Pre-Seville Eurobarometers outline citizens’ views on key issues, June 2002

The European Commission published the first results of the Spring 2002 Eurobarometer Survey on 20 June 2002 as well as a special report which brings together findings from recent Eurobarometers on three key issues on the agenda at the Seville European Council: immigration, enlargement and the environment.

Eurobarometer 57 provides the initial results of the annual Spring survey which was carried out between 29 April and 1 May 2002. It outlines the views of nearly 16,000 Europeans on key issues such as the benefits of EU membership, trust in the European Commission, enlargement and the possibility of an EU constitution.

The first survey since the launch of euro notes and coins reveals an increase in support for the single currency with over two thirds of those interviewed in favour of the euro. This figure is up from just over 50% in the Autumn 2000 survey. The report also shows that both the Danish and the Swedes are more in favour of the euro although the majority of the British continue to oppose the single currency.

While support for the euro may be high, only 53% of citizens feel that their country's membership is a good thing and less than half trust in the European Union. Both these results should be heeded by the European Convention which has been tasked with examining possible ways in which the EU could develop in the future with one key aim that of bringing the EU 'closer' to its citizens. However, members of the Convention may be encouraged by the fact that over two thirds of those interviewed support the idea of an EU constitution.

The special report prepared for the Seville Summit aims to illustrate citizens' views ahead of the debates concerning immigration, enlargement and the environment at the meeting of EU leaders.

Notably, the fight against immigration is not seen as the top priority for EU action. Citizens feel that maintaining peace andsecurity in Europe, fighting unemployment, fighting poverty and socialexclusion, fighting organised crime and drug trafficking, and protecting the environment are all more important than tackling the increasing number of immigrants. Moreover, only half of those interviewed feel that the problem should be tackled at the EU level rather than by national governments and less than half feel that EU action taken in this areas is effective.

The report also portrays a mixed response to the process of enlargement. Only 50% of those interviewed definitively support enlargement and 14% feel that no more countries should be allowed to join the Union. The key areas of interest are tourism and culture, with half of those interviewed wanting to know more about tourism in the Mediterranean applicants and over half wanting to learn more about the culture of the Central and Eastern European countries. Only one in 10 think that enlargement will improve their quality of life and a third of those interviewed fear the impact it will have on the EU's agricultural sector followed by the effect on EU industry. Notably for Turkey, 3 out 4 of those interviewed think that a good human rights record and stable democracy are the most important criteria for accession followed by economic performance. On a positive note, 67% feel that enlargement will unite the continent and around !two-thirds think it will guarantee peace and stability across Europe and prevent arm conflicts.

The special Eurobarometer also reveals that European citizens think that environmental factors have the greatest influence on their quality of life followed by economic factors and lastly social factors. However, only one in five feel that politicians take environmental effects into account when making decisions on other policies. According to those surveyed, the key environmental problems facing the European Union are the high levels of traffic congestion and the dependence on cars, the damage caused to the countryside and finally the quality of water. The report does not illustrate citizens' views on the question of sustainable development even though a global conference on the issue will take place in Johannesburg in August 2002.

Overall the report will provide EU leaders with a valuable picture of European citizens views on the key issues up for discussion at Seville at a time when EU leaders are even more aware of the need for public support following the recent rise of the far-right.

Links:

European Commission:

• European Commission: Press Release: IP/02/903
• DG Press and Communication: Public Opinion - First Results of Eurbarometer 57
• DG Press and Communication: Public Opinion - Seville Report [Only available in French]

Spanish Presidency of the European Union

• Details about the Seville European Council

Helen Bower
Compiled: Friday, 21 June 2002

The European Commission published the first results of the Spring 2002 Eurobarometer Survey on 20 June 2002 as well as a special report which brings together findings from recent Eurobarometers on three key issues on the agenda at the Seville European Council: immigration, enlargement and the environment.