European Parliament Flash Eurobarometer FIRST RESULTS Focus on EE19 Lead Candidate Process and EP Media Recall STUDY - Public Opinion Monitoring Series Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament DG COMMUNICATION Public Opinion Monitoring Unit
IMAGE OF THE EU & MEMBERSHIP
In 26 EU MS, the largest share of respondents have a positive image of the EU Base: 26,071 respondents
Continued rise of support for EU Membership - Absolute majority in 26 Member States Base: 26,071 respondents
THE LEAD CANDIDATE PROCESS
Lead candidate process: A detailed explanation read to the respondents The following text was read to the respondents before the question: In 2014, based on the results of the EU elections, a lead candidate of a European political family was elected President of the European Commission. Europeans could therefore not only vote for who should represent them in the European Parliament, but also take part in the process of electing the President of the European Commission. In the next European elections, voters would have for the second time the opportunity to take part in the process of electing the President of the Commission.
More than half say that the lead candidates process will make them more likely to vote in the European elections Q8 Would this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections make you more likely to vote than at present? (% EU) Men: 57% Women: 58% 15-24: 62% 25-39: 58% 40-54: 55% 55+: 58% No, definitely not 17% No, probably not 19% Don't know 7% Yes, definitely 24% Yes, probably 33% Total yes : 57% 15-: 51% 16-19: 56% 20+: 59% Base: 26,071 respondents
The share of those is overall highest in Hungary (70%), with 44% saying yes, definitely Q8 Would this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections make you more likely to vote than at present? (%) 4 5 5 3 4 2 10 10 11 13 13 19 18 24 15 17 15 19 24 19 15 14 20 16 26 5 6 6 11 13 17 19 14 20 9 21 19 6 4 7 17 23 17 15 19 19 12 17 27 7 15 16 12 14 12 4 6 23 19 22 23 9 21 17 4 6 3 5 6 6 18 11 18 16 14 26 28 25 28 33 35 15 20 44 24 31 30 28 29 33 29 29 29 28 28 27 27 27 26 26 26 26 24 24 23 23 22 22 21 19 19 36 34 38 40 31 25 36 28 33 20 39 39 29 30 32 31 36 38 33 35 23 37 31 27 16 13 10 8 7 HU NL IT LT SK EL LU CZ IE AT FR CY PT SI EU27 MT DE RO ES HR BG BE PL LV SE DK FI EE Yes, definitely Yes, probably No, probably not No, definitely not Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents
Q9 Rising support for the lead candidate process - Citizens call for a real debate To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements regarding this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections? (% Total) It only makes sense if it is accompanied by a real debate about European issues and the future of the EU It represents significant progress for democracy within the EU It brings more transparency to the process of electing the President of the European Commission It gives more legitimacy to the European Commission It has no real impact, it does not change much It prevents Member States governments from choosing the best candidate for the job Totally agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Totally disagree Don't know 16 15 27 26 23 41 46% 45% 63% 67% 67% 30 30 77% 45% 46% 40 Parlemeter 04/2018 (%) 70% 40 41 60% 61% 63% 36 28 27 16 15 14 14 9 9 16 8 9 6 8 9 11 12 14 10 Base: 26,071 respondents
Across the EU-27, more than two thirds of citizens want the lead candidates process to be accompanied by a real debate Q9.6 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements regarding this process of electing the President of the European Commission depending on the results of the European elections? (%) It only makes sense if it is accompanied by a real debate about European issues and the future of the EU 2 12 6 5 7 5 3 4 5 6 7 9 7 8 7 9 11 12 14 17 16 15 14 14 13 15 15 17 11 9 7 13 15 18 11 13 13 15 16 17 14 12 12 11 10 10 9 18 14 13 19 17 19 9 12 13 86 85 84 81 81 80 80 80 80 79 78 78 77 76 76 76 75 75 75 75 74 74 73 73 73 72 71 68 LU PT IE FI EL BE ES FR CZ SK LV AT EU27 PL HR DE NL IT HU BG SE CY MT SI DK EE RO LT Total 'Agree' Total 'Disagree' Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents
EP MEDIA RECALL
Six in ten EU citizens have heard recently about the European Parliament s activities Q3 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the European Parliament s activities? (% EU) Men: 64% Women: 56% Don't know 1% 15-24: 55% 25-39: 56% 40-54: 61% 55+: 62% No 39% Yes 60% 15-: 43% 16-19: 56% 20+: 66% Base: 26,071 respondents
