European citizenship : report.
Date: 2016-09-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: European Union, European citizenship, European identity, citizens' Europe, free movement of persons, public opinion, report, sample survey

Standard Eurobarometer 84 
Autumn 2015 

Report 

European citizenship 

Fieldwork 
November 2015 

Survey requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission,  
Directorate-General for Communication 

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. 
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 – Wave EB84.3 – TNS opinion & social 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

European citizenship 

Fieldwork: November 2015 

Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the European Commission,  
Directorate-General for Communication  

Survey coordinated by the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Communication 
(DG COMM ‘strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer" Unit) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project number 
Project title 

Language version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 

© European Union, 2016 

2016.3506 
Standard Eurobarometer 84 
“European citizenship” 
Report 

EN 
NA-04-16-324-EN-N 
978-92-79-57784-0 

doi:10.2775/011080 

http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

I. INTRODUCTION 

I. ATTACHMENT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 

II. THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ACHIEVEMENTS 

III. EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP 

1  The sense of European citizenship 

a.  Update on the sense of European citizenship 

b.  The different levels of citizenship 

c.  The factors which do most to create a feeling of community 

2  Rights as European Citizens 

IV. THE OPENNESS OF EUROPEANS TO OTHERS 

V. EUROPEANS AND LANGUAGES 

1  The usefulness of knowing foreign languages 

2  The advantages of speaking another language 

3  Everyone should be able to speak at least one other language 

VI. VALUES 

1  Understanding of today’s world 

2  The existence of shared European values 

3  The personal values of Europeans 

4  The values that best represent the European Union 

5  The economic and social values of Europeans 

a.  State intervention 

b.  The severity of criminal punishments 

c.  The contribution of immigrants to society 

d.  Help for refugees 

e.  The quality of life was better before 

f.  Confidence in the future 

2 

4 

15 

24 

24 

24 

29 

36 

40 

46 

53 

53 

58 

63 

66 

66 

69 

78 

86 

95 

96 

96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

VII.THE FUTURE OF TODAY’S CHILDREN IN THE EU                                            102 

ANNEXES 

Technical specifications 

1 

 
	
 
	
  
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

I.  INTRODUCTION 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The Standard Eurobarometer 84 was conducted between 7 and 17 November 20151 in 34 countries 
or  territories:  the  28  Member  States  of  the  European  Union,  five  candidate  countries  (the  former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania), and among the Turkish 
Cypriot Community in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic 
of Cyprus 

This volume of the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2015 (EB84) presents the state of 
public opinion on identity and European citizenship, a topic that is addressed through the following 
aspects: 

§  Attachment to the European Union, mainly in comparison with attachment at national and 

local levels; 

§  Perceptions  of  the  European  Union’s  achievements:  what  do  Europeans  regard  as  the 

EU’s most positive results? 

§  The concept of European citizenship: do Europeans see themselves as European citizens? 
What factors create this sense of European citizenship? Do they know their rights as European 
citizens? Do they want more information on this subject? 

§  The  openness  of  Europeans  to  others,  in  particular  to  the  citizens  and  cultures  of  other 

Member States; 

§  Languages: Do Europeans think it is important to learn a language other than their mother 

tongue? Why? 

§  Values:  what  values  do  Europeans  most  readily  associate  with  the  European  Union?  What 

values matter to them personally? Are there values that are common to Europeans? 

§  The future of today’s children in the European Union: will the lives of today’s children be 

easier or more difficult than those of previous generations? 

The full Standard Eurobarometer 84 report consists of several volumes. The first volume presents 
the state of public opinion in the European Union (EU). Three other volumes present the views of 
Europeans on other issues: the EU’s priorities, European citizenship and media use in the European 
Union. This volume is devoted to European citizenship. 

 1Please refer to the technical specifications for the exact dates of the interviews in each country. 

2 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The methodology used is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the Directorate-General for 
Communication (“Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer” Unit)2. A technical 
note  describing  how  the  institutes  within  the  TNS  opinion  &  social  network  conduct  interviews  is 
included in the report’s annexes. This note also specifies the confidence intervals3, which enable us 
to assess the accuracy of a survey’s results, according to the size of the sample polled in relation to 
the total size of the population studied. 

The abbreviations used in this report correspond to: 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czech Republic 
Denmark  
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Croatia 
Italy 
Republic of Cyprus 
Latvia 

Turkish Cypriot Community 

BE 
BG 
CZ 
DK 
DE 
EE 
IE 
EL 
ES 
FR 
HR 
IT 
CY * 
LV 

Lithuania 
Luxembourg  
Hungary 
Malta 
The Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal  
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Albania 
Montenegro 
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 

AL 
ME 

Turkey 
Serbia 

LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 
UK  

CY(tcc) 

TR 
RS 
MK ** 

European Union – weighted average for the 28 Member States 
BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK, LV, LT 
BG, CZ, DK, HR, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK  

EU28 
Euro area 
Non euro area 

* Cyprus as a whole is one of the 28 European Union Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire” 
has been suspended in the part of the country that is not controlled by the government of the Republic of 
Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews carried out in the part of the country controlled by the 
government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the “CY” category and in the EU28 average  

** Provisional abbreviation which in no way prejudges the definitive name of this country, which will be agreed 
once the current negotiations at the United Nations have been completed. 

We wish to thank all the people interviewed throughout Europe 
who took the time to take part in this survey.  

Without their active participation, this survey would not have been possible  

2 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm 
3 The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in the tables in this report may 
exceed 100% when the respondents were able to choose several answers to a question. 

3 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

I.  ATTACHMENT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION 

A majority of citizens now feel attached to the European Union 

An initial question asked Europeans about the attachment they feel at various levels4: 

§  Nearly  nine  in  ten  Europeans  feel  attached  to  their  city,  town  or  village  (89%, 
unchanged  since  the  Standard  Eurobarometer  of  autumn  2014  (EB82);  52%  (=)  described 
themselves as “very attached”; 

§  More than nine in ten respondents say they are attached to their country (92%, +1 
percentage  point  since  autumn  2014).  An  absolute  majority  even  report  that  they  are  “very 
attached” to their country (56%, +2); 

§  Attachment  to  the  European  Union  has  gained  ground  and  is  no  longer  a  minority 
position, though it still lags behind: 49% (+4) of Europeans say they are attached to the 
EU, while an identical proportion says the opposite (49%, -3).  

§  Finally, 59% of respondents are attached to Europe, a 3-point rise since autumn 2014. 

4 QD1. Please tell me how attached you feel to… : Your city/town/village; (OUR COUNTRY); The  European Union; Europe. 

4 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Attachment to town and country 

More than 80% of respondents say they are attached to their city, town or village in 27 
Member States, led by Greece and Portugal (97% in both countries). The Netherlands is the only 
country where less than 80% of people are attached to their town or village (74%). 

5 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In all 28 Member States, more than 80% of respondents are attached to their country, with the 
highest score in Greece (99%) and the lowest in Belgium (83%).  

In 23 Member States, more people feel attached to their country than to their town or village. The 
opposite is found in four Member States: Spain (where 91% of respondents are attached to their town 
or village, and 88% to their country), Italy (92% versus 89%), Croatia (91% versus 90%) and Romania 
(95% versus 94%).  

Finally, respondents are equally attached to both of these in Portugal (both 97%). 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  A  majority  of  respondents  feel  attached  to  their  town  or  village  in  every  category: 
attachment  reaches  94%  among  people  born  before  1946  and  84%  among  members  of 
generation Y, i.e. those born since 1980. It is slightly higher among respondents who left school 
at the age 15 or earlier (94%) than among those who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond 
(87%); 

§  Again, a very large majority of respondents are attached to their country, regardless of their 
socio-demographic category. However, this increases with age, rising from 88% of 15-24 year-
olds to 91% of 25-39 year-olds, 92% of the 40-54 age group and 95% of respondents aged 
55 years-old or over. 

6 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD1a

Please	tell	me	how	attached	you	feel	to…

	(%)

Your	city\	town\	
village

(OUR	
COUNTRY)

The	European	
Union

Europe

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

1
=
2
1
=
1
=
3
2
5
1
3
3
4
2
3
1
4
=
=
1
1
=
2
=
1
1
1
3

'

d
e
h
c
a
t
t
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

49

56
44
35
46
53
48
51
34
56
55
55
40
24
65
51
74
59
59
39
38
58
54
60
50
49
39
44
40

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4

5
=
=
1
4
2
8
4
10
4
14
1
3
2
9
2
8
4
8
3
1
9
2
12
5
4
4
4

'

d
e
h
c
a
t
t
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

59

63
56
57
74
67
54
55
40
60
61
58
46
29
67
54
80
75
69
60
56
65
54
64
56
63
65
77
50

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

3

5
5
1
2
3
2
4
3
10
2
8
1
6
2
5
1
6
4
5
1
1
9
2
12
2
4
2
5

'

d
e
h
c
a
t
t
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

89

82
96
88
88
89
82
93
97
91
82
91
92
92
91
88
87
89
81
74
94
92
97
95
88
92
84
83
86

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

=
1
=
2
=
=
4
3
1
1
1
=
=
3
=
1
5
1
2
=
2
2
=
2
1
1
3
2
=

'

d
e
h
c
a
t
t
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

92

83
98
89
98
94
93
97
99
88
94
90
89
97
93
93
93
94
95
86
95
95
97
94
92
95
95
96
91

7 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Attachment to the European Union and Europe 

A  majority  of  respondents  say  they  feel  attached  to  the  European  Union  in  16  Member 
States. This sentiment is not shared in the remaining 12 countries. There are still wide divergences, 
with attachment reaching 74% in Luxembourg (where it is the strongest) and only 24% in Cyprus 
(where it is the weakest). 

In  terms  of  evolutions,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  say  they  are  attached  to  the  European 
Union has risen since the Standard Eurobarometer of autumn 2014 (EB82) in 21 Member States, and 
by at least ten percentage points in three countries: Croatia (55%, +14 percentage points), Slovenia 
(50%, +12) and Spain (56%, +10). However, it has fallen in five countries and is unchanged in Bulgaria 
and the Czech Republic. 

8 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In 25 Member States, an absolute majority of respondents say they are attached to Europe, 
the highest score being recorded in Luxembourg (80%). In Cyprus (29% attached to Europe versus 
70% who are not), Greece (40% versus 60%) and Italy (46% versus 52%), the majority of respondents 
do not share this opinion. 

Since spring 2015, attachment to Europe has gained ground in 24 Member States, and most markedly 
in Slovenia (56%, +12 percentage points) where it has become the majority view, and Spain (60%, 
+10). It has lost ground in the remaining four countries. 

9 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

A comparison of feelings towards Europe and the European Union shows that in 27 Member States 
respondents feel more attached to Europe than to the European Union. The difference in the extent 
of these two attachments is particularly large in the Nordic countries: there is a 33-percentage point 
gap in Sweden (77% feel attached to Europe, versus 44% to the EU), a 28-point gap in Denmark 
(74% versus 46%) and a 26-point gap in Finland (65% versus 39%). Portugal is the only country with 
equal levels of attachment to the EU and Europe (54%). 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  Attachment to the European Union is reported by: 

•  A  majority  of  men  (52%  “attached”  versus  46%  “not  attached”)  but  not  of  women  (46% 

versus 51%); 

•  A  minority  of  people  aged  55  and  over  (45%  versus  52%)  but  a  majority  in  all  other  age 
groups.  For  example,  a  minority  of  people  born  before  1946  say  they  are  attached  to  the 
European Union (43% versus 54%), but a majority of members of generation Y, born after 
1980, do (52% versus 45%); 

•  A clear majority of respondents who studied until the age of 20 or over say they are attached 
to the EU (58% versus 40%), but only a minority of those who left school at the age of 15 or 
earlier do so (38% versus 59%); 

10 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

•  While managers (65% versus 34%) and students (58% versus 39%) feel particularly attached 
to the European Union, this is not the case for unemployed people (43% versus 55%), house 
persons (43% versus 53%) or retired respondents (44% versus 53%). Manual workers are 
fairly evenly divided (48% versus 50%); 

•  A majority of respondents who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills feel 
attached to the European Union (54% versus 43%), whereas a distinct minority of those who 
have difficulties most of the time feel this way (32% versus 65%); 

•  Finally, a majority of Europeans who see themselves as upper class (54% versus 44%), upper 
middle class (65% versus 34%) and middle class (56% versus 42%) feel attached to the EU, 
but only a minority feel this way in the lower middle (43% versus 54%) and working classes 
(42% versus 56%). 

§  Lastly,  a  majority  of  respondents  feel  attached  to  Europe  in  all  socio-demographic 
categories, with the exception of people who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (53% “not 
attached” versus 45% “attached”), and most strikingly, those who have difficulties paying their 
bills most of the time (59% versus 39%). Nevertheless, people who see themselves as upper 
class (77%), managers (75%) and Europeans who studied up to the age of 20 or over (71%) 
are the most attached to Europe. 

11 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD1a

Please	tell	me	how	attached	you	feel	to…	
Total	'Attached'	(%	-	EU)

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation

Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

i

n
o
n
U
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E
e
h
T

49

52
46

55
51
50
45

43
48
51
52

38
47
58
58

51
65
50
48
43
43
44
58

32
44
54

42
43
56
65
54

e
p
o
r
u
E

59

62
56

64
62
60
55

51
58
61
63

45
56
71
68

61
75
62
57
50
52
54
68

39
52
65

50
54
65
77
68

)
Y
R
T
N
U
O
C
R
U
O

(

92

91
93

88
91
92
95

96
94
91
89

93
93
94
88

90
93
92
91
92
91
96
88

90
90
94

92
91
93
93
89

e
g
a

l
l
i
v

/
n
w
o
t

/
y
t
i
c

r
u
o
Y

89

88
89

82
87
88
93

94
90
88
84

94
89
87
82

88
88
89
88
89
84
93
82

85
89
89

90
88
90
86
83

12 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD1a

Please	tell	me	how	attached	you	feel	to…	
Total	'Not	attached'(%	-	EU)

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation

Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

i

n
o
n
U
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E
e
h
T

49

46
51

42
47
48
52

54
50
47
45

59
51
40
39

47
34
48
50
53
55
53
39

65
54
43

56
54
42
34
44

e
p
o
r
u
E

39

36
41

33
36
38
43

46
40
37
35

53
42
28
29

36
24
37
41
47
46
44
29

59
46
33

48
45
33
22
30

)
Y
R
T
N
U
O
C
R
U
O

(

7

9
7

12
9
8
5

4
6
9
11

6
7
6
12

9
7
8
8
8
9
4
12

10
10
6

8
9
7
7
10

e
g
a

l
l
i
v

\
n
w
o
t

\
y
t
i
c

r
u
o
Y

11

12
11

18
13
12
7

6
10
12
16

6
11
13
17

11
12
11
12
11
15
7
17

14
11
11

10
12
10
14
17

13 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis.  

QD1a.3

Please	tell	me	how	attached	you	feel	to…
The European Union (% - Total 'Attached')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

49

52
46

55
51
50
45

38
47
58
58

51
65
50
48
43
43
44
58

53

56
52

61
49
53
55

46
48
66
63

48
69
47
44
60
50
52
63

QD1a.4

Please	tell	me	how	attached	you	feel	to…
Europe (% - Total 'Attached')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

59

62
56

64
62
60
55

45
56
71
68

61
75
62
57
50
52
54
68

67

71
65

71
64
68
68

56
62
80
75

67
84
58
60
69
58
66
75

ES

56

62
50

58
56
57
54

46
59
70
60

62
71
73
55
37
54
57
60

ES

60

68
54

67
63
62
56

51
63
75
70

65
79
81
61
41
57
61
70

PL

58

59
58

60
67
62
49

35
56
65
63

67
66
63
60
66
54
47
63

PL

65

66
65

68
72
71
57

45
63
74
65

72
73
71
66
74
63
57
65

UK

40

43
37

49
44
44
31

28
35
56
53

47
58
32
41
21
38
28
53

UK

50

53
47

64
53
52
39

31
45
69
63

57
67
45
48
41
45
38
63

EL

34

38
31

52
37
40
24

15
31
47
61

41
51
45
39
16
24
26
61

EL

40

45
34

56
47
44
28

20
36
56
65

47
57
52
42
19
34
31
65

PT

54

60
48

68
59
53
45

46
62
66
72

73
65
65
44
55
53
40
72

PT

54

61
48

64
60
53
47

47
62
69
69

75
65
67
44
52
49
45
69

IE

51

59
43

44
45
59
51

38
48
60
50

59
65
49
43
36
45
59
50

IE

55

62
49

58
52
58
56

43
51
65
63

61
68
51
47
47
48
61
63

CY

24

23
24

36
24
24
17

16
20
35
34

30
32
31
21
13
20
19
34

CY

29

29
28

42
30
31
20

18
27
42
39

44
45
36
24
10
24
23
39

IT

40

42
39

58
44
42
32

24
42
54
60

49
74
48
29
38
29
26
60

IT

46

48
43

65
53
47
36

31
46
58
70

55
77
54
34
38
46
29
70

FR

55

59
51

56
53
55
56

55
50
61
56

42
74
54
54
48
35
58
56

FR

61

64
58

64
63
59
60

59
53
69
68

54
74
65
58
50
48
62
68

14 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

II.  THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ACHIEVEMENTS 

Europeans regard peace as the EU’s most positive result,  

just ahead of free movement  

Europeans once again say that peace among the Member States of the EU is the most positive 
result of the EU (56%, +1 percentage point since spring 2015)5. This is only the second time since 
spring 2012 that peace has headed the list of beneficial achievements; this was previously the case 
in autumn 2014. The free movement of people, goods and services within the EU has therefore 
fallen  to  second  place  again  (55%,  -2),  but  is  nevertheless  mentioned  by  a  similar  proportion  of 
respondents. 

In  third  position,  lagging  some  way  behind  the  first  two  achievements,  the  euro  has  gained  two 
percentage  points  since  spring  2015  (25%,  +2).  Student  exchange  programmes  such  as 
ERASMUS stands in fourth place. This is the only other item mentioned by more than one in five 
respondents (22%, +1).  

The achievements in fifth to seventh position, which are the economic power of the EU (19%, -1), 
the political and diplomatic influence of the EU in the rest of the world (19%, no change) 
and the level of social welfare (healthcare, education and pensions) in the EU (18%, =) are 
cited, in similar proportions, by a little less than one respondent in five. 

