Europeans in 2019.
Date: 2019-07-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EU Member State, EU migration policy, EU policy, Economic and Monetary Union, citizens' Europe, energy policy, foreign policy, free movement of persons, industrial policy, opinion poll, report, sample survey

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Europeans in 2019 

Fieldwork 
March 2019	

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

Special Eurobarometer 486 – Wave EB91.2 – Kantar 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project title 

Linguistic version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 

© European Union, 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 
 “Europeans in 2019” 
March 2019 
Report 
EN 
NA-03-19-305-EN-N 
978-92-76-03008-9 
doi:10.2775/46073

http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Survey conducted by Kantar on behalf of Kantar Belgium at the request of the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Communication 

Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication 
(DG COMM “Media monitoring and Eurobarometer” Unit) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 

KEY FINDINGS 

I. LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 

1  The main concerns of Europeans 

a. 

The main national concerns 

b.  Main concerns at EU level 

2  Welfare and social protection 

a. 

b. 

Free market economy and social protection 

Improving access to healthcare 

3  Democracy in the European Union 

a.  Perceptions of the way democracy works 

1.  At national level 

2.  At European level 

b.  How citizens’ interests are taken into account in their country 

c. 

The rise of anti-establishment parties 

4  Does everyone have a chance to succeed in life? 

II. THE EUROPEAN UNION IN 2019 

1  Europeans’ views of the EU 

2  The EU’s main assets 

3  The EU’s main challenges 

4  The EU’s most positive results 

5  The EU and the world 

a. 

b. 

Is the EU a place of stability in a troubled world? 

Europeans and globalisation 

6  Trust in media and institutions 

a. 

The media 

b.  Political parties 

c. 

Regional or local public authorities 

d.  National institutions 

e. 

The European Union 

III. EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS 

1  What does the EU mean? 

2  Knowledge of the European Union 

a.  Knowledge of how the European Union works 

b.  Objective knowledge of the European Parliament elections 

1 

3 

5 

5 

5 

11 

19 

19 

24 

28 

28 

28 

32 

37 

42 

47 

 52 

52 

61 

69 

79 

85 

85 

90 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 

107 

 111 

111 

118 

118 

122 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

3  The European citizenship 

a.  Understanding of today’s world 

b. 

c. 

The feeling of European citizenship 

The feeling of having things in common 

1.  At the national level 

2. 

In the European Union 

IV. EUROPE TODAY AND TOMORROW 

1  More decisions at EU level 

2  The impact of technology in Europe 

3  What would be most helpful for the future of Europe? 

4  Europeans’ confidence in the future 

5  Europeans’ opinion of the future of the EU 

6  Prospects for young Europeans 

ANNEXES 

Technical specifications 

125 

125 

128 

131 

131 

134 

 136 

136 

140 

144 

152 

155 

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Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

INTRODUCTION 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

This report presents the results of a Special Eurobarometer survey which was carried out between 
15  and  29  March  2019.  Interviews  took  place  in  the  28  Member  States  of  the  European  Union1. 
Similar surveys were conducted in 20092, 20143 and 20154. 

This  report  consists  of  four  parts.  In  the  first  section,  “Life  in  the  European  Union”,  respondents 
discuss  the  main  concerns  at  both  national  and  European  levels.  This  chapter  also  addresses 
Europeans’  views  about  social  protection  and  access  to  healthcare.  Citizens’  views  on  the  way 
democracy works in both their country and the European Union are also considered, as well as their 
opinions  as  to  whether  the  political  system  takes  account  of  the  interests  of  people  like  them  in 
their country, and the rise of anti-establishment parties. 

The second part, “The European Union in 2019”, addresses views on the EU’s present circumstances, 
including  opinions  about  the  EU’s  main  assets,  challenges  and  most  positive  results.  Citizens’ 
opinions about the EU’s place in the world are examined through their perceptions of the EU as a 
place of stability in a troubled world, followed by their attitudes to globalisation. Lastly, this chapter 
looks at Europeans’ trust in the media and in political institutions, including the European Union. 

In the third part, “The European Union and its citizens”, respondents discuss what the EU means to 
them  personally,  as  well  as  their  subjective  and  objective  knowledge  of  the  European  Union.  The 
focus then shifts to European citizenship, asking whether Europeans understand what is going on in 
today’s  world,  whether  they  feel  they  are  citizens  of  the  EU  and  whether  they  have  things  in 
common with people at both national and European levels. 

The  report  ends  with  a  chapter  on  “Europe  today  and  tomorrow”,  where  we  discuss  whether 
respondents support more decision-making at EU level, the areas in which technology will have the 
biggest  impact  in  Europe,  and  the  policies  that  would  be  most  helpful  to  Europe’s  future.  Finally, 
other topics include Europeans’ confidence in the future, optimism about the future of the European 
Union, and the prospects for young people. 

As most of these questions were asked during previous Standard Eurobarometer surveys, as well as 
in the “Future of Europe” 5 series, it is possible to analyse opinion trends. 

1 Please consult the technical specifications for the exact fieldwork dates in each Member State. 
2 The Europeans in 2009: 
http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/getsurveydetail/instruments/special/surveyky/940/p/4  
3 Europeans in 2014: 
http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/getsurveydetail/instruments/special/surveyky/2039/p/2  
4 Europeans in 2015 
http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2097/p/2 
5 The  latest  “Future  of  Europe”  survey  is  the  Special  Eurobarometer  survey  479,  which  was  carried  out  between  24  October  and  7 
November 2018: http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/getsurveydetail/instruments/special/surveyky/2217 

1 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The  methodology  used  is  that  of  the  Standard  Eurobarometer  surveys  carried  out  by  the 
Directorate-General  for  Communication  (“Media  monitoring  and  Eurobarometer”  Unit)6.  It  is  the 
same  for  all  countries  and  territories  covered  in  the  survey.  A  technical  note  concerning  the 
interviews conducted by the member institutes of the Kantar network is annexed to this report. It 
also specifies the confidence intervals7. 

Note: In this report, countries are referred to by their official abbreviation. The abbreviations used in 
this report correspond to: 

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

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 

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

European Union – weighted average for the 28 Member States 
Weighted average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK 

EU28 
EU28-UK 

* 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 which 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. 

We wish to thank the people throughout the European Union 

who have given their time to take part in this survey. 

Without their active participation, this study would not have been possible. 

6 http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm 
7 The results tables are annexed. It should be noted that the total of the percentages indicated in the tables in this report may exceed 
100% when the respondent was able to choose several answers to the same question. 

2 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

KEY FINDINGS 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Life in the European Union 

§  A  majority  of  respondents  consider  that  unemployment  (21%)  is  the  most  important  issue 
facing  their  country  at  the  moment,  slightly  ahead  of  rising  prices/  inflation/  cost  of  living 
(20%) and health and social security (19%). 

§ 

In  parallel,  immigration  (32%)  is  the  most  important  issue  currently  facing  the  European 
Union, ahead of terrorism (25%) and climate change (20%). 

§  More  than  eight  in  ten  Europeans  (82%)  say  that  the  free  market  economy  should  be 

accompanied by a high level of social protection. 

§  Over half of respondents (53%) are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country. 

§  However, Europeans are divided about the way democracy works in the European Union: 47% 

are satisfied, while 43% are not satisfied. 

§  Consequently,  more  than  half  of  respondents  (54%)  think  that  the  interests  of  people  like 
them are not properly taken into account by the political system in their country, while 40% 
believe the opposite. 

§  Six in ten Europeans see the rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political 

elites in various European countries as a matter of concern. 

§  Slightly more than half of respondents (51%) agree that everyone has a chance to succeed in 

life in their country. 

The European Union in 2019 

§  More than two-thirds of Europeans are in favour of four European policies: 81% are for the 
free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU; 
73%  for  a  common  defence  and  security  policy  among  EU  Member  States;  70%  for  a 
common energy policy among EU Member States; and 69% for the EU’s common trade policy. 

§  The main asset of the European Union is its respect for democracy, human rights and the rule 

of law (31%), just ahead of its economic, industrial and trading power (27%). 

§  Social  inequalities  (39%)  are  the  main  challenge  for  the  European  Union,  followed  by 

migration issues (35%) and unemployment (30%). 

§  Respondents  firmly  identify  two  of  the  European  Union’s  results  as  the  most  positives:  the 
free  movement  of  people,  goods  and  services  within  the  EU  (60%)  and  peace  among  the 
Member States of the EU (50%). 

§  Two-thirds  of  Europeans  (66%)  think  that  the  European  Union  is  a  place  of  stability  in  a 
troubled  world,  but  this  proportion  has  lost  ten  percentage  points  since  October-November 
2018. 

§  45% of respondents think that globalisation threatens their country’s identity, while the same 

proportion (45%) have the opposite opinion. 

§ 

In parallel, nearly six in ten Europeans (57%) consider that globalisation is an opportunity for 
economic growth. 

§  A majority of respondents tend to trust regional or local public authorities (51%), while only 
minorities  tend  to  trust  the  media  (38%)  or  the  four  other  political  institutions  tested:  the 
European  Union  (37%),  national  governments  and  parliaments  (both  32%),  and  political 
parties (19%). 

3 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The European Union and its citizens 

§  More than half of Europeans (52%) associate the European Union with the freedom to travel, 
study and work anywhere in the EU, substantially ahead of the euro (32%) or peace (29%). 

§  Close to six in ten respondents (59%) say they understand how the EU works. 

§ 

In  parallel,  a  similar  proportion  (58%)  actually  know  that  the  members  of  the  European 
Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State. 

§  Two-thirds of Europeans (67%) say they understand well what is going on in today’s world. 

§  Close to seven in ten respondents (69%) feel they are citizens of the European Union. 

§  Slightly more than seven in ten Europeans (71%) believe that people in their country have a 

lot of things in common. 

§  However, 51% consider that people in the European Union have a lot of things in common, 

20-percentage points below the national-level result. 

Europe today and tomorrow 

§  Over half the respondents (54%) think that more decisions should be taken at EU level. 

§  Technology  is  expected  to  have  the  biggest  impact  in  Europe  on  employment/  work  (43%), 

ahead of health (38%) and education (37%). 

§  More than half of Europeans (52%) consider that comparable living standards would be most 
helpful  for  the  future  of  Europe,  substantially  ahead  of  comparable  education  standards 
(37%) and a well-defined external border of the EU (23%). 

§  Around two-thirds of respondents (65%) have confidence in the future. 

§ 

In  parallel,  more  than  half  of  Europeans  (55%)  are  optimistic  about  the  future  of  the 
European Union. 

§  Lastly,  close  to  two-thirds  of  Europeans  (65%)  consider  that  the  European  Union  project 

offers future prospects for Europe’s youth. 

4 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

I.  LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 

1  The main concerns of Europeans  

a.  The main national concerns 

Around a fifth of Europeans think unemployment, rising prices/inflation/cost of living and 
health and social security are the most important issues currently facing their country  

Unemployment is the most important issue facing their country at the moment for slightly more 
than  a  fifth  of  respondents  (21%)8.  A  similar  proportion  of  respondents  mention  rising  prices/ 
inflation/ cost of living (20%) and health and social security (19%). 

These  are  followed  closely  by  the  environment,  climate  and  energy  issues  (18%), 
immigration (17%), the economic situation (16%) and pensions (16%). 

Four other issues are cited by at least one in ten respondents: the education system (12%) crime 
(11%), terrorism (10%) and housing (10%). 

Finally, taxation (8%) and government debt (7%) are at the bottom of the list. 

8 QA1. What do you think are the two most important issues facing (OUR COUNTRY) at the moment? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

5 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK gives results that are nearly 
the same.  

QA1

What do you think are the two most important issues facing (OUR

COUNTRY) at the moment?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

Unemployment

Rising prices/ inflation/ cost of living

Health and social security

The environment, climate and energy issues

Immigration

Economic situation

Pensions

The education system

Crime

Housing

Terrorism

Taxation

Government debt

EU28

EU28-UK

21

20

19

18

17

16

16

12

11

10

10

8

7

22

21

19

19

17

17

18

13

9

9

8

9

7

Differences between EU28 and EU28-UK

6 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Compared with the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2018 (EB90), most concerns score 
the  same  or  within  one  or  two  percentage  points  either  way.  However,  the  proportion  of 
respondents mentioning the environment, climate and energy issues has risen (up from 14% 
to 18%), while those citing immigration (down from 21% to 17%) and government debt (down 
from 10% to 7%) have fallen in the same proportions. 

Unemployment is the main national concern in the four EU Member States where it is mentioned 
by more than a third of respondents: Spain (49%), Greece (48%), Italy (44%) and Croatia (37%). 

Rising prices/ inflation/ cost of living comes in first position in eight countries, with the highest 
proportions in Lithuania (55%), Poland (42%) and Bulgaria (40%). 

Health and social security is the top national issue in four EU Member States, most strikingly in 
Finland (53%), Hungary (42%) and Slovenia (41%). 

In  Portugal,  rising  prices/  inflation/  cost  of  living  and  health  and  social  security  are  in  equal  first 
position (both 32%). 

In  five  countries,  respondents  put  the  environment,  climate  and  energy  issues  in  first  place, 
with the highest scores in the Netherlands (57%), Denmark (50%) and Sweden (46%). 

Immigration  is  the  most  important  national  issue  in  Malta  (56%).  First  place  is  taken  by  the 
economic  situation  in  Cyprus  (46%),  crime  in  the  United  Kingdom  (27%),  housing  in  both 
Luxembourg (57%) and Ireland (52%), and taxation in Latvia (36%). 

No other item tops the list of the most important national issues in any EU Member State. However, 
pensions are of significant concern in Slovenia (30%), Latvia (25%) and Spain (23%). 

The  education  system  is  of  particular  concern  in  Sweden  (23%),  and  in  Germany  and  Austria 
(both 20%). 

Terrorism obtains its highest proportions among respondents in the UK (21%), France (16%) and 
the Netherlands (15%). 

Finally, government debt is mentioned by more than one in ten respondents in Greece (16%), Italy 
(13%), and in Czechia and Croatia (both 12%). 

7 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA1

What do you think are the two most important issues facing (OUR COUNTRY) at the moment?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

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EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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LV
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1st MOST FREQUENTLY

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY

MENTIONED ITEM

MENTIONED ITEM

MENTIONED ITEM

8 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2018 (EB90), ten of the 13 issues tested have 
seen  variations  of  at  least  ten  percentage  points.  The  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning 
unemployment as a main issue facing their country has decreased in 15 EU Member States, most 
notably in France (28%, -10 percentage points). It has increased slightly in five countries and has 
remained unchanged in eight. 

The  proportion  of  respondents  who  see  health  and  social  security  as  a  leading  issue  in  their 
country has increased in 14 EU Member States, most strikingly in Slovenia (41%, +10 percentage 
points).  It  has  decreased  in  12  Member  States,  particularly  in  the  Netherlands  (31%,  -13),  Latvia 
(31%, -11) and the UK (21%, -11), and is stable in Italy and Malta. 

The environment, climate and energy issues has gained ground in 19 EU Member States, led 
by  the  Netherlands  (57%,  +16  percentage  points)  and  Denmark  (50%,  +13).  It  has  lost  one 
percentage point in three countries and is unchanged in six. 

The  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning  immigration  has  decreased  in  19  EU  Member  States, 
notably in Slovenia (13%, -11 percentage points), while it has increased in seven countries and is 
unchanged in Estonia and Slovakia. 

Mentions  of  pensions  are  up  in  18  EU  Member  States,  in  particular  in  Slovenia  (30%,  +12 
percentage points). This item has lost ground in just four countries and is unchanged in six. 

Proportions  of  respondents  citing  the  education  system  are  up  in  16  EU  Member  States,  most 
notably  in  Poland  (17%,  +12  percentage  points).  They  are  down  slightly  in  eight  countries  and 
unchanged in four. 

Housing  has  lost  ground  in  nine  EU  Member  States,  led  by  the  Netherlands  (9%,  -10  percentage 
points). Its scores have increased in nine countries and remain unchanged in ten. 

Mentions of terrorism have increased in 13 EU Member States, particularly in the UK (21%, +10 
percentage points). They have decreased slightly in seven countries and are unchanged in eight. 

Proportions of respondents mentioning taxation are down in 13 EU Member States. They are up in 
11 countries, with the highest increase in Latvia (36%, +13 percentage points), and unchanged in 
four. 

Lastly,  government  debt  is  mentioned  less  in  20  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in  Greece 
(16%, -12 percentage points).  

9 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

10 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  Main concerns at EU level  

Close to a third of Europeans consider that immigration is the most important issue 
facing the European Union, firmly ahead of terrorism and climate change 

Nearly  a  third  of  respondents  (32%)  think  that  immigration  is  one  of  the  two  most  important 
issues facing the European Union at the moment9. In second position, terrorism is mentioned by a 
quarter of Europeans (25%), while a fifth (20%) cite climate change. 

The economic situation comes in fourth place (18%), followed by the environment (14%), the 
state  of  Member  States’  public  finances 
(12%),  rising 
prices/inflation/cost of living (11%) and the EU’s influence in the world (11%). 

