Standard Eurobarometer 85. Public opinion in the European Union

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2 Public opinion in the European Union Fieldwork: May 2016 Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer Unit)

3 Project number Project title Public opinion in the European Union Language version EN Catalogue number NA EN-N ISBN doi: /17487 European Union,

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 I. LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 6 1 Personal aspects 6 a. The personal situation of Europeans today 6 2 The main concerns of Europeans 14 a. Personal concerns 14 b. The main concerns at national level 22 c. The main concerns at European level 28 3 The provision of public services 36 4 Political aspects 39 a. Interest in politics 39 b. Trust in the institutions National institutions The United Nations 57 c. The direction in which things are going 59 II. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS 67 1 Attachment to the European Union 67 a. What does the European Union stand for? 67 b. Support for EU membership and the perceived benefits of membership in the candidate countries 72 c. Would it be easier to face the future outside the EU? 75 2 The European institutions 78 a. Familiarity with the European institutions and the trust they inspire 78 b. Trust in the European Union 85 c. The European Union s image 89 3 Knowledge of the European Union 109 a. Knowledge of how the European Union works 109 b. Objective knowledge of the European Union Democracy in the European Union 118 a. The way in which democracy works 118 b. Are personal interests properly taken into account nationally and at EU level? Political and economic issues 132 a. Positive and negative word connotations 132 b. Europeans and globalisation 149 1

5 6 The European Union today and tomorrow 151 a. Should more decisions be taken at European level? 151 b. The future of the European Union 155 III. HOW EUROPEANS PERCEIVE THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Personal aspects 161 a. Assessments of the personal job and financial situation The household s financial situation The personal job situation Economic aspects 167 a. Assessments of the current economic situation The national and European situations The employment situation 172 b. Expectations for the next twelve months The national and European situations The employment situation The impact of the economic situation on the job market 183 IV. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ECONOMIC REFORMS The European Union continues to play a key role in the global economy Stimulating investment Tackling deficits and debt and reforming the financial system 195 a. Reducing debt and the public deficit 195 b. What measures should be taken to reform the economic and financial system? 201 ANNEXES Technical specifications 2

6 INTRODUCTION This Standard Eurobarometer survey 85 was carried out between 21 and 31 May in 34 countries or territories: the 28 Member States of the European Union, five candidate countries (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania) and the Turkish Cypriot Community in the part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. The survey of spring 2016 was conducted shortly after the publication of the European Commission's spring 2016 economic forecast 2. It showed contrasting results: while unemployment is still declining, the GDP growth forecast for 2016 is lower than the official growth figure for Economic growth is expected to remain modest at 1.8% in the EU and 1.6% in the euro area 3. Unemployment has continued to decline both in the EU as a whole and in the euro area: the rate has fallen below the 9% threshold in the EU28 for the first time since 2009 (8.7%, down from 9.6% in April 2015, a decrease of 0.9 percentage points) 4. A similar fall is observed in the euro area (10.2%, down from 11% in April 2015, a decline of 0.8 percentage points). After the peaks registered in August, September and October 2015, the number of people entering Europe has fallen month on month 5. On 18 March 2016, the EU Heads of State and Government reached an agreement with Turkey aimed at stopping the flow of illegal immigration into the European Union via Turkey. Since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015, Brussels has been struck by deadly terrorist attacks (on 22 March 2016) in the Maelbeek metro station and at the Brussels Zaventem airport, following the attacks in Paris and Copenhagen in National elections have taken place in Spain, Ireland and Slovakia and presidential elections have been held in Portugal and Austria. Parliamentary elections were held in Cyprus on 22 May 2016, just after the fieldwork began. On 3 December 2015, the Danes rejected EU rules on cross-border policing in a referendum. In the Netherlands, the Dutch rejected the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine, also via a referendum, on 6 April The fieldwork was carried out during the campaign ahead of the referendum on the United Kingdom's EU membership. The referendum took place on 23 June 2016, three weeks after the end of the fieldwork. The full report of the survey consists of several volumes. This volume presents the state of public opinion in the European Union (EU). Three further volumes present the opinions of Europeans on other themes: the EU s priorities; economic issues within the EU; and European citizenship. 1 Please consult the technical specifications for details of the exact dates of the interviews in each country

7 This volume on the main public opinion trends in the European Union is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on life in the European Union, notably the political and personal aspects, as seen by its citizens. First, it examines the personal situation of citizens, their main concerns, and how they rate the provision of public services within the European Union. It then explores how interested European citizens are in politics and their views on the direction in which things are going in their country and in the European Union, and analyses the extent to which they trust the institutions. The second part of the report presents the main indicators for the image of and trust in the European Union and its institutions. First, it examines the extent to which Europeans feel attached to the European Union. Next, it considers whether Europeans are familiar with and trust the EU and its institutions, before examining their knowledge of the EU. It then turns to their views on the way democracy works and whether their personal and national interests are taken into account by the European Union. Then it analyses how Europeans respond to certain words, and their attitude to globalisation. Lastly, it addresses public support for taking more political action at the European level, and views on the future of the European Union. Most of the questions were asked during previous Standard Eurobarometer surveys. For these questions, it has been possible to analyse public opinion trends. 4

8 The methodology used is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the Directorate-General for Communication ( Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer Unit) 6. The same methodology was applied in all of the countries and territories covered by the survey. 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 7, 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. Note: The abbreviations used in this report correspond to: Belgium BE Lithuania LT Bulgaria BG Luxembourg LU Czech Republic CZ Hungary HU Denmark DK Malta MT Germany DE The Netherlands NL Estonia EE Austria AT Ireland IE Poland PL Greece EL Portugal PT Spain ES Romania RO France FR Slovenia SI Croatia HR Slovakia SK Italy IT Finland FI Republic of Cyprus CY* Sweden SE Latvia LV United Kingdom UK Turkish Cypriot Community CY (tcc) Albania AL Turkey TR Montenegro ME Serbia RS Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia MK** European Union weighted average for the 28 Member States BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK, LV, LT BG, CZ, DK, HR, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK EU28 Euro area Non-euro area * 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 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. ** 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 The results tables are included in appendix. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in this report may exceed 100% when the respondents were able to choose several answers to the same question. 5

9 I. LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 1 Personal aspects a. The personal situation of Europeans today Eight out of ten Europeans are satisfied with the life they lead A very large majority of Europeans are satisfied with the life they lead 8 : 80% are satisfied, representing a drop of one percentage point since the Standard Eurobarometer of autumn 2015 (EB84), while 20% are dissatisfied (+1). A quarter of Europeans are very satisfied (25%, +1). In general, this indicator has been fairly stable since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2000 (EB53), ranging between 75% (autumn 2011 (EB76), spring 2013 (EB79) and autumn 2013 (EB80)), and 83% (between autumn 2000 and spring 2002 (EB54, EB55, EB56 and EB57)). The proportion of very satisfied respondents has stabilised at around 25% since spring 2014, while it previously fluctuated around 20%. Personal satisfaction is slightly lower in the euro area countries (79%) than in the countries outside the euro area (82%). 8 D70. On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the life you lead? 6

10 As in autumn 2015, a majority of respondents in 26 Member States are satisfied with the life they lead, with scores above 90% in eight countries: Denmark (98%), Luxembourg (96%), the Netherlands (96%), Finland (96%), Sweden (96%), the United Kingdom (94%), Ireland (93%) and Malta (93%). Only a minority of respondents are satisfied in Greece (34%, versus 66% dissatisfied ) and in Bulgaria (46%, versus 53%). Personal satisfaction has increased in 13 Member States since autumn 2015, most notably in Portugal (63%, +10 percentage points). It has decreased in 12 countries, particularly in Lithuania (66%, -9), and has remained stable in three countries. Detailed results 7

11 How Europeans expect their life in general to evolve over the next twelve months has not changed since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84): an absolute majority expect the next twelve months to stay the same (58%, unchanged). Optimism continues to outweigh pessimism: 28% think their life over the next twelve months will be better, while 11% think it will be worse (both results unchanged). As a reminder, around one-third of Europeans expressed optimism about their life in general between the Eurobarometer surveys of spring 1996 (EB45) and autumn 2006 (EB66). After improving in spring 2007 (rising to 37%), the optimism index then declined until autumn 2011, falling to 21% (-16 percentage points in total). Between autumn 2011 and spring 2015, optimism grew by eight percentage points before dropping one percentage point in autumn The unchanged results in this Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2016 therefore confirm the end of the upward trend. 8

12 As was the case in autumn 2015, optimism outweighs pessimism in 27 Member States, led by Ireland (42% think that their life in general over the next twelve months will be better ) and Sweden (41%). Greece is the only Member State where pessimism outweighs optimism (43% think that the next twelve months will be worse, while 12% think they will be better ). 9

13 The European optimism index 9 has stabilised at +17 since autumn 2015 (EB84), after falling by three points between spring 2015 (+20) and autumn 2015 (+17). This was the first drop in the indicator since autumn 2012 (the trend had been towards improvement, with a rise of +17 index points between autumn 2012 and spring 2015). Since 1996, the European optimism index regarding life in general has always been positive, with the lowest level recorded in autumn 2011 (+1) and the highest level in autumn 2000 (+27). 9 Difference between the positive ( better ) and negative ( worse ) answers. 10

14 The optimism index has risen since autumn 2015 in 12 Member States, led by Cyprus (+9 index points to +22) and the Czech Republic (+9 points to +15). It has fallen in 13 countries, notably in Croatia (-13 points to +2) and Poland (-11 points to +4), while it remains unchanged in Finland (+26), the Netherlands (+24) and Luxembourg (+23). 11

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16 The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries, and in the countries that are receiving or have received European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 13

17 2 The main concerns of Europeans a. Personal concerns The cost of living remains the most significant personal issue for Europeans Rising prices/ inflation/ cost of living together represent the most important current issue facing Europeans 10 (26%). This item has lost one percentage point since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn It has lost ground almost continuously since spring 2012, with a decrease of 19 percentage points over the last four years. Pensions are now ranked as the second most important personal concern of Europeans (16%), rising by two percentage points since autumn This is the highest score for this item since spring 2012 (it has varied between 13% and 15%). Following closely behind are health and social security (15%, unchanged) and the household financial situation (15%, -1 percentage point). Although concerns about health and social security have remained fairly stable since 2012, worries about the household financial situation peaked at 19% in autumn 2014 before stabilising between 15% and 16%. Unemployment is in fifth place among the personal concerns of Europeans (14%). After ranging between 20% and 22% between spring 2012 and spring 2014, concerns about unemployment fell by seven points between spring 2014 and autumn 2015 (to 14%), and remain unchanged in spring Taxation remains in sixth place (13%, unchanged). Just below the 10% threshold and mentioned with the same frequency are the national economic situation (9%, -1 percentage point), the education system (9%, unchanged), living conditions (9%, +1) and working conditions (9%, +1). The national economic situation has lost ground almost continuously since spring 2012, when it was mentioned by 19% of respondents and was ranked in third place (-10 percentage points in total). Personal concerns about immigration have fallen slightly (8%, -1 percentage point), after rising almost continuously since autumn 2012 (+7 points until autumn 2015, reaching 9%). Crime is mentioned by 6% of respondents as a personal concern, a result which has remained fairly stable since spring 2012, as is the environment, climate and energy issues (6%, +1 percentage point). The least mentioned personal concerns are terrorism (5%, +1) and housing (5%, unchanged). 10 QA4a. And personally, what are the two most important issues you are facing at the moment? 14

18 10 most frequently mentioned items 15

19 Six most frequently mentioned items The order in which Europeans rank their personal concerns differs slightly in euro area and non-euro area countries: Three items are widely mentioned in both groups of countries: o rising prices/ inflation/ cost of living is the biggest personal concern (26% in the euro area countries, unchanged, and 26% in countries outside the euro area, -2 percentage points); o pensions (ranked in third place with 15%, +1, in the euro area countries, and 16%, +1, in non-euro area countries); o the household financial situation (14%, -1, within the euro area, and 16%, -2, outside of the euro area). In the euro area countries, taxation (16%, -1) and unemployment (15%, -1) also feature among the main concerns. In the non-euro area countries, health and social security (19%, -1) and living conditions (11%, +1) are among the top five personal concerns. 16

20 Six most frequently mentioned items in the euro area and outside the euro area Rising prices/inflation/cost of living is the leading personal concern in 16 Member States (compared with 18 in autumn 2015), led by Lithuania (65%) and Portugal (41%). Health and social security is the main personal concern in six Member States: Sweden (37%), Finland (34%), Latvia (33%), the Netherlands (32%), Estonia (27%) and Denmark (16%). The main personal concern in three Member States is the household financial situation: Greece (34%), Cyprus (32%) and Croatia (30%). Pensions are the biggest personal concern in Slovenia (20%), while it is unemployment in Spain (32%) and taxation in Italy (30%). Other frequently mentioned personal concerns include the national economic situation in Finland (22%), living conditions in Romania (20%), working conditions in Spain (14%), environmental issues (22%) and immigration (16%) in Sweden, crime in Austria (12%), housing in Luxembourg (14%), and terrorism in Belgium (11%). 17

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23 The following tables show the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries, and in the countries that are receiving or have received European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 20

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25 b. The main concerns at national level The order in which Europeans rank their national concerns 11 changed considerably in the Standard Eurobarometer of autumn 2015 (EB84). This is also the case in spring 2016: unemployment has continued to lose ground, while concern about immigration has fallen for the first time since autumn Unemployment is still the leading national concern, despite losing three percentage points (33%, -3) since autumn 2015, when it shared first place with immigration. This concern has lost ground continuously since autumn 2013 (-18 points in total since spring 2013). Immigration, the leading national concern in autumn 2015 (along with unemployment), has dropped sharply to second place (28%, -8 percentage points, following a rise of 13 points between spring 2015 (EB83) and autumn 2015 (EB84)). Despite losing ground, concerns about immigration at the national level are at their second highest level. The economic situation remains the third issue of national concern (19%, unchanged), after falling continuously between spring 2014 and autumn 2015 (-14 percentage points in total between autumn 2013 and autumn 2015). Concerns about terrorism at national level have become much more widespread and this item is now ranked in fourth place: 16%, +5 percentage points since autumn 2015 and +14 since spring 2014). Two social issues have also gained ground, albeit to a lesser extent: health and social security (16%, +2 percentage points) and pensions (13%, +3), which is now ranked alongside rising prices/inflation/cost of living (13%, -1). Finally, crime and government debt remain unchanged since autumn 2015 at 10% ahead of the education system (9%, +1 percentage point), housing (8%, unchanged), taxation (7%, -1) and environment, climate and energy issues (6%, =). 11 QA3a. What do you think are the two most important issues facing (OUR COUNTRY) at the moment? 22