In final place, the common agricultural policy is mentioned by one person in ten (10%, +1). 

Finally, 9% of Europeans (no change) spontaneously say that the EU has “no” positive results. 

Maximum three answers 

5 QD4T. Which of the following do you think is the most positive result of the EU?  Firstly? And then? 

15 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The order in which the European Union’s achievements are ranked differs a little in the euro area 
and the non-euro area. Whereas peace (56%) tops the list in euro area countries, ahead of free 
movement (54%), this result is reversed in countries outside the euro area (57% for free movement, 
ahead of peace at 54%). 

Nor is the euro seen in the same light in euro area and non-euro area countries. While the single 
currency is mentioned by a third of respondents in the euro area (33%) where it takes third place, it 
is only in eighth and last position in non-euro area countries (10%). 

Finally, respondents outside the euro area are more attached to the level of social protection, in third 
position (22%), whereas this achievement takes seventh place within the euro area countries (16%). 

Maximum three answers 

Though only in second place in the European Union as a whole,  the  free  movement  of  people, 
goods and services within the EU stands in first position in 15 Member States. Peace among the 
Member States of the EU leads the ranking in the remaining 13 countries. The order in which the 
EU’s achievements are ranked therefore varies from one Member State to another, sometimes with 
significant differences. For example, the free movement of people, goods and services within 
the EU is mentioned the most often in Lithuania (77%) and the least often in France (41%); peace 
among the Member States of the EU achieves its highest score in Sweden (76%) and its lowest 
in Italy (37%).  

In terms of evolutions, mentions of free movement have fallen sharply in two countries since spring 
2015: Slovenia (56%, -11 percentage points) and Austria (48%, -10). 

16 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

17 

 
	
	
 
 
 
  
 
  
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The national analysis confirms that  the  euro, which is  not mentioned first in  any of the Member 
States, is cited more often in euro area countries that in countries outside the euro area. For instance, 
the single currency is mentioned most in Ireland (50%) and least in the United Kingdom (6%). 

18 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?	(%)

e
h
t
g
n
o
m
a
e
c
a
e
P

U
E
e
h
t

f
o
s
e
t
a
t
S
r
e
b
m
e
M

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

l

,
e
p
o
e
p
f
o
t
n
e
m
e
v
o
m
e
e
r
f
e
h
T

U
E
e
h
t
n
h
t
i

i

w
s
e
c
i
v
r
e
s
d
n
a
s
d
o
o
g

EU28

EURO	AREA
NON-EURO	AREA

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

56

56
54

57
58
59
73
73
53
48
61
47
61
48
37
55
48
57
62
39
53
64
55
51
40
49
65
41
66
76
55

1
=
=
4
2
1
5
1
2
6
6
4
1
=
1
6
1
4
7
6
1
4
=
2
3
8
9
5
=
5
4

55

54
57

47
75
64
56
59
68
59
65
55
41
71
50
47
62
77
60
54
45
63
48
62
69
68
56
75
62
67
45

Maximum three answers 

19 

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

2

2
1

1
3
6
3
5
1
7
=
1
4
1
=
9
8
4
1
2
6
4
10
2
4
2
11
1
2
5
1

o
r
u
e
e
h
T

25

33
10

43
11
7
9
35
36
50
22
27
34
14
27
15
32
18
49
18
33
45
27
10
28
23
36
49
40
7
6

Report 

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

2

3
=
3
=
1
1
1
=
2
=
5
4
4
1
1
1
3
3
2
5
9
2
=
7
2
2
6
6
1
1

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  Peace and free movement share first place in all socio-demographic categories. 

§  There are some age-related differences. People born before 1946 are more likely to mention 
peace among the Member States (61%) than members of generation Y, born after 1980 
(51%); in contrast, members of generation Y are more attached to the free movement of 
people, goods and services within the EU (59% versus 45% of people born before 1946) 
and to student exchange programmes such as ERASMUS (30% versus 17%); 

§  Finally, Europeans who left school at the age of 15 or earlier and those who have difficulties 
paying their bills most of the time say spontaneously, and in proportions above the EU average, 
that the EU has no positive results (both 14%, versus 9% in the EU as a whole). 

20 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?
(%	-	EU)

e
c
n
e
u
l
f
n

i

l

c
i
t
a
m
o
p
d
d
n
a

i

l

a
c
i
t
i
l

o
p
e
h
T

d
l
r
o
w
e
h
t

f
o
t
s
e
r
e
h
t
n

i

U
E
e
h
t

f
o

,
e
r
a
c
h
t
l
a
e
h
(
e
r
a
f
l
e
w

l

a
i
c
o
s

f
o

l

e
v
e

l

e
h
T

U
E
e
h
t
n

i

)
s
n
o
i
s
n
e
p

,

n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e

19

19
18

16
21
21
17

15
19
21
18

14
18
24
16

22
26
23
17
20
15
16
16

16
19
19

18

17
19

21
18
17
17

16
17
18
20

16
18
17
23

16
16
17
19
16
18
17
23

15
17
19

y
c
i
l

o
P

l

a
r
u
t
l
u
c
i
r
g
A
n
o
m
m
o
C
e
h
T

10

11
8

6
9
10
11

10
11
10
8

10
11
9
6

11
8
11
11
8
8
11
6

9
11
9

)
S
U
O
E
N
A
T
N
O
P
S
(

r
e
h
t
O

2

2
1

1
2
1
1

1
1
2
2

1
2
2
2

2
1
2
2
2
2
1
2

2
2
1

)
S
U
O
E
N
A
T
N
O
P
S
(
e
n
o
N

9

9
9

6
8
9
11

12
10
9
7

14
10
6
3

9
6
8
10
10
12
11
3

14
10
8

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

4

2
5

4
3
3
5

7
3
3
4

7
4
1
3

4
1
2
4
8
4
5
3

6
4
3

U
E
e
h
t

f
o
s
e
t
a
t
S
r
e
b
m
e
M
e
h
t
g
n
o
m
a
e
c
a
e
P

56

56
55

53
51
55
60

61
58
55
51

55
55
60
52

51
59
53
52
52
56
61
52

50
50
59

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

l

s
d
o
o
g
,
e
p
o
e
p
f
o
t
n
e
m
e
v
o
m
e
e
r
f
e
h
T

U
E
e
h
t
n
h
t
i

i

w
s
e
c
i
v
r
e
s
d
n
a

55

57
53

59
59
57
50

45
54
58
59

47
53
63
62

60
62
60
54
48
54
48
62

46
54
57

o
r
u
e
e
h
T

25

27
24

24
26
26
25

24
25
26
25

23
25
29
25

24
29
27
25
23
23
25
25

22
25
26

U
E
e
h
t

f
o
r
e
w
o
p
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e
e
h
T

19

21
17

17
23
20
17

15
18
21
20

16
19
22
17

20
24
23
20
18
18
16
17

17
21
19

s
e
m
m
a
r
g
o
r
p
e
g
n
a
h
c
x
e
t
n
e
d
u
t
S

S
U
M
S
A
R
E
s
a
h
c
u
s

22

20
24

35
24
20
18

17
19
21
30

17
20
23
42

22
20
23
22
20
21
17
42

20
25
22

21 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis.  

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?
(% - PEACE AMONG THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EU)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

56

56
55

53
51
55
60

55
55
60
52

51
59
53
52
52
56
61
52

73

74
72

65
69
72
78

74
73
75
63

74
75
65
71
68
74
80
63

ES

47

45
49

43
42
48
51

49
49
45
39

39
44
47
45
54
48
52
39

FR

61

66
56

56
49
62
68

69
59
60
57

59
64
54
55
44
66
68
57

IT

37

36
38

40
36
35
38

40
33
40
38

32
33
38
28
41
39
41
38

PL

51

47
56

54
45
45
59

56
53
52
49

32
48
49
49
54
56
61
49

UK

55

59
51

53
54
58
54

45
51
69
60

65
56
66
48
40
52
54
60

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?
(% - THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, GOODS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE EU)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

55

57
53

59
59
57
50

47
53
63
62

60
62
60
54
48
54
48
62

59

61
57

60
59
57
60

61
57
61
55

68
57
58
62
57
58
58
55

ES

55

57
53

54
57
57
52

50
56
63
58

52
68
64
59
47
50
53
58

PL

62

65
59

67
60
66
59

57
60
70
67

70
62
65
57
58
75
59
67

UK

45

48
42

59
51
45
35

30
40
58
73

43
52
48
47
32
46
32
73

FR

41

39
42

42
49
45
33

24
31
58
52

51
64
48
35
40
42
32
52

IT

50

52
47

63
58
54
39

40
55
55
65

57
61
56
51
41
47
37
65

22 

EL

61

60
62

64
59
60
61

65
59
59
64

51
67
60
65
67
59
61
64

EL

65

66
64

71
71
67
59

57
65
70
69

67
78
73
70
59
64
59
69

PT

40

42
39

42
38
40
41

44
43
34
40

31
43
31
41
49
49
40
40

PT

69

72
66

74
74
77
58

61
75
76
74

76
76
77
72
60
70
56
74

IE

48

45
50

49
40
48
53

41
44
54
49

52
45
46
44
48
38
57
49

IE

59

62
57

60
65
61
53

49
58
65
61

63
60
62
69
53
54
54
61

CY

55

53
56

61
58
47
54

59
47
57
66

40
64
61
55
61
45
56
66

CY

47

51
43

50
44
51
44

45
47
53
49

46
70
41
50
45
39
45
49

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?
(% - THE EURO)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

25

27
24

24
26
26
25

23
25
29
25

24
29
27
25
23
23
25
25

35

38
33

31
35
34
37

32
34
41
32

37
40
35
35
22
27
38
32

ES

27

31
24

32
25
30
25

25
28
28
30

18
36
42
31
26
22
23
30

FR

34

36
31

29
38
32
34

27
31
42
25

16
44
38
33
29
32
35
25

IT

27

27
27

36
27
29
24

24
28
30
33

27
36
31
30
25
25
21
33

QD4T

Which	of	the	following	do	you	think	is	the	most	positive	result	of	the	EU?
(% - STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES SUCH AS ERASMUS)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

22

20
24

35
24
20
18

17
20
23
42

22
20
23
22
20
21
17
42

14

14
14

27
17
12
10

15
10
12
40

14
11
10
14
16
19
8
40

ES

23

19
27

33
22
21
22

20
21
25
39

24
26
18
19
20
23
25
39

FR

27

25
28

38
29
25
22

14
28
27
38

28
30
32
28
28
23
22
38

IT

34

33
36

57
39
32
27

25
34
39
59

34
34
32
36
28
29
29
59

PL

10

10
11

6
15
10
9

11
9
14
3

13
13
14
10
14
8
9
3

PL

18

19
18

31
21
20
11

6
15
21
38

21
29
19
16
21
19
8
38

UK

6

6
6

5
8
7
6

5
8
6
2

10
5
8
5
5
13
6
2

UK

14

13
15

25
18
9
10

8
13
18
27

13
8
15
19
13
12
10
27

EL

22

25
19

20
23
27
18

12
25
26
24

26
25
29
21
13
16
22
24

EL

16

15
17

31
18
14
12

6
13
24
32

12
26
18
15
8
19
13
32

PT

28

28
28

33
33
30
22

24
29
36
38

37
33
25
29
17
24
22
38

PT

25

27
23

38
28
28
16

18
28
34
43

23
44
23
23
12
28
15
43

IE

50

51
48

48
51
48
51

53
51
49
42

43
50
43
53
58
50
48
42

IE

17

14
19

37
18
12
10

11
15
13
48

13
11
18
15
15
17
11
48

CY

15

17
12

21
8
9
22

16
17
11
17

10
13
6
11
7
19
22
17

CY

30

29
31

51
30
34
16

17
30
34
55

35
33
28
33
19
27
18
55

23 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

III.  EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP 

1  The sense of European citizenship  

a.  Update on the sense of European citizenship 

64% of Europeans feel they are citizens of the European Union  

More than six in ten respondents feel a sense of European citizenship, a proportion which has 
fallen slightly since spring 2015 (64%, -3 percentage points, versus 34%, +3)6. A quarter of Europeans 
say they “definitely” feel like citizens of the EU (25%, -2). 

QD2.1

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You	feel	you	are	a	citizen	of	the	EU	(%	-	EU)

Yes,	definitely

Yes,	to	some	extent

No,	not	really	

No,	definitely	not

Don't	know

Autumn	2015

Spring	2015

Autumn	2014

Spring	2014

Autumn	2013

Spring	2013

Autumn	2012

Spring	2012

Spring	2011

Spring	2010

25

27

23

26

20

22

22

19

23

21

39

40

40

39

39

40

41

42

39

41

23

20

24

21

26

24

23

26

24

25

11

11

11

13

14

13

13

12

12

12

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

2

1

6 QD2.1. For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it corresponds or not to your own opinion. You feel you are a 
citizen of the EU 

24 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD2.1

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You	feel	you	are	a	citizen	of	the	EU	(%	-	EU)

62

62

61

63

62

37

36

38

36

37

59

40

65

63

34

35

67

31

64

TOTAL	'YES'

TOTAL	'NO'

34

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

1

0%

2

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

DON'T	KNOW

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

The sense of European citizenship is shared by more than half of respondents in 24 Member 
States, with the highest score in Luxembourg (85%); the majority is slimmest in the United Kingdom 
(52%).  In  three  Member  States,  a  minority  of  respondents  feel  that  they  are  citizens  of  the  EU: 
Bulgaria (47% total “yes” versus 52% total “no”), Cyprus (49% versus 51%) and Italy (49% versus 
50%). Respondents in Greece remain evenly divided: 50% feel they are citizens of the EU and 50% 
do not. 

Since spring 2015, the sense of European citizenship has gained ground in only six Member States, 
and strikingly so in Slovenia (75%, +10 percentage points). It is unchanged in Portugal, France and 
Greece and has declined in the remaining 19 countries. 

25 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  The sense of European citizenship declines with age: 71% of members of generation Y, born 
after 1980, feel that they are EU citizens, but only 66% do so in generation X, born between 
1965 and 1980, while this figure falls to 62% of baby-boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, 
and 53% of people born before 1946; 

§  A clear majority of respondents who studied up to the age of 20 or beyond feel like citizens of 
the EU (74%), but those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier are evenly divided (49% 
feel they are EU citizens, and 49% do not); 

§  Respondents’ financial situation also appears to have a crucial influence on whether or not they 
have a sense of European citizenship:  70% of those who never or almost never have difficulties 
paying their bills feel they are EU citizens, whereas only a minority of those who have financial 
difficulties most of the time feel that way (44% versus 54%); 

§  The social class which respondents feel they belong to is also a determining factor: 79% of the 
Europeans who see themselves as upper middle class feel they are EU citizens, compared with 
only 55% of those who say they are working class. 

§  Finally, Europeans are more likely to feel they are EU citizens if they have a positive image of 
the EU (86%), are optimistic about the EU’s future (82%) and are in favour of the euro (78%). 
Minorities have a sense of EU citizenship among those people who see the EU in a negative 
light (35% versus 64%), who are pessimistic about its future (45% versus 54%) and who are 
opposed to the euro (45% versus 53%).  

26 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD2.1

For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it
corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.	
You	feel	you	are	a	citizen	of	the	EU	(%	-	EU)

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

Future	of	the	EU

Optimistic
Pessimistic

Image	of	EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative
Euro

For
Against

'
s
e
Y

'

l

a
t
o
T

64

67
62

73
68
66
58

53
62
66
71

49
61
74
79

68
78
68
63
57
58
56
79

44
59
70

55
58
72
79
69

82
45

86
61
35

78
45

27 

'

o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

34

32
36

26
31
32
40

45
37
32
28

49
37
25
20

30
21
31
36
40
41
42
20

54
39
29

44
41
27
21
29

17
54

13
37
64

21
53

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

2

1
2

1
1
2
2

2
1
2
1

2
2
1
1

2
1
1
1
3
1
2
1

2
2
1

1
1
1
0
2

1
1

1
2
1

1
2

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD2.1

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You feel you are a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'YES')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

64

67
62

73
68
66
58

49
61
74
79

68
78
68
63
57
58
56
79

74

76
74

76
70
76
75

67
71
85
80

75
83
65
70
80
76
73
80

75

81
70

81
77
77
71

69
77
87
85

82
90
86
75
59
73
75
85

61

64
59

69
64
59
59

54
54
69
79

53
79
65
58
60
46
59
79

IT

49

54
44

71
56
50
38

26
53
62
76

61
76
58
32
36
42
34
76

PL

UK

EL

PT

71

70
72

80
78
75
61

46
69
79
78

71
85
79
72
74
65
58
78

52

55
48

64
56
58
39

31
49
67
72

61
64
54
55
36
47
34
72

50

55
45

72
59
52
38

27
46
66
80

58
65
70
50
28
39
41
80

72

78
65

89
78
73
60

61
82
87
91

79
88
82
66
61
75
57
91

QD2.1

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You feel you are a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'NO')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

TOTAL

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

34

32
36

26
31
32
40

49
37
25
20

30
21
31
36
40
41
42
20

24

22
25

21
29
21
24

31
27
14
18

23
16
34
28
20
20
26
18

23

18
28

17
22
22
27

29
22
13
14

14
10
14
23
38
26
25
14

37

35
39

30
33
39
40

44
44
30
19

45
20
33
41
35
50
40
19

PL

UK

EL

PT

24

26
23

15
20
20
33

49
27
18
16

25
13
16
23
19
35
36
16

47

44
50

35
42
41
60

68
50
32
28

38
33
46
45
54
53
64
28

50

45
55

28
41
48
62

73
54
34
20

42
35
30
50
72
61
59
20

28

22
34

11
22
27
39

38
18
13
9

20
12
18
34
36
25
42
9

IT

50

45
54

29
43
48
60

72
46
37
24

35
24
41
66
63
58
65
24

28 

IE

76

78
74

84
76
77
71

59
71
85
93

79
88
77
72
67
70
72
93

IE

23

21
25

15
23
23
27

38
28
15
7

21
12
22
27
30
29
27
7

CY

49

47
50

57
46
48
47

42
46
57
54

56
63
51
52
40
32
49
54

CY

51

53
50

43
54
52
53

57
54
43
46

44
37
49
48
60
68
50
46

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

b.  The different levels of citizenship  

An absolute majority of respondents have a dual sense of citizenship both national and 
European 

The sense of European citizenship is shared by an absolute majority of respondents (57% 
define themselves in terms of “nationality and European”, “European and nationality” and “European 
only”)7, despite a three-percentage point decline since spring 2015. Conversely, more than four in ten 
Europeans define themselves solely by their nationality (41%, +3). 

