Public Opinion survey finds record support for EU, especially in Malta - Main contents

The latest Parliament Eurobarometer survey, published one year ahead of the European elections in May 2019, confirms citizens’ steadily growing support for the European Union.

With just one year to go until the next European elections, EP President Antonio Tajani will outline the results from the latest public opinion poll about the EU on Wednesday morning.

The Eurobarometer survey, conducted in April 2018 amongst 27,601 people from 28 Member States reveals that on average 60% of citizens believe that EU membership of their country is a good thing whilst over two-thirds of respondents are convinced that their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. This is the highest score ever measured since 1983. Though the majority view in all Member States, the feeling of benefitting from EU membership varies from 93% in Malta to 44% in Italy.

Almost a third of respondents already know the date of the next European elections, with 50% being interested in it. In general, the ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ process is perceived as a positive development for European democracy with almost half of respondents saying it would make them more likely to vote. Nearly three quarters of citizens want this lead candidate process to be accompanied by a real debate about European issues and the future of the EU - for the majority of Maltese this is the only way this makes sense.

Asked about the specific issues of concern respondents would like to see debated in the election campaigns across the continent, almost half of Europeans (49%) cite the fight against terrorism as priority topic, followed by youth unemployment’ (48%), immigration (45%) and economy and growth (42%). Approximately one third of Europeans cite the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment (35%) whilst promoting human rights and democracy as well as the social protection of EU citizens are listed by 32% of respondents.

Immigration is by far the biggest priority for the Maltese.

A majority of respondents continues to be satisfied with the way democracy works in their country (55%) and in the EU (46%), including for the latter an increasing majority of Maltese people.

Half of respondents do not consider the emergence of new parties or political movements protesting against the political establishment as threat to democracy per se. A majority of respondents (56%) - including the Maltese - believes that such new political parties might be a vehicle for change - while a clear 70% of citizens warn new parties that ‘just being against something does not improve anything’.

Overall, the survey points to a growing interest in, and appreciation for, the EU as well as a growing conviction that they can have a say in its future if they vote in the elections next year.