EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

Transcription

1 Standard Eurobarometer 80 Autumn 2013 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP REPORT Fieldwork: November 2013 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication. This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. Standard Eurobarometer 80 / Autumn 2013 TNS opinion & social

2 Standard Eurobarometer 80 Autumn 2013 European citizenship Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the European Commission, Directorate-General Communication Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General Communication (DG COMM "Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer" Unit)

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 2 I. EUROPEANS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION WHAT EUROPEANS EXPECT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION ATTACHMENT OF EUROPEANS TO THEIR CITY, COUNTRY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION... 9 II. THE RESULTS AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION THE EUROPEAN UNION S RESULTS THE BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION S ACHIEVEMENTS III. EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP THE SENSE OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP The sense of European citizenship The sense of European citizenship compared with national citizenship Levers for strengthening the sense of European citizenship RIGHTS AS EUROPEAN CITIZENS IV. THE OPENNESS OF EUROPEANS TO OTHERS V. THE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN SOCIETY USE OF THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS INITIATIVE THE AREAS WHERE EUROPEANS WOULD USE THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS INITIATIVE VI. THE VALUES THAT BEST REPRESENT THE EUROPEAN UNION ANNEXES Technical specifications 1

4 INTRODUCTION This Standard Eurobarometer survey was carried out between 2 and 17 November in 34 countries and territories: the 28 Member States of the European Union 2, the five candidate countries (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia) and the Turkish Cypriot Community in the part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus was proclaimed European Year of Citizens by the European Parliament and the European Council (Decision 1093/2012/EU of 21 November 2012) 3. Article 2 of the Decision explains that: The general objective of the European Year of Citizens shall be to enhance awareness and knowledge of the rights and responsibilities attached to Union citizenship, in order to enable citizens to make full use of their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. In this context, the European Year of Citizens shall also promote the enjoyment by Union citizens of the other rights attached to Union citizenship. The Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2013 (EB80) approached the subject of European Union citizenship from a number of angles: - What Europeans expect from the European Union; - Perceptions of the European Union s achievements: for Europeans, what are the European Union s most positive results? What are the main achievements from which Europeans feel that they have benefitted? - The concepts of European citizenship and identity: do Europeans see themselves as European citizens? Do they know their rights as European citizens? Do they want more information on the subject, and, if so, in which areas in particular? - The openness of Europeans: what experience do Europeans have of neighbouring EU countries in terms of travel, encounters, culture or even shopping? - The participation of citizens in society: are Europeans ready to use the European Citizens Initiative? In which areas? - The EU s values: which values do Europeans see as the most representative of the European Union? 1 Please consult the technical specifications for the exact dates of the fieldwork in each country. 2 This is the first Standard Eurobarometer survey since Croatia joined the EU on 1 July The EU28 results in this report therefore represent the weighted average for the 28 Member States. 3 Published in the OJCE L325/1 of See also the website dedicated to the European Year of Citizens at: 2

5 The full report of the Standard Eurobarometer 80 consists of several volumes. The first volume analyses the results of the historical indicators of the Standard Eurobarometer survey. Four other volumes present the opinions of Europeans on other themes: the Europe 2020 strategy; European citizenship; the financial and economic crisis; media use in the European Union. This volume is devoted to European citizenship. The general analysis and the socio-demographic analyses are based on the results at the level of the average of the 28 Member States. This average is weighted so that it reflects the population of each Member State. The averages for the previous surveys represent the results obtained in all the Member States of the European Union, as it was composed at the time the survey was conducted. The methodology used is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the Directorate- General Communication ( Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer Unit) 4. A technical note on the interviewing methods of the institutes of the TNS opinion & social network is attached to this report. This note also specifies the confidence intervals 5, which are used to assess the accuracy of the results of a survey, according to the size of the sample interviewed in relation to the total size of the population studied The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in this report may exceed 100% when the respondent was able to choose several answers to the same question. 3

6 The abbreviations used in this report correspond to: ABBREVIATIONS BE Belgium LV Latvia BG Bulgaria LU Luxembourg CZ Czech Republic HU Hungary DK Denmark MT Malta DE Germany NL The Netherlands EE Estonia AT Austria EL Greece PL Poland ES Spain PT Portugal FR France RO Romania HR Croatia SI Slovenia IE Ireland SK Slovakia IT Italy FI Finland CY Republic of Cyprus* SE Sweden LT Lithuania UK United Kingdom CY (tcc) Turkish Cypriot Community EU28 European Union weighted average for the 28 Member States TR Turkey Euro area MK IS ME RS Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia** Iceland Montenegro Serbia Non-euro area BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK BG, CZ, DK, HR, LT, LV, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK * Cyprus as a whole is one of the 28 European Union Member States. However, the acquis communautaire has been suspended in the part of the country which is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews carried out in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the CY category and in the EU28 average. The interviews carried out in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the CY(tcc) (tcc: Turkish Cypriot Community) category) ** Provisional abbreviation which in no way prejudges the definitive name of this country, which will be agreed once the current negotiations at the United Nations have been completed * * * * * We wish to thank all the people interviewed throughout Europe who took the time to take part in this survey. Without their active participation, this survey would not have been possible. 4

7 I. EUROPEANS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION 1. WHAT EUROPEANS EXPECT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION Employment still tops the list of what citizens expect of the EU The economy and fighting the crisis is still by far the area in which Europeans expect most of the European Union 6, even if it is mentioned slightly less often than in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79) (47%, -3 percentage points) 7. All the items covered by this general economic theme have lost ground slightly: - After gaining significant ground in spring 2013, employment is still the subject most frequently mentioned spontaneously (18%, -1 percentage point, after +4 between autumn 2012 (EB78) and spring 2013), ahead of the quality of life (13%, unchanged); - Next, respondents mentioned economic stability (8%, -1 percentage point), a subject which covers financial security, help in a context of recession, budgetary support for EU countries in crisis and help for banks with financial difficulties as a result of the crisis; - Combatting the crisis was mentioned spontaneously by 7% of respondents (-1 percentage point), who cited support for SMEs and companies in difficulty, the introduction of a financial transaction tax and Eurobonds); - After gaining two percentage points between autumn 2012 and spring 2013, boosting growth has lost ground among the spontaneous expectations of Europeans with regard to the EU (4%, -2). It is now ranked equally with cutting deficits, which has lost one percentage point (4%); - Next, in unchanged proportions, Europeans mentioned regulating financial markets (3%, unchanged), combatting poverty (3%, =) and supporting the euro (1%, =). 6 Open question, unprompted answers 7 QD1 Regarding the European Union, please tell me what you expect from it? 5