The three answers that are combined to produce this overall sense of European citizenship (reaching 
57% in the European Union as a whole, and ranging from 79% in Luxembourg to 33% in the United 
Kingdom) achieve very different scores: 

§  51%  of  respondents  define  themselves  first  by  their  nationality  and  then  as 

Europeans (-1 percentage point); 

§ 

In much lower proportions, 5% of Europeans define themselves first as Europeans, then 
as citizens of their own country (-1); 

§  Lastly, only 1% of Europeans see themselves as European only (-1). 

7 QD3. Do you see yourself as…? 

29 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Respondents  in  the  euro  area  are  more  likely  to  see  themselves  as  European:  62%,  for 
49% of those in the non-euro area. 

In  23  Member  States,  the  sense  of  European  citizenship  is  shared  by  an  absolute  majority  of 
respondents, who define themselves as either “nationality and European”, “European and nationality” 
or  “European  only”.  Within  these  23  countries,  the  sense  of  citizenship  is  the  most  widespread  in 
Luxembourg (79%) and the least so in Greece (51%). In four other countries, an absolute majority of 
respondents see themselves solely in terms of nationality: the United Kingdom (66% “nationality only” 
versus  33%  “European”),  Cyprus  (56%  versus  42%),  Bulgaria  (52%  versus  46%)  and  Latvia  (50% 
versus 48%). Finally, respondents in Austria are evenly divided: 49% define themselves in terms of 
their European citizenship, and 49% by their nationality only. 

30 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?	

(%)

y
l
n
o
)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(

41

36
48

32
52
43
35
30
38
47
48
28
38
30
45
56
50
41
20
33
33
31
49
37
40
40
39
38
40
37
66

EU28

EURO	AREA
NON-EURO	AREA

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

3

3
=
=
5
1
2
5
3
5
3
=
2
1
7
1
2
1
3
3
6
5
8
4
2
=
2
3
1
6
1

'

n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

'

l

a
t
o
T

57

62
49

66
46
55
63
67
59
52
51
67
61
68
54
42
48
58
79
66
67
68
49
59
59
58
59
60
60
61
33

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

d
n
a
)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

d
n
a
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

y
l
n
o
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

5

6
4

8
6
3
5
7
6
4
1
7
6
7
4
4
7
4
14
9
2
6
6
5
2
3
5
6
5
4
3

1

1
=
=
2
2
=
5
1
1
=
2
=
2
1
1
=
1
=
1
1
=
1
1
=
=
2
1
1
1
1

1

2
1

3
1
1
1
2
1
1
0
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
5
1
1
2
2
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
=
=
1
=
=
1
=
1
1
=
3
1
=
=
1
=
1
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
1
=
1
=
=
=

3

3
1

1
5
1
1
5
2
4
3
=
2
=
10
1
2
2
3
4
7
5
6
5
1
1
1
2
=
6
2

51

54
44

55
39
51
57
58
52
47
50
57
54
60
49
36
40
53
60
56
64
60
41
53
57
54
53
53
54
56
29

1

2
=
1
3
1
1
=
3
5
3
1
1
3
6
1
2
3
1
5
5
5
7
3
2
1
4
1
=
5
2

31 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that:  

§  Men (62%) are more likely than women (54%) to see themselves as European citizens; 

§  So too are respondents in the youngest generations: 62% of members of generation Y, born 
after 1980, and 61% of generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, compared with the oldest 
generations:  56%  of  baby-boomers,  born  between  1946  and  1964,  and  only  a  minority  of 
people born before 1946 (45% have a sense of European citizenship, versus 54% who define 
themselves solely by their nationality); 

§  A substantial majority of respondents who studied until the age of 20 or beyond also have a 
sense of European citizenship (72%), but only a minority of those who left school at the age of 
15 or earlier do so (40% versus 58%); 

§  Subjective  social  class  also  appears  to  be  a  determining  factor  in  the  sense  of  European 
citizenship: 79% of people who regard themselves as upper middle class feel that they are 
European  citizens,  compared  with  42%  of  people  who  see  themselves  as  working  class  (of 
whom a majority, 55%, define themselves solely by their nationality); 

§  Finally, respondents are more likely to feel they are European citizens if they have a positive 
image of the European Union (78%), trust the EU (76%), are optimistic as to its future (72%) 
and  are  in  favour  of  the  euro  (72%);  conversely,  minorities  have  a  sense  of  EU  citizenship 
among those people who see the EU in a negative light (35% versus 62%), do not trust the EU 
(48% versus 49%), are pessimistic about its future (42% versus 56%) and are opposed to the 
euro (39% versus 59%). 

32 

 
	
	
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?
(%	-	EU)

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation

Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

Future	of	the	EU

Optimistic
Pessimistic

Image	of	EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative

Euro

For
Against

)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(
d
n
a
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

5

6
5

6
8
5
4

3
5
5
7

3
5
7
8

6
9
4
5
3
7
4
8

3
5
6
8
10

7
4

8
5
3

7
3

y
l
n
o
n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

1

2
1

1
1
1
1

1
1
1
1

1
1
2
2

2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2

1
1
1
1
1

1
1

1
1
1

2
1

'

n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E

'

l

a
t
o
T

57

62
54

62
63
60
51

45
56
61
62

40
54
72
68

64
73
64
56
45
51
49
68

42
52
67
79
56

72
42

78
53
35

72
39

y
l
n
o
)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(

41

36
44

36
35
36
48

54
42
36
36

58
44
26
29

34
25
34
42
52
46
50
29

55
46
31
20
40

27
56

21
45
62

26
59

n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E
d
n
a
)
Y
T
I
L
A
N
O
I
T
A
N

(

51

54
48

55
54
54
46

41
50
55
54

36
48
63
58

56
63
59
50
41
43
44
58

38
46
60
70
45

64
37

69
47
31

63
35

33 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?
(% - (NATIONALITY) ONLY)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

41

36
44

36
35
36
48

58
44
26
29

34
25
34
42
52
46
50
29

30

28
33

35
30
27
32

47
34
14
28

24
15
37
34
29
42
34
28

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?
(% - (NATIONALITY) AND EUROPEAN)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

51

54
48

55
54
54
46

36
48
63
58

56
63
59
50
41
43
44
58

58

58
57

53
57
61
57

46
55
71
57

56
73
55
57
55
35
56
57

ES

28

20
35

21
24
22
36

40
22
11
17

24
7
12
20
55
35
29
17

ES

57

61
54

59
58
62
54

50
65
65
56

70
49
74
63
43
52
58
56

PL

37

33
40

31
28
29
50

70
43
27
32

24
26
22
35
43
57
52
32

PL

53

56
51

58
59
60
44

23
49
65
57

65
60
69
49
47
42
43
57

UK

66

60
72

63
61
62
73

82
72
44
55

60
49
67
64
82
73
78
55

UK

29

34
25

31
32
32
24

15
25
49
31

34
45
30
32
14
23
19
31

EL

48

43
53

30
38
46
60

69
56
28
24

40
9
32
53
72
54
57
24

EL

50

55
46

69
60
53
38

30
44
68
75

60
85
67
46
28
42
41
75

PT

40

34
45

28
29
37
52

56
29
17
20

24
14
20
45
52
49
59
20

PT

57

62
53

70
67
62
45

42
67
81
78

71
82
78
52
48
48
40
78

IE

47

43
51

44
44
42
54

64
53
32
37

42
29
45
49
61
59
49
37

IE

47

51
44

48
50
50
42

34
41
60
58

53
64
54
42
34
32
48
58

CY

56

52
59

56
53
52
61

70
56
43
60

34
42
35
58
79
68
59
60

CY

36

38
35

30
42
41
32

28
37
47
24

51
52
55
38
15
26
33
24

FR

38

32
44

34
35
37
43

56
46
23
24

39
21
32
44
56
36
43
24

FR

54

60
48

59
55
52
52

39
47
67
65

53
69
60
49
38
50
51
65

IT

45

42
48

29
35
39
58

67
39
33
24

29
20
33
56
58
44
64
24

IT

49

50
47

66
55
52
39

30
55
60
67

60
64
59
39
39
46
35
67

34 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?
(% - EUROPEAN AND (NATIONALITY))

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

5

6
5

6
8
5
4

3
5
7
8

6
9
4
5
3
7
4
8

QD3

Do	you	see	yourself	as...?
(% - EUROPEAN ONLY)

7

8
6

5
8
7
7

5
6
10
8

11
9
6
5
9
12
6
8

ES

7

10
5

7
11
7
5

4
6
14
12

2
20
9
9
0
6
7
12

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

6

6
6

5
9
8
4

3
5
9
6

6
9
6
6
3
12
5
6

4

5
3

5
9
4
1

1
5
3
9

4
15
5
2
2
7
1
9

5

6
4

7
8
6
2

0
4
7
8

8
13
4
6
2
1
2
8

3

4
2

3
4
3
2

1
2
4
8

4
4
2
2
0
3
1
8

1

1
1

0
1
0
1

0
0
2
0

0
3
1
1
0
2
1
0

2

3
1

1
3
1
1

1
3
1
0

4
3
2
2
0
2
0
0

4

4
4

5
5
5
3

2
4
5
5

3
5
1
6
3
6
2
5

4

3
5

10
2
5
2

1
3
6
8

8
6
3
2
6
4
2
8

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

1

1
0

0
1
1
0

0
1
1
0

0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0

1

1
0

1
1
1
0

0
1
0
0

0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0

0

0
0

1
1
0
0

0
0
0
1

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1

0

0
0

1
0
0
0

1
0
0
2

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2

1

1
1

1
1
1
1

0
1
2
0

0
1
0
2
1
2
1
0

2

4
0

1
2
0
4

1
3
2
2

3
0
2
2
0
0
5
2

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

1

2
1

1
1
1
1

1
1
2
2

2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2

2

3
1

2
2
1
2

1
1
2
3

2
2
0
1
2
3
2
3

3

5
2

6
3
5
2

2
3
6
7

3
12
3
3
1
1
3
7

1

1
1

1
1
0
0

0
0
1
2

0
0
1
0
0
1
0
2

1

1
0

0
0
2
1

0
1
1
0

4
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

35 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

c.  The factors which do most to create a feeling of community 

Culture contributes most to creating a feeling of community among EU citizens 

Respondents  were  then  asked  which  of  12  factors  they  felt  do  the  most  to  create  a  feeling  of 
community among citizens of the European Union8: 

§  Culture  is  mentioned  by  more  than  a  quarter  of  Europeans  and  continues  to  head  the  list 

(28%, +1 percentage point since spring 2015); 

§ 

In second position, history has moved slightly ahead of the other factors, after a three-point 
rise (24%); 

§  Three factors are mentioned next by a little over one in five Europeans: sport, which stands in 
third place after gaining three percentage points (22%), followed by the economy (21%, -1) 
and values (21%, +2), in equal fourth place. 

§ 

In  sixth  position,  geography  has  gained  two  percentage  points  (20%)  and  has  now  moved 
ahead of the rule of law (17%, -1); 

§  Four items are again mentioned by a little over one in ten respondents: languages (14%, +1), 
solidarity with poorer regions (14%, -1), inventions, science and technology (13%, +1) 
and health care, education and pensions (11%, -2); 

§  Finally, fewer than one in ten Europeans mention religion (9%, +1). 

Maximum three answers 

8 QD6. In your opinion, among the following issues, which are those that most create a feeling of community among European Union 
citizens? 

36 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In 13 Member States, culture is identified as the factor contributing the most to creating a feeling 
of community among EU citizens. Geography, in only sixth place in Europe as a whole, stands in first 
position in four countries: Slovakia (45%), the Netherlands (33%), Sweden (30%) and Bulgaria (29%). 
History, sport and the economy each head the list in three Member States. In the Czech Republic 
(37%), Hungary (32%) and France (31%) history stands in first place; in Ireland (44%), Slovenia (35%) 
and Cyprus (33%) this position is taken by sport and in Estonia (29%), Croatia (28%) and Spain (27%) 
the economy leads the ranking.  

Values hold first place in Finland (36%). Finally, for respondents in Denmark culture and sport share 
first place (both 32%). Each of the six factors identified at the European level as contributing most 
to a sense of community among European citizens thus stands in first place in one or more Member 
States. Differences between countries can be fairly marked: for example, culture achieves its highest 
score in Luxembourg (39%) and its lowest in Spain (20%). 

In terms of evolutions since spring 2015, culture has gained significant ground in Lithuania (37%, 
+10 percentage points) and Belgium (34%, +10). Similarly, history has gained ground in Luxembourg 
(35%, +11), sport in Ireland (44%, +11) and geography in Portugal (32%, +14). 

37 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD6

In your opinion, among the following issues, which are those that most create a feeling of community
among	EU	citizens?	(%)

e
r
u
t
l
u
C

y
r
o
t
s
i
H

s
t
r
o
p
S

28

34
22
29
32
29
28
31
38
20
29
23
26
28
34
37
39
27
34
27
31
27
34
24
25
26
27
28
32

24

26
18
37
28
20
16
21
31
21
31
21
21
11
17
16
35
32
18
27
22
23
21
17
19
30
24
29
22

22

28
10
28
32
24
24
44
13
19
28
17
15
33
28
28
19
20
26
25
24
15
10
21
35
17
21
22
30

y
m
o
n
o
c
E

21

21
19
20
20
21
29
28
23
27
16
28
24
24
20
31
16
24
23
29
22
26
20
17
31
14
27
24
14

s
e
u
a
V

l

21

25
20
23
23
24
20
18
25
15
22
12
22
19
12
19
22
13
23
23
26
18
21
20
17
17
36
29
20

y
h
p
a
r
g
o
e
G

20

15
29
23
16
14
20
17
33
22
22
16
19
11
33
24
20
24
19
33
21
15
32
21
18
45
25
30
12

s
n
o
g
e
r

i

r
e
r
o
o
p
h
t
i

w
y
t
i
r
a
d

i
l

o
S

14

17
14
13
20
17
9
12
13
14
15
18
15
15
8
11
16
10
20
16
10
14
21
18
12
11
20
18
8

w
a

l

l

f
o
e
u
r
e
h
T

17

15
16
9
17
27
14
13
12
15
15
17
14
10
11
4
16
13
18
18
11
15
14
13
8
9
29
22
13

s
e
g
a
u
g
n
a
L

14

20
9
13
13
14
13
14
11
10
16
12
12
18
17
18
27
14
21
12
22
14
18
15
12
14
12
9
12

l

y
g
o
o
n
h
c
e
t
d
n
a
e
c
n
e
i
c
s

,
s
n
o
i
t
n
e
v
n

I

13

16
13
16
21
12
13
9
13
7
16
13
13
11
13
23
11
12
10
20
16
14
11
11
15
8
11
20
9

s
n
o
i
s
n
e
p
d
n
a
n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e
,
e
r
a
c
h
t
l
a
e
H

11

14
8
9
17
8
8
13
4
14
11
14
8
10
8
11
11
15
20
9
15
11
12
15
11
10
19
11
13

n
o
g

i

i
l

e
R

9

7
11
8
6
8
7
7
17
5
11
16
11
16
10
11
13
13
13
6
14
11
6
11
9
13
7
4
7

1st	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

2nd	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

3rd	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

Maximum three answers 

38 

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD6

In your opinion, among the following issues, which are those that most createa feeling of community among
EU	citizens?
(%	-	EU)

e
r
u
t
l
u
C

y
r
o
t
s
i
H

s
t
r
o
p
S

s
e
u
a
V

l

y
m
o
n
o
c
E

y
h
p
a
r
g
o
e
G

w
a

l

l

f
o
e
u
r
e
h
T

s
e
g
a
u
g
n
a
L

s
n
o
g
e
r

i

r
e
r
o
o
p
h
t
i

w
y
t
i
r
a
d

i
l

o
S

l

y
g
o
o
n
h
c
e
t
d
n
a
e
c
n
e
i
c
s

,
s
n
o
i
t
n
e
v
n

I

s
n
o
i
s
n
e
p
d
n
a
n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e
,
e
r
a
c
h
t
l
a
e
H

n
o
g

i

i
l

e
R

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

28

24

22

21

21

20

17

14

14

13

11

9

28
29

29
28
29
27

23
28
32
30

34
31
29
26
23
28
27
30

24
28
29

25
23

28
24
23
23

20
23
27
25

24
26
26
22
19
26
23
25

24
23
24

26
19

25
24
22
21

20
24
22
23

23
21
22
25
18
24
21
23

20
20
24

21
21

22
22
23
18

16
20
26
25

24
29
21
19
20
20
17
25

17
21
22

24
19

19
23
22
21

20
21
24
21

24
24
23
22
17
20
20
21

17
21
22

21
18

19
21
20
18

19
19
22
20

20
22
22
20
17
19
18
20

20
20
19

17
16

16
17
17
16

13
16
21
17

18
22
17
15
15
15
16
17

9
16
18

13
15

19
15
14
11

11
14
13
20

13
13
15
14
13
14
11
20

14
15
13

14
15

12
14
15
15

13
14
17
14

15
16
14
14
13
14
15
14

15
14
14

13
13

15
14
14
11

9
13
14
17

13
14
14
15
11
11
11
17

12
13
13

9
13

14
11
10
11

12
12
9
14

9
8
10
12
13
10
11
14

11
12
11

8
10

8
9
8
10

11
9
8
8

8
8
9
9
10
9
11
8

11
10
9

39 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

2  Rights as European Citizens  

Nearly two-thirds of Europeans would like to know more about their rights  
as European citizens  

Respondents remain divided as to whether they feel they know their rights as EU citizens9: 
49% (-1 percentage point since spring 2015) say that they do, while an absolute majority say they 
do not (50%, +2). However, more than one in ten Europeans continue to answer “yes, definitely” (11%, 
no change). 

This result should be viewed in the light of the fact that nearly two-thirds of Europeans would 
like to know more about their rights as EU citizens (65%, of whom 25% would “definitely” like 
more information10), despite a four-point decline since spring 2015. However, a third now say they 
would not like to know more (33%, +4). 