26 Six most frequently mentioned items 23

27 The order in which national issues are ranked differs considerably in euro area and non-euro area countries: Unemployment is the unequivocal leading concern in euro area countries (38%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2015), followed by immigration in second place, despite a sharp fall since autumn 2015 (29%, -9). The economic situation is the third most important issue (21%, +1), while concerns about terrorism have increased significantly (18%, +8). Pensions have gained ground slightly and are now ranked in fifth place (13%, +4). In the non-euro area countries, immigration remains the leading national concern; it has lost less ground than in the euro area countries (27%, -5 percentage points). This is closely followed by concerns about health and social security, which have increased considerably (26%, +5). Next come economic issues: unemployment (24%, -3), rising prices/ inflation/cost of living (17%, -1) and the economic situation (16%, -2). Six most frequently mentioned items in the euro area and outside the euro area 24

28 Unemployment is the main national concern in 11 Member States (compared with 12 in autumn 2015), most strikingly in Spain (71%), Cyprus (67%) and Portugal (62%). It has lost considerable ground in two Member States: Slovakia (33%, -13 percentage points) and Luxembourg (21%, -10). Despite a significant decrease at the EU level, immigration remains the leading national concern in nine Member States (compared with 12 in autumn 2015). It is mentioned by 50% or more respondents in Denmark (57%), Germany (56%) and Malta (50%). It is also the leading concern in the Netherlands (46%), Sweden (44%), Austria (41%), the United Kingdom (38%), the Czech Republic (32%) and Estonia (30%). Concerns over immigration are receding in a large majority of Member States (24), most notably in those countries where the steepest increases were recorded in autumn 2015: Slovenia (13%, -35 percentage points), Germany (56%, -20) and Finland (23%, -18). However, it remains higher in these countries than the level recorded in spring Terrorism is the leading concern in Belgium (33%), recording an increase of 24 percentage points since autumn Concerns about terrorism have also risen significantly in Germany (26%, +16), France (30%, +12) and the Netherlands (22%, +10). Health and social security is seen as the most important national issue in four Member States, with considerable rises in Latvia, where it was already the leading concern in autumn 2015 (42%, +11 percentage points), Hungary (37%, +14), Romania (37%, +8) and Slovakia (36%, +12). Rising prices/ inflation/ cost of living is the primary national concern in Lithuania (59%), where it has gained 12 percentage points. Housing is the main national concern in Ireland (45%), gaining 11 percentage points since autumn 2015, and in Luxembourg (37%, +3). Other points of note: The economic situation is mentioned widely in Cyprus (53%); Pensions are a major issue in the Czech Republic (22%) and Poland (22%). Concerns about this issue have risen substantially in the Netherlands (20%, +13 percentage points), Germany (19%, +11) and Slovenia (16%, +10); Crime is mentioned more than average in Ireland (20%); Government debt is a major concern in Croatia (27%) and Finland (27%); The education system and environmental issues are mentioned widely in Sweden (26% and 24% respectively), as is taxation in Lithuania (25%). 25

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31 c. The main concerns at European level The order in which Europeans rank the main issues facing the European Union 12 has remained unchanged since autumn 2015, albeit with different levels of intensity. Immigration remains the largest problem facing the EU (48%), despite falling ten percentage points since autumn As a reminder, it had gained 20 percentage points between spring 2015 and autumn Despite this fall, concern about immigration remains at its second highest level ever recorded. Concerns about terrorism, which has retained its second place since autumn 2015, have increased significantly (39%, +14 percentage points) and stand at their highest recorded level, up 35 percentage points since autumn Economic issues lag far behind these two concerns and have lost significant ground over the long term: the economic situation (19%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2015, and -40 since autumn 2011), the state of Member States public finances (16%, -1, and -18 since spring 2012), and unemployment (15%, -2, and -23 since spring 2013). In sixth place, crime has gained one percentage point (9%). Trailing behind are the EU s influence in the world (7%, +1 percentage point), rising prices/inflation/ cost of living (7%, unchanged), climate change (6%, =), the environment (5%, =), taxation (3%, =), pensions (3%, =) and energy supply (3%, =). Maximum two answers 12 QA5. What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment? 28

32 Ten most frequently mentioned items 29

33 Six most frequently mentioned items 30

34 The order in which Europeans place the issues facing the European Union is the same in euro area and non-euro area countries, albeit with some variation in the frequency of mentions. Concern about immigration is still less widespread within the euro area (45%, -12 percentage points) than outside the euro area (53%, -7). And while concerns about terrorism have increased more sharply within the euro area (38%, +17), it is still less frequently mentioned than outside the euro area (43%, +11). Six most frequently mentioned items in the euro area and outside the euro area 31

35 Immigration remains the most important issue facing the European Union in 20 Member States (compared with 27 in autumn 2015), led by Estonia (73%), Denmark (71%), the Czech Republic (67%), Hungary (67%) and Latvia (67%). Latvia is the only Member State where concerns about immigration have not fallen since autumn This issue has lost the most ground in Slovenia (54%, -20 percentage points), Belgium (41%, -20), Germany (57%, -19), Austria (48%, -18) and Sweden (59%, -15). Terrorism is the leading European concern in the eight remaining Member States: Cyprus (50%), Ireland (50%), Romania (49%), Croatia (48%), Luxembourg (47%), Portugal (40%), France (39%) and Spain (35%). Concerns over this issue have grown throughout the Member States, with increases of 20 percentage points or more in nine countries: Cyprus (50%, +30), Slovenia (44%, +27), Germany (40%, +25), Poland (50%, +22), Croatia (48%, +22), Luxembourg (47%, +22), the Czech Republic (52%, +20), Ireland (50%, +20), and Lithuania (48%, +20). Other findings include: The economic situation is regarded as a major European issue in Greece (35%); The state of Member States' public finances (34%) and unemployment (28%) are frequently mentioned in Portugal; Crime is mentioned more than average in Croatia (14%), Italy (14%) and Austria (14%); The EU s influence in the world is mentioned more than the average in the Netherlands (13%); Climate change (24%) and the environment (10%) are frequently mentioned in Sweden. 32

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38 A comparative analysis of personal, national and European concerns reveals that: Immigration and terrorism are the main concerns at both the European level and the national level; These two items are ahead of economic issues, such as the economic situation and the state of Member States' public finances, which have fallen back; Unemployment, despite losing ground, remains a major concern at both the national level and the personal level; At the personal level, concern about rising prices/inflation/ cost of living remains widespread and continues to exceed concern about social issues and crime; At a time when so much is happening, environmental issues remain a minor concern at personal, national and European levels. 35

39 3 The provision of public services The perceived quality of the provision of public services varies greatly between countries Europeans are divided over the quality of the provision of public services in their countries, although a slim majority are satisfied : 48% rate the provision as good (including 6% very good ) compared with 46% bad (including 12% very bad ). Results are fairly similar in the euro areas countries (48%, versus 47%) and the non-euro area countries (49%, versus 45%). 36

40 A majority of respondents are satisfied with the provision of public services in 16 Member States, exceeding 75% in the Netherlands (88%), Luxembourg (85%) and Finland (79%). At the other end of the scale, satisfaction is extremely low in Greece (8%), Italy (23%) and Bulgaria (24%). The difference between the level of satisfaction in the Netherlands, where it is highest, and that in Greece, where it is lowest, is considerable, reaching 80 percentage points. 37

41 A socio-demographic analysis reveals that men are a little more likely to be satisfied (51% total good, versus 44% total bad ) than women (46% versus 48%). The youngest respondents are more satisfied with the provision of public services in their countries (55% versus 35% among year-olds) than the oldest respondents (46% versus 48% among the 55+). In terms of education, only a minority of respondents who left school at the age of 15 or earlier are satisfied (38% versus 55%), while a majority of respondents who studied until the age of 20 and beyond are satisfied (55% versus 41%). The provision of public services is also regarded in a more positive light by managers (62% versus 36%), than by house persons (39% versus 55%) or the unemployed (37% versus 58%), a majority of whom are dissatisfied. Finally, respondents who have difficulties paying their bills at the end of the month most of the time tend not to be satisfied with the provision of public services (29% good versus 64%), in contrast to respondents who almost never or never have such financial difficulties (57% good, versus 38%). 38

42 4 Political aspects a. Interest in politics The index measuring how interested Europeans are in politics 13 has fallen slightly: 17% of Europeans have a strong interest in politics, down by one percentage point since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84), while 46% have a moderate interest (unchanged), 19% have a slight interest (=) and 18% are not at all interested (+1 percentage point). Europeans mainly discuss national political matters with friends and family: a majority of respondents do so occasionally (54%, unchanged since autumn 2015), while almost a quarter do so frequently (23%, -1 percentage point). Almost a quarter of respondents never talk about national politics with friends and family (23%, +1). Half of Europeans talk about European political matters occasionally (50%, -1 percentage point since the report of autumn 2015), while 15% do so frequently (unchanged). More than one-third say that they never talk about European political matters (34%, +1). 13 The question is as follows: When you get together with friends or relatives, would you say that you discuss frequently, occasionally or never about? National political matters/european political matters/local political matters. A score is then attributed to each answer: Never = 0; Occasionally = 1; Often = 2. An index is then constructed by adding together the scores for the three dimensions (local, national and European). Each group corresponds to a different index level: not at all interested in politics = 0; slight = 1 to 2; moderate = 3 to 4; strong = 5 to 6. 39

43 The political interest index is particularly high in Greece (33% of respondents have a strong interest), Sweden (29%), the Netherlands (27%) and Austria (26%). In contrast, more than a quarter of respondents are not at all interested in politics in Portugal (34%), Malta (29%), Spain (29%) and Romania (27%). 40

44 b. Trust in the institutions 1. National institutions Distrust in national political institutions continues to grow slightly Respondents were once again asked to rate their trust in the political institutions in their respective countries. The loss of trust in national political institutions that was recorded in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84) has been confirmed: Distrust in the national government has increased (68% tend not to trust, +2 percentage points, and +5 since spring 2015, versus 27% tend to trust, unchanged). This is also the case for the national parliament (65%, +1, and +3 since spring 2015, versus 28%, unchanged); Political parties are trusted by a very small minority of respondents (15%, unchanged, versus 79%, +1). In contrast, trust in regional or local public authorities has increased markedly (46%, +4 percentage points, versus 47%, -4), although it remains the minority view. Previously, trust in these bodies had fallen by five percentage points between spring and autumn An increasing majority of Europeans trust the army (73%, +2 percentage points, versus 20%, unchanged) and the police (71%, +2, versus 26%, -1). Opinions are more divided regarding the justice system, although trust still outweighs distrust (51%, -1 percentage point since spring 2015, versus 44% distrust, +1). Tested for the first time in this survey, a minority of respondents trust public administration at the national level (45% tend to trust, versus 48% tend not to trust ). 41

45 The national government and parliament A long-term analysis shows that the trust Europeans place in their national government and parliament has in general reflected the same broad trends as their trust in the European Union. After peaking in 2007, it declined almost continuously until autumn It then began to recover until spring 2015, before dropping again in autumn In spring 2016, distrust in the national government and parliament continues to grow. 42

46 As a reminder, the trust index 14 for national political institutions has been continuously negative since 2004 (that is to say distrust has always outweighed trust), while the trust index for the European Union was positive between 2004 and Difference between the tend to trust and tend not to trust percentages 43

47 A majority of respondents in only three Member States (compared with six in autumn 2015) trust their national government: Malta (55%, versus 32%), the Netherlands (54%, versus 43%) and Luxembourg (53%, versus 32%). Distrust levels exceed 70% in seven Member States: Greece (88%), Spain (83%), France (81%), Croatia (80%), Slovenia (80%), Italy (78%) and Romania (73%). Since 2015, trust in the national government has grown sharply in Portugal (33%, +18 percentage points) although still the minority view, and Cyprus (28%, +12). It has fallen dramatically in Croatia (15%, -10) and Sweden (45%, -10). 44

48 A majority of respondents in six Member States trust the national parliament (unchanged since autumn 2015): Sweden (60%), Denmark (56%), the Netherlands (54%), Finland (54%), Malta (49%) and Luxembourg (44%). Distrust levels reach or exceed 75% in ten Member States: Greece (89%), Lithuania and Slovenia (83% in both countries), Romania (82%), Croatia (80%), Bulgaria and Spain (79% in both countries), the Czech Republic (77%), and France and Latvia (75% in both countries). Since autumn 2015, trust in the national parliament has increased markedly in Portugal (32%, +13 percentage points), although it is still the minority view (63% tend not to trust, -14). 45

49 Political parties A majority of respondents distrust political parties throughout all the Member States, ranging from 48% in Luxembourg to 94% in Greece. Regional and local public authorities A majority of respondents in 15 Member States (compared with nine in autumn 2015) trust regional and local public authorities, with particularly high levels of trust in Luxembourg (69%), Denmark (68%), Sweden (66%) and Germany (65%). However, levels of distrust exceed 70% in Greece (76%) and Croatia (73%). Trust in regional and local public authorities has risen significantly in several Member States since autumn 2015: Malta (57%, +18 percentage points), Cyprus (35%, +14), Latvia (53%, +12), the Czech Republic (51%, +11), Ireland (46%, +10) and Austria (62%, +10). 46

50 National public administration A majority of respondents in 14 Member States trust public administration in their country, notably in Luxembourg (77%), Denmark (69%) and Austria (65%). More than two-thirds of respondents distrust public administration in Greece (79%), Italy (69%) and Croatia (67%). The army, police and justice system A majority of respondents in all of the Member States trust the army, as was the case in spring The level of trust, however, varies considerably between Bulgaria, where it is lowest (44%, versus 37% tend not to trust ), and Finland, where it is highest (91%, versus 5%). Trust in the army has grown markedly in Belgium since spring 2015 (82%, +10 percentage points). 47