8 The general theme of governance & cooperation within the European Union is the second most important area of expectations mentioned spontaneously by Europeans (28%, unchanged). In detail: - Solidarity and cooperation between Member States was again mentioned by more than one in ten Europeans (11%, +1 percentage point), ahead of improving the way the State works by reducing bureaucracy, enhancing transparency and tackling corruption, a subject which is broadly unchanged after gaining three percentage points in spring 2013 (7%, -1); - Next, respondents mentioned legislative harmonisation and improving the governance of the EU (6%, =); - Respondents also mentioned, with unchanged scores since spring 2013, social welfare (4%, =) and combatting crime (2%, =). (OPEN QUESTION MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 6

9 The third general theme summarising what Europeans expect of the European Union is citizenship (13%, unchanged). This relates above all to European values (8%, =). The general theme of the European Union s external relations was mentioned slightly more often (7%, +1 percentage point, and +2 since autumn 2012), mainly as a result of a small rise in spontaneous mentions of immigration (3%, +1), which is now cited as often as international policy (3%, unchanged). This was followed by development aid (1%, =) and the fight against terrorism (1%, =). Next, with identical scores and unchanged since spring 2013, respondents mentioned education and research (3%, =) and the environment and energy (3%, =). Withdrawing from the EU or the euro was mentioned spontaneously by 2% of Europeans (unchanged). 12% (+1 percentage point) of Europeans say that they expect nothing from the European Union. The economy and combatting the crisis top the list of things expected from the European Union in almost all the Member States, with the exception of the Netherlands and Denmark, where governance and cooperation stands in first place. Despite being the predominant theme, the economy and combatting the crisis have lost significant ground in several Member States: Malta (39%, -17 percentage points, where this theme still tops the list of expectations, but is ranked equally with external relations, 39%, +28), France (39%, -9), Italy (59%, -8), Slovakia (63%, -7) and Austria (61%, -6). Slovenia is the only Member State where mentions of this theme have increased significantly since spring 2013 (61%, +8). Governance and cooperation, the most frequently cited theme in Denmark and the Netherlands, has recorded a significant rise in mentions in the latter country (53%, +17 percentage points), chiefly via the sub-theme of legislative harmonisation and improving the EU s governance (39%, +20 points). Governance and cooperation has also gained ground, albeit to a lesser extent, in Latvia (30%, +8) and Belgium (41%, +6), but has declined significantly in the United Kingdom (14%, -7). Expectations in the area of citizenship have decreased in Finland (8%, -9), the Netherlands (11%, -7) and Bulgaria (14%, -7). 7

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11 2. ATTACHMENT OF EUROPEANS TO THEIR CITY, COUNTRY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION A stable minority of Europeans feel attached to the European Union Attachment of Europeans to their city and country More than nine out of ten Europeans are attached to their country, a proportion that is unchanged since the last time this question was asked in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2012 (EB77) (91%, versus 9% not attached, unchanged) 8. However, behind this apparent stability, the proportion of Europeans who are very attached to their country has increased: 54%, +3 percentage points. Europeans also remain very attached to their city/town/village, even if levels of attachment are slightly lower than in the case of their country: (87%, -1 percentage since the spring 2012 survey). Just under half of Europeans (unchanged) are very attached to their locality (49%). More than 80% of respondents in all the Member States are attached to their country. However, the proportion who are very attached to their country varies from 33% to 84% across Member States. Attachment is particularly strong in Denmark (84% are very attached, +3 percentage points), Greece (76%, -3) and Bulgaria (75%, unchanged), but less so in the Czech Republic (33%, -1), Belgium (38%, +3) and the Netherlands (40%, =). There have been few changes in the attachment of Europeans to their country since the spring 2012 survey. Nevertheless, the proportion of respondents who are very attached to their country has decreased significantly in Luxembourg (49%, -8) and Malta (67%, -7), but has increased in Austria (64%, +7). More than 70% of respondents in all Member States feel attached to their city/town/village. Once again, there are significant differences in the proportion of respondents who feel very attached to their city/town/village, with levels ranging from 30% to 75%. Respondents in Bulgaria (75% very attached ), Greece (70%) and Spain (66%) are the most likely to feel attached to their city/town/village. 8 QD2 Please tell me how attached you feel to 9

12 Spain is the only Member State where respondents feel far more attached to their city/town/village than to their country (54% are very attached to their country), though this also applies, albeit to a lesser extent, in Romania. In many Member States, the proportion of respondents who feel a strong attachment to their country ( very attached answer) is more than ten percentage points higher than their attachment to their city/town/village. That is the case in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland and Sweden), France, Estonia, Malta and Cyprus. An analysis by socio-demographic categories shows that: - Respondents aged 55 or over (58% answered very attached ) are more likely than average to be attached to their city/town/village. However, Europeans living in rural areas are only slightly more likely (54% are very attached ) than those living in a large city (50%) to be attached to their locality; - Attachment to the country increases strongly with age: only 39% of year-olds are very attached to their country, compared with 46% of yearolds, 53% of year-olds and 65% of those in the 55-plus age group. The other criteria reveal few differences. Attachment to the European Union Attachment to the European Union is unchanged since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2012: 46% of Europeans are attached to the European Union, versus 52% who are not attached to it. The proportion of Europeans who are very attached to the EU (9%, +1 percentage point) is still lower than the proportion who are not at all attached to it (16%, +1). Readers will recall that attachment to the European Union decreased sharply between the spring 2010 survey (EB73) and the spring 2012 survey (EB77), becoming the minority position (46%, -7 percentage points, versus 52%, +7). 10

13 Attachment to the European Union, though still the minority position, is more widespread in the euro area countries (48% versus 51%) than in the non-euro area countries (42% versus 54%). A majority of respondents are attached to the European Union in ten Member States: Luxembourg (67%), Belgium (59%), Poland (57%), Latvia (57%), Germany (55%), Hungary (54%), Bulgaria (53%), Slovakia (51%), Malta (50%) and Romania (48% versus 46%). Although still in a minority, the proportion of respondents who feel attached to the European Union in Croatia, which joined the EU on 1 July 2013, has increased significantly (45%, +7 percentage points). Attachment to the EU has also increased by several percentage points in Hungary (54%, +8) where it is now the majority position. However, it has fallen sharply in Greece (27%, -10) and Cyprus (24%, -9), and also in France where it is now the minority position (49%, -6). 11