QD2.2

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You	know	what	your	rights	are	as	a	citizen	of	the	EU	(%	-	EU)

Yes,	definitely

Yes,	to	some	extent

No,	not	really	

No,	definitely	not

Don't	know

Autumn	2015

Spring	2015

Autumn	2014

Spring	2014

11

11

9

11

38

39

38

37

Autumn	2013

8

35

Spring	2013

Autumn	2012

Spring	2012

Spring	2011

9

9

9

9

37

36

36

38

Spring	2010

8

34

35

33

35

34

38

36

37

37

36

39

15

1

15

16

16

17

17

17

17

16

18

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

9 QD2.2. For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it corresponds or not to your own opinion. You know what 
your rights are as a citizen of the EU. 
10 QD2.3. For each of the following statements, please tell me to what extent it corresponds or not to your own opinion. You would like to 
know more about your rights as a citizen of the EU. 

40 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD2.3

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You	would	like	to	know	more	about	your	rights	as	a	citizen	of	the	EU	(%	-	EU)

Yes,	definitely

Yes,	to	some	extent

No,	not	really	

No,	definitely	not

Don't	know

Autumn	2015

Spring	2015

Autumn	2014

Spring	2014

Autumn	2013

Spring	2013

Autumn	2012

Spring	2012

Spring	2011

Spring	2010

25

30

28

26

22

24

22

24

31

31

40

39

40

36

37

35

40

39

23

21

21

24

26

27

25

24

10

8

8

11

12

12

10

10

42

41

19

18

6

8

2

2

3

3

3

2

3

3

2

2

A  majority  of  respondents  say  they  know  their  rights  as  EU  citizens  in  16  Member  States.  In  the 
remaining 12 countries, at least half say they do not. This subjective rate of knowledge is highest in 
Finland (74%) and lowest in Italy (30%). 

41 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In 27 Member States, a majority of respondents say that they would like to know more about their 
rights as EU citizens. Within these countries, the desire for more information is most widespread in 
Cyprus (86%)  and  the least  so  in Austria  and  the  United  Kingdom  (both  53%).  Finland  is  the  only 
Member State where a majority of respondents have no wish for more information about their rights 
as EU citizens (51% versus 47% who do want more info). 

Only four Member States have witnessed an increased wish for more information since Spring 2015, 
strikingly  so  in  Slovenia  (70%,  +12  percentage  points),  while  it  has  declined  in  22  countries,  with 
significant falls in the Czech Republic (56%, -13), Italy (63%, -10) and Estonia (61%, -10). There is 
no change in Hungary or Ireland. 

42 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD2

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	
opinion.	(%)

You	know	what	your	rights	are	
as	a	citizen	of	the	EU

You	would	like	to	know	
more	about	your	rights	as	
a	citizen	of	the	EU

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

'
s
e
Y

'

l

a
t
o
T

65

67
66
56
65
70
61
69
69
71
67
71
63
86
70
69
71
66
82
62
53
62
65
76
70
71
47
70
53

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

4

2
8
13
2
1
10
=
1
3
5
8
10
2
5
5
1
=
1
3
4
8
2
7
12
4
6
4
1

'

o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

33

32
28
41
33
28
34
29
31
27
32
28
33
13
28
30
28
33
16
37
43
31
34
20
29
25
51
28
46

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

4

1
7
13
2
1
9
=
1
2
6
9
8
2
4
5
2
=
1
3
3
5
3
6
12
4
6
3
1

2

1
6
3
2
2
5
2
0
2
1
1
4
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
4
7
1
4
1
4
2
2
1

'
s
e
Y

'

l

a
t
o
T

49

47
38
41
60
64
64
63
42
48
35
54
30
47
49
67
62
55
55
56
60
59
49
45
60
52
74
64
45

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

1

8
5
3
2
3
2
4
1
1
3
3
3
7
1
1
6
5
=
=
5
5
1
6
=
3
3
3
=

'

o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

50

52
60
56
38
35
34
36
58
51
64
45
68
53
50
32
38
44
44
42
38
35
51
53
39
47
24
35
54

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

1

1
2
3
2
1
2
1
0
1
1
1
2
0
1
1
0
1
1
2
2
6
0
2
1
1
2
1
1

2

7
6
2
2
4
=
4
1
1
2
1
3
8
1
1
7
5
3
1
5
3
1
7
=
3
4
3
1

43 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD2.2

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You know what your rights are as a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'YES')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

49

53
45

58
54
51
41

30
46
63
62

54
67
53
47
37
42
39
62

64

68
61

73
65
66
60

46
60
79
78

71
74
64
59
60
64
58
78

ES

48

53
43

55
52
50
40

35
51
64
59

47
70
64
47
23
46
49
59

FR

35

37
33

48
44
33
27

21
31
41
57

27
47
39
35
35
31
27
57

IT

30

33
27

43
34
34
21

11
30
49
47

44
59
38
19
19
24
16
47

PL

59

63
56

73
70
61
45

31
49
69
78

65
77
63
63
59
51
40
78

UK

45

51
39

55
49
49
35

25
43
62
57

54
61
47
44
39
35
32
57

EL

42

51
33

49
51
46
32

20
38
61
55

51
66
55
44
21
36
35
55

QD2.2

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You know what your rights are as a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'NO')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

50

46
53

40
45
47
57

68
53
36
37

44
32
46
51
61
57
59
37

35

31
38

26
35
33
39

52
40
20
20

29
26
35
40
39
36
41
20

ES

51

46
55

42
47
49
58

62
48
36
38

52
30
36
50
74
53
51
38

PL

35

31
37

23
24
32
47

63
44
26
17

28
17
32
32
31
43
51
17

UK

54

48
60

44
51
51
63

74
56
38
41

46
38
53
55
61
65
66
41

EL

58

49
67

51
49
54
68

80
62
39
45

49
34
45
56
79
64
65
45

FR

64

63
65

51
56
65
72

79
68
58
43

71
52
60
65
62
68
72
43

IT

68

66
70

56
65
64
77

87
68
51
53

52
41
62
79
79
73
83
53

44 

PT

49

54
44

48
60
50
41

36
62
69
56

62
71
70
40
31
41
39
56

PT

51

46
56

52
40
50
59

63
38
31
44

37
29
30
60
69
58
61
44

IE

63

71
55

70
62
67
57

48
59
72
74

71
81
68
52
47
63
60
74

IE

36

28
44

27
38
32
42

50
40
28
24

29
19
32
46
50
36
39
24

CY

47

51
44

51
46
51
43

27
47
58
53

56
55
49
58
24
35
42
53

CY

53

49
56

49
54
49
57

73
53
42
47

44
45
51
42
76
65
58
47

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD2.3

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You would like to know more about your rights as a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'YES')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

65

67
63

71
70
68
58

52
64
72
76

68
71
72
66
56
65
56
76

70

71
68

73
73
70
67

64
68
74
76

63
73
72
72
73
68
64
76

ES

71

77
66

80
78
76
61

62
72
86
84

78
83
85
75
49
68
70
84

FR

67

70
64

72
77
66
60

55
62
74
81

45
83
72
66
65
70
59
81

IT

63

65
61

76
74
69
50

41
71
72
79

73
85
78
51
45
68
47
79

PL

62

66
59

73
64
70
53

44
59
67
75

68
70
66
62
60
62
53
75

UK

53

54
51

60
57
55
45

37
50
65
72

63
53
58
58
41
46
40
72

EL

69

71
68

89
79
73
56

53
68
81
88

71
86
79
73
52
72
59
88

QD2.3

For	each	of	the	following	statements,	please	tell	me	to	what	extent	it	corresponds	or	not	to	your	own	opinion.
You would like to know more about your rights as a citizen of the EU (% - TOTAL 'NO')

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

33

31
34

28
28
30
39

44
34
26
23

29
27
27
32
40
33
41
23

28

26
31

26
25
28
30

33
30
24
22

33
24
27
26
27
31
33
22

ES

27

21
31

19
20
22
35

33
27
14
15

21
17
15
23
43
29
29
15

FR

32

29
34

28
23
32
38

44
37
24
19

55
15
28
33
32
29
39
19

IT

33

33
34

23
24
28
45

51
26
27
21

20
14
21
45
49
30
48
21

PL

31

28
34

25
30
24
38

47
34
28
22

24
27
30
32
30
34
36
22

UK

46

45
48

39
43
44
54

62
49
35
26

36
46
42
42
59
54
59
26

EL

31

29
32

11
21
27
44

47
32
19
12

29
14
21
27
48
28
41
12

PT

65

71
61

77
71
67
57

54
68
83
81

75
79
77
64
67
62
51
81

PT

34

28
38

23
28
32
41

44
31
16
19

22
21
23
36
33
36
47
19

IE

69

71
67

69
70
72
65

63
61
77
87

71
73
71
65
56
72
67
87

IE

29

27
31

27
29
26
33

32
37
22
11

27
26
27
31
40
26
32
11

CY

86

89
84

84
90
87
83

79
87
98
74

89
95
96
90
91
80
84
74

CY

13

11
15

13
10
13
17

21
13
2
21

11
5
4
10
9
19
16
21

45 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

IV.  THE OPENNESS OF EUROPEANS TO OTHERS  

The openness of Europeans to others remains unchanged 

In order to measure the openness of Europeans to the outside, and particularly to other EU Member 
States,  respondents  were  asked  whether  they  had  done  any  of  a  list  of  five  things  during  the  12 
months preceding the survey11: 

§  An absolute majority of Europeans say they have socialised with people from another 
EU country during the previous 12 months (51%, no change since autumn 2014, versus 48%, 
=, who have not done so); 

§  However, only a minority have visited another EU country (43%, =, versus 57%, =); 

§  More than a third say they have watched a TV programme in a language other than 

their mother tongue (38%, +1 percentage point, versus 62%, =); 

§  Lastly, 28% say they have read a book, magazine or newspaper in a language other 
than their mother tongue (+1, versus 72%, =) and have used the Internet in order to 
purchase a product or service from another EU country (+2, versus 71%, -2). 

11 QD5. In the last twelve months, have you ...? 

46 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

QD5

In	the	last	12	months	have	you…?
(%	-	EU)

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Yes,	on	several	 occasions

Yes,	once	or	twice

No

Don't	know

SOCIALISED	WITH	PEOPLE	FROM	ANOTHER	 EU	COUNTRY

Autumn	2015

Autumn	2014

Autumn	2013

30

30

30

21

21

18

February-March	2006

24

19

VISITED	ANOTHER	 EU	COUNTRY

26

26

23

14

13

11

Autumn	2015

Autumn	2014

Autumn	2013

17

17

17

February-March	2006

13

24

WATCHED	TV	PROGRAMMES	 IN	A	LANGUAGE
OTHER	THAN	YOUR	 MOTHER	TONGUE

Autumn	2015

Autumn	2014

Autumn	2013

24

24

24

USED	THE	INTERNET	 IN	ORDER	TO	PURCHASE	A	
PRODUCT	OR	A	SERVICE	FROM	ANOTHER	 EU	COUNTRY

Autumn	2015

Autumn	2014

14

13

14

13

Autumn	2013

11

11

READ	A	BOOK,	NEWSPAPER	OR	MAGAZINE	 IN	A	
LANGUAGE	OTHER	 THAN	YOUR	MOTHER	 TONGUE

Autumn	2015

Autumn	2014

Autumn	2013

February-March	2006

15

15

14

13

13

12

10

10

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

48

48

52

56

57

57

59

63

62

62

65

71

73

77

72

72

76

77

The national analysis shows that in 18 Member States, a majority of respondents have socialised 
with people from another EU country. A minority have done so in the ten remaining countries. 
The  proportion  of  respondents  who  have  socialised  with  people  from  another  EU  country  differs 
widely from one country to another; it reaches its highest score in Luxembourg (94%) and its lowest 
in Hungary (24%). 

47 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In 12 Member States, more than half of respondents say they have visited another EU country, 
while a majority have not done so in the remaining 16 countries. The proportion of respondents who 
have visited another Member State ranges from 88% in Luxembourg to 16% in Greece. 

A  majority  of  respondents  have  watched  a  TV  programme  in  a  language  other  than  their 
mother tongue in half the Member States, and a minority have done so in the remaining 14. The 
highest percentage is recorded again in Luxembourg (96%), and the lowest in Italy (19%). 

Since autumn 2014, this proportion has declined significantly in Croatia (48%, -11 percentage points) 
and Romania (30%, -11). 

A majority of respondents have read a book, newspaper or magazine in a language other than 
their  mother  tongue  in  only  six  Member  States:  Luxembourg,  Malta,  Sweden,  the  Netherlands, 
Denmark and Latvia. Only minorities have done so in the remaining 22 countries. This practice is most 
widespread in Luxembourg (94%) and least  in Bulgaria (17%). 

Lastly, a majority of respondents have used the Internet to buy a product or service in another 
EU country in only four Member States: Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark and Ireland. Only minorities 
have done so in the remaining 24 countries. The rate of Internet use for the purchase of goods in 
another Member State differs sharply from one EU country to another; it is highest in Luxembourg 
(62%) and lowest in Romania (14%). 

48 

 
	
	
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

QD5

In	the	last	12	months	have	you…?
(%	-	TOTAL	'YES')

l

e
p
o
e
p
h
t
i

w
d
e
s
i
l

a
i
c
o
S

y
r
t
n
u
o
c
U
E
r
e
h
t
o
n
a
m
o
r
f

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

51

59
30
40
60
66
61
67
49
41
46
51
35
70
60
58
94
24
73
83
55
33
45
26
65
58
69
77
67

=
1
1
2
4
3
6
=
2
4
1
7
6
6
2
4
1
2
3
=
2
3
8
7
=
7
1
3
4

y
r
t
n
u
o
c
U
E
r
e
h
t
o
n
a
d
e
t
i
s
i
V

43

66
29
53
78
53
48
61
16
23
38
39
36
45
42
36
88
33
47
82
68
37
29
26
66
57
63
69
43

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

4
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

e
g
a
u
g
n
a

l

a
n

i

s
e
m
m
a
r
g
o
r
p
V
T
d
e
h
c
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17
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20
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49 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The index of openness is also stable 

These  five  questions  have  been  used  to  construct  an  index  of  openness  to  other  European  Union 
countries. 

For each of the five practices of openness analysed in the survey, points have been attributed as 
follows: two points for every “yes, on several occasions” answer; one point for every “yes, once or 
twice” answer; and zero points otherwise. Each individual could therefore score between zero and 
ten points. Scores of zero to three points correspond to a low international openness index; four to 
six to a moderate international openness index; and seven to ten to a high international openness 
index. 

Nearly two-thirds of respondents have a low index of openness to other EU countries (64%, 
no  change  since  autumn  2014).  Less  than  a  quarter  have  a  moderate  openness  index  (22%,  +1 
percentage point) and only 14% (-1) have a high index. 

C3

Index	of	openness	to	other	EU	countries
(%	-	EU)

Strong
14	(-1)

Low
64	(=)

Medium
22	(+1)

(Autumn	2015	-	Autumn	2014)

In  five  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  have  a  high  index,  led  by  Luxembourg 
(78%), which stands out sharply from other Member States with the highest score for each of the 
five practices tested. Luxembourg is followed by Malta (50%), Denmark (48%), the Netherlands (45%) 
and Sweden (43%), which also have a high index. In 22 other countries, a majority of respondents 
have a low openness index. Within these 22 countries this proportion ranges from 81% in Italy to 
34% in Slovenia. Lastly, Finland is the only Member State where a majority of respondents have a 
moderate index (38%, compared with 33% “high” and 29% “low”).  

In  the  final  analysis,  73  percentage  points  separate  Luxembourg  (78%),  where  the  proportion 
respondents with a high index is the greatest, from Italy (5%). 

50 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that:  

§  The openness index declines with age: almost a quarter of members of generation Y have a 
high openness index (23% of those born after 1980, compared with an EU average of 14%), 
but only 17% do so in generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, while this figure falls to 
10% of baby-boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and 4% of people born before 1946; 

§  The index is also much higher among respondents who studied until the age of 20 or beyond 

(25%) than among those who left school at the age of 15 or earlier (3%); 

§  Lastly, openness is higher among people with a positive image of the European Union (20% 
have a high openness index) than among those with a negative or neutral image (both 11%). 

51 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

C3

Index	of	openness	to	other	EU	countries
(%	-	EU)

i

m
u
d
e
M

22

24
20

34
23
24
15

11
19
24
29

10
20
29
36

24
31
22
22
14
20
14
36

25
21
19

w
o
L

64

60
68

44
55
60
78

85
71
59
48

87
71
46
36

54
41
62
66
77
67
80
36

55
68
70

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Image	of	EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative

g
n
o
r
t
S

14

16
12

22
22
16
7

4
10
17
23

3
9
25
28

22
28
16
12
9
13
6
28

20
11
11

52 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

V.  EUROPEANS AND LANGUAGES  

1  The usefulness of knowing foreign languages 

More than eight in ten Europeans think that knowing a foreign language is or could be 
useful to them personally  

86% of respondents agree that knowledge of languages other than their mother tongue 
is, or could be, useful to them personally12. This represents a three-percentage point increase 
since the Special Eurobarometer survey of November 2005 (when the EU consisted of 25 Member 
States)13. In particular, an absolute majority say that knowledge of foreign languages is “very useful” 
(54%, +1 percentage point). Only 13% of respondents can see no or little use in knowing a foreign 
language, this is a 3-point decrease. 

QD12

Do	you	think	knowing	other	languages	than	your	mother	tongue	is,	or	could	be,	very	
useful,	fairly	useful,	not	very	useful	or	not	at	all	useful	for	you	personally?
	(%	-	EU)

Aut.2015

Nov.	2005

Dec.	2000

54
53

42

32
30
30

VERY	USEFUL

FAIRLY	USEFUL

NOT	VERY	 USEFUL

NOT	AT	ALL	USEFUL

8
8

10

5

8

12

DON'T	KNOW

1
1

6

12 QD12. Do you think knowing other languages than your mother tongue is, or could be, very useful, fairly useful, not very useful or not 
at all useful for you personally? 
13Special Eurobarometer survey 243 (EB64.3): Europeans and their languages 
http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/518/p/3 

53 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In every one of the 28 Member States, more than three-quarters of respondents believe 
that  a  knowledge  of  foreign  languages  is  useful.  This  opinion  is  unanimous  in  Luxembourg 
(100%), and lowest in Austria (76%). In 21 countries, an absolute majority of respondents regard this 
as “very useful”. There is a relative majority in a further five Member States. Lastly, the majority of 
respondents in Portugal and Poland say that a knowledge of foreign languages is “fairly useful”. The 
proportion  regarding  a  knowledge  of  foreign  languages  as  “very  useful”  therefore  differs  fairly 
markedly across the Member States, ranging from 88% in Luxembourg (where it is highest) to 40% 
in Austria and Portugal (where it is lowest). 