51 A majority of respondents in 25 Member States trust the police (as in spring 2015). Levels of trust exceed 80% in six countries: Finland (94%), Denmark (91%), Sweden (84%), France (81%), Austria (81%) and Luxembourg (81%). In Bulgaria, an absolute majority of respondents tend not to trust the police (52%, versus 39% tend to trust ). Although short of an absolute majority, most respondents distrust the police in Slovakia (49% versus 47%) and Croatia (48% versus 47%). Trust in justice/ the national legal system is predominant in 12 Member States (compared with 14 in spring 2015). It is extremely widespread in Finland (84%), Denmark (84%) and Sweden (78%). Distrust reaches or exceeds 70% in Slovenia (76%), Croatia (71%) and Bulgaria (70%). Since spring 2015, trust in the justice system has increased considerably in Cyprus (37%, +12 percentage points) while it has declined dramatically in Romania (35%, -13). 48

52 * Public administration in (OUR COUNTRY) was tested for the first time. 49

53 A sociodemographic analysis shows very small differences in terms of respondents gender and age. Differences according to level of education are more marked: trust in the institutions tested is a little lower among respondents who left school at the age of 15 or earlier than among those who studied until the age of 20 and beyond. This is particularly the case for the justice/national legal system (42% of people who left school at or before the age of 15, compared with 59% of those who remained in education to the age of 20+), regional or local public authorities (38% versus 52%), and public administration (36% versus 52%). An analysis by socio-professional category shows that trust in these institutions is still strongest among managers (sometimes equal with students) and weakest among unemployed people. This is particularly the case for public administration (58% of managers tend to trust, compared with 30% of the unemployed) and the justice/ legal system (65% versus 38%). Finally, the fewer difficulties respondents have paying their bills at the end of the month, the likelier they are to trust these institutions. Once again, the biggest difference concerns the justice/national legal system (57% of people who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills at the end of the month tend to trust the justice system, compared with 31% of those who frequently have these difficulties) and public administration (51% versus 27%). 50

54 51

55 52

56 The following tables show the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries, and in the countries that are receiving or have received European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 53

57 54

58 55

59 56

60 2. The United Nations A renewed majority of Europeans trust the United Nations A majority of Europeans tend to trust the United Nations: 46%, while 38% tend not to do so. Trust has increased by six percentage points since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84) and has become the majority view once again. However, this increase does not completely make good the loss of confidence recorded between spring and autumn 2015 (-11 points, from 51% in spring 2015 to 40% in autumn 2015). As a reminder, a majority of Europeans trusted the United Nations between spring 2004 and autumn Public opinion was more evenly divided between spring 2012 and spring 2014, with distrust sometimes outweighing trust by a few points (in spring 2012 (45% tend not to trust, versus 42%); in autumn 2013 (44%, versus 42%) and in spring 2014 (43%, versus 40%)). Trust in the United Nations then rose sharply until spring 2015, becoming dominant again, before declining once more in autumn Following another increase, a majority of Europeans once again trust the United Nations in spring

61 A majority of respondents trust the United Nations in 20 Member States (up from 15 in autumn 2015), most notably in Finland (72% tend to trust ), Denmark (71%) and Sweden (68%). In contrast, distrust is particularly widespread in Greece (76%) and Cyprus (64%). Trust in the United Nations has increased in 24 Member States since autumn 2015, led by Ireland (56%, +12 percentage points), Malta (59%, +11), Finland (72%, +10), the United Kingdom (57%, +10) and the Czech Republic (43%, +10). It has fallen in Romania (46%, -6), Austria (40%, -5) and Bulgaria (37%, -2), and remains unchanged in Sweden (68%). 58

62 c. The direction in which things are going The opinion that things are going in the wrong direction at the national level and the EU level has become more widespread The direction in which things are going at national level When asked to describe the direction in which things are going in their country, a majority of Europeans say they are going in the wrong direction (53%), while 21% say they are going in the right direction and 22% say neither the one nor the other (spontaneous). Majorities have held negative opinions on this indicator since 2006 and these are more widespread in spring 2016 (+5 percentage points since autumn 2015 and +11 since spring 2015). Conversely, positive opinions have lost ground (-5 since autumn 2015 and -9 since spring 2015) and have been overtaken for the first time by the idea that things are going in neither the right nor the wrong direction (spontaneous answer, neither the one nor the other, 22%, unchanged). Respondents are more likely to say the direction taken in their country is right than wrong in four Member States (compared with six in autumn 2015): Malta (57% think that things are going in the right direction, versus 17% in the wrong direction ), Ireland (55%, versus 21%), the Netherlands (44%, versus 35%) and Luxembourg (43%, versus 20%). The impression that things are going in the wrong direction is particularly strong in Greece (86% think that things are going in the wrong direction in their country), France (76%), Spain (68%) and Croatia (64%). The opinion that things are going in the right direction has become much less widespread in Croatia (11%, -18 percentage points, versus 64% in the wrong direction, +17), Lithuania (19%, -16, versus 51%, +17), Romania (19%, -14, versus 55%, +17), Poland (21%, -12, versus 50%, +23) and Spain (15%, -10, versus 68%, +14). 59

63 Breakdown of the answer Things are going in the right direction Breakdown of the answer Things are going in the wrong direction 60

64 The direction in which things are going in the European Union Opinions about the way things are going in the European Union have also deteriorated: a clear majority of Europeans think that things are going in the wrong direction (50%), a rise of seven percentage points since autumn The view that things are going in the right direction has lost six points (to 17%) and thus has fallen below the spontaneous opinion neither the one nor the other (23%, unchanged). A long-term analysis reveals that European public opinion was either predominantly positive or more or less evenly balanced 15 between 2006 and autumn Negative opinions became predominant in spring 2010 and grew until autumn 2011, peaking at 55%. They then lost ground until spring 2015 (-20 percentage points in total), before regaining 15 percentage points in spring In spring 2009, public opinion was evenly divided, but negative opinions were very slightly in the majority (35% in the wrong direction versus 34% in the right direction ). 61

65 A majority of respondents in five Member States say that things are going in the right direction in the European Union (compared with seven in autumn 2015): Ireland (38% the right direction, versus 25%), Bulgaria (36%, versus 21%), Romania (34%, versus 32%), Lithuania (33%, versus 27%) and Malta (29%, versus 15%). Negative opinions are extremely widespread in Greece (76%), France (62%), Belgium (61%), Sweden (61%) and Germany (60%). Opinions about the direction of the European Union have deteriorated considerably in Romania (34% in the right direction, -18 percentage points, versus 32% in the wrong direction, +18), Croatia (27%, -13, versus 32%, +2) and Poland (19%, -12, versus 37%, +14). The idea that that things are going in the wrong direction has gained significant ground in Spain (51%, +14), Belgium (61%, +13), and Italy (42%, +10). Breakdown of the answer Things are going in the right direction Breakdown of the answer Things are going in the wrong direction 62

66 63

67 A sociodemographic analysis reveals that a majority of respondents across all categories think that things are going in the wrong direction at both the national level and the European level. Young people aged between 15 and 24, students, and respondents who see themselves as upper middle class or upper class are slightly less likely to share this opinion (below 50% in the wrong direction for both the national level and European level). In contrast, respondents who are unemployed are the most negative about the direction in which things are going (63% things are going in the wrong direction at the national level and 54% at the European level). 64

68 The following tables show the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries, and in the countries that are receiving or have received European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 65

69 66

70 II. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS 1 Attachment to the European Union a. What does the European Union stand for? The main representations associated with the European Union are unchanged The order in which respondents rank the main representations associated with the European Union 16 has remained more or less unchanged since autumn The freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU is the most frequently mentioned representation (50%, +1 percentage point since autumn 2015), ahead of the single currency, the euro (35%, -2) and cultural diversity" (28%, unchanged) and peace (27%, =). Next, respondents mentioned three negative representations, associating the EU with a waste of money (26%, +1), bureaucracy (26%, +2) and not enough control at external borders (25%, +1). After gaining ground significantly (+6 percentage points) in the previous Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015, the belief that there are inadequate controls at the European Union s external borders shows a trend towards stabilisation in this survey. These items were followed by a stronger say in the world (22%, unchanged) and democracy (20%, -2 percentage points) as the main representations associated with the EU. All the other items were mentioned by fewer than 20% of respondents. 16 QA11. What does the EU mean to you personally? 67

71 The European Union as an area of freedom and mobility is the most frequently mentioned representation in both the euro area countries (50%, ahead of the euro (44%) and cultural diversity (30%)) and the non-euro area (50%, ahead of bureaucracy (25%), peace and cultural diversity (ranked equally with 24%). The freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU is the most frequently mentioned representation associated with the EU in 25 Member States, with scores of more than 50% in 20 countries, led by the Nordic countries (72% in Sweden, 65% in Finland and 63% in Denmark), the Baltic States (72% in Lithuania, 71% in Estonia and 63% in Latvia) and the Netherlands (64%). This representation is also ranked equally with the euro in Belgium (46%). The euro is the representation the most frequently associated with the EU in Austria (53%), Belgium (46%) and Italy (38%). Several answers possible 68

72 Respondents in France (40%), Sweden (40%), Finland (39%) and Luxembourg (38%) are the most likely to say that the European Union represents cultural diversity. Respondents in Luxembourg (48%), Sweden (48%), Germany (42%), Austria (40%) and Denmark (40%) are the most likely to associate peace with the EU. The idea that the European Union represents a waste of money is most widely held in Austria (43%), Germany (40%), the Czech Republic (38%) and France (36%). This item was mentioned by 26% of respondents in the United Kingdom. Respondents in Sweden (56%), Finland (45%), the Netherlands (43%) and Germany (42%) are the most likely to associate bureaucracy with the European Union. Lastly, respondents in Austria (50%), the Czech Republic (40%), Denmark (35%), Germany (34%) and France (33%) are far more likely than the European average (EU28: 25%) to associate the European Union with not enough control at external borders. Several answers possible 69

73 70

74 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 71

75 b. Support for EU membership and the perceived benefits of membership in the candidate countries A majority of respondents in all the candidate countries continue to support EU membership A majority of respondents in all the candidate countries 17 are in favour of EU membership. Since autumn 2015, support has increased markedly in Montenegro, but also in Turkey and Serbia. The balance of opinion is unchanged in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It has deteriorated in Albania, but remains very positive. 18 * In the Turkish Cypriot Community, the question was: Generally speaking, do you think that for the Turkish Cypriot Community, the full application of EU legislation would be? 17 The survey was not carried out in Iceland. In March 2015, Iceland s government requested that Iceland should not be regarded as a candidate for EU membership. 18 QA6. Generally speaking, do you think that (OUR COUNTRY)'s membership of the EU would be...? 72

76 An absolute majority of respondents in all the candidate countries consider that joining the European Union would benefit their country. Since autumn 2015, this view has gained ground in Montenegro and is unchanged in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but has lost ground in Turkey, Serbia and Albania 19. * In the Turkish Cypriot Community, the question was: Taking everything into consideration, would you say that the Turkish Cypriot Community would benefit or not from the full application of the EU legislation? Although support for membership of the European Union has slipped, the vast majority of respondents in Albania still support the idea: 79% of those interviewed (-5 percentage points since autumn 2015) say that membership of the EU would be a good thing for their country and 90% (-4) believe that their country would benefit from membership of the European Union. The balance of opinion is generally stable in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where respondents are largely in favour of membership of the European Union: 53% of those interviewed (unchanged) support the idea of their country joining the European Union, while 14% (-2 percentage points) are opposed and 29% (=) are undecided. Around two-thirds of respondents in this country (67%, =) consider that membership of the EU would benefit their country. Support for membership of the European Union has increased significantly in Montenegro: 53% (+7 percentage points) of respondents in this country say that Montenegro s membership of the EU would be a good thing, while 11% (-1) consider that it would be a bad thing and 30% (-6) say that it would be neither good nor bad ; 69% (+6) of respondents believe that Montenegro would benefit from joining the EU. 19 QA7. Taking everything into account, would you say that (OUR COUNTRY) would benefit or not from being a member of the EU?? 73

77 Respondents in Serbia continue to support membership of the European Union, but the opinion ratio has narrowed: 39% (+1 percentage point) say that joining the EU would be a good thing for Serbia, while 29% (+5) consider that it would be a bad thing, 25% (-5) think that it would be neither good nor bad and 7% (-1) expressed no opinion. Half of respondents (50%, -1) in Serbia believe that their country would benefit from EU membership, while 39% (+4) take the opposite view and 11% (-3) did not answer. Lastly, opinion in Turkey continues to support membership of the European Union: 39% (+2 percentage points) of respondents are in favour of Turkey joining the EU, while 26% (+2) are opposed and 26% (-1) say it would be neither good nor bad. Although a majority of respondents still perceive membership of the EU as beneficial, support for this view has decreased in this survey: 53% (-3) say that Turkey would benefit from joining the EU, while 38% (+8) disagree. 74

78 c. Would it be easier to face the future outside the EU? An absolute majority of Europeans disagree that their country could better face the future outside the EU, while 33% (-1 percentage point) agree and 12% (+1) expressed no opinion 20. These results are essentially unchanged since autumn Euro area respondents (59%) are far more likely than non-euro area respondents (47% versus 39%) to believe that it is better to be inside than outside the EU. This view is supported by majority of respondents in 25 Member States, with scores of at least 50% in 20 countries, led by the Netherlands (76%), Denmark (72%) and Luxembourg (72%). Whereas opinions in Austria were evenly divided in autumn 2015 (45% versus 45%), the balance of opinion is now positive again (47% versus 43%) in this survey. As in autumn 2015, a majority of respondents in three Member States think that it would be easier for their country to face the future outside the European Union: Slovenia (53%), Cyprus (50% versus 43%) and the United Kingdom (45% versus 37%). 20 QA19a5. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement. (OUR COUNTRY) could better face the future outside the EU. 75