(13%),  unemployment 

All  other  issues  are  cited  by  less  than  one  in  ten  respondents:  crime  (9%),  pensions  (6%), 
taxation (5%) and energy supply (4%). 

Compared  with  the  Standard  Eurobarometer  survey  of  autumn  2018  (EB90),  five  items  have 
registered  variations  of  at  least  four  percentage  points.  There  is  a  marked  increase  in  concerns 
about  terrorism  (up  from  20%  to  25%),  the  environment  (up  from  9%  to  14%)  and  climate 
change (up from 16% to 20%). However, the proportions of respondents mentioning immigration 
(down from 40% to 32%) and the state of Member States’ public finances (down from 19% to 
13%) have fallen by eight and six percentage points respectively. 

9 QA2. What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

11 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

12 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA2 What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

 (% - EU)

60%

59

54

53

48

45

34

31

32

30

9

3

3

7

9

5

3

3

8

4

3

3

10

7

3

3

39

25

21

5

6

5

33

25

24

11

7

6

26

16

6

4

4

50%

46

40%

43

30%

20%

10%

0%

21

15

14

6

5

22

20

13

6

5

58

38

27

25

23

17

6

5

21

17

6

5

48

39

19

16

6

5

45

44

38

18

17

8

6

32

20

17

8

6

39

38

17

16

12

8

40

38

29

18

17

11

8

20

19

18

16

9

32

25

20

IMMIGRATION

TERRORISM
CLIMATE CHANGE

18

ECONOMIC SITUATION

14

THE ENVIRONMENT

13

THE STATE OF MEMBER STATES' PUBLIC FINANCES

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK gives nearly identical results: 
the  only  slight  differences  (by  one  percentage  point  only)  regard  immigration  (33%  vs.  32%  at 
EU28  level),  terrorism  (24%  vs.  25%),  climate  change  (21%  vs.  20%),  unemployment  (13%  vs. 
12%), rising prices/inflation/cost of living (12% vs. 11%), the EU’s influence in the world (10% vs. 
11%) and pensions (7% vs. 6%). 

Immigration  comes  in  first  position  among  the  most  important  issues  currently  facing  the 
European  Union  in  17  EU  Member  States,  led  by  Malta  (56%),  Estonia  (53%),  and  Czechia  and 
Hungary (both 47%). 

Terrorism  is  the  main  national  concern  in  five  countries:  Poland  (36%),  Lithuania  and  Portugal 
(both 35%), Ireland (29%) and the UK (27%). It also obtains high scores in Czechia (41%), Cyprus 
(36%) and Bulgaria (35%). 

Immigration and terrorism are in equal first position in Croatia (35% for both issues) and Romania 
(both 23%). 

Finally, climate change is seen as the main issue now facing the EU by a majority of respondents 
in four countries: Sweden (53%), Denmark (48%), Finland (40%) and France (29%). More than four 
in ten respondents also mention this concern in the Netherlands (42%). 

No other item tops the list of the most important issues currently facing the EU in any EU Member 
State.  

13 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA2

What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

s
e
c
n
a
n
i
f

c
i
l

b
u
p

'
s
e
t
a
t
S

r
e
b
m
e
M

f
o
e
t
a
t
s

e
h
T

13

14
11

9
6
12
8
20
10
7
22
11
9
14
10
8
13
9
10
16
7
21
18
11
20
15
12
13
20
6
11

g
n
i
v
i
l

f
o

t
s
o
c

/
n
o
i
t
a
l
f
n

i

/
s
e
c
i
r
p

g
n
i
s
i
R

11

11
12

15
15
12
2
9
10
16
6
7
18
14
10
9
13
16
11
10
5
4
15
15
13
20
6
17
7
3
10

d
l
r
o
w
e
h
t

n

i

e
c
n
e
u
l
f
n

i

s
'
U
E

11

10
11

8
9
10
14
15
8
9
14
5
10
12
5
5
9
11
10
11
3
19
17
9
7
9
9
13
17
15
13

t
n
e
m
y
o
p
m
e
n
U

l

12

15
6

10
6
5
4
9
7
11
19
21
14
9
25
21
9
8
12
7
7
2
12
5
13
7
9
8
6
4
7

e
g
n
a
h
c

e
t
a
m

i
l

C

20

22
16

28
7
9
48
28
16
23
3
16
29
13
14
7
11
15
24
12
13
42
20
14
10
10
15
10
40
53
14

m

s
i
r
o
r
r
e
T

25

22
30

20
35
41
18
18
30
29
28
25
25
35
20
36
29
35
26
28
30
16
16
36
35
23
30
24
26
21
27

n
o
i
t
a
u
t
i
s

c
i
m
o
n
o
c
E

18

19
16

14
15
8
7
12
13
18
35
23
18
17
26
27
17
16
16
15
6
13
16
14
21
19
15
16
14
11
20

t
n
e
m
n
o
r
i
v
n
e

e
h
T

14

14
12

15
6
11
24
19
8
13
3
10
22
4
9
4
5
4
15
6
17
14
14
11
5
10
10
12
14
22
12

e
m

i
r
C

s
n
o
i
s
n
e
P

n
o
i
t
a
x
a
T

y
l
p
p
u
s

y
g
r
e
n
E

9

8
11

11
11
13
10
8
6
12
13
5
7
16
10
16
8
9
10
11
13
2
13
8
9
14
13
14
7
9
12

6

7
3

9
3
6
2
6
5
3
3
9
7
6
10
5
6
4
5
7
6
2
8
5
5
5
6
8
4
1
0

5

5
4

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

4

4
5

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

n
o
i
t
a
r
g
m
m

i

I

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

32

32
32

38
45
47
38
37
53
28
37
33
22
35
34
44
38
34
28
47
56
45
29
35
17
23
40
41
28
32
26

1st MOST FREQUENTLY

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY

MENTIONED ITEM

MENTIONED ITEM

MENTIONED ITEM

14 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  autumn  2018,  five  of  the  13  issues  tested  have  registered  variations  of  at  least  ten 
percentage points. The proportion of respondents for whom immigration is one of the main issues 
facing  the  European  Union  at  the  moment  has  decreased  in  the  28  EU  Member  States,  most 
strikingly  in  Slovenia  (40%,  -18  percentage  points),  Croatia  (35%,  -13),  Luxembourg  (28%,  -13), 
Portugal  (17%,  -13),  Estonia  (53%,  -12),  Czechia  (47%,  -11),  France  (22%,  -11),  Denmark        
(38%, -10) and Finland (28%, -10). 

The  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning  terrorism  has  increased  in  21  EU  Member  States, 
notably  in  Cyprus  (36%,  +10  percentage  points),  Slovenia  (30%,  +10)  and  Sweden  (21%,  +10), 
while it has decreased slightly in five countries and is unchanged in Portugal and Lithuania. 

Proportions of respondents citing climate change are up in 20 EU Member States, most notably in 
Denmark (48%, +17 percentage points) and the Netherlands (42%, +11). They are down in seven 
countries and unchanged in the UK. 

Mentions  of  the  environment  have  increased  in  19  EU  Member  States,  particularly  in  Germany 
(19%, +10 percentage points). They have decreased slightly in three countries and are unchanged in 
six other. 

Lastly, the state of Member States’ public finances is mentioned less in 25 EU Member States, 
most  notably  in  the  Netherlands  (21%,  -13  percentage  points),  Germany  (20%,  -10),  Austria     
(18%, -10) and Luxembourg (10%, -10).  

15 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

16 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

17 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
		
 
	
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

18 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

2  Welfare and social protection 

a.  Free market economy and social protection  

The free market economy should go with a high level of social protection, say more than 
eight in ten Europeans 

Over eight in ten respondents (82%, -3 percentage points since the Special Eurobarometer 479 on 
Future  of  Europe,  carried  out  in  October-November  201810)  consider  that  the  free  market 
economy  should  be  accompanied  by  a  high  level  of  social  protection11,  including  close  to 
four  in  ten  respondents  (39%,  unchanged)  who  “totally  agree”  with  this  idea.  One  in  ten  (+2) 
disagree, and 8% (+1) “don’t know”. 

QA8.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Free-market economy should go with a high level of social protection (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

39
39
38
37

43

46
45
45

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

2
1
2
2

8
7
6

8

8
7

9
8

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
84% agree that the free market economy should go with a high level of social protection (including 
41% who “totally agree”), 9% disagree and 7% don’t know. 

10 Special  Eurobarometer  survey  479  on  Future  of  Europe,  which  was  carried  out  between  24  October  and  7  November  2018: 
http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2217 
11 QA8.2 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Free-market economy should go with a high 
level of social protection 

19 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

In the 28 EU Member States, more than six in ten respondents agree that the free market economy 
should go with a high level of social protection, with the highest scores in Greece and Cyprus (both 
93%) and Germany (92%), and the lowest in the UK (65%), Finland (70%) and Italy (74%). 

In  six  countries,  at  least  half  of  respondents  “totally  agree”  with  this  statement:  Greece  (66%), 
Cyprus (65%), Sweden (56%), Germany (55%), Lithuania (54%) and Bulgaria (50%). 

20 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  consider  that  the  free  market 
economy should go with a high level of social protection has decreased in 22 EU Member States, 
most  notably  in  the  UK  (65%,  -14  percentage  points).  It  has  increased  by  no  more  than  three 
percentage points in five countries and has remained unchanged in Lithuania. 

QA8.2

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Free-market economy should go with a high level of social protection

(%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

10

9
13

8
4
6
10
3
3
5
11
8
8
15
10
5
5
6
22
4
11
12
17
5
11
7
19
10
15
2
16

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

2

2
5

2
1
2
1
3
=
2
2
1
=
2
1
1
1
=
1
1
2
4
2
2
4
3
8
4
4
4
9

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

8

7
11

2
3
5
12
11
7
2
4
8
10
5
2
7
8
12
8
4
3
5
4
9
4
9
7
10
9
23
19

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

82

84
76

90
93
89
78
86
90
93
85
84
82
80
88
88
87
82
70
92
86
83
79
86
85
84
74
80
76
75
65

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

3

3
7

3
2
2
2
1
=
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
6
6
6
7
7
7
14

21 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA8.2

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

Free-market economy should go with a high level of social protection (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

39

41
37

35
38
41
39

31
38
45
35

41
46
38
38
32
37
38
35

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

43

42
43

48
45
42
40

38
44
42
50

43
41
45
43
44
43
40
50

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

2

2
2

1
2
3
3

4
2
2
2

1
2
1
3
3
2
3
2

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

8

6
11

9
7
6
10

17
8
4
7

7
4
6
7
13
10
12
7

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

82

83
80

83
83
83
79

69
82
87
85

84
87
83
81
76
80
78
85

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

10

11
9

8
10
11
11

14
10
9
8

9
9
11
12
11
10
10
8

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

8

9
7

7
8
8
8

10
8
7
6

8
7
10
9
8
8
7
6

22 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA8.2

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
Free-market economy should go with a high level of social protection
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

82

83
80

83
83
83
79

69
82
87
85

Socio-professional category
84
87
83
81
76
80
78
85

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

92

92
92

91
92
91
93

91
91
93
92

90
93
91
92
91
93
94
92

82

86
78

85
89
86
74

72
88
88
85

86
89
88
86
71
86
73
85

82

85
80

78
81
83
84

72
86
84
78

81
86
81
83
76
84
83
78

74

74
73

81
83
78
65

55
81
82
83

83
93
77
71
69
79
61
83

83

83
83

86
85
88
78

67
84
88
83

85
87
87
83
86
89
78
83

65

68
62

70
65
63
63

49
60
77
85

72
75
62
60
52
56
63
85

93

94
92

92
95
94
93

90
92
96
95

94
97
94
91
98
94
90
95

86

89
83

91
92
93
75

73
93
96
95

94
99
94
87
58
76
73
95

84

85
83

83
83
85
84

69
85
90
79

85
89
88
83
81
67
87
79

93

94
93

90
95
95
92

89
94
96
92

98
100
91
95
97
89
91
92

23 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  Improving access to healthcare 

More than four in ten Europeans think more money should be allocated to healthcare to 
improve access to healthcare for all Europeans 

To  improve  access  to  healthcare  for  all  Europeans,  more  than  four  in  ten  respondents  (43%) 
consider that more money should be allocated to healthcare12. 

A  third  of  respondents  (33%)  mention  more  affordable  medical  treatments.  In  equal  third 
place, close to three in ten respondents (29%) cite more medical staff in rural areas and more 
physicians/ doctors. 

Nearly a quarter of respondents identified more research on health as a way to improve access 
to healthcare for all Europeans (23%). 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK gives nearly identical results: 
the  only  slight  differences  (by  one  percentage  point  only)  regard  more  affordable  medical 
treatments (34% vs. 33% at EU28 level), more medical staff in rural areas (30% vs. 29%), more 
research on health (24% vs. 23%) and more medical establishments (19% vs. 18%), 

12 D85. What do you think should be done to improve access to healthcare for all Europeans? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

24 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Allocating more money to healthcare is seen as the best way to improve access to healthcare 
for all in 16 EU Member States, with the highest proportions in Lithuania and Finland (both 59%), 
and in Spain (58%). 

In  eight  EU  Member  States,  respondents  put  more  affordable  medical  treatments  in  first 
position. This is particularly the case in the Netherlands (69%), Latvia (65%) and Belgium (54%). 

More  money  allocated  to  healthcare  and  more  affordable  medical  treatments  share  first  place  in 
Bulgaria (44% for both policies). 

More medical staff in rural areas is the most mentioned policy in the three countries where it 
obtains its highest scores: France and Germany (both 46%), and Austria (38%). 

The  three  other  policies  do  not  come  first  in  any  EU  Member  State.  However,  more  physicians/ 
doctors is mentioned by more than a third of respondents in France (41%), Croatia (37%), Czechia 
(36%), Poland (35%) and Portugal (34%). 

More  research  on  health  has  its  highest  scores  in  Spain  (44%),  Malta  (42%),  Italy  (32%)  and 
Sweden (31%). 

Lastly,  more  medical  establishments  is  mentioned  by  more  than  a  quarter  of  respondents  in 
Cyprus (31%), Italy (29%) and Greece (28%). 

D85 What do you think should be done to improve access to healthcare for all Europeans? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

59 59 58

56 56

52

50

48 48 47

45 44 44 43 43 43

44

37

34

69

65

54

49 49

45

42 41

46 46

38

LT

FI

ES

EE

SE

EL UK DK HU HR

PL

BG CY EU28 IT MT CZ

LU NL

LV

BE

IE

PT

SI

SK RO DE

FR AT

More money allocated to healthcare

More affordable medical treatments

More medical staff in rural areas

25 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

D85

What do you think should be done to improve access to healthcare for all

Europeans? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

e
r
a
c
h
t
l
a
e
h

o
t

d
e
t
a
c
o

l
l

a

y
e
n
o
m
e
r
o
M

43

42
46

45
44
37
48
36
56
39
52
58
34
47
43
44
51
59
34
48
43
45
37
45
40
39
36
39
59
56
50

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

s
t
n
e
m
t
a
e
r
t

l

a
c
i
d
e
m
e
b
a
d
r
o
f
f
a

l

e
r
o
M

33

34
32

54
44
28
31
29
38
49
42
17
30
38
35
43
65
42
32
30
34
69
32
29
49
41
45
42
50
27
29

s
a
e
r
a

l

a
r
u
r

n

i

f
f
a
t
s

l

a
c
i
d
e
m
e
r
o
M

29

31
23

22
22
22
32
46
29
25
20
18
46
27
15
14
27
26
31
29
13
19
38
20
31
27
28
25
24
28
21

s
r
o
t
c
o
d
/
s
n
a
i
c
i
s
y
h
p
e
r
o
M

29

28
31

18
33
36
28
28
20
27
30
29
41
37
23
29
10
20
31
32
25
10
33
35
34
25
33
31
20
20
31

h
t
l
a
e
h

n
o
h
c
r
a
e
s
e
r

e
r
o
M

23

25
19

25
25
20
23
20
14
18
23
44
14
14
32
28
12
20
22
14
42
29
21
18
19
19
15
18
17
31
18

s
t
n
e
m
h
s
i
l

b
a
t
s
e

l

a
c
i
d
e
m
e
r
o
M

18

18
17

14
13
16
19
17
8
15
28
14
15
21
29
31
5
11
18
24
14
5
24
24
18
22
10
24
8
16
12

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

26 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

27 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

3  Democracy in the European Union  

a.  Perceptions of the way democracy works 

1.  At national level 

More than half of Europeans are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country 

Over half of respondents (53%, -4 percentage points compared with the Standard Eurobarometer 
survey  of  autumn  2018)  express  satisfaction  with  the  way  democracy  works  in  their 
country13. In contrast, more than four in ten Europeans (45%, +4) say they are not satisfied with 
the way democracy works in their country and 2% (unchanged) express no opinion. 

QA6a On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in (OUR COUNTRY)?