Since  November  2005,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  think  that  it  is  useful  to  know  foreign 
languages has risen in 20 Member States, and by ten percentage points in three of them: Poland 
(88%, +10), Greece (85%, +10) and Portugal (83%, +10). However, it has declined in six countries 
and has remained unchanged in Bulgaria and France. 

54 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

*In 2005, there were 25 countries in the European Union. 

55 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An  analysis  by  socio-demographic  criteria  reveals  that  knowledge  of  foreign  languages  is 
regarded as useful in every socio-demographic category. However, this opinion is found to a greater 
or lesser extent: 

§  The older the respondents, the less likely they are to believe that knowing foreign languages 
could be useful to them. Thus, 93% of members of generation Y, born after 1980, and 90% of 
generation  X,  born  between  1965  and  1980  say  it  could  be  useful,  compared  with  84%  of 
baby-boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and 72% of people born before 1946; 

§  The  belief  that  knowing  a  foreign  language  is  useful  is  more  widespread  among  Europeans 
who studied until the age of 20 or beyond (93%) than among those who left school at the age 
of 15 or earlier (72%); 

§  The same is true of people who see themselves as upper class (90%), upper middle class (95%) 
and  middle  class  (91%),  by  comparison  with  those  who  position  themselves  in  the  working 
class (79%). 

56 

 
	
	
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD12

Do you think knowing other languages than your mother tongue is, or
could	be,	very	useful,	fairly	useful,	not	very	useful	or	not	at	all	useful	for	
you	personally?	
(%	-	EU)

'
l

u
f
e
s
U

'

l

a
t
o
T

86

87
85

95
91
89
78

72
84
90
93

72
86
93
97

88
95
92
88
77
87
77
97

81
85
88

79
84
91
95
90

57 

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation

Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

'
l

u
f
e
s
u
t
o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

13

12
14

5
8
10
20

25
15
9
6

26
13
6
3

11
5
7
11
21
12
21
3

17
14
11

19
15
8
4
8

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

1

1
1

0
1
1
2

3
1
1
1

2
1
1
0

1
0
1
1
2
1
2
0

2
1
1

2
1
1
1
2

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

2  The advantages of speaking another language 

Europeans consider being able to work in another country is the main advantage of 
learning a new language 

To determine what can motivate Europeans to learn a foreign language, respondents were asked to 
choose the benefits which they mainly associated with learning a new language from a list of 11 
advantages14:  

§  An absolute majority of respondents say that being able to work in another country is the 
main advantage of learning a new language (52%), despite a  nine-percentage point decline 
since the Special Eurobarometer of February-March 2012 (when the EU was composed of 27 
Member States)15; 

§  Four other benefits are mentioned by at least four in ten Europeans: being able to use it on 
holidays  abroad  (46%,  -1  percentage  point),  or  at  work  (including  travelling  abroad  on 
business)  (45%,  -8),  which  has  lost  its  second  place  in  this  survey  following  a  steep  fall, 
followed by being able to understand people from other cultures (42%, +4), and lastly 
getting a better job in your country (40%, -5); 

§  These are followed by three reasons mentioned by more than a third of respondents: meeting 
people  from  other  countries  and  personal  satisfaction  in  equal  sixth  place  after  both 
items  recorded  the  steepest  rise  since  February-March  2012  (37%,  both  +8),  ahead  of 
being able to study in another country, the item that has lost most ground (34%, -9, the 
same decrease as for being able to work in another country); 

§  Lastly,  the  final  three  advantages  suggested  are  only  mentioned  by  a  little  over  one  in  ten 
respondents: being able to use the Internet is in ninth position (13%, -1), just ahead of the 
two items in equal last place: keeping up knowledge of a language spoken by your family 
and feeling more European (12%, both +2). 

14 QD13. In your opinion, what are the main advantages of learning a new language? 
15 Special Eurobarometer survey 386 (EB77.1): Europeans and their languages 
http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/PublicOpinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/1049 

58 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Several answers possible 

The  advantage  that  was  mentioned  most  at  a  European  level,  being  able  to  work  in  another 
country, tops the list in 14 Member States. The second item in the overall EU ranking, being able to 
use a new language on holidays abroad, is in first place in nine other countries. Being able to use 
it at work (including travelling abroad on business) is the advantage most mentioned by respondents 
in Luxembourg (69%).  

Although it only stands in fourth place in the overall EU ranking, being able to understand people 
from  other  cultures  tops  the  list  in  two  Member  States,  Sweden  (69%)  and  Denmark  (66%). 
Personal  satisfaction  is  the  advantage  most  mentioned  in  Malta  (60%).  Lastly,  respondents  in 
Cyprus  mention  two  advantages  in  equal  first  place: getting  a  better  job  in  your  country  and 
personal  satisfaction  (both  51%).The  order  in  which  the  main  advantages  of  learning  a  new 
language are ranked therefore varies from one Member State to another, sometimes with significant 
differences:  for  example,  being  able  to  work  in  another  country  is  mentioned  most  often  by 
respondents in Spain (75%) and least often in the United Kingdom (36%); use during holidays abroad 
achieves its highest score in Denmark (65%) and its lowest in Croatia (17%). 

Since  February-March  2012,  the  scores  for  each  of  these  advantages  have  varied  a  good  deal, 
sometimes by 20 percentage points or more. For example, the proportion of respondents mentioning 
working in another country has declined by 22 percentage points in Hungary (to 49%) and Germany 
(to 42%). Being able to understand people from other cultures has risen by 26 points in Portugal (to 
51%) and 22 points in Lithuania (to 50%). Meanwhile mentions of being able to study in another 
country have fallen by 24 percentage points in Germany (to 32%), 23 points in Denmark (to 41%) 
and 21 points in Slovenia (to 33%). Finally, being able to use the Internet has also lost ground in 
Slovenia (17%, -20 percentage points). 

59 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD13

In	your	opinion,	what	are	the	main	advantages	of	learning	a	new	language?
(%)

y
r
t
n
u
o
c

r
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h
t
o
n
a
n

i
k
r
o
w
o
t
e
b
a
e
b
o
T

l

52

53
62
57
53
42
60
47
70
75
49
42
63
47
54
73
64
49
43
38
50
49
52
62
59
70
58
52
36

d
a
o
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b
a
s
y
a
d

i
l

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n
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o
T

46

56
30
43
65
58
50
49
41
34
53
17
33
44
50
47
54
21
58
62
55
51
19
36
42
42
63
48
47

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

g
n

i
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l

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v
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d
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n
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(
k
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45

54
39
44
56
47
58
40
48
52
51
29
50
45
46
48
69
28
43
55
50
34
37
40
46
45
61
58
33

42

44
41
46
66
41
52
35
51
40
44
41
40
30
37
50
62
27
56
59
53
29
51
29
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69
41

)
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(
n

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53
49
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32
67
62
32
28
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39
60
56
41
38
33
43
43
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43
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29
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n
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a
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p
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37

48
32
34
47
35
38
34
34
43
42
32
38
51
36
41
51
26
60
37
39
35
35
36
46
30
42
52
31

s
e
i
r
t
n
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l

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m
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e
p
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37

40
36
35
58
40
44
33
47
34
41
34
33
31
43
51
54
16
50
47
32
32
35
34
31
40
54
65
29

y
r
t
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d
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b
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l

34

40
32
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32
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34
51
49
28
17
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33
40
48
54
29
36
28
36
30
27
34
33
48
46
39
18

e
g
a
u
g
n
a

l

l

a
f
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d
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w
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k
p
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p
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k
o
T

y
l
i

m
a
f

r
u
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y
y
b
n
e
k
o
p
s

12

18
8
7
13
11
12
11
9
14
13
10
13
10
15
23
36
11
18
14
11
11
11
15
7
13
8
10
9

n
a
e
p
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r
u
E
e
r
o
m

l

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f
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12

14
20
12
14
13
21
12
15
13
9
17
16
11
17
27
28
11
19
10
11
14
11
15
12
16
13
8
7

t
e
n
r
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t
n

I
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t
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s
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t
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b
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b
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l

13

19
18
13
31
13
33
7
22
15
12
12
11
19
27
29
30
8
25
22
14
11
15
17
17
18
36
29
3

1st	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

2nd	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

3rd	MOST	FREQUENTLY	
MENTIONED	ITEM

Several answers possible 

60 

 
	
 
	
  
 
	
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  Being  able  to  work  in  another  country is  primarily  mentioned  in  almost  all  socio-
demographic categories. However, it is mentioned more than the European average (52%) by 
the youngest respondents, aged 15 to 24 (65%), members of generation Y, born after 1980 
(61%) and students (69%); 

§  Learning a new language to use on holidays abroad is the main motivation of baby-boomers, 
born between 1946 and 1964 (48%) and retired people (45%); it is in equal first place with 
being able to work in another country for Europeans who never or almost never have difficulties 
paying  their  bills  (both  51%)  and,  without  being  their  main  motivation,  it  is  nevertheless 
mentioned more than the European average (46%) by the most advantaged categories: 52% 
of people who studied until the age of 20 or beyond, 53% of managers, 51% of white-collar 
workers and 54% of people who see themselves as upper or upper middle class. 

§  The possibility of using a new language at work (including travelling abroad on business) is 
the main advantage for managers (56%); it is also mentioned more than the EU average (45%) 
by Europeans aged 15 to 24 (54%), people who studied until the age of 20 or beyond (54%), 
students (57%) and those who see themselves as upper middle class (57%); 

§  Lastly,  the  fourth  benefit  identified  at  a  European  level  (42%),  being  able  to  understand 
people from other cultures, is mentioned by at least half of people who studied until the 
age of 20 or beyond (52%), managers (53%) and people regarding themselves as upper middle 
class (50%). 

61 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD13

In	your	opinion,	what	are	the	main	advantages	of	learning	a	new	language?
(%	-	EU)

s
e
i
r
t
n
u
o
c

l

r
e
h
t
o
m
o
r
f
e
p
o
e
p
t
e
e
m
o
T

37

37
36

42
38
37
34

30
38
36
40

29
35
44
45

41
46
37
34
30
35
34
45

32
35
39

31
35
40
49
44

y
r
t
n
u
o
c

r
e
h
t
o
n
a
n

i
y
d
u
t
s
o
t
e
b
a
e
b
o
T

l

34

33
34

52
35
30
29

28
30
31
43

28
29
35
62

35
33
34
29
30
34
28
62

29
34
34

28
28
39
43
31

t
e
n
r
e
t
n

I
e
h
t
e
s
u
o
t
e
b
a
e
b
o
T

l

13

15
12

20
16
14
9

7
12
14
18

7
11
18
24

14
17
16
13
9
12
9
24

12
13
14

9
11
16
19
14

n
a
e
p
o
r
u
E
e
r
o
m

l

e
e
f
o
T

12

13
12

12
14
13
11

9
13
13
13

7
12
16
14

13
18
15
11
12
10
11
14

8
13
13

9
10
15
17
14

l

f
o
e
g
d
e
w
o
n
k
p
u
p
e
e
k
o
T

y
l
i

m
a
f

r
u
o
y
y
b
n
e
k
o
p
s
e
g
a
u
g
n
a

l

a

)
S
U
O
E
N
A
T
N
O
P
S
(

r
e
h
t
O

)
S
U
O
E
N
A
T
N
O
P
S
(
e
n
o
N

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

12

12
12

13
15
12
10

8
11
13
14

9
11
15
15

12
15
14
12
9
12
10
15

10
13
12

10
11
13
15
20

2

2
2

1
2
2
2

2
2
2
2

2
2
2
1

2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1

2
1
2

2
1
2
2
1

2

2
3

1
1
2
4

5
3
2
1

5
2
1
0

1
1
2
2
4
3
4
0

4
2
2

4
2
1
1
5

2

1
2

1
1
1
3

5
2
1
1

4
2
0
0

1
0
1
2
3
2
3
0

4
2
1

3
1
1
1
2

y
r
t
n
u
o
c

r
e
h
t
o
n
a
n

i
k
r
o
w
o
t
e
b
a
e
b
o
T

l

52

53
51

65
57
52
44

44
46
54
61

49
48
54
69

56
53
54
52
51
58
43
69

52
55
51

50
49
54
57
55

d
a
o
r
b
a
s
y
a
d

i
l

o
h
n
o
e
s
u
o
T

46

46
46

48
47
47
44

39
48
47
47

37
47
52
48

45
53
51
47
40
39
45
48

32
41
51

41
44
50
54
54

i

g
n
d
u
l
c
n
i
(
k
r
o
w

t
a
e
s
u
o
T

)
s
s
e
n
i
s
u
b
n
o
d
a
o
r
b
a
g
n

i
l
l

e
v
a
r
t

d
n
a
t
s
r
e
d
n
u
o
t
e
b
a
e
b
o
T

l

s
e
r
u
t
l
u
c

r
e
h
t
o
m
o
r
f
e
p
o
e
p

l

45

47
44

54
52
49
36

32
41
51
52

35
42
54
57

48
56
52
47
36
45
35
57

41
45
46

39
42
50
57
46

42

41
42

43
44
45
38

33
42
45
44

31
40
52
46

48
53
44
42
34
38
37
46

36
41
43

36
42
45
50
47

n
o
i
t
c
a
f
s
i
t
a
s

l

a
n
o
s
r
e
p
r
o
F

37

36
39

38
40
38
35

30
38
39
39

29
37
44
40

41
43
40
37
32
35
35
40

32
36
39

31
37
41
44
33

)
Y
R
T
N
U
O
C
R
U
O

(
n

i

b
o

j

r
e
t
t
e
b
a
t
e
g
o
T

40

39
41

49
45
40
34

31
36
42
47

36
40
40
50

39
38
46
39
44
48
33
50

44
43
38

38
37
42
45
39

62 

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

3  Everyone should be able to speak at least one other language 

More than eight in ten European say everyone in the EU should be able to speak at least 
one language in addition to their mother tongue 

86% of respondents agree that every EU citizen should be able to speak a foreign language 
(+2  percentage  points  since  February-March  2012) 16 .  Close  to  an  absolute  majority  “totally 
agree” with this statement (48%, +4). Only 11% (-2) do not share this opinion. 

QD14

Please tell me to whatextentyou agree or disagree withthe followingstatement: everyone in the EU should be
able	to	speak	at	least	one	language	in	addition	to	their	mother	tongue.
(%	-	EU)

Totally	disagree
3	(-1)

Don't	know
3	(=)

Tend	to	disagree
8	(-1)

Tend	to	agree
38	(-2)

(Autumn	2015	-	February-March	2012)

Totally	agree
48	(+4)

In all 28 Member States, more than seven in ten respondents say that every EU citizen 
should  be  able  to  speak  at  least  one  foreign  language. The rate of agreement is highest in 
Lithuania and Luxembourg (both 98%), and lowest in the United Kingdom (71%), the only Member 
State where it is below 80%. Furthermore, in 17 countries an absolute majority of respondents “totally 
agree” with this statement, and a relative majority do so in a further six Member States. A majority 
“tend to agree” in the remaining five countries. Across the 28 Member States, the proportion of “totally 
agree” answers range from 83% in Cyprus to 27% in the United Kingdom. 

In terms of evolutions since February-March 201217, the rate of agreement that all citizens should 
be able to speak a foreign language has risen in 18 Member States, and by at least ten percentage 
points in five: Bulgaria (90%, +17), Romania (84%, +11), Lithuania (98%, +10), Portugal (93%, +10) 
and  Ireland  (88%,  +10).  It  has  fallen  slightly  in  seven  countries  and  has  remained  unchanged  in 
Poland and Hungary. 

16 QD14. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement: everyone in the EU should be able to speak at 
least one language in addition to their mother tongue. 
17 This question was not asked in Croatia in February 2012. 

63 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

64 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD14

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement: everyone in the
EU	should	be	able	to	speak	at	least	one	language	in	addition	to	their	mother	tongue.	(%)

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

3

4
7
0
2
2
3
0
1
2
1
1
2
2
0
1
0
1
2
1
7
0
1
2
3
4
1
2
1

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

86

EU28

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

2
1
0
2
.
r
a
M

-
.
b
e
F

2

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

11

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

2
1
0
2
.
r
a
M

-
.
b
e
F

2

13
BG
9
RO
8
LT
8
PT
4
IE
6
CZ
2
MT
3
LV
5
EE
5
FI
1
ES
2
SK
1
AT
1
LU
1
EL
1
BE
2
SE
2
DE
1
HU
3
PL
1
NL
1
SI
=
FR
1
IT
=
UK
1
CY
1
DK
NA*
HR
*NA= not asked: this question was not asked in this country during the previous survey 

17
11
10
10
10
6
5
4
4
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
=
=
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
NA*

90
84
98
93
88
85
96
95
92
82
96
89
83
98
93
92
89
87
85
84
90
90
87
87
71
94
89
92

6
9
2
5
10
12
4
4
6
17
3
9
15
2
6
8
10
11
14
9
10
9
11
10
25
5
9
7

65 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

VI.  VALUES  

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

1  Understanding of today’s world  

Almost seven in ten respondents feel they have a good understanding of what is going 
on in today’s world  

More than two-thirds of Europeans think that they “understand well what is going on in 
today’s  world”  (68%,  no  change  since  spring  2015), 18  and  18%  (=)  “totally  agree”  with  this 
statement. Conversely, nearly three in ten disagree (29%, +1 percentage point) and 3% (-1) are 
unable to answer. 

QD11.5

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
You	understand	well	what	is	going	on	in	today's	world	(%	-	EU)

Don't	know
3	(-1)

Total	'Disagree'
29	(+1)

Total	'Agree'
68	(=)

(Autumn	2015	-	Spring	2015)

Agreement  with  this  statement  exceeds  50%  in  27  Member  States,  but  is  much  more 
widespread in Cyprus (88%), where it reaches its highest level, than in Spain and Slovakia (both 52%), 
where  the  level  is  the  lowest.  The  Czech  Republic  remains  the  only  country  where  a  majority  of 
respondents disagree (61% disagree versus 36% agree). 

Since spring 2015, this belief has gained ground in 12 countries, led by Belgium (73%, +6 percentage 
points). It has declined in 13 Member States, and is unchanged in Estonia, Malta and Portugal.  