14 The United Kingdom (29%, +2 percentage points), like Greece and Cyprus, is one of the countries where respondents are the least likely to feel attached to the European Union. A socio-demographic analysis shows that: - Men (48%) are slightly more likely than women (43%) to be attached to the European Union; - Attachment to the EU is slightly less prevalent among Europeans aged 55 or over (43%), but it is also the minority position among year-olds (48%, versus 49%); - It is the majority position, and far more widespread, among Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond (55%) than among those who completed their studies between the ages of 16 and 19. It is now the minority view in this group (43%), and even more so among those who left school before the age of 16 (35%); - A majority of managers feel attached to the EU (58%), but opinions are evenly divided among white-collar workers (49% versus 49%). Only a minority of selfemployed people (47% versus 51%), manual workers (43% versus 55%), house persons (41% versus 56%) and unemployed people (39% versus 59%) feel attached to the EU; - A majority of Europeans who almost never have difficulties paying their bills feel attached to the EU (51% versus 47%), but only a small minority of those who regularly have financial difficulties do so (30% versus 67%). - Attachment to the European Union is particularly widespread among Europeans for whom the EU conjures up a positive image (72% versus 26%) and those who see globalisation as an opportunity (57% versus 41%). In contrast, only a minority of Europeans who have a negative image of the EU (22% versus 77%) and who do not see globalisation as an opportunity (34% versus 65%) feel attached to the EU. 12

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16 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 14

17 II. THE RESULTS AND PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Europeans continue to see freedom of movement and peace as the most positive results of the EU 1. THE EUROPEAN UNION S RESULTS Europeans continue to see the following achievements as the European Union s most positive results: - First, the free movement of people, goods and services (57%, +1 percentage point since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013) and, secondly, peace among Member States (53%, unchanged) 9 ; - Next, respondents mentioned the euro (25%, +1) and student exchange programmes such as ERASMUS (23%, =); - They then mentioned the economic power of the EU (20%, =), just ahead of its political and diplomatic influence (19%, -1); - The level of social welfare (healthcare, education, pensions) was less frequently mentioned (17%, -2), as was the Common Agricultural Policy (10%, -2). 12% (+1 percentage point) of Europeans spontaneously said they could identify no positive results of the EU. If we focus on the first answers given by the respondents, rather than on the aggregated answers, peace among the Member States (32%, unchanged) stands in first place, ahead of freedom of movement (29%, =). Total of the Firstly and And then answers (SEVERAL ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 9 QD6 Which of the following do you think is the most positive result of the EU? 15

18 Total of the Firstly and And then answers (SEVERAL ANSWERS POSSIBLE) Euro area respondents place the single currency third among the most positive results of the EU (31%). Non-euro area respondents rank the euro in seventh place among the EU s achievements (13%), but behind the freedom of movement and peace, they rank the level of social welfare (21% versus 16% in the euro area countries, in seventh place) and student exchanges (21% versus 24% in the euro area countries, in fourth place). 16

19 Total of the Firstly and And then answers (SEVERAL ANSWERS POSSIBLE) Freedom of movement is seen as the most positive result of the EU in 22 Member States, including Belgium where it is ranked equally with peace (54%). Freedom of movement was mentioned by more than 70% of respondents in Slovakia (75%, unchanged), Bulgaria (74%, -2 percentage points), Latvia (72%, +2), Lithuania (72%, +2) and Croatia (71%, -1). It was mentioned more frequently than in spring 2013 in Finland (60%, +9 percentage points) and Spain (62%, +8). Peace among Member States is seen as the European Union s main achievement in six Member States in addition to Belgium: Germany (73%, +2 percentage points), Sweden (73%, +4), Denmark (65%, unchanged), France (62%, +1), Luxembourg (61%, =) and the United Kingdom (48%, -1). The euro was mentioned by more than four out of ten people in Belgium (49%, -2 percentage points), Slovakia (47%, +8), Ireland (45%, +1), Finland (44%, +2) and Luxembourg (42%, +4). 17

20 In addition to the increase recorded in Slovakia, the single currency was mentioned more frequently than in spring 2013 in Estonia (31%, +7). Total of the Firstly and And then answers first 3 items mentioned 18

21 A socio-demographic analysis reveals that: - There are no significant age-related differences in perceptions of the positive results of the European Union, except that Europeans aged 55 or over and retired people are more likely to mention peace (59% versus 53% on average), whereas Europeans aged 15 to 24 and above all students are more likely to mention ERASMUS exchanges (34% and 40% respectively, versus 23% on average); - But there is greater recognition of the positive results of the European Union among Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond, who are more likely than average to mention all the items, whereas Europeans who left school before the age of 16 are more likely to say spontaneously that there are no positive results (17% versus 12% on average and 8% among those who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond); - The same divide exists between Europeans who almost never have difficulties paying their bills, who are more likely to mention each of the EU s results, and those who regularly have financial difficulties. 19

22 Total of the Firstly and And then answers Four most frequently mentioned items 20

23 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 21

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25 2. THE BENEFITS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION S ACHIEVEMENTS Respondents were then asked to say whether or not they had benefitted from the various achievements or the new rights introduced by the European Union. As was the case in spring 2013, only a minority said that they had benefitted from each of the nine items suggested 10, with proportions ranging from 8% to 40%: - The reduction of border controls when travelling abroad (40%, -1 percentage point) is the achievement from which Europeans say that they have benefitted the most; - More than a quarter of respondents have benefitted from lower prices, whether in respect of lower communication costs when using a mobile phone in another European Union country (26%, -1 percentage point) or cheaper flights and a wider choice of airlines (25%, -2); - Almost one in ten Europeans feel that they have benefitted from improved consumer rights when buying products or services in another European Union country (19%, -1 percentage point), ahead of enhanced air passenger rights in the European Union (17%, -1); - 12% (unchanged) of Europeans said that they have benefitted from medical assistance in another European Union country; - Just over one in ten Europeans have benefitted from the possibility of living or working in another EU country (11% in both cases, unchanged since spring 2013); - Lastly, 8% of Europeans have benefitted from studying in another European Union country (unchanged). 10 QD8 For each of the following achievements of the EU, could you tell me whether you have benefited from it or not. 23

26 As in spring 2013, we find the following differences between euro area respondents and non-euro area respondents: - Euro area respondents are more likely than non-euro area respondents to have benefitted from reduced border controls (42% versus 36%); - However, non-euro area respondents are more likely than euro area respondents to have benefitted from the other EU achievements (21% for improved consumer rights in the non-euro area countries, versus 17% in the euro area countries; 28% versus 24% for lower communication costs; 28% versus 23% for cheaper flights; 20% versus 15% for improved air passenger rights; 15% versus 10% for medical assistance; 16% versus 8% for working in another EU country; 15% versus 9% for living in another EU country; and 11% versus 6% for studying in another EU country). 24