 (% - EU)

70%

60%

57

50%

58

56

53

53

54

40%

44

40

41

39

45

44

52

46

51

47

49

49

50

48

52

46

50

50

48

48

53

52

45

45

51

47

53

44

56

56

57

57

42

42

41

41

53

45

TOTAL 'SATISFIED'

TOTAL 'NOT SATISFIED'

30%

20%

10%

2

0%

3

3

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

2

3

2

2

2

2

2

DON'T KNOW

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
54% are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country, while 44% are not satisfied and 
2% don’t know. 

13 QA6a. On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in 
(OUR COUNTRY)? 

28 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

There are marked differences between EU Member States: the proportions of respondents satisfied 
with  the  way  democracy  works  in  their  country  vary  between  91%  in  Denmark  and  28%  in  both 
Greece and Romania, a jump of 63 percentage points. 

In 16 EU Member States, a majority of respondents are satisfied with the way democracy works in 
their  country,  with  the  highest  proportions  in  Denmark  (91%),  Luxembourg  (88%)  and  the 
Netherlands (82%). 

However,  only  minorities  are  satisfied  with  how  their  democracy  works  in  12  EU  Member  States, 
with the lowest scores in Romania and Greece (both 28%), and in Croatia (32%). 

Since autumn 2018, satisfaction with the way national democracy works has decreased in 17 EU 
Member  States,  most  strikingly  in  the  UK  (43%,  -20  percentage  points).  It  has  increased  in  eight 
countries,  particularly  in  Lithuania  (44%,  +9),  and  has  remained  unchanged  in  Denmark,  the 
Netherlands and Sweden. 

29 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who are satisfied with the way democracy 
works in their country are more likely to be: 

§  Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (60%), compared with those 
who finished aged 16-19 (48% vs. 49% dissatisfied) and aged 15 or under (45% vs. 51%); 

§  Managers (66%), other white collars (57%), self-employed people (54%) and students (52%), 
compared  with  unemployed  people  (42%  vs.  55%  dissatisfied),  manual  workers  (44%  vs. 
53%) and house persons (48% vs. 50%); 

§  Those  who  never  or  almost  never have  difficulties  paying  bills  (59%),  compared  with  those 
who have such difficulties from time to time (43% vs. 55% dissatisfied) or most of the time 
(29% vs. 68%); 

§  Respondents who place themselves in the upper middle (72%), upper (65%) or middle (57%) 
class, compared with those who say they belong to the working (43% vs. 54% dissatisfied) or 
lower middle (48% vs. 50%) class. 

QA6a

On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy

works in (OUR COUNTRY)? 

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
s

y
r
e
V

7

8
7

8
7
7
7

5
5
10
9

7
11
7
5
7
4
7
9

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

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
s

y
l
r
i
a
F

46

46
45

46
45
45
46

40
43
50
50

47
55
50
39
41
38
45
50

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
s

l
l

a

t
a

t
o
N

14

13
14

12
14
16
13

16
15
12
10

15
12
11
16
14
21
14
10

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

2

2
3

3
2
2
2

4
3
1
3

1
1
3
3
2
3
3
3

'

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
S

'

l

a
t
o
T

53

54
52

54
52
52
53

45
48
60
59

54
66
57
44
48
42
52
59

'

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
s

t
o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

45

44
45

43
46
46
45

51
49
39
38

45
33
40
53
50
55
45
38

d
e
i
f
s
i
t
a
s

y
r
e
v

t
o
N

31

31
31

31
32
30
32

35
34
27
28

30
21
29
37
36
34
31
28

30 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA6a

On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the way democracy works in 

(OUR COUNTRY)?
(% - TOTAL 'SATISFIED')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

53

54
52

54
52
52
53

45
48
60
59

Socio-professional category
54
66
57
44
48
42
52
59

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

68

67
70

60
66
65
73

70
62
77
65

71
77
68
57
69
61
72
65

37

35
39

33
32
39
39

36
34
41
29

35
43
41
33
38
39
39
29

45

49
41

44
38
48
48

37
37
53
56

59
66
47
32
41
25
48
56

48

50
46

52
50
52
43

40
47
56
56

58
66
49
37
47
44
40
56

59

57
61

57
60
61
59

61
59
58
65

71
56
55
60
63
54
58
65

43

46
40

45
52
33
44

35
42
49
49

34
56
61
32
34
42
44
49

28

24
30

34
29
24
26

26
23
30
34

20
38
33
24
27
24
27
34

56

55
55

71
54
57
51

51
53
64
80

58
61
59
55
37
39
47
80

74

78
72

75
73
71
78

55
70
83
79

75
81
78
72
67
47
79
79

38

40
36

41
35
37
38

32
36
39
42

31
35
41
41
27
28
40
42

31 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

2.  At European level  

A slight majority of Europeans are satisfied with the way democracy works in the 
European Union 

Respondents  are  divided  about  the  way  democracy  works  in  the  EU14:  nearly  half  (47%,  -3 
percentage points since the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2018) are satisfied, but a 
similar proportion (43%, +2) say they are not satisfied, and one in ten (+1) answer that they “don’t 
know”. 

QA6b And how about the way democracy works in the EU?

 (% - EU)

70%

60%

50%

48

49

50

54

52

40%

35

35

30%

34

32

32

50

35

20%

17

17

16

16

14

15

10%

0%

45

43

44

44

45

44

46

46

43

43

44

43

45

43

46

41

45

43

48

42

45

45

48

49

47

50

42

42

41

41

47

43

TOTAL 'SATISFIED'
TOTAL 'NOT SATISFIED'

12

12

11

11

11

13

12

13

12

10

10

11

10

10

9

10

DON'T KNOW

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
48%  are  satisfied  with  the  way  democracy  works  in  the  European  Union,  while  43%  are  not 
satisfied, and 9% don’t know. 

14 QA6b. And how about the way democracy works in the EU? 

32 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  are  satisfied  with  the  way  democracy  works  in  the  European  Union  in  21  EU  Member 
States, with the highest proportions in Ireland (69%), and Lithuania and Denmark (both 67%). 

In contrast, only minorities of respondents are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU in 
seven EU Member States: Greece (30% satisfied vs. 64% dissatisfied), France (37% vs. 53%), the 
UK (38% vs. 44%), Spain (42% vs. 49%), Italy (44% vs. 47%), Slovakia (45% vs. 46%) and Cyprus 
(46% vs. 47%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  satisfaction  with  the  way  democracy  works  in  the  European  Union  has 
decreased  in  22  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in  the  UK  (38%,  -10  percentage  points).  It  has 
increased  by  at  most  three  percentage  points  in  four  countries  and  is  unchanged  in  Bulgaria  and 
Czechia. 

33 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who are satisfied with the way democracy 
works in the European Union are more likely to be: 

§  15-24  year  olds  (57%),  particularly when  compared  with  those  aged  55  and  over  (41%  vs. 

46% dissatisfied); 

§  Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (54%), compared with those 

who finished aged 16-19 (44% vs. 46%) and aged 15 or under (35% vs. 49%); 

§  Students (61%), managers (57%), other white collars (54%) and self-employed people (51%), 
compared with retired people (39% vs. 47%), unemployed people (40% vs. 48%), and manual 
workers (43% vs. 48%); 

§  Those  who  never  or  almost  never  have  difficulties  paying  bills  (51%),  compared  with  those 
who  have  such  difficulties  from  time  to  time  (42%  vs.  49%)  or  most  of  the  time  (31%  vs. 
57%); 

§  Respondents who place themselves in the upper middle (60%), upper (57%) or middle (52%) 
class,  compared  with  those  who  say  they  belong  to  the  working  (39%  vs.  46%)  or  lower 
middle (42% vs. 49%) class. 

34 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

35 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA6b

And how about the way democracy works in the EU?
(% - TOTAL 'SATISFIED')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

47

47
47

57
51
48
41

35
44
54
61

Socio-professional category
51
57
54
43
45
40
39
61

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

49

47
50

50
53
44
48

46
43
56
54

45
55
55
43
50
33
47
54

42

44
39

52
41
47
36

36
38
52
51

42
54
55
39
33
43
35
51

37

41
34

46
37
42
32

27
30
41
60

40
54
39
32
30
31
30
60

44

47
43

54
50
48
37

30
46
55
55

58
63
49
31
46
37
33
55

61

59
64

70
63
68
52

47
60
63
79

58
63
64
64
68
68
51
79

38

38
39

51
43
39
30

21
35
52
54

52
45
45
31
45
38
30
54

30

29
31

47
33
27
25

23
25
34
52

30
40
35
25
23
23
26
52

58

57
59

83
62
62
46

47
57
72
90

61
67
70
58
32
42
44
90

69

75
66

74
71
69
68

52
65
78
73

76
78
77
69
57
42
69
73

46

44
46

42
43
43
50

41
42
49
48

29
51
43
36
47
57
52
48

36 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  How citizens’ interests are taken into account in their country 

More than half of Europeans consider that the interests of people like them are not 
properly taken into account by the political system in their country 

Over half of respondents disagree that the interests of people like them are well taken into 
account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY) (54%, +8 percentage points since October-
November 2018)15, including nearly a quarter (22%, +4) who “totally disagree”. However, four in ten 
respondents (-9) agree with this statement, and 6% (+1) give no answer. 

QA8.5 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The interests of people like you are well taken into account by the political system in 

(OUR COUNTRY) (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

9

9

12
11

37

35

31

32

32

28
29

31

18
19

22

23

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

6
5
6
5

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
53%  disagree  (including  21%  who  “totally  disagree”)  that  the  interests  of  people  like  them  are 
properly taken into account by the political system in their country, 41% agree and 6% don’t know. 

15 QA8.5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The interests of people like you are well taken 
into account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY) 

37 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A majority of respondents think that the interests of people like them are not  properly taken into 
account  by  the  political  system  in  their  country  in  17  EU  Member  States,  with  the  highest 
proportions in Greece (73%), Cyprus (69%), and in Slovenia, Croatia and France (all 68%). More than 
a third “totally disagree” in Cyprus (40%), Croatia (39%) and Greece (38%). 

However, majorities believe that their interests are properly taken into account in their country in 11 
EU  Member  States,  particularly  in  Denmark  (71%,  including  26%  who  “totally  agree”),  Sweden 
(70%) and Luxembourg (63%). 

38 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since October-November 2018, agreement that the “interests of people like you are well taken into 
account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY)” has decreased in all EU Member States but two. 
This is particularly the case in the UK (27%, -19 percentage points), Belgium (42%, -15), Romania 
(41%,  -15),  Germany  (54%,  -12),  Ireland  (52%,  -11)  and  Slovakia  (4%,  -11).  Agreement  has 
increased  by  four  percentage  points  in  Lithuania  (up  from  28%  to  32%)  and  has  remained 
unchanged in Portugal. 

QA8.5

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The interests of people like you are well taken into account by the

political system in (OUR COUNTRY) (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

54

55
53

64
57
50
32
68
46
28
39
65
25
53
56
73
26
45
68
46
45
60
68
66
69
40
51
41
56
56
61

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

8

8
10

5
1
1
1
3
3
2
4
6
4
6
1
6
7
8
6
7
7
4
7
7
10
8
11
10
14
17
13

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

5
8

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

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

40

40
39

32
38
42
56
30
51
63
58
30
71
41
32
26
70
52
29
50
46
33
26
28
27
52
40
54
42
41
27

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

9

8
12

4
=
1
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
9
11
11
12
15
15
19

39 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic  analysis shows that a minority of respondents consider that the interests 
of people like them are well taken into account by the political system in their country in nearly all 
socio-demographic categories. However, they are more likely to be: 

§  Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (47%), compared with those 

who finished aged 19 or under (34%-36%); 

§  Managers (52%), particularly when compared with unemployed people (29%); 

§  Those who never or almost never have difficulties paying bills (43%), particularly compared 

with those who have difficulties paying bills most of the time (24%); 

§  Respondents  who  place  themselves  in  the  upper  (57%)  or  upper  middle  class  (59%), 
compared with those who say they belong to the working (30%) or lower middle class (34%). 

QA8.5

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

The interests of people like you are well taken into account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY)

(% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

9

10
8

11
10
8
8

6
8
11
10

10
12
9
8
7
6
8
10

6
8
9

6
7
10
14
27

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

31

32
30

32
31
32
30

28
28
36
34

31
40
34
28
30
23
29
34

18
27
34

24
27
35
45
30

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

32

32
33

30
33
32
33

31
35
31
30

33
28
36
34
30
34
32
30

29
36
32

34
36
32
25
28

40 

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

22

21
22

17
20
23
23

27
23
18
16

21
15
16
25
24
31
24
16

43
24
19

29
25
18
12
13

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

5
7

10
6
5
6

8
6
4
10

5
5
5
5
9
6
7
10

4
5
6

7
5
5
4
2

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

40

42
38

43
41
40
38

34
36
47
44

41
52
43
36
37
29
37
44

24
35
43

30
34
45
59
57

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

54

53
55

47
53
55
56

58
58
49
46

54
43
52
59
54
65
56
46

72
60
51

63
61
50
37
41

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA8.5

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The interests of people like you are well taken into account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY)
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

40

42
38

43
41
40
38

34
36
47
44

Socio-professional category
41
52
43
36
37
29
37
44

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

54

55
54

50
54
50
59

57
45
68
51

51
66
51
47
57
36
58
51

28

28
29

39
25
27
30

31
25
29
34

24
30
30
26
36
28
30
34

26

30
21

37
20
22
26

22
20
30
39

21
29
23
20
24
19
27
39

41

47
35

33
43
48
37

38
43
45
40

52
55
41
41
30
36
37
40

46

45
48

39
51
50
42

42
45
49
45

44
55
56
45
51
41
39
45

27

27
28

33
34
27
23

14
25
38
33

37
33
27
29
28
21
23
33

26

28
23

30
26
26
24

22
24
29
28

33
41
26
23
19
19
23
28

38

39
36

51
47
38
29

27
44
46
57

39
47
46
39
10
36
26
57

52

54
51

48
53
50
56

42
54
56
44

52
55
57
52
58
32
54
44

27

23
30

36
23
25
25

30
24
23
40

19
31
28
19
15
26
28
40

QA8.5

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The interests of people like you are well taken into account by the political system in (OUR COUNTRY)
(% - TOTAL 'DISAGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

54

53
55

47
53
55
56

58
58
49
46

Socio-professional category
54
43
52
59
54
65
56
46

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

41

41
41

45
43
46
36

41
49
28
44

46
29
41
49
38
63
38
44

66

68
64

57
72
68
62

59
73
68
60

72
67
68
71
53
68
60
60

45

48
43

41
45
46
47

42
48
45
33

46
44
40
49
39
47
49
33

61

62
60

47
51
64
70

72
63
54
49

53
56
62
61
50
65
68
49

73

71
75

69
72
72
75

77
75
68
71

65
59
73
77
78
76
76
71

57

56
59

43
48
60
66

67
53
49
37

59
52
51
55
90
60
67
37

40

40
40

41
38
45
37

45
40
37
46

43
39
37
37
40
52
39
46

69

74
65

55
73
73
71

67
73
73
51

81
69
68
78
74
73
67
51

68

62
73

56
73
72
68

69
75
64
53

75
60
72
73
73
77
67
53

53

49
58

53
54
49
56

54
53
54
47

47
44
55
55
60
61
56
47

41 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

c.  The rise of anti-establishment parties 

Six in ten Europeans think that the rise of political parties protesting against the 
traditional political elites in various European countries is a matter of concern 

A large majority of respondents (60%, -7 percentage points since October-November 2018) agree 
that  the  rise  of  political  parties  protesting  against  the  traditional  political  elites  in 
various European countries is a matter of concern16, including nearly a quarter of respondents 
(23%, -3) who “totally agree”. However, close to three in ten respondents (29%, +5) disagree with 
this statement, and around one in ten (11%, +2) say they “don’t know”. 

QA8.6 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various 

European countries is a matter of concern (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

23

26

24

21

20

17
18

21

37

41
40

38

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

7
7

9

9

9

11

11
11

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly the same results: 
62%  of  respondents  agree  that  “the  rise  of  political  parties  protesting  against  the  traditional 
political  elites  in  various  European  countries  is  a  matter  of  concern”  (including  24%  who  “totally 
agree”), 28% disagree and 10% don’t know. 

16 QA8.6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The rise of political parties protesting against 
the traditional political elites in various European countries is a matter of concern 

42 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A majority of respondents agree that “the rise of political parties protesting against the traditional 
political  elites  in  various  European  countries  is  a  matter  of  concern”  in  all  28  EU  Member  States, 
with the highest scores in Portugal (78%), Germany (74%), and in Sweden and Ireland (both 72%), 
and the lowest in Bulgaria (42% vs. 27% disagree), Czechia (48% vs. 37%) and Italy (49% vs. 42%). 
More  than  a  third  of  respondents  “totally  agree”  with  this  statement  in  Sweden  (41%),  and  in 
Cyprus and Germany (both 37%). 