18 QD11.5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? You understand well what is going on in 
today's world 

66 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An  analysis  by  socio-demographic  criteria  reveals  that  a  majority  of  respondents  feel  they 
understand what is going on in today’s world well in all socio-demographic categories, but with some 
significant nuances: 

§  This belief is much more common among men (75%) than women (62%); 

§ 

It is much higher than the European average (68%) among Europeans who studied until the 
age of 20 or beyond (78%), managers (83%), and people who say they belong to the upper 
class (86%) and upper middle class (82%); 

§  Although only minorities gave this answer, the feeling of not having an understanding of what 
is going on in today’s world is more widespread than the EU average among people born before 
1946 (41% disagree, versus 55% agree), people who left school aged 15 or earlier (45% versus 
52%), house persons (40% versus 55%) and Europeans who have difficulties paying their bills 
most of the time (40% versus 55%). 

67 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD11.5

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements?
You	understand	well	what	is	going	on	in	today's	world	(%	-	EU)

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

29

23
35

25
25
27
35

41
31
25
25

45
30
20
22

27
15
25
31
40
32
36
22

40
35
25

37
31
25
16
12

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

3

2
3

3
2
2
3

4
3
2
2

3
2
2
3

2
2
2
2
5
2
3
3

5
2
2

2
3
2
2
2

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

l

a
t
o
T

68

75
62

72
73
71
62

55
66
73
73

52
68
78
75

71
83
73
67
55
66
61
75

55
63
73

61
66
73
82
86

68 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

2  The existence of shared European values 

A majority of Europeans say that EU Member States are close to each other in terms of 
shared values 

Half  of  respondents  agree  that  EU  Member  States  share  values  that  make  them  close 
(50%, -1 percentage point since spring 2015)19. However, more than four in ten respondents think 
that the Member States diverge from each other in terms of shared values (43%, +1). Lastly, 7% (no 
change) did not answer. 

QD9

In	your	opinion,	in	terms	of	shared	values,	are	EU	Member	States…?
(%	-	EU)

Don't	know
7	(=)

Total	'Distant'
43	(+1)

(Autumn	2015	-	Spring	2015)

Total	'Close'
50	(-1)

A clear majority of respondents believe that EU Member States are close in terms of shared values 
in countries outside the euro area, where this view has gained further ground since spring 2015 
(58%,  +3  percentage  points,  versus  32%  “distant”,  -3).  Conversely,  this  point  of  view  is  held  by  a 
narrow minority of respondents in euro area countries, whereas a majority did so in spring 2015 
(46%, -3, versus 48%, +3). 

In 19 Member States, a majority of respondents believe that EU Member States are close 
to each other in terms of shared values. In the remaining nine countries a majority disagree. 
Perceptions  of  the  closeness  of  Member  States  differ  considerably  from  one  country  to  another: 
respondents are most likely to say that EU Member States are close to each other in Malta (70%) and 
least likely to do so in Latvia (33%). 

19 QD9. In your opinion, in terms of shared values, are EU Member States…? 

69 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Since spring 2015, the view that EU Member States are close in terms of values has gained ground 
in  11  Member  States,  and  strikingly  so  in  Portugal,  where  this  is  now  the  majority  opinion  (57% 
“close”, +19 percentage points, versus 38% “distant”, -16). However, it has lost ground in 14 countries 
and remains unchanged in Poland, Bulgaria and Denmark. 

70 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD9

In	your	opinion,	in	terms	of	shared	values,	are	EU	Member	States…?	(%)

'

e
s
o
C

l

'

l

a
t
o
T

50

57
70
51
69
33
56
36
57
53
49
37
67
62
62
66
58
45
43
40
65
54
52
53
67
39
50
45
44

EU28

PT
MT
UK
IE
LV
IT
CY
RO
SI
HU
ES
PL
BG
DK
HR
FI
SE
BE
FR
CZ
NL
EE
LT
SK
EL
AT
DE
LU

'
t
n
a
t
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

43

38
21
37
23
63
36
61
34
40
48
54
18
28
37
31
39
53
54
54
31
44
37
41
27
59
44
49
55

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

1

16
2
2
2
4
2
=
3
3
=
2
5
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
2
1
2
3
6
5
7
9

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

7

5
9
12
8
4
8
3
9
7
3
9
15
10
1
3
3
2
3
6
4
2
11
6
6
2
6
6
1

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

1

19
6
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
=
=
=
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
4
5
5
7
7
9

71 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that: 

§  A  majority  of  Europeans  aged  15  to  24  years-old  agree  that  the  EU  Member  States  share 
values that make them close (61% “close” versus 33% “distant”), but a minority of those aged 
55 years-old and over think the same (43% versus 48%); 

§  Similarly, only a minority of people born before 1946 agree (38% versus 50%), but a majority 

of members of generation Y, born after 1980, do so (57% versus 36%); 

§  While  a  majority  of  respondents  who  studied  until  the  age  of  20  or  beyond  share  this 
impression (58% versus 38%), only a minority of those who left school at the age of 15 or 
earlier do so (37% versus 51%); 

§  Students (64% versus 31%) and managers (60% versus 37%) are also likely to say that the 
Member States are close in terms of values, but only a minority of retired people do so (41% 
versus 49%); 

§  An absolute majority of people who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills 
think that the EU Member States are close (53% versus 40%) but only a minority of those who 
have financial difficulties most of the time do so (37% versus 53%); 

§  Finally, subjective social class is once again a differentiating factor: while only a minority of 
Europeans who regard themselves as working class think the Member States are close (43% 
versus 46%), a majority of those who see themselves as upper middle class (62% versus 35%) 
and upper class (57% versus 36%) share this view. 

72 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD9

In	your	opinion,	in	terms	of	shared	values,	are	EU	Member	States…?	
(%	-	EU)

'
t
n
a
t
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

43

43
42

33
39
43
48

50
46
41
36

51
44
38
31

41
37
39
43
42
46
49
31

53
44
40

46
44
41
35
36

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

7

5
9

6
6
6
9

12
7
6
7

12
7
4
5

6
3
5
7
16
7
10
5

10
6
7

11
7
4
3
7

'

e
s
o
C

l

'

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

l

a
t
o
T

50

52
49

61
55
51
43

38
47
53
57

37
49
58
64

53
60
56
50
42
47
41
64

37
50
53

43
49
55
62
57

73 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Almost three-quarters of Europeans think that people in their country have a lot in 
common; more than one in five disagree 

74% of respondents agree that “people in (OUR COUNTRY) have a lot of things in common”, 
a rise of three percentage points since spring 201520. However, just over a fifth disagree with this 
statement (22%, -2 percentage points).  Lastly, 4% (-1) say they “don’t know”. 

QD11.4

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
People	in	(OUR	COUNTRY)	have	a	lot	of	things	in	common	(%	-	EU)

Don't	know
4	(-1)

Total	'Disagree'
22	(-2)

Total	'Agree'
74	(+3)

(Autumn	2015	-	Spring	2015)

An  absolute  majority  of  respondents  believe  that  people  have  a  lot  in  common  in  their 
county in the 28 Member States, but to degrees varying quite sharply . The highest scores are 
seen in Sweden (94%) and lowest in Luxembourg (56%). 

20 QD11.4. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? People in (OUR COUNTRY) have a lot of things 
in common 

74 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
	
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Since spring 2015, the belief that people have a lot in common in the respondent’s country has gained 
ground  in  22  Member  States,  and  most  noticeably  in  Belgium  (75%,  +15  percentage  points)  and 
Austria (81%, +10). It is unchanged in five other countries and has only declined in Luxembourg (56%, 
-7). 

QD11.4

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
People	in	(OUR	COUNTRY)	have	a	lot	of	things	in	common	(%)

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

74

75
81
80
82
64
84
79
66
62
93
90
77
73
94
90
77
73
61
85
84
79
91
88
84
78
75
75
56

EU28

BE
AT
LT
PL
HU
SK
DE
SI
IT
IE
DK
ES
LV
SE
MT
EE
CZ
FR
PT
RO
BG
CY
EL
FI
HR
NL
UK
LU

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

3

15
10
8
7
7
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
7

75 

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

22

22
15
17
12
34
14
18
30
33
5
8
18
23
5
8
19
24
34
13
12
18
8
12
13
20
21
21
37

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

2

12
9
5
8
6
3
4
4
2
4
2
2
4
2
1
1
3
=
1
2
=
1
=
1
=
1
2
5

4

3
4
3
6
2
2
3
4
5
2
2
5
4
1
2
4
3
5
2
4
3
1
0
3
2
4
4
7

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that a large majority of respondents believe 
that people have a lot in common in their country in all socio-demographic categories. Nevertheless, 
this view is mostly held by managers (80%, versus a European average of 74%) and people who see 
themselves as upper middle class (80%). 

QD11.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements?
People	in	(OUR	COUNTRY)	have	a	lot	of	things	in	common	(%	-	EU)

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

22

21
22

22
22
22
21

23
23
19
22

21
17
23
22
21
24
21
22

30
25
18

21
25
20
16
17

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

4

3
5

4
3
3
5

5
4
3
2

5
3
3
3
6
4
5
2

5
4
4

5
3
3
4
4

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

l

a
t
o
T

74

76
73

74
75
75
74

72
73
78
76

74
80
74
75
73
72
74
76

65
71
78

74
72
77
80
79

76 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD11.4

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
People in (OUR COUNTRY) have a lot of things in common (% - Total 'Agree')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

74

76
73

74
75
75
74

72
73
78
76

74
80
74
75
73
72
74
76

79

77
81

73
84
75
82

79
79
81
79

79
83
83
78
77
71
79
79

77

79
77

73
81
77
77

78
80
81
73

86
72
79
82
69
80
77
73

61

65
58

62
61
63
60

60
57
67
61

66
73
53
59
69
55
61
61

IT

62

63
60

66
62
63
59

53
62
66
70

62
75
60
61
59
57
59
70

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

82

82
81

83
81
84
80

83
85
82
88

73
79
78
83
88
92
81
88

75

79
73

77
72
74
79

78
71
82
78

72
79
70
74
70
72
79
78

88

88
89

92
87
89
88

88
92
84
92

91
86
89
84
92
87
88
92

85

86
84

87
86
89
81

80
87
90
89

83
92
88
88
79
84
78
89

93

94
92

92
92
93
94

91
94
94
88

92
96
94
94
91
92
94
88

91

91
90

94
86
94
90

91
92
92
94

91
83
97
87
94
94
87
94

QD11.4

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
People in (OUR COUNTRY) have a lot of things in common (% - Total 'Disagree')

IT

33

34
32

33
34
32
33

40
33
30
28

31
20
36
34
37
40
33
28

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

12

13
11

11
14
12
11

16
10
12
6

17
15
15
14
3
6
10
6

21

18
22

18
25
22
17

16
24
17
20

25
20
25
23
22
21
15
20

12

12
11

8
13
11
12

12
8
16
8

9
14
11
15
8
13
12
8

13

12
15

12
11
11
17

18
11
10
9

17
7
11
11
18
15
19
9

5

4
6

7
5
5
5

7
4
5
12

8
3
5
3
6
4
6
12

8

8
9

6
13
6
7

8
8
6
6

9
17
3
12
6
6
9
6

EU28

DE

ES

FR

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

22

21
22

22
22
22
21

23
23
19
22

21
17
23
22
21
24
21
22

18

20
16

24
13
21
16

20
17
16
21

17
13
16
19
18
22
19
21

18

17
18

22
15
22
16

16
17
16
22

13
25
20
14
20
18
17
22

34

30
37

34
36
33
34

35
38
29
35

22
24
43
38
24
40
33
35

77 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

3  The personal values of Europeans  

The three values which matter most to Europeans are peace, human rights and respect 
for human life 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(%	-	EU	-	TOP	3	ITEMS)

Peace

45

Human	rights

40

Respect	for	human	life

36

In order to rank the values that matter most to Europeans, respondents were asked to choose the 
three values that are the most important to them from a list of twelve21: 

§  Peace remains the value that matters the most to Europeans (45%, no change since spring 

2015); 

§  Human rights, is still mentioned by four in ten Europeans (40%, =), and remains in second 

place; 

§  Respect  for  human  life  is  still  in  third  place,  and  has  gained  a  little  ground  (36%,  +1 

percentage point); 

§ 

Individual freedom remains alone in fourth position (27%, =), slightly increasing its lead over 
the following value, democracy (25%, -1); 

§  Equality continues to be in sixth place, and is still mentioned by one in five Europeans, despite 

a slight fall (20%, -1); 

§  Solidarity  has  recorded  the  strongest  increase  in  this  survey  and  has  risen  one  place  to 

seventh (18%, +2), ahead of tolerance (17%, =); 

§  The rule of law remains in ninth place (13%, -2); 

§  Respect  for  other  cultures  and  self-fulfilment  remain  in  joint  tenth  position,  and  both 

continue to be mentioned by 9% of respondents; 

§  Lastly, religion is in twelfth and is once again in the final place (6%, +1). 

21 QD8. In the following list, which are the three most important values for you personally? 

78 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Maximum three answers 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
	(%	-	EU)

45

42

41

27

21

44

42

40

24

24

47

44

41

29

23

43

43

40

28

23

39

41

37

26

24

44

40

34

25

25

45

40

35

27

26

45

40

36

27

25

PEACE

HUMAN	RIGHTS

RESPECT	FOR	
HUMAN	LIFE

INDIVIDUAL	FREEDOM
DEMOCRACY

60%

50%

52

43

40%

41

30%

24

20%

22

10%

0%

2006

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

Five most mentioned items - Maximum three answers 

79 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Peace is the most cited in 15 Member States (compared with 16 in spring 2015). Human rights 
heads the list in six countries (five in spring 2015). In two Member States, these two values share 
first place: Poland (44% for both peace and human rights), as was already the case in spring 2015, 
and Italy (36% for both values), where peace stood alone in first position in spring 2015.  

Respect for human life is in first position in four countries (down from five in spring 2015): Ireland 
(49%), Greece (49%), Spain (47%) and the United Kingdom (41%). Lastly, individual freedom is the 
value that matters the most in Lithuania (49%), whereas peace led the ranking in spring 2015. There 
are substantial differences between Member States: the number of respondents that mentionpeace 
ranges from 63% in Slovenia to 30% in Romania; human rights obtains the highest score in Sweden 
(57%) and the lowest in Hungary (32%); respect for human life is mentioned more in Greece and 
Ireland  (both  49%)  than  in  Sweden  (25%);  and  finally, respondents  that  cite  individual  freedom 
range between 49% in Lithuania and 17% in Malta. 

Since spring 2015, the proportion of respondents mentioning peace has increased sharply in Slovenia 
(63%, +12 percentage points) and Malta (55%, +12). This is also the case for solidarity in Cyprus 
(22%, +10). 

80 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?	

(%)

s
t
h
g
i
r
n
a
m
u
H

40

36
40
33
41
44
38
44
38
43
40
41
36
55
41
47
41
32
43
33
37
44
45
40
41
43
40
57
39

e
c
a
e
P

45

41
33
50
55
58
55
38
48
43
50
37
36
44
53
47
54
45
55
47
60
44
39
30
63
52
51
50
37

e
f
i
l

n
a
m
u
h
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

36

38
32
29
32
26
36
49
49
47
43
39
35
47
38
32
43
41
38
30
29
27
38
38
34
26
44
25
41

m
o
d
e
e
r
f

l

a
u
d
i
v
i
d
n

I

27

26
37
42
22
32
24
27
20
18
25
34
25
28
38
49
25
33
17
36
47
19
22
28
29
29
27
20
25

y
c
a
r
c
o
m
e
D

25

28
15
24
44
34
11
21
31
29
19
21
30
21
13
16
19
21
26
25
22
21
25
21
13
23
16
46
16

y
t
i
l

a
u
q
E

20

22
12
10
25
7
13
24
19
30
21
19
21
22
14
16
14
20
20
21
21
22
34
18
23
15
25
23
25

s
r
e
h
t
o
r
o
f

t
r
o
p
p
u
s

,
y
t
i
r
a
d

i
l

o
S

18

21
17
10
13
11
11
9
29
28
27
20
20
22
11
15
22
15
14
20
13
12
24
17
13
10
9
25
9

e
c
n
a
r
e
o
T

l

17

26
17
14
17
19
20
13
2
14
25
15
11
1
9
17
24
14
16
25
15
17
10
12
17
15
24
13
18

w
a

l

l

f
o
e
u
r
e
h
T

13

9
22
9
11
18
16
15
27
11
7
11
9
14
10
5
10
9
9
13
15
8
13
12
8
17
32
10
20

t
n
e
m

l
i
f
l
u
f
-
f
l
e
S

9

16
17
12
2
6
19
8
3
5
11
3
13
1
5
12
8
15
10
17
7
6
13
19
5
12
12
6
5

s
e
r
u
t
l
u
c

r
e
h
t
o
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

9

11
6
4
16
5
14
9
5
6
11
6
8
7
11
6
13
4
7
12
5
4
8
4
7
4
5
11
20

n
o
g

i

i
l

e
R

6

4
4
5
4
4
2
6
19
3
4
10
8
18
7
8
6
9
16
6
8
11
4
12
4
10
5
2
5

Highest	percentage	per	country

Lowest	percentage	per	country

Highest	percentage	per	item

Lowest	percentage	per	item

Maximum three answers 

81 

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD8

In the following
personally?
(%	-	EU)

list, which are the three most

important

values

for you

e
c
a
e
P

45

43
47

39
40
44
51

55
48
43
39

51
46
45
35

40
42
43
45
46
43
53
35

46
45
46
47
53

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation

Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

s
t
h
g
i
r
n
a
m
u
H

40

41
40

46
41
42
37

35
40
41
44

35
41
42
45

39
40
43
41
39
42
38
45

40
40
41
40
41

e
f
i
l

n
a
m
u
h
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

36

33
39

31
36
37
37

38
37
36
33

38
38
34
31

32
33
35
38
42
36
37
31

41
36
35
27
31

m
o
d
e
e
r
f

l

a
u
d
i
v
i
d
n

I

27

29
25

30
28
28
24

22
27
27
29

22
28
28
30

31
30
26
26
23
28
24
30

24
26
28
31
25

y
c
a
r
c
o
m
e
D

25

28
22

22
25
27
25

24
27
27
23

24
24
29
25

27
31
28
23
23
22
25
25

20
23
29
35
22

Five most mentioned items 

82 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - PEACE)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