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28 In detail: - A majority of respondents in 15 Member States have benefitted from the reduction of border controls (compared with 12 in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013), most notably in Luxembourg (76%, -2 percentage points), the Netherlands (69%, unchanged) and Slovenia (67%, =). Fewer than two out of ten respondents have done so in Romania (17%, -7), Croatia (19%, where the question was asked for the first time) and Italy (19%, -3). The proportion of respondents who have benefitted from this achievement of the European Union has increased since spring 2013 in Estonia (57%, +6) and Malta (52%, +6), while it has decreased the most perceptibly in Romania, as noted above, and Poland (44%, -7). - Malta is the only Member State in which a majority of respondents have benefitted from improved consumer rights, with an increase of six percentage points since spring 2013 (56%). The proportion of respondents mentioning this item has also risen in Cyprus (34%, +7), but has decreased sharply in Poland (31%, -8) and Slovenia (25%, -8). - A majority of respondents have benefitted from cheaper calls when using a mobile phone in another EU country in Slovakia (57%, -2 percentage points), Ireland (50%, unchanged), Slovenia (50%, +4) and Luxembourg (47%, +2). More respondents mentioned this item in Finland (37%, +6), but it has lost ground notably in Poland (44%, -9) and Bulgaria (11%, -6). - Ireland (54%, -4 percentage points), Sweden (53%, +4) and Luxembourg (48%, +5, versus 47%, -5) are the only three Member States in which a majority of respondents have benefitted from cheaper flights and a wider choice of airlines. - Luxembourg, Slovakia and Poland are the three Member States in which respondents are the most likely to have benefitted from opportunities to live, work and study in another EU country. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, Romania and France are the countries where respondents are the least likely to say they have benefitted from the achievements of the European Union. 26

29 A socio-demographic analysis reveals that the youngest Europeans, those who studied the longest, those living in large cities, managers and those who almost never have difficulties paying their bills are more likely than average to have benefitted from the various achievements and new rights introduced by the European Union. 27

30 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 28

31 III. EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP 1. THE SENSE OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP 1.1. The sense of European citizenship A slightly weaker sense of European citizenship Just under six out of ten Europeans see themselves as citizens of the European Union, slightly lower than in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (59%, -3 percentage points, versus 40%, +3) 11. Two out of ten Europeans now feel that they are definitely citizens of the EU (20%, -2). The sense of European citizenship is more pronounced in the euro area countries (62%) than in the non-euro area countries (54%). The sense of European citizenship is shared by a majority of respondents in 23 Member States, with scores of 70% or more in eight of them: Luxembourg (85%), Malta (74%), Germany (73%), Finland (73%), Estonia (72%), Denmark (71%), Slovakia (70%) and Belgium (70%). However, only a minority of respondents see themselves as citizens of the EU in Bulgaria (49% versus 50%), Cyprus (46% versus 54%), Italy (45% versus 53%), the United Kingdom (42% versus 56%) and Greece (42% versus 58%). In Croatia, which joined the European Union on 1 July 2013, a majority of respondents share this sense of European citizenship with a score that is very close to the European average (58% of people in Croatia see themselves as European citizens, while 42% do not). The sense of European citizenship has not gained significant ground in any Member State since spring 2013, but it has declined in Italy (45%, -7 percentage points), Malta (74%, -7), Slovakia (70%, -6) and the United Kingdom (42%, -6). 11 QD3 For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it corresponds or not to your own opinion. You feel you are a citizen of the EU 29

32 A socio-demographic analysis reveals: - The sense of European citizenship is shared by a majority of respondents in almost all the socio-demographic categories except those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (46% feel that they are citizens of the EU, versus 52%), those who struggle to pay their bills most of the time (41% versus 57%) and those who place themselves at the bottom of the social scale (48% versus 50%); - The sense of European citizenship is slightly more pronounced among men (61%) than among women (57%); - The sense of European citizenship decreases with age (64% among yearolds, 62% among year-olds, 59% among year-olds and 55% in the 55-plus age group), even if it is shared by a majority of respondents in all the age categories; - Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond are far more likely to see themselves as European citizens (70% of this group), whereas it is the minority opinion among Europeans who left school before the age of 16 (46/52); - Although a majority in all socio-professional categories see themselves as citizens of the EU, this feeling is more widespread among managers (76%) than among white-collar workers (62%), self-employed people (61%), manual workers (57%) and unemployed people (52%); 30

33 - There is a clear divide reflecting the subjective social status and financial situation of respondents: 67% of those who place themselves at the top of the social scale and 65% of those who almost never have difficulties paying their bills feel that they are citizens of the EU, compared with only a minority of the Europeans who place themselves at the bottom of the social scale (48% versus 50%) and more particularly those who regularly struggle to pay their bills (41% versus 57%); - The sense of European citizenship is very pronounced among Europeans who consider that their voice counts in the EU (81% versus 18%), but is also shared by a narrow majority of these who think that their voice does not count (50% versus 49%); - Lastly, the feeling of European citizenship is far more widespread among Europeans who have a positive image of the European Union (82% versus 18%) than among those who have a negative image (36% versus 63%). 31

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35 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis The sense of European citizenship compared with national citizenship Respondents were then asked to compare their sense of European citizenship with their sense of national identity. Their answers show that a majority of Europeans continue to define themselves as European citizens (54%) 12, compared with 42% who define themselves solely by their nationality. The question was worded slightly differently in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79), since at that time Europeans were asked how they saw themselves in the near future : the proportion of respondents who defined themselves solely by their nationality was lower (38%, versus 59% for European citizens) QD5 Do you see yourself as? 13 The change of wording, which establishes the question in the present instead of the future, has probably had an impact on the evolutions observed, in particular at national level. We will therefore not comment on them here. 33

36 More than half of Europeans thus define themselves as citizens of the EU: - Most respondents define themselves first by their nationality and then as Europeans (47%); - 5% of respondents see themselves as Europeans and citizens of their country ( European and (NATIONALITY) ); - Only 2% of the people polled see themselves as European only. An absolute majority of respondents define themselves solely by their nationality in Ireland (63%), the United Kingdom (63%), Greece (55%), Bulgaria (50%) and Portugal (50%). The countries where respondents are the most likely to define themselves first as European citizens and then by their nationality are Luxembourg (13%) and Belgium (10%). Again, it is in Luxembourg (7%), but also in Romania (8%), that respondents are the most likely to see themselves as European only. 34

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38 The socio-demographic divisions on this question mirror those found for the sense of European citizenship: - Women are more likely than men to define themselves solely by their nationality (45% versus 39%); - Europeans aged 55 or over (48%) are also more likely to do so than young people (39% among year-olds); - A clear majority of Europeans who left school before the age of 16 also define themselves solely by their nationality (59%), compared with only a minority of those who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond (28%); 36

39 - Unemployed people (47%) and manual workers (43%) are also more likely to define themselves solely by their nationality than white-collar workers (37%), self-employed people (36%) and managers (26%); - A majority of the Europeans who struggle to pay their bills define themselves solely by their nationality (55% versus only 38% of those who almost never have financial difficulties). 37