79 A socio-demographic analysis reveals that a majority of respondents in most categories say that it would be easier to face the future inside the EU than outside it. Men are slightly more likely to take this view (58% disagree that (OUR COUNTRY) could better face the future outside the EU, while 33% agree ) than women (53% versus 32%). There are relatively few differences based on age (between 54% and 57% of respondents disagree with the statement across the ages ranges). However, education has more impact: the impression that it would be easier to face the future within the EU becomes more widespread as the respondent s level of education rises (from 45% among those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier, to 67% among those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond). Similarly, managers (67%) and students (61%) are more likely to believe that the future would be easier within the EU than unemployed people (49%) and house persons (50%). Finally, results show that respondents who struggle to pay their bills most of the time are fairly evenly divided (43% disagree that (OUR COUNTRY) could better face the future outside the EU while 40% agree), while those who rarely or never have financial difficulties are more likely to say that the future is brighter inside the EU (60% versus 30%). 76

80 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 77

81 2 The European institutions a. Familiarity with the European institutions and the trust they inspire Familiarity with the European institutions Familiarity with the European institutions remains high: 92% of Europeans (+1 percentage point since autumn 2015) have heard of the European Parliament, and 85% (+1) heave heard of both the European Commission and the European Central Bank. These levels are among the highest ever recorded for this indicator QA Have you heard of the European Parliament? The European Commission? The European Central Bank? 78

82 Trust in the European institutions After a sharp fall in the previous survey of autumn 2015, trust in the main institutions has steadied, with an increase of two percentage points for the European Parliament (40%) and the European Commission (37%), and one percentage point for the European Central Bank (34%) 22. However, a majority of respondents continue to distrust these European institutions. Trust indices 23 have improved, but are still negative: -6 for the European Parliament (compared with -9 in autumn 2015), -8 for the European Commission (against -11 in autumn 2015) and -14 for the European Central Bank (unchanged since autumn 2015). 22 QA And please tell me if you tend to trust or tend not to trust these European institutions. The European Parliament; The European Commission; The European Central Bank. 23 Difference between the tend to trust and tend not to trust percentages. 79

83 In this survey, we found a general recovery of confidence in the European institutions in Ireland, France, Bulgaria, Finland, Latvia and the United Kingdom. 80

84 The European Parliament 40% of Europeans (+2 percentage points since autumn 2015) trust the European Parliament, while 46% (-1) tend not to trust it and 14% (-1) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents in 16 Member States trust the European Parliament, with scores of at least 50% in ten of them, led by the Nordic countries (60% in Finland, 58% in Sweden and 55% in Denmark), Luxembourg (57%), Lithuania (56%) and Malta (55%). A majority of respondents in 12 Member States (as in autumn 2015) distrust the European Parliament. This sentiment persists in Greece (72%), Cyprus (57%), Slovenia (56%), Spain (56%), the United Kingdom (54%), the Czech Republic (54%), Austria (51%), Slovakia (51%), Portugal (49% versus 41%), Italy (47% versus 38%), France (46% versus 38%) and Germany (46% versus 41%). Since autumn 2015, the index of trust in the European Parliament has improved in 14 Member States, most perceptibly in Ireland (+12 index points), Austria (+12), Germany (+10), Spain (+8), Slovenia (+8) and the United Kingdom (+8). It is stable in Cyprus, but has deteriorated in the remaining 13 EU countries, most markedly in Romania (-16) and Croatia (-8). 81

85 The European Commission 37% of Europeans (+2 percentage points since autumn 2015) trust the European Commission, while 45% (-1) distrust it and 18% (-1) expressed no opinion. The index of trust in the European Commission has therefore improved slightly (-8 versus -11 in autumn 2015), but is still negative, as it has been ever since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2011 (EB76), with the sole exception of spring 2015 (EB83), when opinions were evenly balanced. Although still negative, the trust index has improved slightly in both the euro area countries (36% versus 47%, compared with 34% versus 48% in autumn 2015) and outside the euro area (39% versus 41%, compared with 37% versus 41% in autumn 2015). The trust index is positive again in this survey in Ireland (45% versus 35%, compared with 40% versus 40% in autumn 2015) and Latvia (43% versus 37%, compared with 37% versus 41% in autumn 2015), but is now negative in Croatia (41% versus 42%, compared with 48% versus 36% in autumn 2015). As a result of these changes, a majority of respondents in 15 Member States now trust the European Commission. Trust is most widespread in the Nordic countries (56% in Finland, 53% in Sweden and 52% in Denmark), Lithuania (55%) and Luxembourg (53%). However, distrust the European Commission persists in 13 Member States: Greece (76%), Cyprus (58%), Spain (56%), Slovenia (55%), the Czech Republic (51%), Portugal (50%), the United Kingdom (49% versus 28%), Austria (48% versus 38%), France (47% versus 35%), Slovakia (47% versus 37%), Germany (46% versus 35%) and Italy (45% versus 35%), and a majority of respondents now also distrust the European Commission in Croatia (42% versus 41%). The index of trust in the European Commission has improved since autumn 2015 in 16 Member States, most markedly in Austria (+12 index points), Cyprus (+11), Ireland (+10), Latvia (+10) and the United Kingdom (+8). The index is stable in Lithuania, but has deteriorated in 11 Member States, most notably in Croatia (-13) and Romania (-13). 82

86 The European Central Bank The index of trust in the European Central Bank remains negative, and has not changed since autumn 2015: 48% of Europeans (+1 percentage point) tend not to trust this institution, while 34% (+1) trust it and 18% (-2) did not express an opinion. A majority of respondents in 12 Member States tend to trust the European Central Bank, most notably in the Nordic countries (61% in Finland, 60% in Denmark and 56% in Sweden), Luxembourg (53%) and Malta (53%). The index remains largely negative in the euro area countries (33% tend to trust versus 52%, compared with 33% versus 51% in autumn 2015). It is also negative, but not as markedly, in the non-euro area countries (36% versus 40%, compared with 35% versus 40% in autumn 2015). A majority of respondents in 15 Member States distrust the European Central Bank, as in autumn This attitude persists in Greece (81%), Cyprus (64%), Spain (62%), Slovenia (59%), Germany (58%), Portugal (53%), Italy (51%), Austria (49% versus 41%), France (47% versus 33%), Hungary (46% versus 38%), the United Kingdom (45% versus 27%), Ireland (45% versus 40%), the Czech Republic (43% versus 33%) and Slovakia (43% versus 40%). A majority of respondents now trust the ECB in Croatia (44% versus 38%, compared with 41% versus 43% in autumn 2015), but only a minority do so once again in Latvia (34% versus 43%, compared with 39% versus 35% in autumn 2015). Opinions are now evenly balanced in Poland (35% versus 35%), where the trust index was marginally positive in autumn 2015 (34% versus 33%). Changes in the index of trust in the European Central Bank vary between countries. The index has improved in 12 Member States, most markedly in Latvia (+13 index points), the United Kingdom (+10), Bulgaria (+10) and Ireland (+9). It is stable in Estonia, Finland and Slovakia, but has deteriorated in 13 Member States, in particular in Romania (-16), Germany (-11), Croatia (-8) and the Netherlands (-8). 83

87 84

88 b. Trust in the European Union Trust in the European Union has stabilised After a sharp deterioration in the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (-8 percentage points), trust in the EU has stabilised in this survey. A third of Europeans (33%, +1 percentage point since autumn 2015) trust the European Union, while 55% (unchanged) distrust it and 12% (-1) expressed no opinion. 24 At -22, compared with -23 in autumn 2015, the trust index for the EU is therefore more or less unchanged at a point higher than the record low of -29 recorded in spring 2012 and The trust index remains negative and unchanged in countries outside the euro area (37% tend to trust it versus 51%, compared with 35% versus 49% in autumn 2015). While still unfavourable, it has improved slightly in the euro area (32% versus 56%, compared with 30% versus 59% in autumn 2015). A majority of respondents in 18 Member States distrust the EU, compared with 20 in autumn In this survey, the trust ratio is now positive in Ireland (44% versus 38%, compared with 33% versus 52% in autumn 2015), Latvia (44% versus 39%, compared with 37% versus 47%) and Luxembourg (43% versus 40%, compared with 45% versus 46%). Opinions are now evenly divided in Croatia (45% versus 45%) whereas the ratio was slightly negative in autumn 2015 (44% versus 46%). In contrast, views are now predominantly negative in Sweden (41% versus 49%, compared with 46% versus 42%) and Denmark (42% versus 45%, compared with 47% versus 41%). A majority of respondents in nine Member States trust the EU: to Ireland, Latvia and Luxembourg we can add Lithuania (58%), Malta (52%), Bulgaria (49% versus 33%), Finland (48% versus 40%), Romania (47% versus 43%) and Estonia (44% versus 32%), where trust was also predominant in autumn QA8a.9. I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain institutions. For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it. The European Union. 85

89 The trust index for the European Union has improved in 20 Member States, most markedly in Ireland (+25 index points), Austria (+16), Latvia (+15), Cyprus (+14), Spain (+12), Slovenia (+12) and the United Kingdom (+11). However, it has deteriorated in eight countries (Poland, Hungary, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Romania), drastically so in Romania (-25) and Sweden (-12). 86

90 A socio-demographic analysis shows that, in this survey, a majority of year-olds now trust the EU again (47% versus 41%, compared with 43% versus 43% in autumn 2015). Students continue to do so (54%). All the other social categories of the European population predominantly distrust the European Union. To varying degrees, a majority in both the highest social categories (51% versus 39% of those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond, 47% versus 43% of managers) and the more modest social categories (61% of those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier, 62% of unemployed people and 59% of manual workers) continue to distrust the EU. 87

91 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 88

92 c. The European Union s image 34% of Europeans (-3 percentage points since autumn 2015) have a positive image of the EU, while for 27% (+4) its image is negative and 38% (unchanged) see it as neutral. Since spring 2015, the positive image of the EU has gained seven percentage points, while the negative image has gained eight percentage points. 25 After a significant recovery between autumn 2013 and spring 2015, the EU s overall image has deteriorated sharply since autumn Positive opinions of the EU s image have declined by three percentage points in the euro area countries (32%) and by five percentage points in the non-euro area (37%). They stand in second place in the euro area countries, behind neutral opinions (38%), but have narrowly held on to first place in the non-euro area countries (37% positive, versus 36% neutral ). 25 QA9. In general, does the EU conjure up for you a very positive, fairly positive, neutral, fairly negative or very negative image? 89

93 Positive opinions of the EU s image outweigh negative opinions in 22 Member States, led by Ireland (58%), Bulgaria (51%) and Poland (47%). Within this group, they stand in first place, ahead of neutral opinions, in seven Member States (Ireland, Bulgaria, Poland, Luxembourg, Portugal, France and Belgium). They are second to neutral opinions in 15 countries (Lithuania, Romania, Malta, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, Latvia, Spain and Slovakia). Negative opinions of the EU s image outweigh positive opinions in five Member States, as in autumn The balance of opinion therefore remains negative in Greece (51% versus 16%), Cyprus (41% versus 27%), Austria (37% versus 32%), the United Kingdom (36% versus 31%) and the Czech Republic (34% versus 26%). The negative image occupies first place in Greece, Cyprus, Austria and the United Kingdom, and lags behind neutral opinions in the Czech Republic. Negative and positive opinions are evenly balanced in Germany (29% in both cases), behind neutral opinions (41%). The EU s image has deteriorated since autumn 2015 in 20 Member States, most markedly in Romania, where positive judgments have decreased by 15 percentage points, Croatia (-14), Lithuania (-10) and Poland (-8). In contrast, it has improved in seven Member States in this survey, most strikingly in Austria, where positive opinions have gained nine percentage points. Lastly, the EU s image is unchanged in Luxembourg (45% have a positive image). Breakdown of total positive answers 90

94 Breakdown of total neutral answers Breakdown of total negative answers 91

95 92

96 A socio-demographic analysis shows that social and age factors significantly influence perceptions of the European Union s image. This image is clearly positive among year-olds (43% compared with 39% neutral and 17% negative opinions), but deteriorates as the respondent s age increases, so that more people aged 55+ have a negative image of the EU (31%) than a positive one (29%), while 37% of this age group the image is neutral. The EU s image is also perceived far more positively by the most economically and socially advantaged categories of Europeans than by the most disadvantaged and working class categories. Thus, 42% of those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond, 44% of managers and 49% of those who see themselves as middle class have a positive image of the European Union, compared with only 23% of those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier, 25% of unemployed people and house persons, and 21% of those who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time. 93

97 94

98 The European Union s image attributes. From a positive perspective, the EU is regarded as democratic, modern, forwardlooking and protective by a majority of Europeans. Since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2014 (EB81), the last time these image attributes were tested, the proportion of respondents for whom the EU is protective has increased (+4 percentage points), but fewer now see it as democratic (-3). From a less favourable perspective, a majority of respondents continue to perceive the European Union as inefficient and technocratic. However, the proportion who see it as efficient has increased by three percentage points since spring * New item 26 QA12. Please tell me for each of the following words if it describes very well, fairly well, fairly badly or very badly the idea you might have of the EU. 95

99 Since spring 2014, all these image attributes have gained ground in Ireland and Portugal in particular. The opposite trend is seen in Germany, with a sharp deterioration. 96

100 Positive attributes Modern 57% of Europeans (-1 percentage point since spring 2014) consider that modern aptly describes the European Union, while 34% (+3) disagree and 9% (-2) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents in 25 Member States see the European Union as modern, in particular in Ireland (82%), Malta (78%), Croatia (77%) and Lithuania (76%). However, a majority reject this description in Greece (53%) and the Netherlands (46% versus 44%). Opinions are evenly divided in Cyprus (44% versus 44%). The view of the EU as modern has gained ground in 14 Member States since spring 2014, most markedly in Ireland (82%, +13 percentage points) and Portugal (73%, +13), but has lost ground in 13 countries, in particular in Belgium (50%, -11), Poland (69%, -9) and Germany (50%, -7). Finally, it has remained stable in Luxembourg (66%). 97

