Spring 2016 Standard Eurobarometer: Strong public support for Commission's political priorities - Main contents

Europeans see immigration and terrorism as the major challenges facing the EU at the moment, and they support the political priorities of the European Commission. These are two key results of the latest Standard Eurobarometer survey published today. The survey was carried out between 21 and 31 May 2016 in 34 countries and territories [1].

Immigration and terrorism are seen as the major challenges facing the EU:

Asking citizens about their main concerns, immigration remains at the top of the most frequently cited issues facing the EU (48%, -10). Terrorism (39%, +14) remains the second most frequently cited item after a sharp increase since the previous survey in autumn 2015. It is well ahead of the economic situation (19%, -2), the state of Member States public finances (16%, -1) and unemployment (15%, -2). Immigration is number one concern for the EU in 20 Member States and among the top two concerns in all countries, except Portugal. Terrorism is number one concern in eight Member States and among the top two concerns in all countries, except Greece.

At national level, main concerns are unemployment (33%, -3) and immigration (28%, -8). The economic situation is in third place (19%, unchanged).

Support for European Commission’s political priorities:

As in the previous survey of November 2015, there is positive endorsement of the priority topics set by the European Commission.

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  Regarding the issue of migration, 67% of Europeans say they are in favour of a common European policy on migration. Almost six Europeans out of ten (58%) are positive about migration of people from other EU Member States. However, the same proportion is negative about immigration of people from outside the EU.

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  79% of Europeans are in favour of the "free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU". Majorities of respondents support free movement in all countries from UK (63%) to Latvia (95%). In addition, most Europeans regard the free movement of people, goods and services within the EU as the most positive achievement of the EU (56%), alongside peace among the Member States (55%).

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  Europeans see the EU as a global actor: 68% think that the EU's voice counts in the world.

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  On investment within the EU, 56% of Europeans agree public money should be used to stimulate private sector investment at EU level.

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  56% of Europeans are also in favour of a digital single market within the EU.

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  On energy, 70% of Europeans are in favour of a common energy policy among EU Member States.

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  Support for the euro remains stable (55% in the EU overall, 68% in the euro area). There is majority support for the single currency in 22 Member States including all those belonging to the Euro area.

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  Support for a free trade and investment agreement between the EU and the USA is the majority view in 24 Member States. Overall, 51% of respondents in the EU are in favour.

Trust in the EU is higher than trust in national governments; EU citizenship stands firm

The number of Europeans who say they trust the European Union has gone up to 33%. The average level of trust in national governments is stable at 27%.

An unchanged proportion of Europeans (38%) say they have a neutral image of the EU. The number of Europeans who say they have a positive image of the EU stands at 34% while 27% have a negative image.

The number of citizens who say that their voice counts in the EU remains stable at 38% (-1 point), maintaining the positive boost observed since the European elections in 2014.

Two thirds of Europeans (66%, +2) feel that they are citizens of the EU. This view is shared by majorities of respondents in 26 Member States.

Background

The Spring 2016 Standard Eurobarometer was conducted through face-to-face interviews between 21 and 31 May 2016. A total of 31,946 people were interviewed across the EU Member States and in the candidate countries.

Further information

The 'First results report' published today outlines Europeans’ attitudes towards the EU, as well as citizens' main concerns and perceptions of the economic situation. It is available online here.

[1]The 28 European Union (EU) Member States, 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 that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

IP/16/2665