40 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 38

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42 1.3. Levers for strengthening the sense of European citizenship Culture continues to be identified as the main lever for creating a feeling of community within the EU When asked to identify subjects that contribute most to creating a feeling of community within the EU, Europeans give answers that are fairly similar to those recorded in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79): - Culture continues to be seen as the main unifying factor (28%, unchanged since spring 2013) 14, after gaining significant ground between spring 2012 (EB77) and spring 2013 (+6 percentage points); - This was followed by the economy (23%, -1) and history (23%, +1), with identical scores; - Sports are now ranked in fourth place among the areas identified for creating a feeling of community within the EU (22%, -1); - Values remain in fifth place (19%, =), after losing significant ground between spring 2012 and spring 2013 (-4). Geography is ranked in sixth place (18%, +1); - Other items were mentioned by fewer than 15% of Europeans: languages (14%, =), solidarity with poorer regions (13%, -1), equal with inventions, science and technology (13%, -1), closely followed by healthcare, education and pensions (12%, -1), just ahead of religion (11%, +1), and lastly legislation (10%, =). 14 QD9 In your opinion, among the following issues, which are those that most create a feeling of community among European Union citizens? 40

43 (ROTATE MAX. 3 ANSWERS) Culture leads the list of areas likely to create a feeling of community within the EU in six Member States: Germany (37%, +1 percentage point since spring 2013), Belgium (36%, +3), Denmark (35%, -1), Greece (32%, -2), Estonia (31%, +4) and Portugal (24%, -3). It is ranked in joint first place in France (36%, -2, with history), Luxembourg (31%, -5, with history and languages) and the United Kingdom (30%, +2, with sports). However, the proportion of respondents mentioning culture has decreased since spring 2013 in Hungary (24%, -8 percentage points), Croatia (20%, -6), Malta (21%, -6) and the Netherlands (21%, -6). History is seen as the most unifying factor in Austria (31%, unchanged), Hungary (30%, +5), Malta (28%, +8), the country where this item has gained the most ground and Romania (25%, +2). 41

44 In addition to Malta, support for history as a unifying factor has increased strongly in Cyprus (26%, +7). The economy is seen as the most effective tool for creating a feeling of community among EU citizens in Lithuania (32%, unchanged since spring 2013), the Netherlands (32%, +1 percentage point), Croatia (30%, -1), Spain (25%, +3), and Poland (24%, -6) and Italy (23%, -5), two countries where the proportions mentioning this item have decreased significantly. In Slovenia, this item stands in equal first place with sports (30%, =).This is also the case in Finland (30%, -3, equal with geography) and Bulgaria (28%, =, equal with geography and legislation). Support for this item has fallen in 13 Member States, most notably in Denmark (23%, -7). Sports top the list of potential unifying factors in Ireland (35%, unchanged) and the Czech Republic (29%, -2), in addition to the countries mentioned earlier (Slovenia and the United Kingdom). Sweden (37%, +4 percentage points) and Cyprus (30%, +6) are the only two Member States in which values are seen as the key lever for creating a feeling of community within the EU. The proportion of respondents mentioning this item has fallen considerably in Italy since spring 2013 (18%, -7). Geography tops the list in Latvia (35%, +5 percentage points) and Slovakia (35%, +4), in addition to the aforementioned countries, Finland (30%, +3) and Bulgaria (28%, -2). As indicated, languages are mentioned very frequently in Luxembourg (31%, -2 percentage points). Respondents in Denmark (17%, +2 percentage points) and Greece (17%, -2) are more likely than average to mention solidarity with poorer regions. The proportion of respondents mentioning this item has fallen sharply in Portugal (14%, -9) and Malta (9%, -9). Respondents in Denmark (23%, -2 percentage points) and the Netherlands (20%, +4) are particularly alive to the unifying force of inventions, science and technology. Religion was mentioned the most frequently in Cyprus (27%, +5 percentage points) and Romania (24%, -5). 42

45 43

46 A socio-demographic analysis shows that: - Culture tops the list of potential levers for creating a feeling of community within the EU in all categories; - However, young people (15-24 year-olds) are slightly more likely than average to mention sports (26% versus 22% on average) and languages (22% versus 14% on average); - Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond are more likely to mention history (28% versus 23% on average) and values (25% versus 19% on average). 44

47 2. RIGHTS AS EUROPEAN CITIZENS More than four out of ten Europeans are aware of their rights as EU citizens; almost six out of ten would like to know more A majority of Europeans feel that they do not know their rights as citizens of the European Union, with a two percentage point rise since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013: 55%, compared with 43% who say they are familiar with them (-3) 15. An absolute majority of Europeans (59%, unchanged, versus 38%, -1 percentage point) want more information on their rights. 15 QD3 For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it corresponds or not to your opinion... You know what your rights are as a citizen of the EU 45

48 The proportion of respondents who consider that they know their rights as European citizens is almost identical in euro area countries (43%) and non-euro area countries (44%). However, euro area respondents are more likely than non-euro area respondents to want to know more about their rights (61% versus 54%). A majority of respondents in 13 Member States feel that they know their rights as European citizens, most notably in Finland (64%), Cyprus (59%), Denmark (58%), Estonia (58%), Luxembourg (58%) and Austria (58%). 46

49 The countries in which respondents are the least likely to be aware of their rights are France (29%), Italy (31%) and the United Kingdom (34%). The feeling among respondents that they are familiar with their rights as European citizens has lost ground in a majority of Member States, most notably in Luxembourg (58%, -9 percentage points), Slovakia (51%, -8) and the United Kingdom (34%, -6). A majority of respondents in 23 Member States want to know more about their rights as citizens of the European Union, the highest scores being recorded in Cyprus (83%), Sweden (76%) and Slovakia (71%). Only minorities want to know more in countries where a high proportion of respondents are familiar with their rights, such as Finland (49% versus 51%) and Austria (41% versus 58%), but this is also the case in countries where people say that they are ill-informed: the United Kingdom (48% versus 52%), Portugal (46% versus 51%) and Bulgaria (44% versus 48%). 47

50 48

51 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 49

52 THE RIGHTS ABOUT WHICH CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE The order in which Europeans prioritise the rights on which they would like to know more is the same as in spring 2013 (Standard Eurobarometer survey EB79): - Europeans are above all interested in learning more about working in another EU Member State (35%, -1 percentage point) 16, followed by receiving medical assistance in another EU country (34%, +1) and living in another EU country (32%, +1); - Next, respondents mentioned benefitting from consular protection from any EU Member State when you are outside the EU and your own country is not represented there, albeit with a slightly lower score than in spring 2013 (20%, -2); - Studying in another Member State stands in fifth place among the subjects about which people would like to know more (14%, +1); - Respondents then mentioned buying goods (13%, +1) and services (10%, +1), followed by voting in another EU country (8%, unchanged). The proportion of Europeans who answered spontaneously that they did not want information on any of these subjects is stable (13%, -1 percentage point). An analysis of the firstly answers reveals the same order as for the aggregated answers. Base: those who would like to know more about their rights as European citizens (=59% of the sample) 16 QD4 About which rights as a citizen of the EU would you like to know more? 50