43 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  think  that  “the  rise  of  political 
parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various European countries is a matter of 
concern” has decreased in 23 EU Member States, and by at least ten percentage points in nine of 
them:  Croatia  (50%,  -19  percentage  points),  Italy  (49%,  -15),  Slovakia  (57%,  -14),  Hungary 
(54%,  -12),  Poland  (57%,  -11),  the  UK  (53%,  -11),  Bulgaria  (42%,  -11),  Romania  (60%,  -10)  and 
Czechia  (48%,  -10).  Respondents  are  now  more  likely  to  agree  in  four  countries,  most  notably  in 
Portugal (78%, +12). Finally, this proportion is unchanged in Latvia. 

QA8.6

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political

elites in various European countries is a matter of concern (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

29

28
29

10
32
31
27
25
18
23
27
18
23
25
21
32
24
30
19
32
31
32
26
37
27
30
27
34
25
42
38

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

5

5
6

11
3
1
2
2
1
3
3
3
2
4
3
3
1
6
5
4
6
7
8
3
7
6
=
5
10
16
12

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

11

8
16

12
4
15
7
21
16
10
11
23
22
3
5
5
14
9
9
10
4
10
14
15
16
17
31
12
18
9
12

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

60

64
55

78
64
54
66
54
66
67
62
59
55
72
74
63
62
61
72
58
65
58
60
48
57
53
42
54
57
49
50

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

7

5
11

12
4
4
2
=
1
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
8
9
10
10
11
11
11
12
14
15
19

44 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that more than half of respondents agree that “the rise of 
political parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various European countries is a 
matter of concern” in all socio-demographic categories. 

QA8.6

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

The rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various European

countries is a matter of concern (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

23

23
24

18
20
25
27

20
23
28
18

26
29
21
21
24
21
27
18

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

37

37
37

36
39
38
35

35
38
36
37

38
37
39
39
34
37
35
37

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

9

11
7

8
10
10
8

9
8
9
8

8
8
8
9
8
13
8
8

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

11

8
13

15
9
8
12

17
11
6
14

8
5
8
10
16
11
13
14

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

60

60
61

54
59
63
62

55
61
64
55

64
66
60
60
58
58
62
55

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

29

32
26

31
32
29
26

28
28
30
31

28
29
32
30
26
31
25
31

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

20

21
19

23
22
19
18

19
20
21
23

20
21
24
21
18
18
17
23

45 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA8.6

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various European countries is a 
matter of concern
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

60

60
61

54
59
63
62

55
61
64
55

Socio-professional category
64
66
60
60
58
58
62
55

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

74

69
79

69
73
70
78

73
73
76
72

72
79
68
69
74
70
76
72

58

56
60

54
50
63
60

59
61
55
53

58
39
57
57
61
64
62
53

67

66
66

54
65
68
70

60
65
71
57

70
74
55
66
76
64
68
57

49

53
47

45
55
54
46

42
51
59
48

61
64
56
46
37
44
44
48

57

54
58

49
57
62
56

49
62
53
51

58
64
56
56
63
55
55
51

53

54
51

42
43
61
57

40
57
56
44

60
54
54
50
39
50
56
44

62

63
61

55
61
63
63

55
58
71
62

64
74
64
64
61
53
60
62

78

78
78

83
85
80
72

71
83
84
83

79
82
84
80
66
84
69
83

72

68
76

66
70
72
76

62
70
78
69

75
73
76
73
78
36
75
69

66

64
69

62
73
65
65

59
67
71
61

65
63
67
69
68
77
64
61

QA8.6

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The rise of political parties protesting against the traditional political elites in various European countries is a 
matter of concern
(% - TOTAL 'DISAGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

29

32
26

31
32
29
26

28
28
30
31

Socio-professional category
28
29
32
30
26
31
25
31

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

21

26
16

21
23
26
17

20
20
21
24

20
18
28
24
14
26
19
24

32

37
28

40
43
32
24

23
34
40
38

38
54
39
35
25
32
20
38

27

32
23

24
29
27
27

26
25
32
14

26
29
29
32
19
30
25
14

30

33
28

35
35
23
30

32
23
37
41

23
40
30
28
24
23
30
41

27

29
26

30
33
32
21

26
33
24
24

35
23
30
26
16
36
24
24

10

11
9

10
8
10
9

9
9
10
12

13
13
9
8
3
7
10
12

19

23
14

18
21
21
15

18
21
16
18

16
21
17
19
12
38
17
18

18

24
12

14
23
21
12

14
17
21
13

24
33
24
19
5
7
12
13

23

27
21

33
29
23
18

19
26
23
26

26
21
33
27
18
30
18
26

42

41
42

37
42
41
43

45
45
36
35

37
34
38
47
55
52
42
35

46 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

4  Does everyone have a chance to succeed in life? 

Around half of Europeans consider that everyone has a chance to succeed in life in their 
country 

Slightly more than half the respondents believe that in (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance 
to  succeed  in  life  (51%,  -4  percentage  points  since  October-November  2018)17.  In  contrast,  a 
similar proportion (46%, +4) disagree, and 3% (unchanged) express no opinion. 

QA8.7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

In (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance to succeed in life (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

16

18

16

14

17

15

18

22

35

37

35

32

29

27
28
29

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

3
3
3
3

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
50%  of  respondents  agree  that  “everyone  has  a  chance  to  succeed  in  life  in  their  country”,  while 
47% disagree and 3% don’t know. 

17 QA8.7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? In (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance to 
succeed in life 

47 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

In  17  EU  Member  States,  a  majority  of  respondents  agree  that  everyone  in  their  country  has  a 
chance to succeed in life, with the highest levels in Sweden (74%), Malta (70%) and Luxembourg 
(69%). At least three in ten respondents “totally agree” with this statement in Malta and Denmark 
(both 31%), and in Sweden (30%). 

However, minorities of respondents disagree with this statement in 11 EU Member States, with the 
lowest proportions in Greece (25% vs. 73% disagree), Spain (31% vs. 66%) and Bulgaria (32% vs. 
60%).  Among  these  countries,  at  least  three  in  ten  respondents  “totally  disagree”  in  Spain  (36%), 
Greece (33%), Croatia (32%) and Slovenia (30%). 

48 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  agreement  that  “in  (OUR  COUNTRY),  everyone  has  a  chance  to 
succeed  in  life”  has  decreased  in  20  EU  Member  States,  led  by  Romania  (40%,  -16  percentage 
points),  Slovakia  (48%,  -11)  and  Greece  (25%,  -11).  It  has  increased  in  seven  other  countries, 
particularly in Latvia (64%, +6) and Lithuania (61%, +6). Finally, it has remained stable in Poland. 

QA8.7

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

In (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance to succeed in life (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

46

48
40

33
36
20
34
62
64
65
37
35
34
49
36
26
36
51
55
60
32
34
66
26
31
55
32
35
43
73
59

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

4

4
4

4
6
5
3
3
1
=
2
=
=
=
3
1
3
4
2
=
4
5
5
7
6
6
7
7
11
11
18

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

3

3
5

3
3
10
4
2
2
2
5
5
6
3
1
5
2
2
2
8
2
1
3
0
3
5
3
2
9
2
1

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

51

49
55

64
61
70
62
36
34
33
58
60
60
48
63
69
62
47
43
32
66
65
31
74
66
40
65
63
48
25
40

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

4

4
4

6
6
1
1
1
1
1
=
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
5
5
6
6
6
8
9
11
11
16

49 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who think that everyone has a chance to 
succeed in life in their country are more likely to be: 

§  Managers (61%), students (56%) and other white collars (54%), particularly when compared 

with unemployed people (40%), house persons (44%) or manual workers (47%); 

§ 

§ 

§ 

Respondents who never or almost never have difficulties paying bills (56%), compared with 
those who experience such difficulties from time to time (44%) or most of the time (31%); 

Respondents  who  place  themselves  in  the  upper  (72%)  or  upper  middle  class  (61%), 
compared with those who say they belong to the working (44%) or lower middle (46%) class; 

Finally, respondents who have a positive image of the European Union (61%) compared with 
those with a negative image of the EU (40%). 

50 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA8.7

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
In (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance to succeed in life
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

51

55
47

56
52
50
49

43
50
55
56

Socio-professional category
51
61
54
47
44
40
50
56

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

62

67
57

58
64
62
63

62
59
68
61

64
72
58
56
60
50
65
61

31

34
27

39
25
28
34

36
29
28
33

29
23
35
27
31
25
37
33

47

59
37

48
45
49
47

53
43
50
52

49
49
42
48
39
46
48
52

40

44
36

45
45
43
36

29
44
44
49

44
53
43
43
29
26
34
49

58

59
57

68
63
54
53

49
54
64
71

51
75
66
56
61
43
50
71

60

61
58

56
64
54
62

51
62
63
52

55
67
73
54
48
56
63
52

QA8.7

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
In (OUR COUNTRY), everyone has a chance to succeed in life
(% - TOTAL 'DISAGREE')

25

29
21

20
30
24
24

20
22
32
25

34
27
27
23
19
19
24
25

33

34
30

52
37
31
24

23
35
40
61

31
41
35
34
9
16
23
61

66

67
64

73
64
63
65

60
63
68
77

60
60
66
67
69
52
68
77

43

41
43

48
38
36
46

42
41
36
59

47
29
40
37
39
35
48
59

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

46

42
49

41
45
47
47

51
47
43
41

Socio-professional category
46
37
42
50
51
56
46
41

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

36

31
41

40
34
36
36

37
40
30
36

34
27
38
42
37
49
35
36

66

64
69

59
73
70
61

58
71
70
65

69
72
64
72
65
73
56
65

37

37
36

29
33
42
40

42
41
32
23

40
22
30
41
36
57
41
23

34

35
34

38
27
38
34

36
31
35
44

38
32
20
37
37
34
33
44

73

69
77

74
68
74
74

79
77
65
72

65
72
70
75
77
78
74
72

65

64
68

48
61
69
72

74
63
59
39

69
57
64
65
91
83
73
39

31

28
34

23
33
35
30

30
35
29
22

39
37
30
30
29
37
28
22

55

56
55

52
59
61
52

53
58
61
41

53
64
58
62
61
60
49
41

51

39
61

49
53
49
51

41
56
48
45

46
49
58
51
58
50
50
45

55

51
59

51
51
54
58

64
52
53
48

56
46
51
53
68
72
56
48

51 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

II.   THE EUROPEAN UNION IN 2019 

1  Europeans’ views of the EU 

More than six in ten Europeans support the eight European policies tested 

A majority of respondents support the eight European policies tested18. Over eight in ten Europeans 
are  in  favour  of  the  free  movement  of  EU  citizens  who  can  live,  work,  study  and  do 
business anywhere in the EU (81%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2018) and at least seven 
in ten support a  common  defence  and  security  policy  among  EU  Member  States (73%, -3) 
and a common energy policy among EU Member States (70%, -4). Close to seven in ten are in 
favour of the EU’s common trade policy (69%, -2). 

The four other European policies tested are also supported by more than six in ten respondents: a 
common  European  policy  on  migration  (65%,  -4),  a  common  foreign  policy  of  the  28 
Member States of the EU (64%, -1), a digital single market within the EU (61%, -2) and a 
European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro (61%, -1). 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that support for each of 
the  eight  policies  tested  is  up  to  five  percentage  points  higher  than  at  EU28  level:  a  European 
economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro (66% vs. 61% at EU28 level), a 
common foreign policy of the 28 Member States of the EU (67% vs. 64%), a digital single market 
within the EU (64% vs. 61%), the free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do 
business  anywhere  in  the  EU  (83%  vs.  81%),  a  common  defence  and  security  policy  among  EU 
Member States (75% vs. 73%), a common energy policy among EU Member States (72% vs. 70%), 
a common European policy on migration (67% vs. 65%) and the EU’s common trade policy (70% vs. 
69%) 

18 QA5. What is your opinion on each of the following statements? Please tell me for each statement, whether you are for it or against it. 
1. A European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro; 2. A common foreign policy of the 28 Member States of 
the EU; 3. A common defence and security policy among EU Member States; 4. The EU’s common trade policy; 5. A common European 
policy on migration; 6. A common energy policy among EU Member States; 7. A digital single market within the EU; 8. The free movement 
of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU 

52 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

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Report 

a.  The free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do 

business anywhere in the EU 

More than eight in ten respondents (81%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2018) are in favour of 
the free movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in 
the EU, whereas just 14% (+1) are opposed to this and 3% (unchanged) say they “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 83% are for, 12% 
against and 3% express no opinion. 

In  the  28  EU  Member  States,  more  than  two-thirds  of  respondents  are  in  favour  of  the  free 
movement of EU citizens who can live, work, study and do business anywhere in the EU, with the 
highest  support  levels  in  Estonia  (94%),  Latvia  (93%),  Lithuania  and  Sweden  (92%  in  both 
countries), and the lowest in the UK (67%), Italy (70%) and Austria (73%). 

Since autumn 2018, support for the free movement of EU citizens has decreased in 15 EU Member 
States,  most  obviously  in  the  UK  (67%,  -7  percentage  points),  whereas  it  has  increased  in  nine 
countries, especially in Romania (77%, +8). Support for this item has remained unchanged in four 
countries. 

53 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Report 

b.  A common defence and security policy among EU Member States 

Nearly three-quarters of Europeans say they are in favour of a  common  defence  and  security 
policy among EU Member States (73%, -3 percentage point since autumn 2018). Close to a fifth 
(19%, +1) are opposed to it and 6% (+2) “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 75% are for, 18% 
against and 5% express no opinion. 

Over  half  the  respondents  are  in  favour  of  a  common  defence  and  security  policy  among  EU 
Member States in the 28 EU Member States. The proportion of respondents supporting this policy is 
the largest in Lithuania (86%), and in Belgium and Cyprus (both 84%). It is lowest in Austria and the 
UK (both 56%), and in Malta (60%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  in  favour  of  a  common  defence  and  security 
policy has decreased in 19 EU Member States, led by Austria (56%, -10 percentage points). It has 
grown in six countries, especially in Romania (72%, +7), and has remained unchanged in Belgium, 
France and Finland. 

54 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

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Report 

c.  A common energy policy among EU Member States 

Seven in ten respondents are in favour of a common energy policy among EU Member States 
(-4 percentage points since autumn 2018), whereas one in five oppose it (20%, +2) and 7% (+1) 
“don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 72% are for, 20% 
against and 6% express no opinion. 

Over  half  of  respondents  say  they  support  a  common  energy  policy  among  EU  Member States  in 
the 28 EU Member States, most strikingly in Belgium and Germany (both 82%), and in Luxembourg 
(81%). Support is weaker in Czechia (52%), the UK (54%) and Bulgaria (56%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  in  favour  of  a  common  energy  policy  has 
decreased  in  21  countries,  led  by  the  UK  (54%,  -11  percentage  points).  It  has  grown  by  at  most 
three  percentage  points  in  five  countries,  especially  in  Romania  (62%,  +3).  It  has  remained 
unchanged in Belgium and Slovakia. 

55 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

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Report 

d.  The EU’s common trade policy 

The  EU’s  common  trade  policy  has  the  support  of  close  to  seven  in  ten  Europeans  (69%,  -2 
percentage points since autumn 2018). Slightly more than a fifth (21%, +1) are opposed and less 
than one in ten (7%, unchanged) express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 70% are for, 21% 
against and 6% express no opinion. 

In  the  28  EU  Member  States,  over  half  of  respondents  are  in  favour  of  the  EU’s  common  trade 
policy, with the highest scores in Lithuania (85%), and in Germany and the Netherlands (both 82%). 
The majority is smaller in the UK (55%), Czechia (56%) and Bulgaria (58%). 

Since autumn 2018, support for the EU’s common trade policy has lost ground in 16 EU Member 
States,  led  by  Malta  (63%,  -11  percentage  points).  It  has  gained  ground  in  ten  countries,  most 
markedly in Portugal (79%, +5), and is unchanged in Lithuania and France. 

56 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Report 

e.  A common European policy on migration 

Close  to  two-thirds  of  Europeans  are  in  favour  of  a  common  European  policy  on  migration 
(65%,  -4  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018).  In  contrast,  more  than  a  quarter  (27%,  +3)  say 
they oppose a common migration policy, while 6% (+1) say they “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 67% are for, 26% 
against and 5% express no opinion. 

Most respondents are in favour of a common European policy on migration in 25 European Union 
Member  States,  with  the  largest  proportions  recorded  in  Spain  (81%),  the  Netherlands  (80%)  and 
Germany (79%). However, in three countries, opposition is predominant: this is the case in Czechia 
(61% against vs. 33% for), in Estonia (47% vs. 38%) and in Hungary (49% vs. 45%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  in  favour  of  a  common  European  migration 
policy has fallen in 20 countries, most notably in Malta (65%, -10 percentage points). It has grown 
in six countries, especially in Romania (61%, +6). Finally, it is unchanged in Sweden and Finland. 