101 Democratic Although a majority of respondents continue to see the European Union as democratic, this image attribute has lost ground since spring 2014: 57% of Europeans (-3 percentage points) say that democratic aptly describes the European Union, while 35% (+5) take the opposite view and 8% (-2) expressed no opinion. The European Union is seen as democratic by an absolute majority of respondents in 25 Member States, led by Lithuania (77%), Bulgaria (73%), Ireland (72%) and Malta (72%), and by a relative majority in the United Kingdom (46% versus 42%). Therefore, the democratic nature of the EU is not recognised by a majority of respondents in only two countries, Greece (66% disagree) and Cyprus (51%). Since spring 2014, the perception of the EU as democratic has gained ground in ten countries, significantly so in Portugal (58%, +16 percentage points), where the balance of opinion has been reversed, and Ireland (72%, +12). In contrast, fewer respondents see the EU as democratic in 15 Member States, Germany (58%, -9) in particular. Results are unchanged in Malta (72%), the Netherlands (61%) and the United Kingdom (46%). 98

102 Forward-looking Almost half of Europeans (49%) see the European Union as a forward-looking institution, while 39% disagree and 12% expressed no opinion. This was the first time respondents were asked about this image attribute. A majority of respondents in 23 Member States agree that the European Union is forward-looking, with a large majority in Croatia (70%), Malta (69%), Ireland (69%), Lithuania (68%) and Romania (68%), and by a narrow margin in Finland (46% versus 45%), the Czech Republic (47% versus 45%), France (45% versus 43%) and Spain (45% versus 42%). The European Union is not seen as forward-looking by a majority of respondents in Greece (77%), Cyprus (60%), Sweden (51%), the Netherlands (48% versus 42%) or Belgium (48% versus 45%). 99

103 Protective The European Union s image as protective has consolidated: 49% of Europeans (+4 percentage points since spring 2014) agree, while 42% (-1) disagree and 9% (-3) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents in 21 Member States see the European Union as protective, led by Lithuania (73%), Ireland (66%), Denmark (64%) and Malta (62%). Respondents are most likely to disagree that the EU is protective in seven countries, Greece (75%), Cyprus (58%), Austria (54%), France (50%), Spain (49% versus 40%), Italy (48% versus 42%) and Portugal (45% versus 44%). The image of the European Union as protective has gained ground since spring 2014 in 13 Member States, most markedly in Portugal (44%, +17 percentage points), Italy (42%, +13), the United Kingdom (53%, +11) and Ireland (66%, +10). In contrast, it has lost ground in 13 countries and is unchanged in Lithuania (73%) and Romania (59%). 100

104 Negative attributes Technocratic With no significant changes since this item was last tested in spring 2013, 48% of Europeans (-1 percentage point) regard the EU as technocratic, while 26% (-1) take the opposite view and 26% (+2) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents in all Member States agree that the EU is technocratic, and this view is most widespread in Greece (75%), Cyprus (60%), Croatia (60%) and Ireland (59%). The balance of opinion is narrower in the Netherlands (40% versus 34%), and also in Spain (36% versus 22%), where most respondents answered DK (42%). Since spring 2013, the proportion of respondents describing the EU as technocratic has decreased in 17 Member States, in particular in Denmark (46%, -16 percentage points), Finland (48%, -14), Latvia (41%, -10) and Estonia (48%, -10). However, it has risen in ten countries, in particular in Romania (54%, +10). Lastly, it is unchanged in Lithuania (52%). 101

105 Inefficient A majority of Europeans (55%, -1 percentage point since spring 2014) continue to see the European Union as inefficient, while 34% (+3) take the opposite view and 11% (-2) expressed no opinion on this image attribute. A majority of respondents see the EU as inefficient by in 21 Member States, this majority being narrow in Hungary (48% versus 46%), Portugal (46% versus 44%) and Estonia (41% versus 37%), and substantial in Sweden (79%), Greece (78%) and the Netherlands (78%). This view commands an absolute majority of respondents in 14 of these countries. In contrast, a majority of respondents in seven countries view the EU as efficient: in Lithuania (62%), Bulgaria (58%), Croatia (58%), Romania (57%), Ireland (56%), Malta (55%) and Poland (50%). Since spring 2014, the proportion of respondents who see the European Union as inefficient has increased in 15 countries, very strikingly in Portugal (44%, +16 percentage points), Ireland (56%, +16) and the United Kingdom (31%, +10). It has decreased in 12 Member States and is unchanged in Germany (29%). 102

106 The representations associated with the European Union and its policies This Standard Eurobarometer survey also included questions on how Europeans perceive the EU s role, the way it works and its policies. This indicator was last included in the spring 2015 survey. Since then, three of these representations have more or less unchanged scores: a large majority of Europeans continue to say that the European Union is business-friendly, generates too much red tape and lacks a clear message. However, Europeans are now less likely to agree that the EU plays a positive role in creating more jobs, and the balance of opinion has actually been reversed for this indicator since QA13. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. 103

107 The EU needs a clearer message Eight in ten Europeans (80%, +2 percentage points since spring 2015) say that the European Union needs a clearer message, while 12% (unchanged) disagree and 8% (-2) expressed no opinion. Almost two-thirds of respondents in all Member States would like a clearer message from the EU, with scores ranging from 65% in Bulgaria to 92% in Luxembourg. A large majority of Europeans in all categories of respondents agree with this view, which is slightly more widespread among men (81%), year-olds (83%), those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond (84%), and managers (84%). 104

108 The EU generates too much red tape More than seven in ten Europeans (72%, +1 percentage point since spring 2015) agree that the EU generates too much red tape, while 17% (+1) take the opposite view and 11% (-2) expressed no opinion. At least half of respondents in all EU countries agree with this statement, most decisively in Germany (86%), Sweden (86%), Finland (83%) and Slovenia (81%), but less emphatically in Bulgaria (50%), Greece (54%) and Romania (56%). A socio-demographic analysis shows that a majority of respondents in all categories agree that the EU generates too much red tape. This view is more widespread among men (75%), year-olds (77%), those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond (77%), managers (78%) and selfemployed people (76%), and is also shared by respondents for whom the EU has a negative image (82%). It is held by somewhat smaller majorities of women (70%), year-olds (60%), those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (69%), house persons (61%), students (61%), and those for whom the EU has a positive image (66%). 105

109 The EU makes doing business easier in Europe Two-thirds of Europeans (66%, unchanged since spring 2015) agree that the EU makes it easier to do business in Europe, while 24% (+3) disagree and 10% (-3) expressed no opinion. A majority of respondents in 27 Member States see the EU as making it easy to do business, with an absolute majority in 25 countries, led by Sweden (88%), Germany (83%) and the Netherlands (82%). Greece is the only country where only a minority of respondents agree with this statement (41% versus 51%). Since spring 2015, the perception of the EU as business-friendly has gained ground in 16 Member States, in particular in Slovenia (76%, +11 percentage points), and has lost ground in nine countries. It remains unchanged in Luxembourg (81%), Malta (81%) and Italy (54%). A socio-demographic analysis reveals some differences between categories of respondents. The opinion that the EU makes it easier to do business in Europe is slightly more widespread among men (69%) and those aged under 40 (70%/71%) than among women (64%) and those aged 55+ (62%). Education and occupation are more significant factors: 77% of those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond, 80% of managers, 75% of students and 72% of self-employed people agree that the EU makes doing business easier in Europe, compared with 52% of those who left school earliest, and 53% of house persons and unemployed people. 106

110 The EU is creating the conditions for more jobs in Europe The belief that the EU contributes to job creation has lost ground in this survey: 46% of Europeans (+6 percentage points since spring 2015) do not agree that the EU helps to create the necessary conditions for more jobs in Europe, while 45% (-4) take the opposite view and 9% (-2) expressed no opinion. The balance of opinion has therefore been reversed unfavourably since spring 2015 for this indicator. The EU s role in job creation is seen in a positive light by respondents outside the euro area (60% agree that the EU is creating the conditions for more jobs in Europe, versus 31%, compared with 61% versus 29% in spring 2015), but more negatively by euro area respondents, whose opinions have deteriorated sharply (53% disagree versus 38%, compared with 45% versus 43% in spring 2015). A majority of respondents in 20 Member States are positive about the EU s role in job creation, narrowly in the United Kingdom (44% versus 42%), and most emphatically in Croatia (81%), Poland (76%) and Bulgaria (76%). A majority of respondents are critical of the EU s employment policy in France (64%), Greece (60%), Spain (58%), Italy (53%), Germany (52%), Belgium (52%), the Netherlands (49% versus 39%) and Portugal (47% versus 44%). Approval of the European Union s role in job creation has declined since spring 2015 in 19 Member States, most markedly in Spain (28%, -9 percentage points), Romania (68%, -9), Finland (50%, -8), and Germany (43%, -8), where it is now the minority opinion. However, it is more widespread in seven countries, most markedly in Austria (51%, +9), where it is now the majority opinion. Lastly, it is unchanged in Bulgaria (76%) and Belgium (42%). 107

111 A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents are divided on this issue in most categories. Men are split on the question of whether the EU is creating the conditions for more jobs in Europe (47% agree with this statement, while 46% disagree ); but this statement receives somewhat more support from those aged under 25 (54% versus 35%), those who studied up to the age of 20 and beyond (50% versus 43%), managers (52% versus 41%), white-collar workers (51% versus 43%) and students (56% versus 33%). In contrast, only a minority of respondents support the statement in the following categories: women (42% agree versus 46%), those aged over 40 (43% versus 50% among year-olds, 41% versus 48% among those aged 55+), those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (32% versus 54%), house persons (35% versus 51%) and unemployed people (35% versus 55%). Opinions on the EU are a more decisive factor: the view that the EU is creating the conditions for more jobs in Europe is shared by a very large majority of those for whom the EU conjures up a positive image (69% versus 24%), but by only a minority of those whose image of the EU is negative (21% versus 73%). 108

112 3 Knowledge of the European Union a. Knowledge of how the European Union works A majority of Europeans say that they understand how the European Union works, with a score close to the record high for this indictor: 54% of respondents (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015) agree with the statement to this effect, while 42% (unchanged) take the opposite view and 4% (+1) expressed no opinion QA19a.1 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. I understand how the European Union works. 109

113 A majority of respondents in 23 Member States (as in autumn 2015) say that they understand how the EU works, most notably in Sweden (77%), Poland (71%), Ireland (69%) and Finland (69%). A majority of respondents in Spain (52%), Italy (52%), the Czech Republic (52%) and France (51%) still say they do not know how the EU works. This is also now the majority view in Malta (49% versus 44%, compared with 47% versus 49% in autumn 2015). In contrast, a majority of respondents in Portugal now feel that they do understand how the EU works (50% versus 49%, compared with 49% versus 50% in autumn 2015). 110

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115 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 112

116 b. Objective knowledge of the European Union After considering the subjective knowledge of Europeans, this Standard Eurobarometer then focused on measuring their objective knowledge of the European Union. For this purpose, the survey used a true/false quiz composed of three statements ( The EU currently consists of 28 Member States ; The Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State ; Switzerland is a Member State of the EU ). The level of objective knowledge of the European Union is unchanged since autumn 2015: 35% of Europeans (unchanged) are able to give three right answers to the quiz. Respondents are the most knowledgeable in Croatia (55% of those interviewed gave three right answers), Slovenia (54%), Luxembourg (53%), Greece (47%) and Slovakia (46%), while those in the Netherlands (25%), Estonia (27%) and Spain (27%) are the least knowledgeable. 29 In detail: The Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State Knowledge of the procedure for electing the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is identical to that of autumn Almost six out of ten Europeans (58%, unchanged) know that MEPs are elected directly by the citizens of each Member State, while a quarter (25%, =) of respondents gave the wrong answer and 17% (=) said they did not know. 29 QA For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.. 113

117 Aggregating wrong and DK answers reveals that a majority of respondents in the Netherlands (59%), France (55%) and Austria (54%) do not know how MEPs are elected. Respondents in Germany are evenly divided between knowledge and ignorance (50% versus 50%). Respondents in all the other EU countries are well aware of the way in which MEPs are elected, especially in Malta (86%), Bulgaria (83%), Greece (82%) and Lithuania (82%). 114

118 The EU currently consists of 28 Member States More than two-thirds of Europeans (68%, +2 percentage points since autumn 2015) know that the EU currently consists of 28 Member States, while 23% (-1) did not answer and 9% (-1) gave the wrong response. At least six out of ten respondents gave the right answer in all Member States, led by Austria (86%), Croatia (81%), Hungary (81%) and Greece (80%). Respondents in Spain (60%), the United Kingdom (60%) and the Netherlands (61%) were the least likely to give the right answer. 115

119 Switzerland is a member of the EU Seven out of ten Europeans (70%, -1 percentage point since autumn 2015) know that Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, while 16% (unchanged) think the opposite and 14% (+1) said they did not know. A majority of respondents in all Member States gave the right answer regarding Switzerland s status, in proportions ranging from 52% in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Latvia to 94% in Austria. 116

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121 4 Democracy in the European Union a. The way in which democracy works National democracy Satisfaction with the way in which democracy works at national level has deteriorated since autumn 2015: 51% of Europeans (-1 percentage point) are satisfied with the way in which democracy works in their country, while 47% (+2) are dissatisfied and 2% (-1) expressed no opinion 30. The balance of opinion remains favourable in the non-euro area countries (53% versus 43%), while opinions are evenly balanced within the euro area (49% versus 49%). Although opinions are fairly evenly balanced in the 28 EU countries as a whole, there are significant differences between countries. Respondents are predominantly satisfied with their country s democratic system in 15 Member States, in particular in Denmark (88%), Luxembourg (85%), Sweden (80%), the Netherlands (78%) and Finland (77%). More than 60% of respondents are satisfied in Ireland (69%), Germany (66%), Malta (66%), Austria (65%), Belgium (63%) and the United Kingdom (62%). A majority of respondents are now satisfied, albeit at more modest levels, in the Czech Republic (58% versus 41%, compared with 49% versus 49% in autumn 2015) and Latvia (53% versus 45%, compared with 47% versus 49%), and they remain so in Estonia (51%) and Poland (50%). In Poland, satisfaction with the way democracy works at national level has decreased sharply since autumn 2015 (50%, -12 percentage points). 30 QA18a. On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in (OUR COUNTRY)? 118