In Poland, three in four have heard about Parliament s activities; just above a third in Greece Q3 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the European Parliament s activities? (%) 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 25 26 27 27 30 29 30 35 34 36 39 39 41 39 41 42 42 44 42 43 43 46 47 49 55 60 63 65 75 73 73 72 70 70 69 64 64 63 60 59 58 58 58 57 57 56 56 56 56 53 52 49 43 39 36 34 PL FI SE DE HU AT IE NL SK ES EU27 CZ DK EE SI LU RO BE BG IT PT HR LV LT MT CY FR EL Yes No Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents
Media Recall on European Parliament s activities
The main topic recalled was immigration; seven topics are recalled by more than half of respondents Q4 From what you recall, which of the following topics were discussed? (% Total) Immigration Combating climate change and protecting the environment Economy and growth Protection of external borders Security and defence policy Protection of personal data Fight against terrorism Promoting human rights and democracy Consumer protection and food safety The way the EU should be working in the future Social protection of EU citizens Combatting youth unemployment Other Don't know 2 4 29 33 43 45 48 53 57 58 59 63 70 Base: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents) 77
Q4 From what you recall, which of the following topics were discussed? (%) Immigration Economy and growth Combatting youth unemployment Fight against terrorism Combating climate change and protecting the environment Promoting human rights and democracy Social protection of EU citizens The way the EU should be working in the future EU27 77 63 29 53 70 48 33 43 58 45 59 57 4 2 BE 87 66 29 62 79 58 40 47 62 53 65 67 3 1 BG 68 46 31 50 55 35 32 35 45 58 61 58 5 3 CZ 87 60 17 72 72 57 40 56 72 71 76 77 2 1 DK 64 46 18 37 62 34 27 34 47 39 60 53 13 4 DE 81 65 30 58 82 57 36 49 73 52 76 70 5 2 EE 85 37 19 46 48 33 20 37 54 20 48 42 7 3 IE 69 64 25 47 73 47 45 48 49 46 69 68 3 1 EL 75 61 37 40 55 45 33 41 41 30 47 50 2 2 ES 88 75 36 53 76 46 40 44 49 50 67 62 1 1 FR 71 67 24 57 84 36 26 41 61 45 47 53 3 1 HR 72 34 29 33 39 29 21 29 29 53 51 41 9 2 IT 69 61 34 33 42 30 21 24 36 30 28 32 5 3 CY 76 62 38 45 50 38 32 29 47 36 46 50 3 5 LV 77 62 38 65 62 49 36 49 69 53 68 70 4 2 LT 53 40 28 37 46 29 27 26 43 36 35 43 10 9 LU 83 68 37 57 77 50 43 49 58 52 62 67 3 1 HU 91 60 39 72 69 66 39 56 64 45 82 50 2 0 MT 52 33 15 23 32 19 16 17 20 19 20 26 25 7 NL 75 67 21 64 77 51 30 45 61 49 62 70 7 2 AT 84 64 35 56 70 53 39 46 65 46 78 70 5 1 PL 77 58 17 55 78 64 32 57 66 42 59 60 4 2 PT 81 78 40 72 76 57 48 48 55 44 59 67 3 2 RO 59 47 34 47 42 43 42 34 44 41 33 38 3 4 SI 83 47 32 48 63 43 30 43 51 43 60 51 5 2 SK 73 36 26 41 43 33 22 31 36 42 45 46 5 1 FI 67 60 27 45 80 45 23 38 71 32 57 47 7 3 SE 69 57 21 44 71 52 25 47 58 33 59 47 8 3 Security and defence policy Consumer protection and food safety Protection of external borders Protection of personal data Other Don't know In most countries, immigration is the first topic to be recalled in connection with the EP Base: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents) 1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM 3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM
In seven Member States, environmental protection is the most recalled topic Immigration: first position in 20 MS, most mentioned in Combatting climate change and protecting the environment: first place in Base: those who have heard recently about European Parliament activities (15,565 respondents)
Nearly half say that they have recently heard about the next European elections Q5 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the next European elections? (% EU) Men: 50% Women: 44% Don't know 1% 15-24: 33% 25-39: 33% 40-54: 45% 55+: 60% No 52% Yes 47% 15-: 42% 16-19: 43% 20+: 52% Base: 26,071 respondents
EE19 Media Recall: Large variations between countries Q5 Have you recently read in the press, seen on the Internet or on television or heard on the radio something about the next European elections? (%) 1 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 39 40 43 42 44 43 44 48 49 52 53 54 52 54 59 58 58 58 61 61 62 62 62 63 63 63 63 67 60 59 57 57 56 55 54 51 50 47 47 46 46 44 41 41 41 41 39 38 37 37 37 36 36 35 34 32 FI AT HU MT DE LT SK PL LU EU27 FR IT RO BG ES HR LV SE BE PT EL CY SI DK NL CZ EE IE Yes No Don't know Base: 26,071 respondents
EE19 Media Recall across the EU-27
Methodology Coverage: EU27 Population Number of interviews: 26,071 respondents Population: General population aged 15 or more Methodology: Telephone Fieldwork: 26 November to 3 December 2018 Survey conducted by Kantar Public, commissioned by the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit, Directorate-General for Communication, European Parliament Contact: Public Opinion Monitoring Unit public.opinion.monitoring@europarl.europa.eu Philipp.schulmeister@ep.europa.eu