53 There are some slight differences between euro area and non-euro area countries: - Non-euro area respondents would most like more information on receiving medical assistance in another EU country (39% versus 31% in the euro area countries); - Euro area respondents are more likely than average to be interested in information on consular protection (22% versus 15% in the non-euro area countries). Working in another Member State is the right about which respondents most want more information in 14 Member States, plus Greece, where it is equal first with living in another EU country (49%, +2 percentage points), and Estonia (42%, -1), equal with receiving medical assistance (42%, +3). There is particularly strong demand for information on this subject in Bulgaria (58%, unchanged), Hungary (56%, +6) and Slovenia (51%, +3). In addition to Hungary, interest in this area has increased significantly in Austria (33%, +12), Cyprus (45%, +8) and Malta (31%, +6), but has declined in Poland (43%, -9) and the United Kingdom (23%, -6). Receiving medical assistance tops the list in 11 Member States, led by Cyprus (47%, -4 percentage points), Luxembourg (46%, -2), Malta (46%, -2) and Sweden (46%, -7). Demand for information on this subject has increased in Slovenia (43%, +9) and the United Kingdom (42%, +8). Apart from in Greece, living in another EU country is the most frequently mentioned subject in Romania (49%, unchanged). It is also frequently mentioned in Bulgaria (51%, -1 percentage point) and has gained ground in Malta (24%, +5). Benefitting from consular protection is a subject in which there is strong interest in Luxembourg (37%), despite a decrease of six percentage points since spring The proportion of respondents mentioning this item has also fallen sharply in the United Kingdom (14%, -8 percentage points). Studying in another EU country was frequently mentioned in Latvia (27%, +2 percentage points) and Cyprus (24%, +5). The proportion of respondents mentioning this item has also increased in Sweden (15%, +6). Buying goods in another EU country is a right which was mentioned by more respondents than the EU average in Austria (24%, +2 percentage points), as was buying services in Latvia (20%, +3). Lastly, voting in another Member State was most often mentioned in Luxembourg (14%, +6). 51

54 Base: those who would like to know more about their rights as European citizens (=59% of the sample) 52

55 The desire for information varies slightly according to the socio-demographic categories: - Information on working in another EU country is of particular interest to the working age groups: this is the case of year-olds (48%) and yearolds (48%), and more than a third of Europeans in the age group (37%), compared with only 16% of those aged 55 or over. However, the latter are more likely than average to want more information on receiving medical assistance in another EU country (46%); - The most vulnerable categories are more interested than Europeans as a whole in receiving more information about working in another EU country: this is particularly true of those who regularly struggle to pay their bills (47%, versus 35% on average) and unemployed people (57%). Those who almost never have difficulties paying their bills at the end of the month are interested above all in receiving more information on receiving medical assistance in another EU country (38%, compared with 27% of those who have such difficulties most of the time). 53

56 Base: those who would like to know more about their rights as European citizens (=59% of the sample) Three most frequently mentioned items 54

57 IV. THE OPENNESS OF EUROPEANS TO OTHERS An unchanged minority of Europeans are open to other countries When asked about a number of practices that might demonstrate their openness to the other EU Member States, Europeans report a level of experience which is unchanged since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79): - Despite a one percentage point fall since spring 2013, almost half of Europeans have socialised with people from another EU country during the twelve months preceding the survey (48%, including 30% on several occasions, unchanged) Four out of ten Europeans have visited another EU country (40%, +1). - Just over a third have watched a TV programme in a language other than their mother tongue (35%, =) and just under a quarter have read a book, magazine or newspaper in another language (24%, -1). - Lastly, the use of the Internet to buy a product or service in another European Union country is the same as in spring 2013 (22%). 17 QD7 In the last twelve months, have you? 55

58 As found in previous surveys, there are fairly significant differences between countries on this question: - A majority of respondents in 17 Member States have socialised with people from another European Union country during the last 12 months, most notably in Luxembourg (90%, -4 percentage points since spring 2013), Cyprus (83%, +7), the Netherlands (83%, +2) and Sweden (73%, +2). In contrast, less than a quarter of respondents have socialised with other EU citizens over the last twelve months in Bulgaria (23%, -1), Hungary (24%, +4) and Romania (24%, -4). Numbers have fallen sharply in Italy (30%, -10), but have increased strongly in Slovenia (62%, +8) and more moderately in Cyprus (83%, +7). - In 12 Member States, a majority of respondents have visited another EU country during the last twelve months. This is particularly true of respondents in Luxembourg (91%, unchanged since spring 2013), the Netherlands (78%, -2 percentage points), Denmark (72%, -2) and Austria (71%, +3). Fewer than 20% of respondents in Greece (16%, +1), Bulgaria (19%, -2) and Portugal (19%, -2) have travelled within the EU, while the proportion who have visited another EU Member State has fallen sharply in Romania (23%, -7), but has increased in Slovenia (67%, +7) and Lithuania (38%, +6). - In 13 Member States a majority of respondents have watched a TV programme in a language other than their mother tongue during the last twelve months, with the highest scores in Luxembourg (96%, +1 percentage point), Malta (94%, unchanged) and Sweden (92%, +1). However, this practice is far from widespread in Italy (13%, -3), Bulgaria (21%, -7 percentage points since spring 2013) and Hungary (21%, unchanged). As well as in Bulgaria, the proportion of respondents who have watched a foreign language TV programme has fallen sharply in Portugal (45%, -7), though it has increased in Cyprus (61%, +7). - Respondents saying that they have read a book, newspaper or magazine in a language other than their mother tongue are in a majority in only six Member States, the same countries as in spring 2013: Luxembourg (93%, unchanged), Malta (69%, -3 percentage points), Sweden (63%, -4), the Netherlands (54%, -3), Latvia (54%, +2) and Denmark (53%, -2). - Luxembourg (61%, -4 percentage points) and Malta (55%, unchanged) are the only two Member States in which a majority of respondents have used the Internet to buy a product or service in another EU country. 56

59 57

60 THE INDEX OF OPENNESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES These questions enable us to construct an index of openness to other European Union countries 18. The index levels have been stable since 2010: two-thirds of Europeans have a low openness index (66%, -1 percentage point since spring 2013), while 20% have a moderate index (unchanged) and 14% have a high index (+1). Luxembourg continues to be an exception, since 80% of respondents have a high openness index, despite a five percentage point fall since spring It is followed at some distance by Denmark (45%, unchanged), Malta (44%, -4 percentage points, the Netherlands (42%, -2) and Sweden (41%, +1). The countries with the highest proportion of low indices are Italy (87%, +2 percentage points), Bulgaria (85%, unchanged), Hungary (83%, -2) and Romania (81%, +3). 18 For each of the five practices indicating openness analysed in this survey, points were attributed as follows: 2 points for every yes, on several occasions answer; 1 point for every yes, once or twice answer, otherwise 0 points. Therefore, each individual had a number of points between 0 and 10. Scores of 0 to 3 points correspond to a low international openness index, 4 to 6 to a moderate openness index and 7 to 10 to a high international openness index. 58

