STUDY - Public Opinion Monitoring Series Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament Directorate-General for Communication Public Opinion Monitoring Unit
Methodology Coverage: EU28 Population Number of interviews: 27,601 respondents Population: General population aged 15 or more Methodology: Face-to-face Fieldwork: 11 to 22 April 2018 Survey conducted by Kantar Public commissioned by the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit, Directorate- General for Communication, European Parliament 1
For the first time, a majority of EU citizens now consider that their voice counts in the EU 48 46 Base: 27,601 respondents 2
Again, large variations between countries; in 15 Member States, a majority agree D72 My voice counts in EU Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 3
My voice counts in our Country 63 32 Base: 27,601 respondents 4
My voice counts in our Country D72 My voice counts in our Country Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 5
Things are going in the right direction in EU 42 32 Base: 27,601 respondents 6
Things are going in the right direction in EU D73 Things are going in the right direction in EU Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 7
Things are going in the right direction in our country 48 35 Base: 27,601 respondents 8
Things are going in the right direction in our country D73 Things are going in the right direction in our country Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 9
2. MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU AND DEMOCRACY 10
Six in ten Europeans have a positive view about membership 60 12 Base: 27,601 respondents 11
This ranges from 85% in Luxembourg to 34% in the Czech Republic; neutral view predominates in the Czech Republic and Croatia QA23 Membership a good thing Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 12
More than two-thirds consider that their country has benefited from membership (+3 pp since September 2017): highest level since 1983! 67 23 Base: 27,601 respondents 13
Though the majority view in all Member States, the feeling to have benefited varies from 93% in Malta to 44% in Italy QA24 Benefits of Membership Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 14
3. IMAGE AND ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 15
The view on the European Parliament remains stable; more than four in ten have a neutral view of the EP 43 31 Base: 27,601 respondents 16
In seven countries, a majority of the population have a positive view of the EP QA2 Image of the EP Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 17
Nearly half of respondents want to see the EP in a more important role 47 27 Base: 27,601 respondents 18
In 23 countries, a majority of the population want the EP to play a more important role. QA3 Role of EP Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 19
4.4 SPITZENKANDIDAT PROCESS 20
Nearly half of Europeans say the Spitzenkandidat process increases their likelihood to vote QA12 Spitzenkandidat Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 21
Overall, this process is well perceived, but for a large majority of Europeans, it only make sense if accompanied by a real debate QA13 Spitzenkandidat statements Horizontal bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 22
4.3 CAMPAIGN TOPICS 23
Europeans would like the electoral campaign to focus first on terrorism, youth unemployment, immigration and economy and growth QA11T Horizontal bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 24
Most mentioned topic varies between countries QA11T Top answers Base: 26,561 respondents 25
As a reminder: terrorism was the least mentioned issue that made people vote to the EE2014 26
The share of those satisfied with the way democracy work in the EU is highest in Ireland (74%) and lowest in Greece (29%) QA25b Democracy in EU Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 27
A majority continue to be satisfied with the way democracy works in their country; large variations between countries QA25a Democracy in our country Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 28
The emergence of anti-establishment parties is generally seen rather positively by a majority of Europeans QA26 New political parties Country bar chart Base: 27,601 respondents 29
In all EU countries, clear majorities consider that going to vote in European elections is easy QA15a Going to vote in EP Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 30
It is even easier in national elections (in all Member States but Denmark) QA15b Going to vote in national elections Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 31
In 12 Member States, at least half of the population Denmark consider the European elections as important QA14a Importance to vote in EP elections Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 32
When it comes to national elections, this is the case for 26 Member States (out of 27) QA14b Importance to vote in national elections Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 33
Around one third know the correct date of the European Elections 2019 Base: 26,561 respondents 34
Half of Europeans are interested in the EP elections, a slight decline compared with September 2017 Base: 26,561 respondents 35
In 15 countries, a majority of the population is interested in the EP elections QA9 Election date Country bar chart Base: 26,561 respondents 36
In Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Malta and Germany, at least 45% of the population will vote QA10 Likelihood to vote Country bar chart Base: 25,025 respondents 37
As a reminder, reality was somehow different in the EE2014 38
People vote in EP elections primarily because it is their duty as citizens; a third think that it can make things change QA16T Country bar chart 39
Post-electoral 2014: the feeling that voting can make things change less mentioned (12%) 40
People do not vote because they think their vote will not change anything QA17T Country bar chart 41
Post-elect 2014: abstainers cited lack of trust and disinterest first 42
Half Europeans say they voted systematically in recent elections: around three quarters in NL, DK and SE, compared with around a quarter in HR, CZ and SK QA18 How often vote Country bar chart Base: 26,952 respondents 43
In 8 countries, at least half say they abstained for technical reasons: NL, SI, CZ, LU, DK, LV, BE and HR QA19 Reason for not voting Country bar chart Base: those who do not vote systematically 13,027 respondents 44
One fifth say the reason was that they were too busy QA20 Personal reasons for not voting Bar chart Base: those who do not vote systematically 13,027 respondents 45
More than a fifth (22%) decided not to vote in the last days/the last day before the election QA21 Timing for not voting Horizontal bar chart 22% Base: all countries except LU and BE (26,065 respondents) 46
Among those who vote, the majority decides a few month ahead QA22 Timing for voting Horizontal bar chart 47 Base: If has voted recently, even rarely all countries except LU and BE 23,640 respondents