57 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Report 

f.  A common foreign policy of the 28 Member States of the EU 

A  common  foreign  policy  of  the  28  Member  States  of  the  EU  is  supported  by  nearly  two-
thirds of respondents (64%, -1 percentage point since autumn 2018). However, slightly more than a 
quarter (26%, unchanged) are opposed. Lastly, 7% (=) express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 67% are for, 24% 
against and 7% express no opinion. 

The support for a common foreign policy of the 28 Member States of the EU is predominant in 27 
EU  Member  States.  It  is  the  strongest  in  Spain  (80%), and  in  Germany  and  Lithuania  (both  79%). 
Sweden is the only country where most respondents are opposed to a common foreign policy for 
the EU (48% against vs. 45% for). 

Since  autumn  2018,  support  for  a  common  EU  foreign  policy  has  decreased  in  15  countries, 
especially in Malta (43%, -15 percentage points). It has increased in 11 countries, most markedly in 
Finland (55%, +5). It is unchanged in Lithuania and Estonia. 

58 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

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Report 

g.  A digital single market within the EU 

Slightly more than six in ten Europeans are in favour of a digital single market within the EU 
(61%, -2 percentage points since autumn 2018). However, slightly more than a fifth (22%, +2) are 
opposed to a digital single market, while more than one in ten (13%, -1) say they “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 64% are for, 20% 
against and 13% express no opinion. 

Most respondents are in favour of a digital single market within the EU in all 28 European Union 
Member  States,  with  the  largest  proportions  recorded  in  Slovenia  (82%),  Lithuania  (78%)  and 
Estonia  (74%).  The  lowest  proportions  are  recorded  in  the  United  Kingdom  (41%  for  vs.  32% 
against), Bulgaria (46% vs. 23%) and Sweden (51% vs. 24%). 

Since autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents in favour of a digital single market within the EU 
has decreased in 18 countries, led by Cyprus (69%, -9 percentage points). It has increased in eight 
countries, especially in Denmark (60%, +5) and Romania (59%, +5). Finally, it is stable in Hungary 
and Sweden. 

59 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

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Report 

h.  A European economic and monetary union with one single currency, 

the euro 

A European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro has the support 
of slightly more than six in ten respondents (61%, -1 percentage point since autumn 2018). Close 
to a third are opposed (32%, unchanged) and 5% (+1) “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that 66% are for, 28% 
against and 4% express no opinion. 

Very different results are obtained in euro area and non-euro area countries. Three-quarters of 
respondents in the euro area countries support this policy (75% vs. 20% against, unchanged since 
autumn  2018).  Meanwhile,  only  a  minority  of  respondents  do  so  in  the  non-euro  area  countries 
(34%, -1 percentage point, vs. 56%, +1). 

Over half of respondents in the 19 euro area countries support European economic and monetary 
union, led by Slovenia and Estonia (both 87%), and Luxembourg (86%). 

The situation is not as consistent in the nine non-euro area countries. In two of these EU Member 
States, over half of respondents are in favour of the euro: Romania (62%) and Hungary (51%). In 
the seven other non-euro area countries, support for economic and monetary union is the minority 
view: this is the case in Czechia (19% for vs. 72% against), the UK (25% vs. 60%), Denmark (30% 
vs. 64%), Sweden (31% vs. 64%), Poland (30% vs. 62%), Croatia (42% vs. 52%) and Bulgaria (36% 
vs. 44%). 

Since autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents in favour of European economic and monetary 
union  has  grown  in  15  countries,  most  sharply  in  Romania  (62%,  +7  percentage  points).  It  has 
decreased  in  eight  countries,  especially  in  Poland  (30%,  -6),  and  remained  unchanged  in  five 
countries. 

60 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

2  The EU’s main assets  

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

More than a quarter of Europeans say that the EU’s main assets are its respect for 
democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and its economic, industrial and trading 
power 

The  EU’s  respect  for  democracy,  human  rights  and  the  rule  of  law  (31%,  -3  percentage 
points  since  October-November  2018)  is  the  European  Union’s  most  mentioned  asset19,  slightly 
ahead of the economic, industrial and trading power of the EU (27%, -4). 

In third position, close to a quarter of respondents cite the good relationship between the EU’s 
Member States (24%, +2). A fifth (20%, -5) mention the standard of living of EU citizens. 

The  five  other  assets  are  mentioned  by  less  than  a  fifth  of  Europeans:  the  EU’s  ability  to 
promote  peace  and  democracy  outside  its  borders (18%, +1) comes in fifth position, before 
the EU’s commitment to environmental responsibility (14%, +2), the skills and talents of 
EU  citizens  (12%,  -1),  the  EU’s  capacity  for  research  and  innovation  (12%,  -2)  and  the 
quality of infrastructure in the EU (11%, -1). 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly identical results; 
the only slight differences (by one percentage point) are seen for the EU’s respect for democracy, 
human rights and the rule of law (32% vs. 31% at EU28 level), the economic, industrial and trading 
power of the EU (28% vs. 27%), the good relationship between the EU’s Member States (25% vs. 
24%), the EU’s ability to promote peace and democracy outside its borders (19% vs. 18%), the EU’s 
capacity for research and innovation (13% vs. 12%) and the skills and talents of EU citizens (11% 
vs. 12%). 

19 QA13T. In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? 

61 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA13T In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

 (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

THE EU'S RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY,
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW

THE ECONOMIC, INDUSTRIAL AND
TRADING POWER OF THE EU

THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE EU'S MEMBER STATES

THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF EU CITIZENS

THE EU'S ABILITY TO PROMOTE PEACE AND DEMOCRACY
OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS

THE EU'S COMMITMENT TO
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

THE EU'S CAPACITY FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

31

31

34

33

27

31

30

33

22

24

25

24

25

22
22

20

18

17
17
17

14

12

11
11

14

12

12
12

THE SKILLS AND TALENTS OF EU CITIZENS

11

10

12

13

11

12
12

11

THE QUALITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE EU

OTHER (SPONTANEOUS)

2
2

1

NONE (SPONTANEOUS)

DON'T KNOW

3

9

9

8

5

6

6

5

62 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The  overall  results  shows  that  one  of  four  assets  appears  in  first  place  in  every  28  EU  Member 
State. 

In 14 EU Member States, the EU’s respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law 
comes  in  first  position,  with  the  highest  proportions  in  Sweden  (53%),  Germany  (48%)  and  the 
Netherlands (47%), and the lowest scores in Czechia, Greece and Slovakia (all 20%). 

The  economic,  industrial  and  trading  power  of  the  EU  leads  in  four  EU  Member  States: 
Slovenia (38%), Hungary and Spain (both 31%), and Ireland (30%). This item also scores highly in 
the  Netherlands  (44%),  in  Croatia  (36%),  and  in  Estonia  and  Belgium  (both  32%),  and  sees  its 
lowest scores in Cyprus (18%), Malta (19%) and Latvia (20%). 

The  good  relationship  between  the  EU’s  Member  States  tops  the  list  in  seven  EU  Member 
States, led by Cyprus and Lithuania (both 39%), and Latvia (37%). Respondents in Malta (15%), the 
UK (16%) and Croatia (19%) are least likely to mention this asset. 

The standard of living of EU citizens is in first place in three EU Member States: Croatia (41%), 
Poland (35%) and Romania (30%). It also scores well in Latvia (32%) and Malta (31%), and sees its 
lowest scores in Sweden (10%), Italy (11%) and Greece (12%). 

No other item tops the list of the main assets of the EU in any EU Member State. However, other 
points of note are: 

§  The EU’s ability to promote peace and democracy outside its borders is mentioned by 

at least a quarter of respondents in Lithuania (27%) and Cyprus (25%); 

§  The  EU’s  commitment  to  environmental  responsibility  is  seen  among  the  EU’s  main 

assets in Sweden (29%) and Denmark (25%); 

§  The skills and talents of EU citizens is cited more than average in Malta (24%), in the UK 

(21%), and in Hungary and Ireland (both 20%); 

§  The EU’s capacity for research and innovation is seen as a main asset in Greece (20%); 

§  The quality of infrastructure in the EU is most likely to be mentioned in Poland (18%). 

QA13T In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

53

48 47

43 43

37

35 35

38

39 39

37

33 33

31 30 30

31 31 30

27

25

41

35 35 34

35

30

30

SE DE NL DK

FI

AT

BE

LU EE MT EU28 FR

PT

IT UK

SI

ES HU IE

CY

LT

LV CZ

EL

BG SK HR

PL

RO

The EU's respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law

The economic, industrial and trading power of the EU

The good relationship between the EU's Member States

The standard of living of EU citizens

63 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA13T

In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

,

y
c
a
r
c
o
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e
d

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d
n
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a
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s
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c
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f
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g
n
d
a
r
t

31

34
26

35
25
20
43
48
33
29
20
27
30
28
27
34
26
32
35
21
33
47
37
21
30
25
26
20
43
53
25

27

28
27

32
31
24
31
26
32
30
24
31
24
36
26
18
20
24
31
31
19
44
24
28
25
27
38
29
30
27
24

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

n
e
e
w
t
e
b

i

p
h
s
n
o
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t
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l

d
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s
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r
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s
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t

24

25
23

27
34
35
30
27
32
25
35
21
22
19
24
39
37
39
32
21
15
28
22
26
25
24
28
30
32
20
16

s
n
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t
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c
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f
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f
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d
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e
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20

18
26

24
26
27
17
20
21
28
12
18
15
41
11
19
32
28
21
21
31
19
26
35
17
30
27
27
15
10
22

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c
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18

20
15

18
13
13
22
23
14
14
15
18
20
16
21
25
17
27
18
17
12
17
18
11
22
22
13
19
20
18
14

14

13
15

13
8
17
25
12
10
12
11
11
14
12
14
16
11
9
13
15
12
17
17
13
18
12
16
11
17
29
14

n
o
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t
a
v
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n
n

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12

13
12

17
8
15
8
8
11
11
20
13
14
15
17
14
8
10
8
14
14
5
15
13
10
12
9
18
10
15
11

s
n
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z
i
t
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c
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E

f
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s
t
n
e
a
t

l

d
n
a

s
l
l
i

k
s

e
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T

12

12
14

14
9
12
4
8
9
20
16
9
14
9
14
5
9
11
12
20
24
5
15
9
18
10
9
14
13
11
21

U
E

e
h
t

n

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r
u
t
c
u
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t
s
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f
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y
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11

10
11

9
14
11
5
8
7
14
13
11
10
12
12
11
9
10
13
16
12
10
15
18
8
16
13
13
5
5
6

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

64 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  there  have  been  evolutions  of  at  least  ten  percentage  points  for 
two items:  

§  The proportion of respondents mentioning the EU’s respect for democracy, human rights 
and the rule of law as a main asset of the European Union has decreased in 13 EU Member 
States, most notably in Luxembourg (35%, -11 percentage points) and Sweden (53%, -10). It 
has  increased  in  11  countries,  particularly  in  Slovakia  (20%,  +7),  and  has  remained 
unchanged in four countries. 

§  The proportion of respondents for whom the  standard  of  living  of  EU  citizens is one of 
the main assets of the EU has decreased in 27 EU Member States, most strikingly in Latvia 
(32%, -17 percentage points), Lithuania (28%, -12), Slovenia (27%, -12), Bulgaria (26%, -12), 
Portugal (17%, -12) and Estonia (21%, -10). It is stable in the Netherlands. 

QA13T

In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

,

y
c
a
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c
o
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e
d

r
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w
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8
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9
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M

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

1

2

2

1

5

2

4

3

12

14

18

20

24

27

31

2
2

1
1

1
2

4
4

3
1

4
3

1
5

13
12

18
26

25
23

34
26

28
27

12
1
11
12 = 10
20
1
13
15 = 15
14 = 11
18 = 13
35
2
32
1
27
3
24
4
3
17
3
9
1
14
2
14 =
25
2
31
3
34
7
26
12
8
1
13
1
8
1
3
9
20 = 24
11 =
5
35
4
27
9
17
1
13
2
15
1
1
12
31 = 30
43
8
5
17
1
25
6
22
7
8
3
1
5
4
4
48 = 26
27
6
6
20
2
12
1
23
1
8
3
5
8
1
8
=
32
3
33
3
32
4
21
10
10
4
14
4
11
1
7
2
9
30 = 25
29
1
1
28
5
12
1
14
2
11
1
3
14
2
20
20 = 24
11 = 20
35
2
6
12
7
4
15
2
4
13
2
16
21
8
31
1
27
6
18
9
1
11
2
13
2
11
7
18
2
9
22 = 15
14 = 14
6
24
2
30
6
1
10
1
1
14
2
20
41
1
19
6
36
4
28
6
12
16
1
5
9
3
15
2
12
1
12 =
21 = 14
11
4
26
5
27
24
1
5
5
14
4
17
4
18 = 39
= 11
19
6
1
34
7
3
5
3
14
2
16
3
25
=
32
1
37
3
20
6
26
17
8
1
11
3
17
9
1
9
1
10 = 11 = 10
28
1
39
1
24
3
32
12
1
3
9
4
27
21
6
32
5
31
11
35
7
2
13
12
8
3
13
1
18
2
21
2
21
2
31
4
21
6
1
16
20
14
2
15
1
17
3
1
12
24
14
7
12
6
31
2
15
1
19
4
33
4
12
6
19 = 17
4
10
5
17
2
1
28
4
44
2
47
5
1
1
17 = 15
1
15
15
18
2
26
1
22
1
24
2
37
1
1
11 = 13
1
18
9
13
2
1
35
1
26
3
28
7
21
1
=
8
18
18
6
22
12
25
4
25
3
30
10
2
17
2
1
12 = 12
24 = 30
3
16
10
4
22
1
4
27
3
25
4
1
13
9
9
1
13
12
28
5
38
1
26
16
1
27
5
1
19 = 11
30 = 27
1
13
14
18
5
5
5
20
29
7
3
43 = 30
1
5
13
10
3
17
4
20
2
15
5
32
2
1
=
11 =
5
15
9
29
1
18
1
10
1
20
3
27
10
53
3
6
4
21
11
2
14
1
14
5
22
2
16
3
24
8
25

3
2
1
2
3
2
1
1
4
3
3
1
2

65 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average. 

66 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA13T

In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - THE EU'S RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

31

30
32

30
29
34
31

25
29
38
32

Socio-professional category
31
40
32
29
31
26
31
32

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

48

45
51

46
45
47
50

46
43
56
47

56
54
48
36
54
40
51
47

27

28
27

27
29
30
24

20
24
38
23

26
33
36
29
28
28
21
23

30

28
31

19
28
37
30

24
28
35
23

25
41
38
27
28
26
30
23

27

28
26

29
26
31
24

21
29
31
27

31
46
26
29
22
20
22
27

21

19
23

20
24
21
21

17
20
25
24

10
23
22
24
24
22
20
24

25

25
24

26
18
31
23

14
24
30
26

24
23
24
26
27
22
24
26

20

19
21

22
18
17
22

21
18
20
26

12
25
25
11
24
21
23
26

30

32
28

24
30
34
29

32
34
26
24

29
26
30
36
12
33
27
24

29

27
31

31
28
28
29

31
27
30
34

27
34
31
24
26
33
28
34

34

31
37

31
32
30
40

34
33
34
39

30
31
31
28
43
28
44
39

QA13T

In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - THE ECONOMIC, INDUSTRIAL AND TRADING POWER OF THE EU)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

27

30
25

26
29
29
25

21
27
31
28

Socio-professional category
33
31
31
27
26
23
24
28

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

26

27
26

20
26
31
25

21
28
28
21

32
28
30
23
40
25
24
21

31

34
29

38
32
33
28

27
34
32
38

41
33
33
29
27
33
28
38

28

33
24

25
31
32
26

30
29
29
26

52
30
22
28
33
20
27
26

24

24
23

23
21
25
24

13
19
33
38

25
34
38
18
12
9
21
38

24

26
23

30
27
26
20

17
27
26
29

33
38
22
24
28
19
17
29

25

26
24

21
27
26
23

20
29
29
22

26
26
31
24
16
23
24
22

30

29
31

26
27
31
33

24
27
33
31

32
40
27
24
30
20
31
31

18

20
16

22
20
16
16

12
17
20
27

18
13
23
18
10
20
12
27

24

31
18

25
31
20
23

21
21
29
21

35
27
26
29
11
19
22
21

26

28
24

23
29
27
24

21
27
30
25

31
23
32
27
22
23
22
25

67 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA13T

In your opinion, what are the main assets of the EU? Firstly? And secondly? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - THE GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EU'S MEMBER STATES)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

24

25
24

25
24
24
25

23
25
25
24

Socio-professional category
26
28
23
23
25
21
25
24

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

27

26
28

28
24
24
31

24
28
29
24

26
35
16
22
30
23
32
24

21

22
20

18
20
24
21

22
24
19
14

23
24
20
23
22
21
21
14

22

25
19

27
28
19
19

15
22
23
27

16
28
20
22
29
24
19
27

24

24
25

33
25
25
21

22
23
24
35

29
33
24
14
21
19
23
35

26

25
27

30
23
25
28

26
27
25
26

20
22
21
26
36
31
29
26

16

18
14

16
14
19
16

19
16
16
15

28
16
21
18
13
6
14
15

35

31
37

24
38
31
38

38
38
34
21

36
27
34
42
35
34
36
21

25

26
24

22
19
27
28

29
23
23
21

24
18
19
26
34
31
29
21

25

29
20

17
33
24
21

21
25
28
13

28
27
21
34
14
35
21
13

39

41
37

32
35
44
41

42
48
32
32

41
30
39
35
57
48
40
32

68 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

3  The EU’s main challenges 

More than a third of Europeans say that social inequalities and migration are the main 
challenges for the European Union 

Close to four in ten respondents (39%, +2 percentage points since October-November 2018) believe 
that  social  inequalities  are  one  of  the  three  main  challenges  for  the  European  Union20.  This  is 
closely followed by migration issues (35%, +1), ahead of unemployment (30%, -11), which has 
lost two places since the last survey. 