45

43
47

39
40
44
51

51
46
45
35

40
42
43
45
46
43
53
35

58

54
61

51
53
59
61

59
61
55
43

53
49
65
61
45
72
63
43

ES

43

37
48

33
34
39
54

53
35
36
32

39
36
33
40
58
38
50
32

FR

50

50
49

37
41
50
58

57
51
48
32

32
50
47
50
48
43
58
32

IT

36

34
38

29
33
30
43

43
36
35
24

37
25
31
28
42
32
48
24

PL

44

44
44

37
40
46
48

52
50
42
37

49
41
37
38
51
47
53
37

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - HUMAN RIGHTS)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

40

41
40

46
41
42
37

35
41
42
45

39
40
43
41
39
42
38
45

44

43
45

50
40
46
43

39
45
43
51

52
41
39
46
43
52
41
51

ES

43

44
42

37
46
43
43

38
44
52
39

48
52
54
40
42
37
47
39

PL

44

44
43

51
44
44
40

45
45
47
47

45
44
47
41
51
52
39
47

FR

40

41
39

40
35
42
41

41
41
39
38

39
43
39
37
38
39
42
38

IT

36

40
33

36
38
44
31

25
41
40
39

33
40
47
39
24
39
33
39

83 

UK

37

36
39

37
33
35
43

43
35
40
30

34
34
43
36
27
33
45
30

UK

39

36
41

55
44
42
26

34
37
40
57

37
38
45
41
51
43
26
57

EL

48

45
52

52
44
45
52

55
50
39
50

31
35
52
50
56
48
52
50

EL

38

42
35

48
45
40
30

28
41
42
49

49
20
40
44
34
40
30
49

PT

39

38
39

35
33
44
40

45
38
35
31

40
42
34
39
54
42
38
31

PT

45

44
46

47
46
45
43

40
42
47
53

39
44
44
48
52
44
41
53

IE

38

34
42

41
31
40
40

42
41
31
43

26
30
34
38
46
37
42
43

IE

44

43
46

56
44
45
38

41
45
42
54

40
53
47
42
39
45
38
54

CY

44

40
47

46
41
41
47

56
39
43
41

42
44
50
45
31
37
50
41

CY

55

55
56

51
58
55
56

60
55
57
46

51
56
64
54
59
58
56
46

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

36

33
39

31
36
37
37

38
38
34
31

32
33
35
38
42
36
37
31

26

23
29

22
30
27
24

25
28
23
24

17
23
28
27
33
25
27
24

ES

47

46
48

44
48
48
47

48
49
42
41

40
47
43
48
57
51
43
41

FR

43

35
51

32
41
47
46

38
48
44
25

51
42
47
46
47
34
47
25

IT

35

32
36

30
36
32
37

32
34
35
33

28
35
37
37
39
38
33
33

PL

27

27
28

26
26
30
28

29
29
28
29

22
25
18
29
31
35
32
29

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

27

29
25

30
28
28
24

22
28
28
30

31
30
26
26
23
28
24
30

32

35
30

35
37
31
30

29
32
33
36

36
35
23
31
34
39
31
36

ES

18

18
18

17
20
19
17

13
20
23
20

16
17
17
17
17
20
18
20

PL

19

21
17

29
24
20
11

8
15
23
32

20
22
23
18
17
21
11
32

FR

25

25
24

19
23
26
27

22
27
23
23

25
29
22
23
26
19
27
23

IT

25

27
23

30
25
29
21

19
28
26
27

30
30
24
31
19
30
19
27

84 

UK

41

38
44

35
42
43
42

43
42
39
36

38
42
54
42
45
33
40
36

UK

25

29
22

26
22
27
26

24
25
27
25

31
24
24
25
18
23
26
25

EL

49

45
52

56
47
50
47

47
53
44
56

45
46
41
54
51
57
45
56

EL

20

21
19

29
22
21
16

14
19
25
24

21
27
20
20
13
30
15
24

PT

38

37
40

41
35
39
39

37
37
38
43

40
40
36
37
55
33
38
43

PT

22

25
20

25
25
24
19

21
22
25
24

29
19
29
25
11
15
19
24

IE

49

45
52

43
44
48
56

53
53
42
39

50
42
48
47
56
36
62
39

IE

27

32
22

35
31
24
23

23
28
27
32

30
21
33
33
23
34
20
32

CY

47

40
53

41
49
56
41

39
45
56
46

48
55
55
46
65
46
36
46

CY

28

30
27

23
30
32
27

19
34
29
20

19
29
35
40
33
24
25
20

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - DEMOCRACY)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

25

28
22

22
25
27
25

24
24
29
25

27
31
28
23
23
22
25
25

34

38
30

32
31
38
33

32
33
35
37

39
39
39
34
30
14
32
37

ES

29

34
24

28
37
24
28

28
33
28
26

28
26
25
32
13
38
31
26

FR

19

24
15

14
18
25
18

15
15
28
16

26
45
14
17
12
12
18
16

IT

30

31
29

34
36
28
28

29
30
32
35

25
36
36
24
32
29
29
35

PL

21

22
21

12
26
25
20

15
20
27
15

22
26
30
22
21
14
18
15

UK

16

18
13

11
10
17
20

12
15
21
14

17
18
13
10
17
15
20
14

EL

31

35
28

29
29
32
33

34
30
32
28

40
33
31
27
31
25
33
28

PT

25

29
21

26
22
25
26

24
29
24
24

33
28
18
21
16
32
25
24

QD8

In	the	following	list,	which	are	the	three	most	important	values	for	you	personally?
(% - THE RULE OF LAW)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

13

15
11

8
12
14
15

12
14
16
8

15
18
14
12
9
11
15
8

18

20
17

5
16
21
22

16
18
25
6

22
24
23
17
10
10
21
6

11

13
10

11
13
11
11

9
12
13
12

12
18
17
11
6
12
11
12

8

10
7

4
7
9
10

7
9
10
3

7
9
9
7
2
9
11
3

20

24
16

13
18
23
21

22
21
20
7

25
26
17
20
12
15
22
7

27

30
24

17
27
29
28

26
29
28
18

24
33
28
25
31
25
29
18

13

14
12

9
17
12
12

11
14
20
7

14
24
17
11
0
15
10
7

7

10
4

4
6
7
8

8
7
7
8

13
7
2
5
3
5
9
8

9

9
9

8
10
10
9

7
9
13
9

8
22
14
2
6
9
8
9

85 

IE

21

26
17

14
20
24
24

18
18
28
16

25
29
17
20
17
20
22
16

IE

15

17
13

12
10
14
21

15
16
14
9

19
9
15
15
16
16
19
9

CY

21

25
16

9
22
22
24

22
21
20
10

17
26
28
20
14
18
25
10

CY

14

21
8

14
12
14
16

12
12
18
13

20
24
14
9
9
14
15
13

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

4  The values that best represent the European Union 

First and foremost, the values that best represent the European Union are peace and 
human rights, and to a lesser extent democracy. 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(%	-	EU	-	TOP	3	ITEMS)

Peace/
Human	rights

37

Democracy

31

Individual	freedom/
Respect	for	human	life

18

The order in which Europeans rank the values which they believe best represent the European Union 
has changed little since spring 201522: 

§  Peace and human rights are still in joint first place in the list of values most associated with 

the European Union (37%, +1 percentage point in both cases); 

§  Democracy remains in third place, and is the only other value mentioned by more than three 

in ten respondents (31%, no change); 

§ 

§ 

Individual freedom (18%, -1) now shares fourth place with respect for human life (18%, 
+1); 

 The rule of law is in sixth position (16%, -2), equal with solidarity (16%, +1); 

§  Three values continue to be mentioned by just over one in ten Europeans: respect for other 
cultures (12%, -1), now equal with equality (12%, =), followed by tolerance (11%, =); 

§  The last two values put forward are only very weakly associated with the European Union: self-

fulfilment (3%, -1) and religion (3%, =). 

Lastly, 6% (+1 percentage point) of respondents  spontaneously say that none of these 12 values 
best represents the European Union. 

22 QD7. In the following list, which values best represent the EU? 

86 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Maximum three answers 

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
	(%	-	EU)

39

37

36

15

14

38

38

35

14

12

37

35

34

14

11

39

37

35

15

12

40

34

32

14

13

37

34

30

18

16

37

32

30

14

14

37

34

30

16

14

40

36

31

17

17

36

36

31

19

17

PEACE
HUMAN	RIGHTS

DEMOCRACY

37

37

31

18

18

INDIVIDUAL	FREEDOM
RESPECT	FOR	
HUMAN	LIFE

QD7

50%

40%

38

38

36

30%

20%

13

10

10%

0%

2006

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

Five most mentioned items - Maximum three answers 

87 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

Human rights heads the list of values best representing the European Union in 14 Member States 
(compared with 15 in spring 2015). Peace is in first place in 12 countries (ten in spring 2015). Finally, 
democracy remains the value the most associated with the EU in Denmark (50%) and is now seen 
as  the  most  representative  value  in  Portugal  (36%).  The  order  of  these  values  varies  from  one 
Member State to another, sometimes with significant differences for each value. For example, human 
rights are mentioned the most in Finland (52%) and the least in Greece (25%); the score for peace 
ranges between 52% in Sweden and 24% in the UK, Romania and Croatia and finally democracy is 
mentioned more in Denmark and Sweden (both 50%) than in Slovenia (19%). 

In terms of evolutions since spring 2015, peace has gained ground in Malta (37%, +11 percentage 
points), but is mentioned significantly less in Luxembourg (38%, -13), where it had the highest score 
in spring 2015. There has been a sharp increase in the number of mentions for Democracy in Portugal 
(36%, +17), but the same item has lost ten percentage points in Austria (29%).  

88 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?	(%)

m
o
d
e
e
r
f

l

a
u
d
i
v
i
d
n

I

18

21
16
22
15
22
17
24
18
13
19
24
17
23
27
36
24
22
17
23
24
14
16
23
23
21
24
25
13

e
f
i
l

n
a
m
u
h
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

18

22
21
17
19
16
19
26
19
16
17
23
19
26
14
16
24
22
22
15
18
15
21
24
18
16
26
13
23

w
a

l

l

f
o
e
u
r
e
h
T

16

17
22
13
15
25
15
16
12
20
13
14
11
7
15
6
21
15
14
22
19
11
16
22
10
12
34
20
12

s
r
e
h
t
o
r
o
f

t
r
o
p
p
u
s

,
y
t
i
r
a
d

i
l

o
S

16

22
22
21
17
14
16
14
11
16
17
21
17
10
14
23
18
17
19
21
23
14
32
18
15
21
9
19
9

s
e
r
u
t
l
u
c

r
e
h
t
o
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

12

16
12
11
13
8
18
14
12
12
19
12
14
12
16
11
15
10
16
11
12
6
17
4
14
7
14
10
18

s
t
h
g
i
r
n
a
m
u
H

37

46
27
27
47
42
42
38
25
27
46
31
27
39
40
43
45
30
39
42
30
37
34
42
35
31
52
43
38

y
c
a
r
c
o
m
e
D

31

37
22
30
50
36
22
27
22
34
27
30
30
22
21
31
34
27
38
42
29
31
36
33
19
30
28
50
20

e
c
a
e
P

37

39
31
42
48
44
37
31
48
37
48
24
33
33
30
39
38
29
37
45
41
32
26
24
47
40
42
52
24

y
t
i
l

a
u
q
E

e
c
n
a
r
e
o
T

l

12

10
8
7
17
6
8
18
9
12
8
14
18
10
10
9
9
13
22
14
15
15
18
13
12
7
20
7
16

11

12
13
12
11
10
15
12
10
7
11
15
10
5
7
16
10
12
11
9
16
18
9
8
11
10
11
6
12

t
n
e
m

l
i
f
l
u
f
-
f
l
e
S

3

3
5
4
2
3
8
3
9
2
2
3
4
1
5
5
4
11
1
7
6
3
3
4
2
7
6
4
1

n
o
g

i

i
l

e
R

3

3
5
4
2
2
3
3
5
0
3
6
6
8
4
4
4
6
4
3
3
4
2
4
5
7
2
1
3

Highest	percentage	per	country

Lowest	percentage	per	country

Highest	percentage	per	item

Lowest	percentage	per	item

Maximum three answers 

89 

EU28

BE
BG
CZ
DK
DE
EE
IE
EL
ES
FR
HR
IT
CY
LV
LT
LU
HU
MT
NL
AT
PL
PT
RO
SI
SK
FI
SE
UK

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

If we compare the results for the values that best represent the European Union and those which 
matter most to respondents, we find that nine of these values are mentioned more frequently at a 
personal level than as values associated with the EU, particularly respect for human life (36% as 
a  personal  value  versus  18%  at  EU  level),  individual  freedom  (27%  versus  18%),  peace  (45% 
versus  37%),  equality  (20%  versus  12%),  tolerance  (17%  versus  11%),  self-fulfilment  (9% 
versus 3%), and to a lesser extent human rights (40% versus 37%), religion (6% versus 3%) and 
solidarity (18% versus 16%).  

However,  three  values  are  more  often  associated  with  the  EU  than  seen  as  personal  values: 
democracy (31% at EU level versus 25% at the personal level), respect for other cultures (12% 
versus 9%) and the rule of law (16% versus 13%). The ranking of these values is therefore very 
different for these two questions. For example, democracy stands in third position among the values 
that represent the EU, but only in fifth place among personal values. 

90 

 
	
	
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(%	-	EU)

s
t
h
g
i
r
n
a
m
u
H

37

37
36

40
36
39
35

34
36
38
38

31
36
42
42

35
40
38
38
28
36
35
42

35
37
38
43
41

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Generation
Total	'Before	1946'
1946	-	1964	"BB"
1965	-	1980	"X"
After	1980	"Y"

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

e
c
a
e
P

37

39
35

33
33
36
42

44
41
34
33

40
37
38
32

36
36
36
35
33
37
43
32

37
36
39
39
41

y
c
a
r
c
o
m
e
D

31

33
29

33
30
33
28

25
31
33
31

25
29
37
35

33
38
34
30
25
28
27
35

25
27
35
41
36

Five most mentioned items 

91 

m
o
d
e
e
r
f

l

a
u
d
i
v
i
d
n

I

18

20
17

20
21
18
17

14
19
19
20

14
18
21
22

21
22
21
18
16
16
16
22

15
18
20
25
17

e
f
i
l

n
a
m
u
h
r
o
f

t
c
e
p
s
e
R

18

18
19

18
20
17
18

19
17
19
18

19
19
17
19

18
16
18
19
19
18
19
19

19
19
19
16
8

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The following tables show the results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union on average 
(EU28),  in  the  six  largest  EU  countries,  and  in  the  countries  that  are  receiving  or  have  received 
European Union aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(% - PEACE)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

37

39
35

33
33
36
42

40
37
38
32

36
36
36
35
33
37
43
32

44

48
40

36
42
45
47

44
46
45
30

43
43
48
46
28
54
47
30

ES

37

38
36

33
31
34
44

44
33
29
34

38
28
29
31
34
41
48
34

FR

48

55
42

40
35
47
59

59
46
48
37

36
56
42
43
26
44
59
37

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(% - HUMAN RIGHTS)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

37

37
36

40
36
39
35

31
36
42
42

35
40
38
38
28
36
35
42

42

41
43

41
37
45
42

42
41
44
37

39
48
40
41
32
51
42
37

ES

27

27
26

24
21
29
30

28
22
32
30

29
25
30
26
26
19
32
30

FR

46

48
44

48
46
49
43

40
44
49
54

40
50
47
44
42
48
44
54

IT

33

33
34

36
34
31
34

35
33
33
34

32
28
30
29
44
33
35
34

IT

27

29
25

30
29
30
23

21
28
25
37

29
27
31
28
20
22
22
37

92 

PL

32

32
32

27
31
33
35

40
36
31
27

31
20
34
33
40
36
36
27

PL

37

35
40

47
35
37
36

37
36
41
42

34
43
41
35
31
40
35
42

UK

24

26
21

18
17
25
30

23
22
30
15

36
24
24
17
21
16
30
15

UK

38

40
37

40
41
43
33

34
33
51
48

44
34
41
45
18
42
32
48

EL

48

46
50

54
48
44
50

51
46
48
50

50
40
46
58
52
42
47
50

EL

25

28
22

39
23
26
21

17
23
31
37

19
39
34
23
17
23
22
37

PT

26

27
26

25
25
26
28

30
28
21
25

18
23
22
28
32
33
27
25

PT

34

37
31

42
34
38
28

27
33
40
43

40
31
30
38
32
37
25
43

IE

31

31
31

40
25
30
33

32
29
30
46

27
29
24
31
31
32
31
46

IE

38

39
37

39
33
39
40

39
36
39
43

37
42
45
32
33
30
43
43

CY

33

35
30

48
31
33
26

34
31
29
44

35
29
48
39
11
26
25
44

CY

39

42
36

33
35
46
40

34
46
35
34

38
34
50
39
49
33
40
34

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(% - DEMOCRACY)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

31

33
29

33
30
33
28

25
29
37
35

33
38
34
30
25
28
27
35

36

36
35

45
33
38
33

30
34
38
52

30
41
37
36
36
28
30
52

ES

34

35
33

35
30
33
37

33
34
33
36

38
34
37
34
29
31
37
36

FR

27

30
24

21
30
34
23

19
22
37
23

48
45
23
24
16
24
24
23

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(% - INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female
Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