122 A majority of respondents are dissatisfied with the way in which their national democracy works in 13 countries, most markedly in Greece (83%), but also in Romania (68%), Slovenia (68%), Croatia (67%) and Lithuania (67%). Levels of dissatisfaction are also equal to or above 60% in Spain (66%), Hungary (65%), Cyprus (64%), Bulgaria (64%) and Slovakia (60%). Respondents are also predominantly dissatisfied, albeit to a lesser extent, in Italy (58%), France (55%) and Portugal (53%). In this survey, France is the only country where dissatisfaction has become predominant, with 55% of respondents now dissatisfied versus 42%. In autumn 2015, 48% of those interviewed in France were dissatisfied with the way in which democracy worked in their country, compared with 49% of satisfied respondents. In the countries where respondents are predominantly dissatisfied, dissatisfaction has increased considerably since autumn 2015 in Croatia (67%, +12 percentage points), Hungary (65%, +11) and Greece (83%, +10). In contrast, dissatisfaction has decreased substantially in Cyprus (64%, -11) and Portugal (53%, -11). 119

123 120

124 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 121

125 European democracy 48% of Europeans are dissatisfied with the way democracy works in the European Union, the highest level since Almost half of Europeans (48%, +3 percentage points since autumn 2015, +7 since spring 2015) are dissatisfied with the way in which democracy works in the EU, while 42% (-1 since autumn 2015 and -4 since spring 2015) are satisfied and 10% (-2 since autumn 2015) expressed no opinion 31. On average, more than 50% of respondents in the euro area are dissatisfied (51%, +1, versus 40%, +1). Outside the euro area countries, respondents still tend to be satisfied, but the majority has decreased (48%, -2, versus 39%, +5). 31 QA18b. On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU? 122

126 A majority of respondents in 13 Member States are dissatisfied with the way in which democracy works in the EU, most strikingly in Greece (74% dissatisfied ), while at least 50% of respondents are dissatisfied in Cyprus (56%), Germany (55%), Spain (54%), Austria (53%), the Netherlands (50%), Slovenia (50%) and France (50%). A relative majority of respondents in Hungary (48% versus 43%), the United Kingdom (48% versus 38%), Italy (47% versus 42%), Slovakia (47% versus 42%) and Portugal (46% versus 44%) are also dissatisfied. Respondents are predominantly satisfied in 15 countries, led by Ireland (65%), Denmark (63%), Latvia (61%) and Luxembourg (60%). Although a majority of respondents are still satisfied, satisfaction is now much less widespread in Poland (56%, -9 percentage points since autumn 2015), Malta (55%, -9) and Romania (53%, -9). After becoming negative in autumn 2015, the balance of opinion in the Czech Republic has reversed favourably (49% versus 44%, compared with 44% versus 48%). Satisfaction has also increased significantly in Ireland (65%, +13). A socio-demographic analysis shows that satisfaction with the way in which democracy works in the EU exceeds 50% among managers (52%), students (57%), year-olds (53%) and those who see themselves as upper class (56%) and middle class (53%). It is below 50% in the remaining categories, in particular among unemployed people (30%), house persons (34%), the least educated (only 30% of respondents who left school at the age of 15 or earlier are satisfied) and those who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time (27%). 123

127 124

128 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 125

129 b. Are personal interests properly taken into account nationally and at EU level? The feeling that my voice counts in the EU 38% (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015) of Europeans feel that their voice counts in the EU, while just over half (55%, +1 since autumn 2015) disagree and 7% (unchanged) expressed no opinion 32. A majority of respondents in ten Member States agree that their voice counts in the EU: in Sweden (66%), Denmark, (63%), Croatia (54%), Belgium (53%), the Netherlands (53%), Austria (51%), Finland (51%), Luxembourg (48% versus 43%), Malta (48% versus 37%) and Poland (47% versus 43%). This is now the majority view in Austria (51% versus 44%, compared with 45% versus 50% in autumn 2015), but it has lost considerable ground in Croatia since autumn 2015 (54%, -14 percentage points). On the other hand, a majority of respondents in 16 Member States feel that their voice does not count in the EU, most notably in Greece (83%), Cyprus (76%) and the Czech Republic (73%). A majority of respondents in Romania (52%, +9 percentage points) now believe that their voice counts in the EU, which was not the case in autumn Lastly, opinions are evenly divided in Ireland and Germany (47% versus 47% in both countries). 32 QD72.1. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. My voice counts in the EU. 126

130 The feeling that my voice counts in (OUR) country 55% of Europeans (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015) feel that their voice counts in their country, while 40% (unchanged) disagree and 5% (+1) expressed no opinion 33. A majority of respondents in 16 of the 28 EU Member States feel that their voice counts in their country, most notably in Denmark (93%), Sweden (90%) and Finland (81%). Respondents say their voice is not heard in 12 Member States, most strikingly in Greece (79%), Lithuania (69%), Cyprus (68%) and Italy (66%). Since autumn 2015, the balance of opinion has become negative on this question in Bulgaria (45% versus 46%, compared with 48% versus 43%), Portugal (45% versus 52%, compared with 49% versus 48%) and Romania (44% versus 51%, compared with 50% versus 43%). 33 QD72.2. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. My voice counts in (OUR COUNTRY) 127

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132 The feeling that the EU s voice counts in the world, and whether the EU takes account of national interests More than two out of three Europeans agree on the importance of the EU s international role, in proportions unchanged since in autumn % (unchanged) agree that the EU s voice counts in the world, while 25% (=) disagree and 7% (=) expressed no opinion 34. However, Europeans are more sceptical as to whether national interests are adequately taken into account in the European Union: half of Europeans (50%, unchanged since autumn 2015) think that their country s interests are not properly taken into account within the EU, while 41% (=) take the opposite view and 9% (=) expressed no opinion QA19a3. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. The EU s voice counts in the world. 35 QA19a2. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. The interests of (OUR COUNTRY) are well taken into account in the EU. 129

133 A majority of respondents in all 28 EU countries agree that the EU s voice counts in the world, to degrees varying from 51% in Cyprus to 84% in Sweden. 130

134 While there is a consensus on the European Union s role on the world stage, opinions are more divided on the question of whether the EU adequately takes account of national interests. A majority of respondents in only nine of the 28 Member States agree that national interests are adequately taken into account: in Luxembourg (66%), Ireland (58%), Lithuania (56%), Sweden (54%), Malta (53%), Germany (52%), Denmark (50%), Belgium (48% versus 41%) and Poland (47% versus 41%). Opinions are evenly divided in the Netherlands (46% versus 46%) and predominantly negative in the remaining 18 countries. In this group of countries, respondents are most likely to say that national interests are not properly taken into account in Greece (83%), Cyprus (74%), Latvia (65%), Slovenia (65%) and the Czech Republic (64%). 131

135 5 Political and economic issues a. Positive and negative word connotations In this Standard Eurobarometer survey, respondents were presented with thirteen economic and political terms and concepts and asked to indicate whether each had a positive or negative connotation for them. There have been very few changes since autumn 2015 in perceptions of these economic and political concepts 36, and there continues to be a broad consensus about the fundamental values of the market economy and attachment to a social market economy. The term small and medium-sized companies remains the most positively rated item, with a score of 83%, ahead of solidarity (75%), security (75%) and entrepreneurship (74%), viewed positively by around three-quarters of Europeans. These are followed by competition (69%), free trade (68%) and public service (64%), which have positive connotations for around two-thirds of Europeans. A little way behind come reforms (54%), large companies (54%), trade unions (52%) and liberalisation (51%), which have positive connotations for an absolute majority of respondents. Only a relative majority of respondents (45% of positive connotations versus 40%) are positive about globalisation. Finally, in last place, protectionism is the only item to evoke something negative for a narrow majority of respondents (40% of negative connotations versus 39% of positive mentions, with a DK rate of 21%). 36 QA10. Could you please tell me for each of the following, whether the term brings to mind something very positive, fairly positive, fairly negative or very negative? 132

136 Values and players in the market economy There continue to be a broad consensus among Europeans about the fundamental concepts of the market economy: Entrepreneurship has a positive connotation for 74% of Europeans (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015), while 17% (unchanged) perceive it negatively and 9% (+1) expressed no opinion; Competition brings to mind something positive for 69% of Europeans (unchanged since autumn 2015), while it has a negative connotation for 23% of respondents (=) and 8% (=) expressed no opinion. The proportion of respondents for whom this term has a positive connotation has not changed at all since autumn In terms of the main players in the market economy, while both large and small companies have positive connotations, Europeans continue to have a clear preference for SMEs: For 83% (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015) of Europeans (versus 12%, +1) the term small and medium-sized companies has a positive connotation, whereas 54% (-1) regard the term large companies positively (versus 38%, +1). With no significant change since autumn 2015, SMEs have again received a score 29 percentage points higher than large companies. 133

137 Small and medium-sized companies has a positive connotation for more than three-quarters of respondents in 25 of the 28 EU countries, overwhelmingly so in the Nordic countries, with 96% of positive mentions in Sweden, 95% in Finland and 92% in Denmark. Smaller majorities respond positively to this term in Romania (65%), Italy (68%) and Hungary (69%). Entrepreneurship also has positive connotations in all Member States, ranging from 52% in Romania (versus 28% of negative opinions and a DK rate of 20%) up to 92% in Finland. 134

138 Another value symbolising the market economy, competition brings something positive to mind for an absolute majority of respondents in all Member States. The Czech Republic (34%), Hungary (37%) and Greece (38%) are the only countries where more than a third of respondents perceive the word negatively. Respondents in Denmark (87%), Sweden (85%), Malta (81%) and Finland (81%) are the most likely to respond positively to this term. 135

139 Compared with the very positive perception of small and medium-sized companies, opinions of large companies are more nuanced, with slightly less consensus. Although it has positive connotations for a majority of (54%), this majority is only relative in Slovakia (48% versus 44%) and Germany (48% versus 44%). Moreover, negative opinions outweigh positive opinions in Hungary (48% total negative versus 47% total positive ) and the Netherlands (51% versus 44%). However, a majority of respondents still perceive large companies positively in 26 of the 28 Member States, most notably in Denmark (76%), Malta (75%) and Portugal (74%). 136

140 Free trade and protectionism In keeping with the strong public support among Europeans for the fundamental principles of the market economy, free trade brings to mind something positive for more than two-thirds of Europeans (68%, -1 percentage point since autumn 2015). Although this proportion is somewhat lower than the levels recorded in the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of spring 2007 (76%) and autumn 2009 (77%), when this concept had a positive connotation for more than three-quarters of respondents, strong support for the principle of free trade is also reflected in the reservations expressed about protectionism. Protectionism has negative connotations for 40% of Europeans (-1 percentage point since autumn 2015), while it means something positive to 39% (+1), and 21% were unable to given an opinion (unchanged). Since autumn 2014, opinions have been fairly evenly balanced, but this has not always been the case. A large majority of respondents were negative about the concept of protectionism in the surveys of autumn 2009 (45% versus 38%), spring 2006 (43% versus 35%) and spring 2005 (46% versus 33%). In contrast positive connotations exceed negative opinions just once, in spring 2007 (41% versus 38%). 137

141 Free trade has positive connotations in all EU Member States, and for at least two-thirds of respondents in 21 Member States, led by Lithuania (83%), the United Kingdom (79%), Ireland (79%), Sweden (79%) and Denmark (78%). Respondents in Austria (52%), France (57%), Hungary (58%) and Greece (59%) are the least positive. Positive perceptions of free trade have decreased significantly since autumn 2015 in Greece (59%, -10 percentage points). 138

142 Although there is a consensus on free trade, there are significant differences between countries as regards perceptions of protectionism. A majority of respondents see the word positively in 12 Member States, and over 50% do so in eight countries: 68% in Cyprus, 62% in Malta, 57% in Ireland, 53% in Romania and the United Kingdom, 52% in Spain, and 51% in Portugal and Luxembourg. However, negative connotations are predominant in 16 countries, and over 50% of respondents perceive this concept in a negative light in Slovakia (78%), Hungary (66%), the Czech Republic (61%), Croatia (54%) and Austria (53%). There seems to be no correlation between views of protectionism and those of free trade 37. For example, Austria is the country where respondents have the most reservations about free trade, but it is also among the five countries where more than 50% of respondents view protectionism negatively. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, a majority of respondents are positive about both free trade (79%) and protectionism (53%). Since autumn 2015, positive perceptions of protectionism have become more widespread in 14 Member States, most markedly in Ireland (57%, +10 percentage points). Conversely, they have lost ground in 12 countries, in particular in Slovenia (25%, -17) and Greece (48%, -14). They are unchanged in Italy (44%) and France (37%). 37 The calculation of the correlation coefficient between the two variables (correlation at national level, for positive mentions) confirms that there is a low negative correlation:

143 Liberalisation, globalisation and reforms Each of these three terms has a positive connotation for the majority of Europeans. Reforms brings to mind something positive for 54% of respondents (compared with 35% of negative connotations and a DK rate of 11%), while 51% are positive about liberalisation (versus 31% and a DK rate of 18%), and 45% are positive about globalisation (versus 40% and a DK rate of 15%). The popularity of these concepts has fallen slightly since autumn 2015: -2 percentage points for reforms, -3 for liberalisation and -1 for globalisation. However there has been a more pronounced decrease since the survey of autumn 2009 (-16, -9 and -7 respectively), when there were record levels of support for all the concepts related to economic liberalism ( reforms, liberalisation, and globalisation, but also competition and free trade ). 140

144 Perceptions of these three terms vary from one country to the next. Although the word reforms has a positive connotation for a majority of respondents in 24 of the 28 EU countries, it does so in varying degrees, from 81% in Finland to 48% in Slovenia (versus 43% for the total negative ). Four countries stand out as having a predominantly negative impression of this term: Latvia (45% versus 38%), the Czech Republic (49% versus 41%), France (47% versus 41%) and Greece (49% versus 48%). Since autumn 2014, the proportion of respondents for whom the word reforms has a positive connotation has decreased in 18 Member States, especially in Greece (48%, -14 percentage points). However, it has increased in eight countries and is unchanged in Ireland (60%) and Slovakia (50%). 141