Nearly  three  in  ten  Europeans  cite  environmental  issues  (28%,  +6),  while  around  a  quarter 
mention terrorism and security issues (25%, unchanged) and the public debt of EU Member 
States (24%, -5). 

Around  a  fifth  of  respondents  believe  the  ageing  of  the  EU’s  population  (21%,  +1)  and 
insufficient economic growth (17%, -6) are among the three main challenges for the EU. 

Finally,  slightly  more  than  one  in  ten  mention  instability  in  the  regions  bordering  the  EU   
(13%,  =)  and  competition  from  emerging  countries  (11%,  -2)  among  the  main  challenges 
currently faced by the EU. 

20 QA14. Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 

69 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA14 Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

 (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

SOCIAL INEQUALITIES

MIGRATION ISSUES

UNEMPLOYMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

22

18

13

39

37
36
36

35
34
34

36

30

28

41

39

45

25
25

32
31

24

22

26

29

21
20

18
17

17

23

19

21

TERRORISM AND SECURITY ISSUES

THE PUBLIC DEBT OF EU MEMBER STATES

THE AGEING OF THE EU'S POPULATION

INSUFFICIENT ECONOMIC GROWTH

INSTABILITY IN THE REGIONS BORDERING THE EU

13
13
12

14

11

13

COMPETITION FROM EMERGING COUNTRIES

10
10

OTHER (SPONTANEOUS)

NONE (SPONTANEOUS)

DON'T KNOW

1
1
1
1

1

1
1

1

3

3
2

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows that results are almost 
the same: the only slight differences (up to two percentage points)  only regard social inequalities 
(41% vs. 39% at EU28 level), migration issues (36% vs. 35%), environmental issues (29% vs. 28%), 
terrorism  and  security  issues  (24%  vs.  25%),  the  ageing  of  the  EU’s  population  (22%  vs.  21%), 
insufficient  economic  growth  (18%  vs.  17%)  and  competition  from  emerging  countries  (12%  vs. 
11%). 

70 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Six  of  these  ten  potential  challenges  are  the  most  mentioned  item  in  at  least  one  of  the  28  EU 
Member States. 

Social  inequalities  is  the  most  mentioned  challenge  in  11  EU  Member  States,  with  its  highest 
scores in Portugal (59%), Latvia (54%) and Germany (51%), and its lowest in Malta (17%), Romania 
(21%), and in Ireland and the UK (both 26%). 

Migration issues comes in first position in eight EU Member States, with the highest proportions in 
Malta (63%), Czechia (58%) and Estonia (54%). Respondents in Portugal (14%), Finland (20%), and 
in Spain and Romania (both 23%) are the least likely to mention this item. 

Unemployment  is  the  leading  issue  in  the  three  EU  Member  States  where  it  also  obtains  its 
highest scores: Italy (47%), Spain (45%) and Cyprus (44%). Respondents in the Netherlands (11%), 
in Czechia (13%), and in Poland and Hungary (both 14%) are the least likely to cite this issue. 

Environmental issues tops the list in Sweden (58%) and Denmark (48%). It is also mentioned by 
a high proportion of respondents in the Netherlands (45%), but is less cited in Greece (7%), Bulgaria 
(9%), and Lithuania and Cyprus (both 10%). 

Terrorism  and  security  issues ranks first in Finland (41%), the UK (35%) and Ireland (34%). It 
also  obtains  high  scores  in  Malta  (40%),  in  Czechia  (37%),  in  the  Netherlands  and  Estonia  (both 
36%), and in Poland (34%). In contrast this item obtains its lowest scores in Austria (13%), Slovakia 
(17%), and in Romania, Spain and Italy (all 19%). 

Lastly,  insufficient  economic  growth  comes  in  first  position  in  Romania  (30%).  However,  it 
obtains its highest scores in Greece (40%) and Italy (31%), and its lowest in the Netherlands and 
Denmark (6% in both countries), and in Germany (7%). 

Although  no  other  item  tops  the  list  of  the  main  challenges  for  the  EU  in  any  EU  Member  State, 
other points of note are:  

§  The  public  debt  of  EU  Member  States is cited by more than three in ten respondents in 

Germany (36%), the Netherlands (34%) and Austria (32%); 

§  The  ageing  of  the  EU’s  population is mentioned by more than a third of respondents in 

Estonia (44%), Slovenia (41%), Finland (39%) and Lithuania (35%); 

§ 

Instability  in  the  regions  bordering  the  EU  is  most  likely  to  be  mentioned  in  the 
Netherlands (28%), in Denmark (27%), and in Finland and Sweden (both 23%); 

§  Lastly, competition from emerging countries obtains its highest scores in Austria (21%), 

and in Croatia and Hungary (both 18%). 

71 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA14 Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

59

54

51 50

48 47 46

63

58

54

42 41 40 39 38

47 46 46 45

47

45 44

58

48

41

35

35 34

30

PT

LV DE

LT

FR

BE

SK AT

BG LU EU28 HR MT CZ

EE

EL HU NL

SI

PL

IT

ES

CY

SE DK

FI UK

IE

RO

Social inequalities

Migration issues

Unemployment

Environmental issues

Terrorism and security issues

Insufficient economic growth

72 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA14

Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU?

(MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(%)

s
e
t
a
t
S

r
e
b
m
e
M
U
E

f
o

t
b
e
d
c
i
l

b
u
p
e
h
T

24

26
19

21
11
21
13
36
8
22
25
17
25
22
20
30
15
10
22
16
10
34
32
18
21
23
19
18
29
13
22

s
e
u
s
s
i

y
t
i
r
u
c
e
s

d
n
a
m

s
i
r
o
r
r
e
T

25

22
31

22
29
37
31
20
36
34
24
19
26
28
19
31
28
32
25
22
40
36
13
34
30
19
24
17
41
31
35

l

n
o
i
t
a
u
p
o
p

s
'
U
E

e
h
t

f
o

i

g
n
e
g
a

e
h
T

21

20
22

25
32
25
26
17
44
18
21
28
22
28
9
15
19
35
20
28
23
29
16
30
32
21
41
28
39
24
15

h
t
w
o
r
g
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

t
n
e
i
c
i
f
f
u
s
n

I

17

18
15

13
20
13
6
7
13
15
40
24
16
22
31
24
23
22
8
18
8
6
20
13
24
30
12
16
10
8
11

U
E

e
h
t

g
n
i
r
e
d
r
o
b

s
n
o
g
e
r

i

e
h
t

n

i

y
t
i
l
i

b
a
t
s
n

I

13

12
15

8
14
12
27
16
16
18
12
8
8
17
7
9
10
10
14
17
9
28
21
10
12
18
11
18
23
23
15

s
e
i
r
t
n
u
o
c

i

g
n
g
r
e
m
e
m
o
r
f

n
o
i
t
i
t
e
p
m
o
C

11

11
12

14
12
12
8
7
7
16
17
6
13
18
17
11
5
6
9
18
9
11
21
13
12
17
9
12
10
9
8

s
e
i
t
i
l

a
u
q
e
n

i

l

a
i
c
o
S

39

43
30

47
41
33
46
51
36
26
40
44
48
38
27
28
54
50
40
33
17
41
42
32
59
21
35
46
37
44
26

s
e
u
s
s
i

n
o
i
t
a
r
g
M

i

35

35
35

39
38
58
31
45
54
33
47
23
26
30
38
43
39
36
37
46
63
46
35
35
14
23
45
40
20
48
32

t
n
e
m
y
o
p
m
e
n
U

l

30

34
21

25
15
13
19
21
20
29
43
45
38
21
47
44
34
24
28
14
18
11
32
14
35
24
25
24
28
18
29

s
e
u
s
s
i

l

a
t
n
e
m
n
o
r
i
v
n
E

28

30
22

33
9
23
48
38
16
24
7
22
39
16
23
10
18
10
31
19
20
45
29
18
18
19
21
22
37
58
20

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

73 

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

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  six  issues  have  undergone  national  evolutions  of  ten  or  more 
percentage points. The proportion of respondents mentioning migration issues has increased in 17 
EU Member States, led by the Netherlands (46%, +11 percentage points), while it has decreased in 
eight countries, particularly in Portugal (14%, -7), and is unchanged in Hungary, Italy and the UK. 

Mentions  of  unemployment  are  down  in  all  28  EU  Member  States,  with  decreases  of  ten 
percentage points or more in 21 countries, in particular in Portugal (35%, -27 percentage points), 
Croatia (21%, -24), Greece (43%, -21) and Lithuania (24%, -21). 

The proportions of respondents citing environmental issues are up in 15 EU Member States, most 
notably  in  Denmark  (48%,  +21  percentage  points),  Germany  (38%,  +14),  Sweden  (58%,  +13), 
France  (39%,  +12)  and  Luxembourg  (31%,  +12).  They  are  down  in  nine  countries,  especially  in 
Romania (19%, -6), and stable in four countries. 

The public debt of EU Member States has lost ground in 24 EU Member States, led by Germany 
(36%,  -13  percentage  points),  the  Netherlands  (34%,  -11),  Austria  (32%,  -10)  and  Ireland        
(22%, -10). It has gained one or two percentage points in three countries, and remains unchanged 
in Portugal. 

Scores  for  the  ageing  of  the  EU’s  population  have  increased  in  18  EU  Member  States, 
particularly  in  Portugal  (32%,  +11  percentage  points).  They  have  decreased  in  eight  countries, 
notably in Estonia (44%, -8), and are unchanged in Luxembourg and Germany. 

Lastly, proportions of respondents mentioning insufficient economic growth are down in 26 EU 
Member  States,  most  strikingly  in  Croatia  (22%,  -11  percentage  points)  and  Belgium  (13%,  -10). 
They are slightly up in Cyprus (24%, +2) and unchanged in Austria. 

74 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA14

Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(%)

s
e
i
t
i
l

a
u
q
e
n

i

l

a
i
c
o
S

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

s
e
u
s
s
i

n
o
i
t
a
r
g
M

i

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

t
n
e
m
y
o
p
m
e
n
U

l

EU28

39

2

35

1

30

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

3
1

43
30

35
1
34
35 = 21
47
3
25
4
39
41
1
15
3
38
33
7
13
1
58
46
2
19
2
31
51
2
21
4
45
36
2
20
5
54
26
4
29
6
33
40
4
43
2
47
44
1
45
2
23
38
4
48
6
26
38 = 30
1
21
38 = 47
4
27
44
6
43
4
28
34
1
39
2
54
24
1
36
5
50
37
1
40
28
2
46 = 14
1
33
18
1
63
2
17
11
11
46
7
41
32
2
35
5
42
14
2
32
35
4
59 = 14
35
7
24
1
23
9
21
25
3
45
1
35
24
4
40
2
46
28
2
20
1
37
48
2
44
18
7
32 = 29
1
26

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

11

12
10

8
13
5
10
7
10
6
21
13
16
24
10
15
18
21
14
10
4
7
12
19
27
12
15
16
10
13
3

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

2

2
2

s
e
u
s
s
i

l

a
t
n
e
m
n
o
r
i
v
n
E

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

s
e
u
s
s
i

y
t
i
r
u
c
e
s

d
n
a
m

s
i
r
o
r
r
e
T

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

s
e
t
a
t
S

r
e
b
m
e
M
U
E

f
o

t
b
e
d
c
i
l

b
u
p
e
h
T

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

l

n
o
i
t
a
u
p
o
p

s
'
U
E

e
h
t

f
o

i

g
n
e
g
a

e
h
T

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

h
t
w
o
r
g
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

t
n
e
i
c
i
f
f
u
s
n

I

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

U
E

e
h
t

g
n
i
r
e
d
r
o
b

s
n
o
g
e
r

i

e
h
t
n

i

y
t
i
l
i

b
a
t
s
n

I

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O
-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

s
e
i
r
t
n
u
o
c

i

g
n
g
r
e
m
e
m
o
r
f
n
o
i
t
i
t
e
p
m
o
C

13 = 11
11
1
12
12
2
15

6

1

5

6

17

21

28

5
6

1
1

6
5

18
15

20
22

25 = 24
30
8
22
26
1
22 = 31
19
1
22
7
33
1
21
9
25
5
13
10
29 = 11
4
9
2
32
1
20
4
37
1
23
21
3
5
25
2
13
1
31 = 13
21
48
6
26
7
6
6
17 = 7
36
5
20
14
38
13
4
8
7
16
36
3
4
13
8
44
6
24 = 34
22
5
10
15
6
18
8
25
9
24
3
7
2
40
7
21
4
17
1
19
5
22
1
24
1
28
5
25
5
39
26
12
1
16
5
22
5
16 = 28
22
1
1
22
7
28
11
20
5
19
6
23
6
31
5
9
8
31
5
10
30
6
2
24
5
15
2
28 = 15
2
18
2
23
5
19
4
10
8
32
1
10
1
35
22
2
5
20 = 8
25
12
31
22
4
8
5
22 = 16
4
19
2
18
3
28
8
10
6
40
3
20
7
8
2
23
7
45
34
2
36
7
11
6
4
29
4
29 = 13 = 32
20 = 21
10
2
16
10
7
13
18
34
18
2
30
4
1
5
21 = 32
12
5
24
11
30
18
1
5
18
7
30
1
21
1
23
19
19
6
4
21 = 24
11
4
12
5
41
1
19
3
18
2
16
2
28
5
18
17
4
22
5
23
3
10
8
39
6
29
41
5
37
1
23
6
8
7
24
7
31
13
58
13
5
35 = 22
15
7
11
1
15
7
2
20

8
1
14
2
12
2
27
1
16
3
16
1
18
3
12
2
8
1
8
1
17
2
7
2
9
2
10 = 5
2
10
1
14
3
17
9
1
28 = 11
21
4
13
6
12
3
17
1
9
1
12
8
10
2
9
2
8
3

14
4
12
1
12 =
8
7
7 =
1
7
16
2
17 =
3
6
1
13
4
18
17
6
11 =
2
6 =
9 =
18
1
9 =
1
1
5
2
2
2
1
1
2
1

75 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

76 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA14

Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)
(% - SOCIAL INEQUALITIES)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

39

39
39

38
42
38
38

35
38
42
41

Socio-professional category
37
41
39
39
36
41
38
41

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

51

47
54

50
58
44
52

52
49
52
54

42
54
48
45
52
61
54
54

44

45
43

44
51
44
39

37
44
50
47

47
49
60
47
33
44
35
47

48

50
47

44
50
48
49

44
48
52
42

51
50
44
51
50
47
49
42

27

27
27

32
27
29
24

22
26
30
33

22
19
29
28
25
29
26
33

32

33
32

35
27
30
36

38
33
29
38

26
25
33
27
32
25
40
38

26

30
21

32
32
28
17

18
24
31
32

32
30
35
28
27
33
14
32

40

44
37

35
43
38
42

40
37
45
35

44
35
39
44
35
42
41
35

59

56
62

57
64
62
55

56
64
58
56

72
60
57
60
80
53
53
56

26

25
26

19
27
32
23

17
25
31
23

21
32
36
23
22
19
24
23

28

29
27

23
31
28
28

24
26
30
32

28
30
27
22
37
26
30
32

QA14

Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)
(% - MIGRATION ISSUES)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

35

36
34

34
33
38
35

33
36
36
35

Socio-professional category
35
39
38
35
33
28
35
35

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

45

49
42

41
45
56
39

39
47
45
45

57
52
48
48
46
32
37
45

23

23
23

20
23
24
24

22
23
25
17

19
38
22
23
14
20
27
17

35

39
32

36
37
32
35

34
34
39
27

40
44
35
33
34
32
36
27

32

31
33

27
27
38
33

40
33
26
29

14
30
37
41
27
26
33
29

47

42
52

41
44
52
47

50
52
42
37

46
45
52
49
49
36
50
37

14

14
14

11
15
18
12

12
15
21
7

21
20
20
12
10
11
12
7

33

33
33

29
33
37
31

28
36
31
31

40
30
32
37
31
33
30
31

43

45
40

44
45
42
41

38
43
46
40

43
55
37
46
22
49
42
40

26

27
26

28
22
28
27

22
25
27
35

27
24
22
24
16
26
28
35

38

37
39

41
31
37
42

41
40
34
40

36
39
37
35
42
30
41
40

77 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA14

Which of the following do you think are the main challenges for the EU? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)
(% - UNEMPLOYMENT)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

30

29
30

35
30
29
28

37
31
23
33

Socio-professional category
27
20
27
33
35
41
27
33

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

21

21
21

33
24
17
18

24
22
16
31

15
15
21
24
18
34
19
31

45

42
48

44
48
43
44

50
50
34
43

41
28
40
43
57
56
46
43

38

38
37

35
37
40
38

38
48
29
30

30
25
28
49
31
51
37
30

47

48
45

52
42
44
48

50
44
43
50

41
44
44
51
44
47
48
50

14

13
15

19
17
12
11

16
14
13
21

8
14
18
9
23
22
13
21

29

30
27

45
31
31
19

28
32
20
38

25
21
29
42
32
32
20
38

43

41
45

49
38
44
44

50
45
36
46

46
18
32
47
51
52
43
46

35

33
36

40
37
35
32

32
38
29
36

37
32
33
37
63
41
29
36

29

29
30

35
27
29
29

34
31
27
28

18
26
31
28
37
37
30
28

44

42
46

41
44
44
45

51
45
38
48

35
49
40
39
47
54
46
48

78 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

4  The EU’s most positive results 

Six in ten Europeans say that the free movement of people, goods and services within 
the European Union is the most positive result of the EU; half mention peace among EU 
Member States 

Two results of the European Union clearly stand out as the most positive21: six in ten respondents 
(+1  percentage  point  since  autumn  2018)  mention  the  free  movement  of  people,  goods  and 
services  within  the  EU,  firmly  ahead  of  peace  among  the  Member  States  of  the  EU       
(50%, -5). 