61 V. THE PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN SOCIETY 1. USE OF THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS INITIATIVE Just over one in five Europeans intend to use the European Citizens Initiative. Immigration is gaining ground among potential areas of use After a reminder of the principle of the European Citizens Initiative 19, one in five Europeans said that they would probably use it: 21%, a one percentage point rise since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79). Almost seven out of ten Europeans said that it was not very likely (34%, +1) or not at all likely (35%, -1) that they would use the European Citizens Initiative 20. Cyprus is the only Member States in which a majority of respondents thought that it was likely that they would use the European Citizens Initiative (48/46), with a significant increase since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (+9 points percentage points for total likely answers). This initiative interests a third of respondents in Ireland (33%, +2 percentage points), Greece (33%, +2) and Finland (33%, -2), with increasing interest in Malta (28%, +7) and Poland (31%, +6). In contrast, interest has decreased since spring 2013 in Belgium (29%, -6). 19 The following introduction was read to the people polled: The Lisbon Treaty came into force in December It has introduced the "European Citizens Initiative". The initiative enables one million European Union citizens to call on the European Commission to bring forward an initiative of interest to them in an area of EU competence. 20 QD11 How likely or not do you think you would make use of this European Citizens Initiative? 59

62 Conversely, the countries in which respondents are the most likely to say that they were unlikely to use the European Citizens Initiative are France (79%, -2, including 42% not at all likely, unchanged), Denmark (78%, -2, including 42% who answered not at all, +1), Sweden (78%, unchanged, and 39%, +1) and Hungary (76%, -1 and 45%, +3). A socio-demographic analysis reveals that young people (27% of year-olds), students (31%), those who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond (27%), managers (26%) and those who place themselves at the top of the social scale (27%) are more interested than average in the European Citizens Initiative. 60

63 2. THE AREAS WHERE EUROPEANS WOULD USE THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS INITIATIVE Whether or not they were likely to use the European Citizens Initiative, all respondents were then asked in which areas they would be the most likely to do so. The order is fairly close to that recorded in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2012 (EB78): - Employment is the most frequently mentioned subject (37%, -1 percentage point since the autumn 2012 survey) 21 ; - Next, respondents mentioned education (23%, -1), pensions (22%, unchanged), the fundamental rights of EU citizens (21%, -1), environmental issues (20%, +1), taxation (18%,-2) and consumer protection (18%, -2); - Immigration has gained three percentage points (15% in 8th place, versus 12% in joint 10th place in autumn 2012) among the areas where Europeans think they might use the European Citizens Initiative; - Respondents then mentioned energy (13%, =), crime (13%, =) and any problems with their national government (11%, -1); - Issues relating to the common foreign and security policy (9%, =), the mobility of EU citizens (8%, -1), terrorism (7%, +1), agriculture (7%, -1), EU enlargement (6%, =) and sport (4%, =) bring up the rear. The DK rate has increased slightly (17%, +2 percentage points). 21 QD12 And whether or not you think you might make use of it or not, if you were to do so, in which of the following fields would you be most likely to use the European Citizens Initiative? 61

64 (ROTATE MAX. 5 ANSWERS) 62

65 Employment tops the list of areas in which respondents think it probable that they might use the European Citizens Initiative in 23 Member States. The exceptions are: - Sweden and Denmark where respondents rank environmental issues first (53% and 36% respectively). The environment is also in first place in Germany, where it is equal with the fundamental rights of EU citizens (29%); - Fundamental rights also top the list in Austria (32%); - In Estonia, respondents are interested above all in education (29%); - There are also other national particularities: o 38% of respondents in Cyprus stated that they would consider using the European Citizens Initiative in the area of consumer protection, compared with a European average of 18%; o Taxation was mentioned by around a third of respondents in Italy (33%) and Greece (32%), compared with an EU average of 18%; o o o Immigration was mentioned more frequently in Austria (27%), Cyprus (26%) and Malta (24%) than by Europeans as a whole (15%); In Denmark, a quarter of respondents would use the European Citizens Initiative with regard to crime (25%, versus a European average of 13%); Energy was mentioned by 37% of respondents in Sweden, putting it in second place, compared with only ninth place (equal with crime) in the EU in general (13%). The respondents who stated that they would probably ( very likely or fairly likely ) use the European Citizens Initiative (21% of the total sample) are more likely to mention all the issues listed: that is particularly true as regards education (33%, versus 23% of Europeans as a whole) and environmental issues (29% versus 20%). Logically, these respondents are far less likely to express no opinion (3% versus a European average of 17%). 63

66 64

67 A socio-demographic analysis shows that: - Young people are more likely than average to mention employment (45% of year-olds, versus 37% on average) and education (39% versus 23%), while Europeans aged 55 or over are more likely to mention pensions (31% versus 22%); - Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond are more likely than average to prioritise education (29%), fundamental rights (27%), the environment (27%) and energy (18%); - Employment and education are the two most frequently mentioned issues among managers, white-collars and manual workers. However, the latter were more likely than average to mention employment (43% versus 37% on average). 65

68 VI. THE VALUES THAT BEST REPRESENT THE EUROPEAN UNION Individual freedom has gained ground among the values associated with the EU The order of the values that Europeans associate with the European Union has undergone some evolutions since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013 (EB79): - The first value which Europeans associate with the European Union is still peace, but with a lower score than in spring 2013 (37%, -3 percentage points) 22 ; - Human rights are ranked in second place (34%, unchanged since spring 2013) among the values associated with the European union; - Democracy is the third most important value associated with the European Union, but has again lost ground (30%, -2); this value has thus lost seven percentage points since the spring 2012 survey (EB77); - The rule of law remains in fourth place among the values that best represent the European Union, but its score too has decreased significantly since spring 2013 (18%, -5); - One of the most striking changes for this question concerns individual freedom, which is increasingly associated with the European Union: as a result of an increase of four percentage points since the spring 2013 survey (18%), this value has jumped from seventh to fourth place, equal with the rule of law. It had previously gained two percentage points between spring 2012 and spring 2013; - Respect for human life is also a value that is now more frequently associated with the European Union (16%, +3), and is now equal with respect for other cultures (16%, -1); - Next, respondents mentioned solidarity (14%, -2), equality (11%, -1) and tolerance (10%, =); - Self-fulfilment (4%, +1) and religion (4%, +1) are less mentioned. As was the case in spring 2013, 6% of Europeans spontaneously stated that they do not associate any of these values with the European Union. 22 QD10 In the following list, which values best represent the EU? 66