145 Positive connotations of liberalisation are most widespread in Malta (70%), Sweden (67%) and Ireland (65%), but are also shared by a majority of respondents in 25 of the 28 EU countries (including Latvia, where they slightly exceed negative impressions 28% versus 24% but with an extremely high DK rate of 48%). Greece (55% versus 37%), Hungary (46% versus 40%) and France (43% versus 41%) are the only countries where respondents are predominantly negative about this term. As well as in Latvia, DK rates are high in Estonia (38%), Poland (27%), Bulgaria (25%), the Czech Republic (25%), Lithuania (25%) and Slovenia (25%). In terms of evolutions, positive mentions have fallen sharply in Greece, where only a minority of respondents now perceive liberalisation in a positive light (37%, -14 percentage points since autumn 2015). 142

146 Compared with reforms and liberalisation, globalisation is less well perceived by European public opinion. Globalisation has a positive connotation for an absolute majority of respondents in only nine countries (compared with 17 countries for liberalisation and 21 countries for reforms ), and respondents are predominantly negative in ten countries (compared with three countries for liberalisation and four countries for reforms ). Respondents in Denmark are the most positive about the term globalisation (74%), ahead of Sweden (70%), Malta (66%) and Finland (62%), while respondents in Greece (74%), France (55%), the Czech Republic (54%), Hungary (53%) and Cyprus (52%) are the most likely to perceive this term negatively. 143

147 Public service and trade unions Public service brings to mind something positive for almost two-thirds of Europeans (64%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2015), while it has a negative connotation for 30% of respondents (+2) and 6% (unchanged) expressed no opinion. This ratio of opinions has been more or less stable over the long term, since spring Trade unions has a positive connotation for 52% (unchanged) of Europeans, while 38% (=) see the term in a negative light and 10% (=) expressed no opinion. These results have been more or less stable since autumn The term was perceived more favourably in spring 2007 and spring 2009, when positive impressions exceeded 60%. 144

148 Public service brings to mind something positive for an absolute majority of respondents in 23 Member States, most notably in Finland (88%), Luxembourg (87%), Sweden (85%), Estonia (79%), the Netherlands (77%) and Spain (75%), but evokes something negative in Greece (64%), Italy (51%), the Czech Republic (51%), Croatia (50%) and Cyprus (49% versus 44%). Since autumn 2015, positive perceptions of the term public service have gained ground in ten countries, are unchanged in Sweden (85%), Austria (72%) and Romania (54%), and have declined in 15 Member States, in particular in Greece (35%, -10 percentage points). 145

149 Trade unions brings to mind something positive for a majority of respondents in 20 countries, led by Denmark (76%), Austria (69%), Lithuania (69%), Sweden (69%), Finland (68%) and Germany (68%). Opinions are evenly divided in Belgium (48% versus 48%), while negative impressions predominate in seven countries, at a rate of or exceeding 50% in Greece (69%), Slovenia (53%) and Italy (50%). Positive connotations have lost substantial ground in Greece since autumn 2015 (28%, -15 percentage points). 146

150 Solidarity and security The values of solidarity and security are perceived in a positive light by a large majority of Europeans: both words have a positive connotation for three-quarters of Europeans, as was the case in autumn 2015 (75% total positive responses for solidarity, -2 percentage points since autumn 2015, versus 18%, +1; 75% for security, unchanged, versus 21%, =). However, over the long term positive opinions have lost ground slightly: in autumn 2009, 84% of respondents were positive about the word solidarity and 83% about the word security. 147

151 Solidarity has positive connotations for a majority of respondents in all Member States, and for at least three-quarters of them in 17 countries, most markedly in Spain (91%), Malta (89%), Sweden (89%), Greece (88%), Portugal (87%), Denmark (86%) and Cyprus (85%). Respondents in the United Kingdom (60%) and the Netherlands (64%) are the least likely to perceive this term positively. Security also brings to mind something positive for a very large majority of respondents in all Member States, with scores ranging from 64% in Italy to 93% in Sweden. The term has a positive connotation for more than 75% of respondents in 18 Member States. However, the proportion of respondents for whom the term has a positive connotation has decreased in 14 countries, most markedly in Greece (83%, -10 percentage points); in contrast, it has increased in 11 countries and is stable in Finland (91%), Lithuania (84%) and Ireland (72%). 148

152 b. Europeans and globalisation After a steady improvement during the period autumn 2011 spring 2015, the balance of opinion on the economic benefits of globalisation has remained stable during the past year: 57% of Europeans say that globalisation represents an economic opportunity (+1 percentage point since autumn 2015), whereas 29% (unchanged) disagree and 14% (-1) expressed no opinion 38. The same proportions of respondents within the euro area (57%, +2 percentage points since autumn 2015) and outside the euro area (57%, +1) agree that globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth. 38 QA19a.4 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth. 149

153 However, there are still significant differences between countries. More than 70% of respondents in the Nordic countries (80% in Sweden, 78% in Denmark and 72% in Finland), Malta (73%) and the Netherlands (72%) say that globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth, while a majority of respondents take the opposite view in Greece (69% total disagree ) and, to a lesser extent, in the Czech Republic (45% versus 41%) and Cyprus (43% versus 42%). These three countries are exceptions, since a majority of respondents in 25 Member States see globalisation in a positive light, with an absolute majority in 22 countries. On this question, the DK rate is at least 20% in Bulgaria (29%), Spain (27%), Estonia (26%), Lithuania (22%), Romania (22%) and Portugal (20%). 150

154 6 The European Union today and tomorrow a. Should more decisions be taken at European level? The idea that more decisions should be taken at EU level is supported by more than half of Europeans (51%, -1 percentage point since autumn 2015), while 38% (+1) disagree and 11% (unchanged) expressed no opinion 39.. The balance of opinion on this question is more or less unchanged since autumn QA19a.6. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. More decisions should be taken at EU level. 151

155 A majority of respondents in 20 Member States would like more decisions to be taken at EU level, most notably in Spain (71%), Belgium (66%), Luxembourg (66%) and Cyprus (64%). Respondents in Portugal (58%) remain predominantly in favour of this idea, despite a decrease of nine percentage points. Moreover, a majority of respondents are now in favour of more decisionmaking at EU level in Ireland (49% versus 41% of opposite opinions), which was not the case in autumn 2015, when the balance of opinion was negative (43% versus 46%). Greece has moved in the opposite direction to Ireland, and is now among those countries where a majority of respondents do not want more decision-making at EU level (55% total disagree versus 41%, compared with 45% versus 51% in autumn 2015). In total, a majority of respondents in eight Member States are opposed to taking more decisions at EU level, most notably in the Nordic countries (64% in Sweden, 62% in Denmark and 62% in Finland) and Austria (61%). 152

156 153

157 154

158 b. The future of the European Union 50% of Europeans are optimistic about the future of the EU, after a fall of three percentage points since autumn 2015 and eight percentage points since spring This is reflected in a corresponding rise in the proportion of pessimists (44%) by three percentage points since autumn 2015 and by eight since spring QA20. Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU? 155

159 The optimism index, that is to say the difference between optimism and pessimism regarding the future of the EU, is thus +6, down by six percentage points since autumn 2015 and by 16 percentage points since spring This is the lowest score recorded since spring The gains in optimism recorded during the period autumn 2013 spring 2015 have therefore been erased, and the index now stands at a level close to that of autumn 2013 (+8), slightly above its historical low of autumn 2011 (+2). The decline in optimism about the future of the EU applies to both the euro area countries (48%, - 2 percentage points since autumn 2015, versus 46%, +1) and the non-euro area countries (54%, - 3, versus 39%, +4). The optimism index has lost three index points since autumn 2015 in the euro area countries (+2 versus +5) and seven index points in the non-euro area countries (+15 versus +22). 156

160 A majority of respondents in seven Member States are now pessimistic about the future of the EU, compared with six in autumn 2015 and two in spring Pessimism persists in Greece (70%), Cyprus (54%), Germany (51%), France (51%) and the Czech Republic (50%), and become the majority response in Hungary (52% versus 44%, compared with 47% versus 50% in autumn 2015) and the United Kingdom (46% versus 44%, compared with 44% versus 46% in autumn 2015). A majority of respondents are optimistic in 21 Member States, by a very clear majority in Ireland (77%), Romania (70%), Malta (67%) and Lithuania (66%), but with only a relative majority in Italy (49% versus 44%). In Austria, which had tilted towards pessimism in autumn 2015, a narrow majority of respondents are now optimistic, following an increase of ten percentage points (50% versus 46%, compared with 40% versus 56%). In total, the index of optimism on the future of the European Union has deteriorated in 16 Member States, most markedly in Poland (-15 index points), Greece (-13), Hungary (-11), Denmark (-10), Estonia (-9) and Romania (-8). It has improved in the remaining 12 Member States, most markedly in Austria (+20), Latvia (+10), Cyprus (+7) and Slovakia (+7). 157

161 A socio-demographic analysis enables us to identify the profile of the Europeans who are most optimistic about the future of the EU: young people (63% of year-olds), members of generation Y, born after 1980 (58%), students (66%), managers (58%), and those who see themselves as upper middle class (61%). In contrast, the older the respondents and the earlier they left school the more likely they are to be pessimistic about the future of the EU. For example, 48% of those aged 55+ are pessimistic (versus 44%), as are 52% of those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (versus 39%) and 60% of those who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time (versus 32%). 158

162 159

163 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 160

164 III. HOW EUROPEANS PERCEIVE THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 1 Personal aspects a. Assessments of the personal job and financial situation A majority of Europeans remain satisfied with their personal job situation and the financial situation of their household 1. The household s financial situation More than two-thirds of Europeans, unchanged since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84), judge that the financial situation of their household is good (68%, unchanged, versus 29% bad, -1 percentage point). 161

165 Positive opinions outweigh negative opinions in 25 Member States (compared with 24 in autumn 2015), with respondents in Denmark (93%), Sweden (89%), Luxembourg (88%) and Finland (88%) being particularly satisfied with their household finances. A majority of respondents are dissatisfied in Greece (26% think that the financial situation of their household is good, versus 74% bad ), Bulgaria (42%, versus 55%) and Hungary (46%, versus 53%). Looking ahead over the next twelve months, a majority of Europeans expect the financial situation of their household to stay the same (62%), unchanged since autumn 2015 (EB84). Optimism has decreased by one percentage point (22% think that the next twelve months will be better ) but still outweighs pessimism (13% think that the next twelve months will be worse, +1). 162

166 More respondents are optimistic than pessimistic in 23 Member States, as in autumn The optimism index 41 is particularly high in Ireland (+27), despite having lost five points since autumn It is negative in four Member States: in Greece (-45), Croatia (-5), Hungary (-4) and Bulgaria (-1). Opinions are evenly balanced with an index at zero in Poland, representing a loss of ten points since autumn This indicator has deteriorated the most sharply in Croatia (-16 since EB84 of autumn 2015). 41 Difference between positive ( better ) and negative ( worse ) answers. 163

167 2. The personal job situation A majority of Europeans consider that their personal job situation is good (58%, unchanged since autumn 2015, versus 24% bad, -1 percentage point). 164

168 Optimism outweighs pessimism in 26 Member States (versus 24 in autumn 2015), with the highest proportions of good answers in Denmark (80%) and Sweden (77%). Satisfied respondents are in the minority in two States: in Greece (22% versus 57% bad ) and Hungary (35% versus 44%). Looking ahead over the next twelve months, a majority of Europeans expect their personal job situation to stay the same (61%, an increase of one percentage point since autumn 2015). Optimism has declined slightly (20% think that the next twelve months will be better, -2) but still outweighs pessimism (8% worse, unchanged). 165

169 Respondents are more likely to be optimistic than pessimistic about any changes in their personal job situation over the next twelve months in 24 Member States (versus 26 in autumn 2015). The optimism index is particularly high in Sweden (index at +24), Ireland (+24), France (+23) and Estonia (+22). It is negative in three Member States: Greece (-23), Hungary (-6) and Croatia (-1). Optimism and pessimism are evenly balanced in Poland (index of 0). As was the case for forecasts regarding the household financial situation, the optimism index has declined sharply since autumn 2015 in Croatia (-12 index points) and Poland (-10). 166

170 2 Economic aspects a. Assessments of the current economic situation Respondents are now less positive about the economic situation in the European Union 1. The national and European situations A majority of Europeans consider that the economic situation in their country is bad : 57% (including 18% very bad ), while 39% describe it as good (including 4% very good ). The proportion of positive opinions has decreased by one percentage point since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84), while negative opinions are stable. These results mark the end of a period of almost continuous growth of positive opinions since autumn 2013 (+14 percentage points between spring 2013 and autumn 2015). An increased majority of respondents are also negative about the economic situation in the European Union: 53% of Europeans describe the situation as bad, a rise of three percentage points since autumn 2015, versus 35% good (- 3). The proportion of Europeans who think that the European economic situation is very bad has increased by two percentage points (11%). 167

171 Non-euro area respondents are more likely than euro area respondents to be positive about both the national and European economic situations, although the proportions seeing the national economic situation as good have decreased in both groups of countries: The national economic situation is perceived as good by 44% of respondents in noneuro area countries (-2 percentage points since autumn 2015, versus 50% bad, +1) compared with 36% in euro area countries (-1, versus 62%, +1); A majority of respondents say the European economic situation is good in non-euro area countries (42%, -2 percentage points, versus 41%, unchanged), while only a minority of respondents do so in euro area countries (32%, -3, versus 58%, +3). 168

172 A majority of respondents say the national economic situation is good in 11 Member States (compared with 12 in autumn 2015), led by Luxembourg (88%) and Germany (83%). At the other end of the scale, more than 85% of respondents say it is bad in three Member States: Greece (97%), Spain (91%) and Portugal (89%). Since autumn 2015, the proportion of respondents who see their national economic situation as good is up sharply in Austria (59%, +8 percentage points) and Cyprus, though they remain a small minority (24%, +10). In contrast, far fewer respondents in Belgium (37%, -10) and Lithuania (27%, -10) now agree. 169

173 170

174 Respondents are more likely to be positive than negative about the European economy in 13 Member States (compared with 14 in autumn 2015). More than half say that the economic situation in the EU is good in five Member States: Lithuania (68%), Croatia (56%), Bulgaria (54%), Poland (52%) and Romania (52%). Respondents are particularly likely to describe the European economy as bad in France (66%), Italy (66%) and Portugal (66%). Assessments of the economic situation in the European Union have deteriorated sharply since autumn 2015 in two Member States: Germany, where a majority of respondents now describe it as bad (42% good, -10 percentage points, versus 50% bad, +9) and Greece (30%, -10, versus 64%, +8). 171