In  comparison,  around  a  quarter  of  respondents  mention  student  exchange  programmes  such 
as ERASMUS (26%, +1), in third position, followed by the euro (24%, -2). 

The economic power of the EU (21%, -2) and the political and diplomatic influence of the 
EU in the rest of the world (20%, -1) are mentioned by at least a fifth of respondents, ahead of 
the level of social welfare (healthcare, education, pensions) in the EU (16%, -2). 

Lastly, less than one in ten Europeans (9%, -2) consider that the Common Agricultural Policy is 
one of the EU’s most positive results, whereas a similar proportion (8%, +1) spontaneously answer 
that there is no positive achievement on the list. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly identical results. 
The  only  slight  differences  (up  to  two  percentage  points)  regard  the  euro  (26%  vs.  24%  at  EU28 
level), peace among the Member States of the EU (51% vs. 50%), student exchange programmes 
such as ERASMUS (27% vs. 26%), the economic power of the EU (22% vs. 21%) and the political 
and diplomatic influence of the EU in the rest of the world (21% vs. 20%). 

21 QA11T. Which of the following do you think is the most positive result of the EU? Firstly? And then? 

79 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Focusing on overall results, the two achievements that head the list at EU level are the only ones to 
come in first position in the 28 EU Member States. 

The  free  movement  of  people,  goods  and  services  within  the  EU  tops  the  list  in  25  EU 
Member  States,  with  its  highest  scores  in  Lithuania  (79%),  Sweden  (78%),  and  in  Estonia  and 
Croatia (both 75%), and its lowest in France (49%), Italy (50%) and Austria (51%). 

Peace among the Member States of the EU leads in three EU Member States: Germany (71%), 
Denmark (67%) and France (57%). Moreover, it obtains its highest proportion in Sweden (74%) and 
high levels in Finland (64%), the Netherlands (62%), and in Luxembourg and Cyprus (both 60%). In 
contrast, it obtains its lowest scores in Malta and Romania (both 31%), and in Hungary (32%). 

No  other  item  tops  the  list  of  the  EU’s  most  positive  results  in  any  EU  Member  State.  However, 
student  exchange  programmes  such  as  ERASMUS  obtains  its  highest  scores  in  Malta  (44%), 
Latvia  (39%),  and  in  Italy  and  Lithuania  (both  38%),  and  its  lowest  in  the  Netherlands  (14%), 
Germany (19%) and Poland (20%). 

Respondents  in  Finland  (47%),  and  in  Luxembourg  and  Slovenia  (both  44%)  are  more  likely  to 
mention the euro, whereas those in the UK (5%), and in Denmark, Bulgaria and Czechia (6% in all 
these three non-euro area countries) are least likely to do so. 

Other points of note are: 

§  The  economic  power  of  the  EU  is  mentioned  by  more  than  three  in  ten  respondents  in 

Croatia (35%), Romania (34%) and Austria (31%); 

§  The political and diplomatic influence of the EU in the rest of the world is considered 
to  be  one  of  the  most  positive  results  of  the  EU  in  Sweden  (39%),  Denmark  (36%)  and 
Austria (33%); 

§  The level of social welfare (healthcare, education, pensions) in the EU is cited more 

than average in Denmark (37%), and in Croatia and Malta (both 28%); 

§  The Common Agricultural Policy is most likely to be mentioned in Romania (21%), and in 

Ireland and Hungary (both 17%). 

80 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA11T

Which of the following do you think is the most positive result of the EU? Firstly? And

then? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(%)

,

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

i

n
h
t
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

60

59
64

55
74
64
59
65
75
64
69
58
49
75
50
66
68
79
61
65
56
73
51
64
73
64
65
73
65
78
60

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

50

52
47

52
46
54
67
71
45
40
50
38
57
39
35
60
42
53
60
32
31
62
45
48
35
31
48
40
64
74
48

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

26

27
25

32
24
35
21
19
27
25
25
22
33
29
38
28
39
38
24
36
44
14
29
20
29
31
30
36
25
32
21

o
r
u
e

e
h
T

24

31
9

41
6
6
6
32
38
40
18
23
34
13
26
20
30
15
44
18
37
43
34
8
31
22
44
40
47
7
5

U
E

e
h
t

f
o

r
e
w
o
p
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

e
h
T

21

21
22

19
27
26
13
25
15
25
21
22
14
35
23
15
12
19
18
24
14
22
31
23
20
34
24
20
9
8
18

e
c
n
e
u
l
f
n

i

c
i
t
a
m
o
p
d

i

l

d
n
a

l

a
c
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t
i
l

o
p
e
h
T

d
l
r
o
w
e
h
t

f
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t
s
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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
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f
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T

U
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n

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)
s
n
o
i
s
n
e
p

,

n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e

20

21
19

20
19
18
36
21
12
15
30
19
16
16
24
17
11
17
13
19
14
31
33
18
19
22
9
12
25
39
15

16

16
17

25
13
18
37
11
16
17
7
23
19
28
12
22
19
17
21
12
28
16
19
20
14
18
14
10
21
19
13

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

9

8
11

8
9
8
12
5
5
17
5
6
9
11
11
8
9
14
4
17
5
7
13
15
4
21
9
11
4
5
7

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

81 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  autumn  2018,  four  results  have  registered  national  evolutions  of  at  least  ten  percentage 
points.  The  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning  the  free  movement  of  people,  goods  and 
services  within  the  EU  has  increased  in  17  EU  Member  States,  led  by  Spain  (58%,  +10 
percentage points), while it has decreased in seven countries, particularly in Ireland (64%, -8), and is 
unchanged in four countries. 

Scores  for  peace  among  the  Member  States  of  the  EU  have  decreased  in  24  EU  Member 
States, in particular in Malta (31%, -16 percentage points) and Luxembourg (60%, -13), while the 
score has increased by at most two percentage points in Cyprus (60%, +2) and Romania (31%, +1) 
and is stable in Finland and Bulgaria. 

Mentions  of  the  euro  are  down  in  16  EU  Member  States,  most  strikingly  in  Ireland  (40%,  -11 
percentage  points);  they  are  up  in  seven  countries,  particularly  in  Finland  (47%,  +5)  and  Latvia 
(30%, +5). Finally, they are unchanged in five countries. 

Scores  for  the  level  of  social  welfare  (healthcare,  education,  pensions)  in  the  EU  have 
decreased in 19 EU Member States, most notably in Finland (21%, -12). They have increased in five 
countries, led by Malta (28%, +8), and are unchanged in four. 

82 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report 

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

2

1
4

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

y
c
i
l

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P

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a
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t
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c
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A
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9

8
11

8
9
8
12
5
5
17
5
6
9
11
11
8
9
14
4
17
5
7
13
15
4
21
9
11
4
5
7

Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

QA11T

Which of the following do you think is the most positive result of the EU? Firstly? And then? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(%)

,

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

i

n
h
t
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

60

59
64

55
74
64
59
65
75
64
69
58
49
75
50
66
68
79
61
65
56
73
51
64
73
64
65
73
65
78
60

e
c
n
e
u
l
f
n

i

c
i
t
a
m
o
p
d

i

l

d
n
a

l

a
c
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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
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19

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36
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12
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19
16
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24
17
11
17
13
19
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31
33
18
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22
9
12
25
39
15

1
=
2

4
2
1
5
=
=
1
3
2
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1
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16

16
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25
13
18
37
11
16
17
7
23
19
28
12
22
19
17
21
12
28
16
19
20
14
18
14
10
21
19
13

2

2
2

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

U
E

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50

52
47

52
46
54
67
71
45
40
50
38
57
39
35
60
42
53
60
32
31
62
45
48
35
31
48
40
64
74
48

-

9
1
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2

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8
1
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2
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t
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A

1

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

-

9
1
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2

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5
5

4
=
5
4
3
8
5
5
9
6
8
3
2
7
9
13
2
16
3
3
6
5
1
3
8
=
2
6

26

27
25

32
24
35
21
19
27
25
25
22
33
29
38
28
39
38
24
36
44
14
29
20
29
31
30
36
25
32
21

1

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

24

31
9

41
6
6
6
32
38
40
18
23
34
13
26
20
30
15
44
18
37
43
34
8
31
22
44
40
47
7
5

2

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

U
E

e
h
t

f
o

r
e
w
o
p
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

e
h
T

21

21
22

19
27
26
13
25
15
25
21
22
14
35
23
15
12
19
18
24
14
22
31
23
20
34
24
20
9
8
18

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

2

2
1

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

83 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  that  respondents  in  all  socio-demographic  categories  say 
that  the  free  movement  of  people,  goods  and  services  within  the  EU  and/or  peace  among  the 
Member States of the EU are the most positive results of the European Union: 

§ 

§ 

The  free  movement  of  people,  goods  and  services  within  the  EU  obtains  its  highest 
scores among 15-24 year olds (68%), respondents who completed their education aged 20 or 
after (68%), managers (71%), students (71%), self-employed people (66%) and respondents 
who say they belong to the upper middle class (69%); 

Peace  among  the  Member  States  of  the  EU  reaches  its  highest  levels  among 
respondents  who  completed  their  full-time  education  aged  20  or  after  (56%),  managers 
(56%),  retired  people  (55%)  and  respondents  who  place  themselves  in  the  upper  (61%)  or 
upper middle class (58%). 

84 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

5  The EU and the world 

a.  Is the EU a place of stability in a troubled world? 

Two-thirds of Europeans agree that the European Union is a place of stability in a 
troubled world 

Nearly  seven  in  ten  respondents  (66%,  -10  percentage  points  since  October-November  2018) 
consider that the European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world22, including close 
to a fifth (18%, -3) who “totally agree” with this statement. Less than three in ten Europeans (28%, 
+9) disagree. Finally, 6% (+1) say that they “don’t know”. 

QA8.1 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

55

48

50
49

18

21
21

17

21

15

18

23

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

7

4
5
6

6
5
6
5

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results compared 
to the EU28  ones: 68% of respondents agree that the European Union is a place of stability in a 
troubled world (including 19% who “totally agree”), while 27% disagree and 5% don’t know. 

22 QA8.1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The European Union is a place of stability in a 
troubled world 

85 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Over half of respondents in the 28 EU Member States believe that the European Union is a place of 
stability  in  a  troubled  world.  The  proportion  of  respondents  who  agree  with  this  statement  is  the 
highest in Portugal (87%), Luxembourg (82%) and Denmark (81%), and the lowest in the UK (54%), 
and in Czechia and Italy (both 56%). 

86 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  respondents  have  become  less  likely  to  think  that  the  European 
Union is a place of stability in a troubled world in all 28 EU Member States. This is most notably the 
case  in  the  UK  (54%,  -16  percentage  points),  Slovakia  (65%,  -15),  Croatia  (66%,  -14),  Czechia 
(56%, -14), France (63%, -13), Italy (56%, -13), Belgium (73%, -12), the Netherlands (65%, -12), 
Ireland  (75%,  -11),  Finland  (73%,  -11),  Malta  (64%,  -11),  Hungary  (61%,  -11)  and  in  Bulgaria  
(68%, -10). 

QA8.1

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

28

28
28

10
30
23
27
14
17
24
33
22
24
22
22
24
20
26
22
19
25
20
36
26
33
32
36
31
38
25
34

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

9

9
9

3
5
6
7
5
5
5
5
4
7
9
4
5
10
7
5
9
11
2
10
12
12
12
13
12
12
12
11

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

5
8

3
1
6
6
4
2
2
7
4
3
5
7
8
0
3
10
6
2
16
3
1
2
5
8
3
6
10
12

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

66

67
64

87
69
71
67
82
81
74
60
74
73
73
71
68
80
71
68
75
73
64
61
73
65
63
56
66
56
65
54

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

10

10
11

3
4
5
5
6
6
6
6
7
8
8
8
8
9
9
10
11
11
11
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
16

87 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  that  over  half  of  respondents  agree  that  the  European 
Union  is  a  place  of  stability  in  a  troubled  world  in  all  socio-demographic  categories.  However, 
respondents sharing this opinion are more likely to be: 

§ 

Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (73%), compared with those 
who left school aged 16-19 (63%) or aged 15 or under (56%); 

§  Managers (74%) and students (73%), particularly when compared with house persons (58%) 

or unemployed people (59%); 

§ 

Respondents  who  place  themselves  in  the  upper  middle  (78%)  or  upper  class  (79%), 
compared with those who say they belong to the working class (58%). 

QA8.1

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

The European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

7

6
7

4
6
8
7

10
7
5
3

5
5
5
8
7
10
8
3

10
6
5
5
10

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

4
7

6
6
4
7

12
6
3
5

4
3
5
5
10
6
8
5

9
6
4
2
3

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

66

69
64

70
67
66
63

56
63
73
73

68
74
68
65
58
59
62
73

58
64
70
78
79

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

28

27
29

24
27
30
30

32
31
24
22

28
23
27
30
32
35
30
22

33
30
26
20
18

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

18

21
16

17
18
19
18

14
16
22
20

21
24
15
17
15
13
18
20

15
14
20
26
30

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

Consider belonging to

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

48

48
48

53
49
47
45

42
47
51
53

47
50
53
48
43
46
44
53

43
50
50
52
49

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

21

21
22

20
21
22
23

22
24
19
19

23
18
22
22
25
25
22
19

23
24
21
15
8

88 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA8.1

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

66

69
64

70
67
66
63

56
63
73
73

Socio-professional category
68
74
68
65
58
59
62
73

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

73

75
71

66
78
70
73

66
68
81
72

71
79
71
69
66
68
74
72

68

70
67

76
67
69
67

67
66
71
74

74
68
71
67
61
71
67
74

63

72
55

59
62
59
68

54
62
69
61

51
76
63
63
50
46
67
61

56

59
53

66
61
61
48

42
58
68
65

69
79
62
51
45
51
43
65

71

68
73

75
73
72
67

60
71
73
78

72
74
74
72
73
78
63
78

54

57
50

68
55
56
45

33
49
67
79

57
59
64
53
49
46
44
79

69

69
68

79
75
64
65

61
67
74
79

71
93
74
64
62
69
62
79

87

88
86

91
86
91
84

84
88
90
91

93
90
91
86
71
90
83
91

75

76
74

73
75
76
74

63
76
79
70

79
82
79
74
73
59
74
70

71

72
70

67
69
72
74

73
67
76
61

73
88
65
64
82
77
76
61

89 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  Europeans and globalisation 

Europeans are divided over whether globalisation threatens their country’s identity 

Asked  whether  they  agree  or  disagree  that  globalisation  threatens  (OUR  COUNTRY)’s 
identity23, more than four in ten respondents (45%, -8 percentage points since October-November 
2018)  say  they  agree  with  this  statement,  whereas  the  same  proportion  disagree  (45%,  +7),  and 
one in ten (+1) “don’t know”. 

QA8.3 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Globalisation threatens (OUR COUNTRY)'s identity (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

16

20

18

20

29

33

31

33

31

27

29
28

14

11
12

10

10
9
10
9

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly the same results 
as  in  EU28:  46%  of  respondents  agree  that  globalisation  threatens  their  country’s  identity,  while 
45% disagree and 9% don’t know. 