69 (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) Although, on the whole, the answers vary little between the euro area and non-euro area countries, there are some differences: euro area respondents are more likely to mention peace (40% versus 30%), while in the non-euro area countries, human rights are the first value associated with the EU, ahead of peace (36%, versus 33% in the euro area). The values associated with the European Union vary considerably between Member States: - Peace is seen as the value that best represents the European Union in 14 Member States (compared with 17 in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2013). To these we can add Spain, where four values stand in equal first place (27%): peace, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Respondents in Sweden (56%, unchanged), France (54%, +1 percentage point) and Luxembourg (53%, +4) are more likely than average to associate peace with the EU. The proportion of respondents mentioning peace has decreased sharply since spring 2013 in Lithuania (27%, -9), Bulgaria (30%, -8), the Czech Republic (40%, -8), Spain (27%, -7), Italy (26%, -7), Hungary (31%, -6), but also in Germany (49%, -6); - Human rights top the list of values that best characterize the European Union in 11 Member States, most notably in Finland (52%), where this value has gained significant ground since spring 2013 (+9 percentage points). 67

70 This value has also gained support significantly in Cyprus (38%, +14), Luxembourg (50%, +8) and Malta (41%, +7), but has fallen back sharply in Poland (27%, -10) and Austria (30%, -7); - Democracy is seen as the value that best represents the European Union in Denmark (50%, +1 percentage point) and Poland (32%, -4). However, in several Member States, democracy is far less frequently associated with the European Union than in spring 2013: in Lithuania (24%, -13), Bulgaria (31%, -11), Slovakia (27%, -9), Portugal (16%, -9), Luxembourg (35%, -7), Ireland (29%, -7) and Slovenia (18%, -7); - Individual freedom is the value which has gained the most ground in the hierarchy of values associated with the European Union. In Austria, it is now ranked in second place after peace, as a result of a strong increase since spring 2013 (34%, +18 percentage points). The proportion of respondents mentioning this value has also increased significantly in Finland (20%, +9), the Czech Republic (28%, +8), the Netherlands (18%, +8) and Cyprus (32%, +7); - Respect for human life is far more frequently associated with the EU than in spring 2013 in Cyprus (23%, +10), Bulgaria (29%, +9), Denmark (19%, +9), Finland (17%, +8) and the United Kingdom (19%, +7). 68

71 A socio-demographic analysis reveals that: - Young people see human rights as the value that best represents the European Union (36%), but they also mention democracy and peace equally (32% for both values among year-olds). Peace is clearly the most important value associated with the European Union for Europeans in the 55-plus age group (41%); - Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond (traditionally more pro- European Union) are particularly likely to associate democracy with the EU (36% versus 30% on average and compared with only 22% of those who left school before the age of 16). Respondents who left school before the age of 16 tend to mention almost all the values slightly less frequently than average and are more likely to say spontaneously that they associate none of them with the EU (10% versus 6% on average). 69

72 70

73 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the whole of the European Union (EU28) on average, in the six largest EU countries and in four countries which have been particularly badly affected by the economic crisis. 71

74 STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - AUTUMN 2013 STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 European citizenship TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Between the 2 nd and the 17 th of November 2013, TNS opinion & social, a consortium created between TNS plc and TNS opinion, carried out the wave 80.1 of the EUROBAROMETER survey, on request of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Directorate-General for Communication, Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer unit. The wave 80.1 is the STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 survey and covers the population of the respective nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the Member States and aged 15 years and over. The STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 survey has also been conducted in the five candidate countries (Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Serbia) and in the Turkish Cypriot Community. In these countries, the survey covers the national population of citizens and the population of citizens of all the European Union Member States that are residents in these countries and have a sufficient command of the national languages to answer the questionnaire. The basic sample design applied in all states is a multi-stage, random (probability) one. In each country, a number of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional to population size (for a total coverage of the country) and to population density. In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative regional units", after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole territory of the countries surveyed according to the EUROSTAT NUTS II (or equivalent) and according to the distribution of the resident population of the respective nationalities in terms of metropolitan, urban and rural areas. In each of the selected sampling points, a starting address was drawn, at random. Further addresses (every Nth address) were selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial address. In each household, the respondent was drawn, at random (following the "closest birthday rule"). All interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and in the appropriate national language. As far as the data capture is concerned, CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) was used in those countries where this technique was available. For each country a comparison between the sample and the universe was carried out. The Universe description was derived from Eurostat population data or from national statistics offices. For all countries surveyed, a national weighting procedure, using marginal and intercellular weighting, was carried out based on this Universe description. In all countries, gender, age, region and size of locality were introduced in the iteration procedure. For international weighting (i.e. EU averages), TNS Opinion & Social applies the official population figures as provided by EUROSTAT or national statistic offices. The total population figures for input in this post-weighting procedure are listed below. TS1

75 STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - AUTUMN 2013 Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being equal, rests upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 interviews, the real percentages vary within the following confidence limits: Statistical Margins due to the sampling process (at the 95% level of confidence) various sample sizes are in rows various observed results are in columns 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% N=50 6,0 8,3 9,9 11,1 12,0 12,7 13,2 13,6 13,8 13,9 N=50 N=500 1,9 2,6 3,1 3,5 3,8 4,0 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,4 N=500 N=1000 1,4 1,9 2,2 2,5 2,7 2,8 3,0 3,0 3,1 3,1 N=1000 N=1500 1,1 1,5 1,8 2,0 2,2 2,3 2,4 2,5 2,5 2,5 N=1500 N=2000 1,0 1,3 1,6 1,8 1,9 2,0 2,1 2,1 2,2 2,2 N=2000 N=3000 0,8 1,1 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,6 1,7 1,8 1,8 1,8 N=3000 N=4000 0,7 0,9 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,4 1,5 1,5 1,5 1,5 N=4000 N=5000 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 1,3 1,4 1,4 1,4 N=5000 N=6000 0,6 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,2 1,2 1,3 1,3 N=6000 N=7000 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,2 1,2 N=7000 N=7500 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 1,1 N=7500 N=8000 0,5 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,1 1,1 1,1 N=8000 N=9000 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 N=9000 N= ,4 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 1,0 1,0 1,0 N=10000 N= ,4 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 N=11000 N= ,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 0,9 0,9 N=12000 N= ,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,9 0,9 N=13000 N= ,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 N=14000 N= ,3 0,5 0,6 0,6 0,7 0,7 0,8 0,8 0,8 0,8 N= % 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% TS2

76 STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 80 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP - AUTUMN 2013 TS3