175 2. The employment situation A majority of Europeans think that the employment situation in their country is bad : almost twothirds of respondents share this view (65%, compared with 31% who think that it is good ). However, this proportion has fallen by two percentage points since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84), while the proportion who say it is good has gained one percentage point. 172

176 A majority of respondents say their national economic situation is good in seven Member States (compared with five in autumn 2015): Denmark (76%), Malta (75%), Germany (67%), Luxembourg (65%), Sweden (53%), the United Kingdom (51%) and the Netherlands (50%). At the other end of the scale, 90% or more of respondents are negative in four Member States: Greece (99%), Spain (96%), France (90%) and Portugal (90%). 173

177 b. Expectations for the next twelve months Europeans are now slightly less optimistic about the outlook for both the economy and employment 1. The national and European situations Europeans forecasts for the next twelve months for both the national and European economic situations continue to deteriorate. A majority of respondents (46%, +2 percentage points since autumn 2015) expect the national economic situation to stay the same in the next twelve months. There is less optimism (21% think that the next twelve months will be better, -3 percentage points), while pessimism is unchanged (26% worse ). The trend is similar for the economic situation in the European Union: a majority of Europeans expect the next twelve months to be the same (43%, +1 percentage point), while they are significantly more likely to be pessimistic (26%, unchanged) than optimistic (18%, -2). 174

178 Respondents are more likely to be optimistic than pessimistic about the national economic situation in 14 Member States (as in autumn 2015), particularly in Malta (42% think that the next twelve months will be better ) and Ireland (42%). In contrast, pessimism is far more widespread in Greece (64% think that the next twelve months will be worse ) than in the other Member States (where levels range from 9% in Malta to 37% in Croatia). Since autumn 2015, optimism has declined significantly in Croatia (17%, -13 percentage points, with a rise in pessimism, 37%, +13) and the United Kingdom (21%, -10, versus 18%, -5, with a sharp rise in the DK rate to 16%, +11). However, forecasts have improved in Sweden, even if optimists remain in the minority (19%, +10, versus 27%, -21). 175

179 176

180 When it comes to forecasts for the economic situation in the European Union, respondents are more likely to be optimistic than pessimistic in 13 Member States (compared with nine in autumn 2015). More than a quarter of respondents in Romania (30%) and Ireland (28%) think that the next twelve months will be better. In contrast, respondents are particularly pessimistic in Germany (44% think that the next twelve months will be worse ), Luxembourg (43%) and Greece (42%). Pessimism about the European economic outlook has decreased sharply in several Member States: Austria (31% worse, -20 percentage points), Latvia (13%, -10) and Sweden (38%, -10). Optimism has plummeted in Romania (30%, -11), though it remains the Member State where respondents are most likely to expect the future to be better. 177

181 178

182 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 179

183 2. The employment situation A majority of Europeans expect the employment situation in their country to stay the same over the next twelve months (45%), a +2 percentage point rise since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84). Pessimism has decreased by one percentage point (to 27%), but still outweighs optimism (22%, -2). 180

184 Respondents are more likely to say that the national employment situation will be better in 12 Member States (compared with 11 in autumn 2015); respondents in Ireland (45%), Malta (42%) and the Netherlands (34%) are the most optimistic. However, respondents in Greece are particularly pessimistic (65% think that the next twelve months will be worse ). Pessimistic employment forecasts have gained significant ground in Croatia (41%, +14 percentage points), while optimism has increased sharply since autumn 2015 in Sweden (29%, +13). 181

185 182

186 3 The impact of the economic situation on the job market Pessimism about the impact of the economic crisis on the job market has increased A majority of Europeans say that the worst is still to come in terms of the impact of the economic crisis on the job market: 47% (+1 percentage point), while 41% (-3) believe that the impact of the crisis on jobs has already reached its peak. A clear majority of respondents said that the worst is still to come between spring 2009 and autumn 2013, reaching its highest level in autumn 2011 (68%). Opinions have been more divided since spring 2014, and a majority even believed that the impact had reached its peak in spring 2014 and in spring But for the first time in the history of this indicator, pessimism has increased in two consecutive surveys (+4 percentage points between spring and autumn 2015, followed by +1 between autumn 2015 and spring 2016), illustrating a hardening of forecasts for the job market. The feeling that the worst is still to come is slightly more widespread in the euro area countries (48%, unchanged, versus 41% has already reached its peak, -3 percentage points) than in the non-euro area countries, where, however, it is now the majority opinion (44%, +2, versus 42%, -3). 183

187 Although opinions have worsened in the European Union as a whole, majorities now say that the worst is still to come in fewer countries: 13, compared with 16 in autumn Respondents are particularly pessimistic in Greece (69%) and France (60%). On the other hand, the feeling that the impact of the crisis on jobs has already reached its peak is very widespread in Ireland (71%), the Netherlands (68%) and Denmark (67%). 184

188 The impression that the impact of the crisis on jobs has already reached its peak has gained ground in 12 Member States, led by Finland (54%, +13 percentage points). However, it has lost ground in 15 countries, in particular in Poland (37%, -9) and Italy (48%, -9). As a result of these changes, a majority of respondents are now optimistic in Finland, Bulgaria and Sweden, while instead they are now mostly pessimistic in Poland. Opinions are now evenly divided in Slovakia (45% for both replies, whereas respondents were predominantly pessimistic in autumn 2015, 47% versus 43%) and Spain (47% for both replies, compared with a majority of optimists in autumn 2015, 55% versus 40%). 185

189 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 186

190 IV. THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ECONOMIC REFORMS 1 The European Union continues to play a key role in the global economy A majority of Europeans consider that the European Union has sufficient power and tools to defend the economic interests of Europe in the global economy : 60% of respondents agree with this statement, while 27% disagree. These proportions are unchanged since autumn Opinions are similar in euro area countries (61%, versus 28%) and non-euro area countries (58%, versus 26%). 187

191 A majority of respondents in all 28 Member States say that the European Union has sufficient power and tools to defend the economic interests of Europe in the global economy. However, support for this statement varies significantly between countries, with a low of 50% in France and a high of 81% in Portugal. Since autumn 2015, support for this statement has gained ground in 11 countries, led by the Czech Republic (56%, +6 percentage points), while it has declined in 13 Member States, most strikingly in Malta (66%, -8), and is unchanged in Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia. 188

192 The following table shows the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 189

193 2 Stimulating investment Europeans approve of the Juncker investment plan A majority of respondents agree that the private sector is better placed than the public sector to create new jobs, despite a slight dip since autumn 2015: 62% agree with this idea, a two percentage point decline while 24% disagree (+1). A majority of Europeans also consider that public money should be used to stimulate private sector investment at EU level: 56% (versus 29% who disagree). However, this proportion has fallen by two percentage points since autumn

194 Support for the idea that the private sector is better placed than the public sector to create new jobs is the same in both euro area countries (62%, versus 25%) and non-euro area countries (62%, versus 23%). A majority of respondents in all Member States agree with this statement, led by Malta (77%) and Finland (77%). Opinions are slightly more mixed in Italy (49%, versus 37%), Estonia (50%, versus 26%), Hungary (52%, versus 35%) and Latvia (53%, versus 30%), but even in these countries majorities believe that the private sector is better placed. This view has gained ground in 11 Member States since autumn 2015, most strikingly in Sweden (72%, +7 percentage points), and has declined in 13 countries, in particular in Portugal (64%, -12). It is stable in four countries (Finland, Denmark, Belgium and Croatia). 191

195 A majority of respondents in 25 Member States (versus 26 in autumn 2015) agree that public money should be used to stimulate private sector investment at EU level, with very strong support in Cyprus (77%), Malta (76%), Germany (70%) and Croatia (69%). Opinions are evenly divided in Sweden (45% versus 45%) and the United Kingdom (41% versus 41%), while a narrow majority of respondents disagree in Spain (40% agree versus 41% disagree ). 192

196 Support for the use of public money to stimulate private sector investment at EU level has increased in eight Member States, most notably in Bulgaria (64%, +6 percentage points). It is unchanged in four countries (Cyprus, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), and has decreased in 16 Member States, in particular in Greece (64%, -8), Portugal (56%, -7) and Slovakia (57%, -7). 193

197 194

198 3 Tackling deficits and debt and reforming the financial system a. Reducing debt and the public deficit To ascertain the views of Europeans as to whether measures should be taken rapidly to reduce the public deficit and debt in their country, the sample was divided into two groups and each group was asked a slightly differently worded question 42 : A positive wording (SPLIT A Measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) cannot be delayed ); A negative wording (SPLIT B Measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) are not a priority for now ). Positive wording 71% of Europeans say that measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) cannot be delayed (positive wording); support for this view has decreased slightly since autumn 2015 (-1 percentage point), while the proportion who disagree is stable (18% for the total disagree, unchanged). Question posed to half of the sample 42 QC2a.1-2. For each of the following statements, please tell me whether you totally agree, tend to agree, tend to disagree or totally disagree: (SPLIT A) Measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) cannot be delayed; (SPLIT B) Measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) are not a priority for now. 195

199 Although a majority of respondents in all Member States agree with this idea, there are significant differences between countries, from a low of 48% in Estonia to a high of 85% in Croatia. Support for the view that measures to reduce the public deficit and debt at national level cannot be delayed rose significantly between spring and autumn 2015 in several countries. However, the changes are less pronounced in this new survey: this view has gained ground in 11 countries, is stable in two others and has lost support in 15 Member States, most notably in Malta (83%, -7 percentage points). Question posed to half of the sample Question posed to half of the sample 196

200 Negative wording In contrast, Europeans are more divided as to whether measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) are not a priority for now : 44% agree, while 44% disagree, as in autumn Respondents were predominantly opposed to this idea between spring 2010 and spring Opinions were then evenly divided in autumn 2014 (45% versus 45%), before the balance of opinion turned slightly negative in spring 2015 (42% versus 48% disagree ). In autumn 2016, that change was reversed and opinions were again equally divided, and that is still the case in spring Question posed to half of the sample Although opinions are divided both in the euro area and outside the euro area, a majority of non-euro area respondents support this statement (45%, versus 41%), while only a minority do so in the euro area (43%, versus 46%). Question posed to half of the sample 197

201 A majority of respondents in 16 Member States (compared with 15 in autumn 2016) agree that measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) are not a priority for now. Support is particularly strong in Hungary (60%) and Sweden (58%), while there is strong opposition to this staement in the Czech Republic (55%), France (55%) and Croatia (53%). Question posed to half of the sample In terms of changes since autumn 2015, support for the idea that these measures are not a priority has increased in 14 Member States, most notably in Luxembourg (51%, +15 percentage points). However, it has decreased in 14 countries, in particular in Cyprus (35%, -6). A comparison of the answers given by the two groups within each Member State shows that, as in autumn 2015, the results are consistent in 12 Member States. In these countries, a majority of respondents consider that measures to combat the deficit and debt must be taken rapidly, regardless of the wording used: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. In the remaining 16 Member States, a majority of respondents in split A say that measures to reduce the public deficit and debt in (OUR COUNTRY) cannot be delayed, while a majority of split B respondents instead believe that such measures are not a priority for now. That is the case in Estonia, Hungary, Denmark, Lithuania, Slovenia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Poland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ireland, Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Greece. 198

202 Each question was posed to half of the sample 199

203 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 200

204 b. What measures should be taken to reform the economic and financial system? Europeans were then asked for their views on various measures intended to reform the economic and financial system: A very clear majority of Europeans support introducing tougher rules on tax avoidance and tax havens: 86%, while 7% oppose the idea. Support has decreased by one percentage point since autumn 2015; Seven out of ten Europeans also support the regulation of wages in the financial sector (e.g. traders bonuses): 70% (-1 percentage point), versus 16% who are opposed (unchanged); The introduction of a tax on financial transactions is also supported by a majority (albeit smaller) of respondents (52%, -1, versus 32% +1); Opinions are divided on the introduction of Eurobonds (European bonds): 36% of Europeans are in favour of them (-1), while 32% are against the idea (+1) and 32% expressed no opinion (unchanged). 201

205 The adoption of tougher rules on tax avoidance and tax havens is supported by a clear majority of respondents in all Member States, with levels of support varying from 68% in Poland to 95% in Sweden and Spain, where it is highest. The same is true of regulating salaries in the financial sector. This policy is also supported by a majority of respondents in all 28 Member States, but with slightly lower approval levels, ranging from 48% in Denmark to 83% in Portugal. 202

206 In comparison with autumn 2015, support for tougher rules on tax avoidance has increased in 14 Member States, is unchanged in two countries and has decreased in 12 others. Support for regulating salaries in the financial sector has increased in 13 countries and decreased in 15 Member States, notably in Croatia (67%, -8 percentage points). 203

207 A majority of respondents in 17 Member States (versus 20 in autumn 2015), and led by Germany (72%), Austria (64%) and Portugal (63%), advocate the introduction of a tax on financial transactions. An absolute majority of respondents are against the idea in Hungary (62%), Greece (55%) and the Netherlands (55%). Support for a tax on financial transactions has fallen significantly since autumn 2015 in Greece (35%, -11 percentage points), the Czech Republic (43%, -9) (two countries where this is now the minority position), and in Slovakia (56%, -9). In total, support has declined in 15 countries, is stable in four and has gained ground in nine Member States. A majority of respondents in 17 Member States (as in autumn 2015) support the introduction of Eurobonds. An absolute majority of respondents are in favour of this idea in Belgium (57%) and Portugal (51%), while an absolute majority of respondents in Germany (60%), Austria (57%) and Slovenia (50%) oppose it. Support for the introduction of Eurobonds has decreased in 12 countries, most sharply in Croatia (43%, -11 percentage points) and Luxembourg (44%, -10). It has remained unchanged in six countries and has increased in ten others. 204

208 205

209 206

210 The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union as a whole (EU28 average), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries benefiting or having benefited from European Union support to deal with the financial and economic crisis. 207

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