18

20
17

20
21
18
17

14
18
21
22

21
22
21
18
16
16
16
22

22

24
20

21
25
19
22

23
22
22
23

28
21
27
21
26
13
21
23

ES

13

13
12

13
16
12
11

9
16
16
13

12
22
22
14
9
11
10
13

FR

19

22
16

20
19
18
19

21
15
23
20

12
25
27
18
19
14
18
20

IT

30

31
28

34
34
32
25

23
32
34
38

33
30
38
20
24
29
26
38

IT

17

20
15

20
20
19
15

11
21
20
22

21
17
19
16
17
25
13
22

93 

PL

31

32
30

28
31
34
32

30
31
38
25

37
40
36
28
25
44
28
25

PL

14

16
13

15
17
16
11

6
13
18
17

14
22
14
12
9
21
12
17

UK

20

24
17

24
22
23
17

12
18
35
15

21
28
28
23
11
20
15
15

UK

13

14
13

12
15
15
11

10
14
14
20

18
15
7
15
5
12
11
20

EL

22

22
22

23
24
24
19

20
18
27
30

26
22
24
20
10
22
22
30

EL

18

18
18

11
20
19
18

15
18
21
14

20
29
20
15
21
11
20
14

PT

36

39
33

38
34
42
32

27
38
44
37

43
43
35
35
45
36
31
37

PT

16

16
15

21
21
15
11

12
21
15
25

13
19
15
18
29
10
11
25

IE

27

30
23

24
26
29
27

23
25
30
29

28
32
32
23
16
36
25
29

IE

24

25
23

27
28
24
19

19
26
21
30

22
19
22
29
30
22
19
30

CY

22

26
18

21
28
23
15

15
20
25
26

23
22
27
24
22
20
15
26

CY

23

26
19

22
27
25
18

15
24
26
26

23
26
35
23
18
19
20
26

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD7

In	the	following	list,	which	values	best	represent	the	EU?
(% - RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE)

EU28

DE

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

18

18
19

18
20
17
18

19
19
17
19

18
16
18
19
19
18
19
19

16

13
18

17
18
14
15

21
14
14
18

12
13
12
19
15
16
16
18

ES

16

16
15

13
15
18
16

16
16
18
12

11
14
19
14
20
18
15
12

FR

17

15
19

11
17
10
23

22
20
12
10

26
12
11
16
18
12
23
10

IT

19

19
19

19
22
17
19

16
20
22
21

18
25
19
13
22
20
19
21

PL

15

15
15

17
16
17
13

13
14
17
18

13
12
15
15
23
24
13
18

UK

23

23
23

24
25
23
21

25
22
22
28

27
20
26
27
14
20
20
28

EL

19

19
20

27
18
23
16

16
20
21
27

18
38
18
25
19
13
16
27

PT

21

22
20

25
21
22
19

24
21
19
26

9
25
27
23
30
17
19
26

IE

26

27
26

28
25
24
28

30
28
24
23

23
25
20
30
31
27
25
23

CY

26

23
29

27
21
28
28

27
23
24
39

23
18
25
19
36
23
32
39

94 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

5  The economic and social values of Europeans 

A majority now disagree that immigrants contribute a lot to their country 

To gain a better understanding of the economic and social values of Europeans, respondents were 
asked whether or not they agree with six statements23: 

§  86%  of  European  believe  that  criminals  should  be  punished  more  severely.  This 
represents a five-percentage point rise since spring 201524. Almost six in ten “totally agree” 
with this statement (58%, +8 percentage points). Only one in ten respondents disagree (10%, 
-5); 

§  Nearly two-thirds of Europeans think that their country should help refugees (65%), 

while 28% take the opposite view; 

§  A similar proportion agrees that the state intervenes too much in our lives (64%, -1), 

while 30% (no change) disagree; 

§  Over six in ten Europeans have confidence in the future (64%) while a little less than a 

third do not (32%); 

§  An absolute majority of respondents say that their quality of life was better before 

(55%), while 37% disagree; 

§  Lastly,  while  Europeans  were  evenly  divided  in  spring  2015,  an  absolute  majority  now 
disagree  that  immigrants  contribute  a  lot  to  their  country  (50%),  a  six-point  rise. 
Nevertheless, 41% (-5) still believe that immigrants contribute a lot to society. 

23 QD11.1-2-3-6-7-8. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The State intervenes too much in 
our lives; Criminals should be punished more severely; Immigrants contribute a lot to (OUR COUNTRY); (OUR COUNTRY) should help refugees; 
Overall, regarding your quality of life, it was better before; You have confidence in the future. 
24This  statement  was  worded  slightly  differently  in  the  Standard  Eurobarometer  of  spring  2015  (EB83):  “Nowadays  there  is  too  much 
tolerance. Criminals should be punished more severely.” 

95 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

a.  State intervention  

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In 24 Member States, a majority of respondents agree that the state intervenes too much in their 
lives. In the remaining four countries, a majority disagree: in Sweden (55% “disagree” versus 44% 
“agree”), Luxembourg, (52% versus 43%), Finland (50% versus 44%) and Estonia (45% versus 41%). 
Rates of agreement with this statement vary widely from one Member State to another, ranging from 
a high of 87% in both Greece and Portugal to a low of 41% in Estonia. 

Since spring 2015, the proportion of respondents who believe that the state intervenes too much in 
their  lives  has  declined  in  16  Member  States,  led  by  Poland  (57%,  -10  percentage  points).  It  has 
increased in 11 countries, and has remained unchanged in Estonia. 

b.  The severity of criminal punishments 

More than two-thirds of respondents agree that criminals should be punished more severely in all 28 
Member States, in proportions which vary between 68% in Sweden and 97% in Bulgaria. 

In terms of evolutions25, the desire to see criminals punished more severely has gained ground in 26 
Member States since spring 2015, most strikingly in Austria (89%, +14 percentage points) and the 
Netherlands (76%, +10). It has declined slightly in the Czech Republic (92%, -2) and is unchanged in 
Croatia (93%). 

25 See previous note. 

96 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

c.  The contribution of immigrants to society  

In nine Member States (compared with 11 in spring 2015), a majority of respondents believe that 
immigrants contribute a lot to their country, while this is the minority opinion in the other 19 countries. 
Rates of agreement with this statement vary widely from one Member State to another, and are the 
highest in Sweden (86%) and the lowest in Estonia (8%). 

Since spring 2015, the belief that immigrants contribute a lot has lost ground in 21 Member States, 
and by at least ten percentage points in six countries: Romania (37%, -18 percentage points), where 
this is now the minority view, Hungary (13%, -13), Bulgaria (11%, -12), Slovakia (10%, -10), Croatia 
(18%, -10) and Poland (23%, -10). Conversely, it is now slightly more widespread in five countries 
(Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Ireland and the United Kingdom) and is unchanged in Spain and Austria. 

97 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
	
 
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

d.  Help for refugees  

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

The  idea  that  their  country  should  help  refugees is  supported  by  a  majority  of  respondents  in  22 
Member States, while majorities think the opposite in the remaining six countries. Approval of this 
statement  is  most  widespread  in  Sweden  (94%),  ahead  of  the  Netherlands  (88%)  and  Denmark 
(86%); it is the least widespread in the Czech Republic (28%), Bulgaria (29%) and Hungary (29%). 

98 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

e.  The quality of life was better before  

In 20 Member States, a majority of respondents agree that overall, their quality of life was better 
before.  This  is  a  minority  opinion  in  seven  countries:  Sweden,  the  Netherlands,  Denmark,  Finland, 
Germany  and  Luxembourg.  Respondents  in  Lithuania  are  evenly  divided  (47%  agree,  while  47% 
disagree). This view is most widespread in Greece (92%) and Cyprus (86%), and the least in the Nordic 
countries (25% Sweden, 28% in Denmark and 29% in Finland) and the Netherlands (26%). 

99 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

f.  Confidence in the future  

A majority of respondents have confidence in the future in 25 Member States, in proportions varying 
between 91% in Denmark and 49% in Estonia. However, the majority disagrees in the remaining three 
countries: Greece (83% “disagree” versus 17% “agree”), Lithuania (60% versus 37%) and the Czech 
Republic (52% versus 45%). 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that the statements to the effect that the state intervenes 
too much in our lives, criminals should be punished more severely and our country should 
help refugees are supported by a majority of respondents in every socio-demographic category. This 
is not the case for the other three statements. 

§  Only a minority agree that immigrants contribute a lot to their country in almost every 
category; the highest rate of disagreement with this statement is found among Europeans who 
have  difficulties  paying  their  bills  most  of  the  time  (61%,  versus  30%  who  agree).  Majority 
approval for this statement is only recorded among respondents who studied until the age of 
20  or  beyond  (52%  “agree” versus  40%  “disagree”),  managers  (57%  versus  35%),  students 
(51% versus 40%), people who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills (46% 
versus 45%) and respondents who see themselves as upper middle class (54% versus 38%). 
Europeans aged 15 to 24 years-old are evenly divided on this question (45% versus 45%); 

A majority of respondents in the great majority of socio-demographic categories agree that 
overall, their quality of life was better before. This statement achieves its highest scores 
among respondents who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time (80% “agree”) and 
people  who  left  school  at  age  15  or  before  (70%).  However,  it  is  the  minority  view  among 
people  who  studied  up  to  the  age  of  20  or  beyond  (43%  “agree”  versus  49%  “disagree”), 
managers (34% versus 58%), students (36% versus 46%) and people who see themselves as 
upper middle (34% versus 60%) and upper class (34% versus 54%). Europeans who never or 
almost never have difficulties paying their bills are evenly divided (46% versus 46%).  

Lastly, a majority of respondents have  confidence  in  the  future  in all socio-demographic 
categories, with the sole exception of people who have difficulties paying their bills most of 
the time (38% “agree” versus 58% ”disagree”).  

100 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD11

To	what	extent	do	you	agree	or	disagree	with	each	of	the	following	statements?
(%	-	EU)

Immigrants	contribute	
a	lot	to	(OUR	COUNTRY)

Overall,	regarding	
your	quality	of	life,	
it	was	better	before

You	have	confidence	
in	the	future

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

41

44
39

45
44
44
37

35
36
52
51

43
57
38
41
33
39
35
51

30
36
46

39
42
41
54
42

55
44
31

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

Left-right	political	scale

Left
Centre
Right

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

55

53
56

41
51
57
61

70
59
43
36

53
34
53
57
64
67
63
36

80
67
46

66
58
51
34
34

51
54
56

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

50

49
51

45
48
48
54

56
56
40
40

50
35
53
52
54
53
56
40

61
56
45

52
50
51
38
52

39
49
61

101 

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

37

39
36

40
40
37
35

26
34
49
46

39
58
39
36
31
23
33
46

16
27
46

26
34
43
60
54

42
39
37

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

64

66
61

73
68
65
57

54
61
71
77

67
76
68
64
58
57
55
77

38
57
71

57
60
69
78
69

67
67
60

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

32

30
35

24
29
31
38

42
35
25
20

29
21
27
32
36
40
40
20

58
39
26

38
36
28
20
28

30
30
36

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

VII. THE FUTURE OF TODAY’S CHILDREN IN THE EU 

Half of Europeans now say that the lives of today’s children will be more difficult than 
their own 

Half of respondents think that the lives of those who are children today will more difficult 
than for people in their own generation (50%)26, up four percentage points since spring 2015. 
Only a quarter of Europeans believe that their lives will be easier (25%, -2 percentage points), while 
21% (-2) say that they will be about the same.  Lastly, 4% (no change) did not answer. 

Europeans in countries outside the euro area appear to be noticeably more optimistic than those 
within the euro area. In non-euro area countries, 30% of respondents (-1 percentage point since 
spring 2015) believe that the lives of future generations will be easier, while 40% say they will be 
more difficult (+2); whereas within the euro area, only 22% (-3) think they will be easier, compared 
with 55% (+4) who think they will be more difficult. 

26 QD10. Generally speaking, do you think that the life of those in the EU who are children today will be easier, more difficult or about the 
same as the life of those from your own generation? 

102 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
																																																								
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

A majority of respondents are now pessimistic about the lives of today’s children in the European 
Union in 21 Member States (compared with 17 in spring 2015). Majorities say their lives will be easier 
in  only  six  countries (compared  with  ten  in  spring  2015):  Lithuania  (53%),  Ireland  (46%),  Poland 
(44%), Croatia (39%), Romania (38%) and Latvia (37%). Lastly, respondents in Bulgaria are evenly 
divided between optimism and pessimism (31% “easier” versus 31% “more difficult”, and 23% “about 
the same”). Perceptions thus vary considerably from one Member State to another: respondents are 
most likely to answer “more difficult” in Belgium and Greece (both 71%) and least likely in Lithuania 
(20%) and Poland (24%). 

Results for “easier” 

Results for “more difficult” 

103 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

In terms of evolutions since spring 2015, the proportion of respondents who believe that the lives of 
today’s  children  will  be  more  difficult  has  increased  in  23  Member  States,  and  by  at  least  ten 
percentage points in Estonia (45%, +11 percentage points) and Denmark (38%, +10), two countries 
where this is now the majority opinion. Conversely, it has fallen slightly in Luxembourg, Poland and 
Romania, and is unchanged in Austria and Lithuania. 

104 

 
	
	
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

QD10

Generally speaking, do you think that the life of those in the EU who are children today will be easier,
more	difficult	or	about	the	same	as	the	life	of	those	from	your	own	generation?	(%)

EU28

EURO	AREA
NON-EURO	AREA

EE
DK
SI
SK
ES
PT
FI
EL
SE
LV
CZ
DE
UK
FR
CY
MT
NL
HU
BG
IT
IE
BE
HR
AT
LT
RO
PL
LU

e
m
a
s
e
h
t

t
u
o
b
A

21

20
24

18
33
23
29
13
12
33
15
32
27
27
22
20
21
14
14
30
23
23
19
22
17
29
22
23
23
23
13

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

2

1
2
=
6
4
2
2
6
2
2
=
=
4
2
4
=
3
=
3
3
2
=
1
=
1
1
3
4
1
=

t
l
u
c
i
f
f
i
d
e
r
o
M

50

55
40

45
38
58
47
58
46
36
71
47
30
59
55
51
67
65
46
51
49
31
42
29
71
27
59
20
31
24
67

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

4

4
2

11
10
8
8
7
7
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
=
=
1
1
2

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

4

3
6

5
2
2
5
2
1
0
1
1
6
3
3
5
2
4
4
1
2
15
6
3
1
5
4
4
8
9
0

r
e
i
s
a
E

25

22
30

32
27
17
19
27
41
31
13
20
37
11
20
24
10
17
36
18
26
31
33
46
11
39
15
53
38
44
20

-
5
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5
1
0
2
p
S

.

2

3
1

12
4
4
5
5
=
8
2
6
7
2
3
1
3
2
3
=
6
4
1
2
1
4
3
2
2
=
4

105 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Report 

An analysis by socio-demographic criteria reveals that a majority of respondents are pessimistic 
about the future of today’s children in the EU in all socio-demographic categories. 

QD10

Generally speaking, do you think that the life of those in the EU who are children today will
be	easier,	more	difficult	or	about	the	same	as	the	life	of	those	from	your	own	generation?	
(%	-	EU)

EU28

Gender

Man
Woman

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55	+

Education	(End	of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still	studying

Socio-professional	category

Self-employed
Managers
Other	white	collars
Manual	workers
House	persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students

Difficulties	paying	bills

Most	of	the	time
From	time	to	time
Almost	never/	Never

Consider	belonging	to

The	working	class
The	lower	middle	class
The	middle	class
The	upper	middle	class
The	upper	class

t
l
u
c
i
f
f
i
d
e
r
o
M

50

47
53

43
48
51
53

57
52
46
40

45
43
51
50
55
56
54
40

60
53
47

54
53
48
41
39

w
o
n
k
t
'
n
o
D

4

4
4

4
4
4
5

5
4
3
4

4
3
3
3
5
6
5
4

5
4
4

5
4
4
3
7

e
m
a
s
e
h
t

t
u
o
b
A

21

22
20

30
23
21
16

14
20
24
32

21
26
21
23
17
18
16
32

16
20
22

17
22
22
25
21

r
e
i
s
a
E

25

27
23

23
25
24
26

24
24
27
24

30
28
25
24
23
20
25
24

19
23
27

24
21
26
31
33

106 

 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Technical 
specifications 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Between the 7TH and the 17TH November 2015, TNS opinion & social, a consortium created between 
TNS political & social, TNS UK and TNS opinion, carried out the wave 84.3 of the EUROBAROMETER 
survey,  on  request  of  the  EUROPEAN  COMMISSION,  Directorate-General  for  Communication, 
“Strategy, Corporate Communication Actions and Eurobarometer” Unit.  

The wave 84.3 is the STANDARD EUROBAROMETER 84 and covers the population of the respective 
nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the 28 Member States and 
aged 15 years and over.  

The  STANDARD  EUROBAROMETER  84  survey  has  also  been  conducted  in  five  candidate  countries 
(Turkey,  the  Former  Yugoslav  Republic  of  Macedonia,  Montenegro,  Serbia  and  Albania)  and  in  the 
Turkish Cypriot Community. In these countries, the survey covers the national population of citizens 
and the population of citizens of all the European Union Member States that are residents in these 
countries and have a sufficient command of the national languages to answer the questionnaire.  

TS 1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
European citizenship 

Autumn 2015 

Standard Eurobarometer 84 

Technical 
specifications 

The  basic  sample  design  applied  in  all  states  is  a  multi-stage,  random  (probability)  one.  In  each 
country,  a  number  of  sampling  points  was  drawn  with  probability  proportional  to  population  size 
(for a total coverage of the country) and to population density. 

In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative 
regional units", after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole 
territory  of  the  countries  surveyed  according  to  the  EUROSTAT  NUTS  II1 (or  equivalent)  and 
according  to  the  distribution  of  the  resident  population  of  the  respective  nationalities  in  terms  of 
metropolitan, urban and rural areas.  

In  each  of  the  selected  sampling  points,  a  starting  address  was  drawn,  at  random.  Further 
addresses  (every  Nth  address)  were  selected  by  standard  "random  route"  procedures,  from  the 
initial  address.  In  each  household,  the  respondent  was  drawn,  at  random  (following  the  "closest 
birthday rule"). All interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and in the appropriate 
national  language.  As  far  as  the  data  capture  is  concerned,  CAPI  (Computer  Assisted  Personal 
Interview) was used in those countries where this technique was available. 

For each country a comparison between the sample and the universe was carried out. The Universe 
description  was  derived  from  Eurostat  population  data  or  from  national  statistics  offices.  For  all 
countries surveyed, a national weighting procedure, using marginal and intercellular weighting, was 
carried  out  based  on  this  Universe  description.  In  all  countries,  gender,  age,  region  and  size  of 
locality  were  introduced  in  the  iteration  procedure.  For  international  weighting  (i.e.  EU  averages), 
TNS  opinion  &  social  applies  the  official  population  figures  as  provided  by  EUROSTAT  or  national 
statistic  offices.  The  total  population  figures  for  input  in  this  post-weighting  procedure  are  listed 
here. 

Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being 
equal, rests upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage.  With samples of about 1,000 
interviews, the real percentages vary within the following confidence limits: 

1 Figures updated in August 2015 

TS 2