impact of the crisis is down

19

Total 'Agree'

Total 'Disagree'

Don't know

EU27 34% 57% 9%

Already 50% 44% 6%

In the coming months 52% 41% 7%

In the coming years 34% 58% 8%

Crisis is going to last 23% 68% 9%

Return to growth

QA2 Could you tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the followingstatement: Overall the euro has mitigated the negative effects of the crisis.

1.3 Euro as a cushion: the influence of respondents’ position on the return to growth

Facing crisis: acting in a coordinated way?

21

1.4 Facing crisis: strong preference for co-ordinated measures

+4

+3

-7

22

(OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied them in a coordinated way with the other EU

countries

(OUR COUNTRY) adopted measures and applied

them individuallyDon't know

EU27 56% 36% 8%

Already 64% 32% 4%

In the coming months 60% 35% 5%

In the coming years 59% 35% 6%

Crisis is going to last 51% 40% 9%

Return to growth

QA3 As a citizen would you say that you would be better protected in the face of the current crisis if…?

1.3 Acting in a coordinated way: the influence of respondents’ position on the return to growth

Austerity or growth ?

24

+2

-1

+3

-4

1.4 Facing crisis – Austerity or growth?

Policy priorities

1.6 Dealing with poverty and social exclusion as the policy priority

26*(QA1a+b – Total – Multiple answers possible)

*

2. Food security

28

2.1 Helping agriculture in developing countries is the most efficient measure to fight against increasing price of food products

29

2.2 Public opinion in Europe strongly approves of the European Union actions to promote food security

95%

92%

86%

86%

Thank you