23 QA8.3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Globalisation threatens (OUR COUNTRY)’s 
identity 

90 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  majority  of  respondents  agree  that  globalisation  threatens  their  country’s  identity  in  18  EU 
Member  States,  with  the  highest  levels  in  Greece  (67%),  Italy  (58%),  and  in  Latvia,  Estonia  and 
Cyprus (all 57%). 

However, this is the minority view in ten EU Member States, with the lowest proportions in Sweden 
(28% agree vs. 69% disagree), Germany (32% vs. 62%) and Finland (33% vs. 60%). 

91 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since October-November 2018, the proportion of respondents agreeing that globalisation threatens 
their country’s identity has decreased in 27 EU Member States, most notably in Croatia (44%, -17 
percentage points), Bulgaria (39%, -16), Romania (53%, -15), Malta (46%, -15), Cyprus (57%, -14), 
Slovakia (49%, -13), Hungary (54%, -12), Greece (67%, -11), Ireland (49%, -11), the UK (39%, -11) 
and  in  Spain  (38%,  -11).  Denmark  is  the  only  EU  Member  States  where  this  proportion  has 
increased (36%, +4). 

QA8.3

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

Globalisation threatens (OUR COUNTRY)'s identity (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

45

46
42

59
28
46
69
53
60
62
32
36
58
35
41
37
40
32
45
38
27
37
44
45
38
34
32
34
35
36
47

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

7

6
7

3
1
=
3
1
2
4
2
6
6
7
3
6
5
3
7
8
9
6
7
11
9
9
13
13
9
6
12

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

10

9
14

5
15
16
3
12
7
6
11
16
2
7
9
7
7
13
3
12
6
14
17
17
8
17
11
13
19
25
9

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

45

45
44

36
57
38
28
35
33
32
57
48
40
58
50
56
53
55
52
50
67
49
39
38
54
49
57
53
46
39
44

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

8

7
10

4
1
1
2
3
3
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
8
11
11
11
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
17

92 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  
QA8.3

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

Globalisation threatens (OUR COUNTRY)'s identity (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

14

16
13

19
15
15
12

8
11
20
23

15
25
13
11
11
11
11
23

10
9
16

10
11
16
29
31

22
10
10

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

10

8
13

10
9
7
13

21
10
5
9

9
4
6
11
14
13
15
9

12
10
10

16
9
7
4
7

7
13
9

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

45

45
44

36
44
45
48

48
50
40
33

46
36
44
49
46
48
48
33

56
53
41

47
49
45
33
29

35
46
61

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

45

47
43

54
47
48
39

31
40
55
58

45
60
50
40
40
39
37
58

32
37
49

37
42
48
63
64

58
41
30

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

16

15
15

13
14
16
17

16
18
13
11

16
12
15
17
17
16
17
11

23
18
14

17
17
15
12
17

10
14
29

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

Image of EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

29

30
29

23
30
29
31

32
32
27
22

30
24
29
32
29
32
31
22

33
35
27

30
32
30
21
12

25
32
32

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

31

31
30

35
32
33
27

23
29
35
35

30
35
37
29
29
28
26
35

22
28
33

27
31
32
34
33

36
31
20

93 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Nearly six in ten Europeans believe that globalisation is an opportunity for economic 
growth 

Over half of respondents (57%, -4 percentage points since autumn 2018) agree that globalisation 
is an opportunity for economic growth24, including nearly a fifth (18%, +1) who “totally agree” 
with  this  statement.  However,  slightly  more  than  three  in  ten  respondents  (31%,  +4)  say  they 
disagree, and just over one in ten (12%, unchanged) express no opinion. 

QA7.3 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth (% - EU)

80%

70%

60%

56

61

59

56

50%

40%

30%

27

27

26

27

50

32

51

52

52

55

53

49

47

57

56

57

58

59

62

60

61

35

35

35

34

34

31

30

28

29

29

29

27

27

27

27

TOTAL 'DISAGREE'

TOTAL 'AGREE'

57

31

20%

17

10%

0%

14

13

17

18

18

16

14

14

14

16

15

15

15

14

13

14

11

13

12

12

DON'T KNOW

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results 
as  in  the  EU28  EU:  58%  of  respondents  agree  that  globalisation  is  an  opportunity  for  economic 
growth, while 31% disagree and 11% don’t know. 

24 QA7.3. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Globalisation is an opportunity for 
economic growth 

94 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  consider  that  globalisation  is  an  opportunity  for  economic  growth  in  26 
EU  Member  States,  led  by  the  Nordic  countries  (79%  in  Sweden,  78%  in  Denmark  and  74%  in 
Finland),  the  Netherlands  (75%)  and  Germany  (74%).  Only  minorities  of  respondents  share  this 
opinion in Greece (35% agree vs. 56% disagree) and in Czechia (38% vs. 45%). 

Since autumn 2018, positive impressions of globalisation have declined in  18 EU Member States, 
most notably in the UK (54%, -9 percentage points), Ireland (68%, -8), Luxembourg (59%, -8) and 
Estonia  (49%,  -8),  but  are  more  widespread  in  eight  countries,  most  strikingly  in  Lithuania        
(65%, +10), and are unchanged in Finland and Spain. 

95 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA7.3

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. 

Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

18

21
16

27
19
19
15

11
16
21
30

18
27
19
17
12
18
14
30

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

39

40
39

45
43
40
35

31
40
42
44

42
43
44
41
37
35
33
44

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

10

10
9

5
8
10
11

14
10
8
5

9
6
9
9
10
12
12
5

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

12

8
15

10
10
9
15

21
12
7
8

8
5
8
11
18
14
17
8

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

57

61
55

72
62
59
50

42
56
63
74

60
70
63
58
49
53
47
74

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

31

31
30

18
28
32
35

37
32
30
18

32
25
29
31
33
33
36
18

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

21

21
21

13
20
22
24

23
22
22
13

23
19
20
22
23
21
24
13

96 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA8.3

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
Globalisation threatens (OUR COUNTRY)'s identity
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

45

45
44

36
44
45
48

48
50
40
33

Socio-professional category
46
36
44
49
46
48
48
33

Self-employed
Managers
Other white collars
Manual workers
House persons
Unemployed
Retired
Students
QA7.3

32

30
33

29
28
38
31

41
36
24
28

29
25
24
35
29
45
37
28

38

39
38

29
38
38
41

38
42
39
28

45
31
36
39
40
42
39
28

50

47
53

28
45
50
61

62
65
39
17

45
30
46
55
70
51
62
17

58

60
56

51
63
58
58

60
63
55
50

67
57
58
63
57
61
56
50

50

53
47

46
53
48
50

45
51
51
40

46
48
53
57
50
51
45
40

39

40
37

32
41
36
42

40
42
36
25

32
35
29
50
31
45
40
25

67

71
63

51
68
70
70

68
71
66
55

74
67
64
69
73
63
68
55

38

41
34

23
36
40
41

37
41
37
21

50
35
36
35
34
36
44
21

49

46
53

43
49
53
49

35
54
50
43

44
40
53
58
54
27
51
43

57

56
59

55
61
54
57

51
60
59
54

45
54
62
65
74
49
53
54

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Globalisation is an opportunity for economic growth
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

57

61
55

72
62
59
50

42
56
63
74

Socio-professional category
60
70
63
58
49
53
47
74

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

74

76
73

78
78
71
74

66
76
75
72

73
80
73
74
74
67
73
72

56

59
54

76
62
59
46

45
60
59
82

69
59
59
56
44
63
43
82

56

54
58

68
63
62
43

33
53
63
70

49
69
67
59
58
66
41
70

54

59
50

69
52
60
46

33
54
61
81

53
62
73
57
39
42
42
81

35

39
32

48
45
35
26

18
33
44
58

42
48
50
31
22
22
23
58

63

66
61

73
75
74
46

48
71
82
79

73
83
78
66
17
62
42
79

68

71
65

71
70
69
64

59
63
74
73

69
77
73
66
61
44
65
73

47

46
47

55
49
46
41

35
49
46
57

51
54
43
43
54
47
41
57

46

50
42

79
50
39
36

39
42
44
81

42
48
45
47
37
47
35
81

49

52
46

60
62
53
38

31
52
61
61

61
75
57
44
42
42
33
61

97 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

6  Trust in media and institutions 

Regional or local public authorities are the most trusted among political institutions 

Slightly  more  than  half  of  respondents  (51%,  -3  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018)  say  they 
tend to trust regional or local public authorities, whereas more than four in ten (44%, +3) tend 
not to trust them25. 

In contrast, only a minority of Europeans tends to trust the five other media and institutions tested. 
However, nearly four in ten Europeans say they trust the media (38%, -2 percentage points since 
the Standard Eurobarometer survey of autumn 2018 (EB89)), while close to six in ten tend not to 
trust them (58%, +2). 

A similar proportion (37%, -5 percentage points since autumn 2018) tend to trust the  European 
Union, which obtains the third highest level of trust among the six media and institutions tested. 
More than half of respondents (54%, +6) tend not to trust the EU. 

The national government and parliament are trusted by close to a third of Europeans (32%, -3 
percentage points since autumn 2018 for both national political institutions). However, more than 
six  in  ten  respondents  tend  not  to  trust  their  national  government  (63%,  +4)  or  parliament       
(62%, +4). 

Lastly,  close  to  a  fifth  of  respondents  trust  political  parties  (19%,  +1  percentage  point  since 
autumn 2018), while slightly more than three-quarters tend not to do so (76%, -1). 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results to those 
in the EU28: 51% of respondents tend to trust regional or local public authorities, 41% the media – 
the biggest gap, three percentage points –, 38% the European Union, 33% the national parliament, 
32% the national government and 20% political parties. 

25 QA3. I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the following 
media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it. 1. The media; 2. Political parties; 3. Regional or local 
public authorities; 4. The (NATIONALITY) Government; 5. The (NATIONALITY PARLIAMENT); 6. The European Union 

98 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

a.  The media 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  tend  to  trust  the  media  in  eight  EU  Member  States:  Finland  (75%), 
Portugal  (62%),  the  Netherlands  (61%),  Denmark  (59%),  Sweden  (54%),  Lithuania  (52%),  Austria 
(49%)  and  Latvia  (48%).  In  contrast,  trust  in  the  media  is  the  minority  view  in  19  EU  Member 
States, with the lowest proportions in the UK (21%), Greece (22%), and Malta and Spain (both 29%). 
Finally, respondents in Estonia are evenly divided (47% vs. 47%). 

Since spring 2018, trust in the media has decreased in 15 EU Member States, particularly in Croatia 
(30%, -11 percentage points). Trust has gained ground in ten countries, led by Lithuania (52%, +5) 
and Bulgaria (46%, +5), and is unchanged in Latvia, Hungary and Greece.  

99 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

b.  Political parties 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Minorities of respondents tend to trust political parties in all 28 EU Member States. The level of 
trust in political parties is the highest in the Netherlands (45% vs. 50% tend not to trust), Sweden 
(42%  vs.  55%)  and  Austria  (41%  vs.  54%),  and  the  lowest  in  Greece  and  Spain  (7%  in  both 
countries), Latvia (8%), as well as in France and Cyprus (9% in both). 

Since  autumn  2018,  trust  in  political  parties  has  increased  in  17  EU  Member  States,  notably  in 
Austria (41%, +8 percentage points). Conversely, it has decreased in nine countries, particularly in 
Malta (26%, -10), and remains stable in Ireland and Slovenia. 

100 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

c.  Regional or local public authorities 

Trust in regional or local public authorities is the majority view in 15 EU Member States, with 
the highest levels in Sweden (77%), Denmark (76%) and Finland (72%). Only minorities trust these 
institutions  in  12  EU  Member  States,  with  the  lowest  scores  in  Croatia  (23%),  and  in  Greece  and 
Spain (both 29%). Lastly, respondents are evenly divided in Latvia (46% tend to trust vs. 46% tend 
not to trust). 

Since autumn 2018, trust in regional and local authorities has decreased in 20 EU Member States, 
most strikingly in Malta (44%, -20 percentage points). It has increased in seven countries, notably in 
Greece (29%, +9), and remains stable in Croatia. 

101 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

d.  National institutions  

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  in  seven  EU  Member  States  tend  to  trust  their  national  government. 
This  is  the  case  in  Luxembourg  (70%),  Sweden  (62%),  the  Netherlands  (61%),  Austria  (56%), 
Denmark  (54%),  Malta  (51%)  and  Estonia  (48%  vs.  38%  tend  not  to  trust).  Only  minorities  of 
respondents share this opinion in 21 EU Member States, with the lowest levels of trust registered in 
Spain and Croatia (both 14%), and in Greece (16%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  trust  in  the  national  government  has  fallen  in  18  EU  Member  States,  most 
sharply in Belgium (34%, -15 percentage points) and Malta (51%, -12). Conversely, it has increased 
in nine countries, notably in Czechia (37%, +9), and remains stable in Italy. 

102 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  majority  of  respondents  tend  to  trust  their  national  parliament  in  eight  EU  Member  States: 
Sweden (73%), the Netherlands (63%), Denmark (61%), Finland (61%), Austria (59%), Luxembourg 
(54%), Germany (49%) and Malta (46%). However, trust in the national parliament is the minority 
view  in  20  EU  Member  States,  with  the  lowest  proportions  in  Spain  (13%),  Bulgaria  (14%)  and 
Croatia (15%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  trust  in  the  national  parliament  has  decreased  in  17  EU  Member  States, 
particularly  in  Belgium  (36%,  -18  percentage  points),  Malta  (46%,  -13)  and  the  UK  (22%,  -11).  It 
has increased in seven EU Member States, notably in Greece (20%, +5), and has remained stable in 
four. 

103 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following tables show results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA3.4

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have

in certain media and institutions. For each of the following media

and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to

trust it. 

The (NATIONALITY) Government (% - 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

t
s
u
r
t

o
t

t
o
n

d
n
e
T

63

64
63

60
66
65
62

69
67
58
56

64
54
64
70
66
76
61
56

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

5

4
6

7
4
5
5

4
5
4
9

4
4
4
5
6
3
5
9

t
s
u
r
t

o
t

d
n
e
T

32

32
31

33
30
30
33

27
28
38
35

32
42
32
25
28
21
34
35

104 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA3.5

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have

in certain media and institutions. For each of the following media

and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to

trust it. 

The (NATIONALITY PARLIAMENT) (USE PROPER NAME FOR

LOWER HOUSE) (% - 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

t
s
u
r
t

o
t

t
o
n

d
n
e
T

62

62
63

55
65
64
62

71
67
56
51

61
50
62
70
69
74
62
51

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

5
7

10
6
5
6

6
6
5
9

5
5
5
6
8
5
6
9

t
s
u
r
t

o
t

d
n
e
T

32

33
30

35
29
31
32

23
27
39
40

34
45
33
24
23
21
32
40

105 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA3.4

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the 

following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The (NATIONALITY) Government
(% - TEND TO TRUST)
EU28

UK

DE

FR

ES

PL

IT

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

32

32
31

33
30
30
33

27
28
38
35

Socio-professional category
32
42
32
25
28
21
34
35

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

46

44
48

49
47
38
49

41
38
57
52

45
55
42
31
51
29
53
52

14

12
16

10
10
14
19

17
12
13
12

11
15
5
12
19
17
18
12

22

26
18

21
13
25
25

29
14
27
27

33
31
19
13
14
13
27
27

28

33
24

28
30
28
27

21
30
32
30

33
33
31
29
24
19
25
30

31

32
29

16
26
30
40

40
34
28
13

39
26
22
22
33
31
45
13

25

23
28

33
28
23
22

14
24
34
29

25
34
23
28
16
19
22
29

16

16
17

13
16
13
19

20
15
17
10

12
30
18
15
16
18
19
10

38

37
39

41
35
38
39

39
40
38
38

39
36
36
41
12
38
39
38

34

39
29

41
35
25
36

27
28
38
51

38
37
30
27
26
16
41
51

25

24
26

10
16
31
35

25
28
25
16

19
24
26
23
26
16
36
16

QA3.5

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the 

following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The (NATIONALITY) Parliament
(% - TEND TO TRUST)
EU28

UK

DE

FR

ES

PL

IT

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

32

33
30

35
29
31
32

23
27
39
40

Socio-professional category
34
45
33
24
23
21
32
40

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

49

51
47

54
47
43
52

42
40
61
59

51
62
50
30
47
34
54
59

13

15
12

13
12
13
14

13
11
17
13

19
22
9
11
9
10
17
13

24

26
22

17
21
26
28

23
26
22
14

31
22
20
21
25
22
29
14

22

22
21

32
24
21
17

7
20
31
31

29
31
32
16
8
20
18
31

20

20
19

17
18
20
21

20
18
21
20

19
35
19
13
16
19
23
20

32

34
29

37
27
34
30

27
33
37
38

35
30
43
30
9
20
31
38

33

37
30

35
36
24
39

25
29
38
45

36
41
31
25
25
16
43
45

20

16
23

14
14
21
25

24
19
18
22

13
11
20
20
23
6
29
22

25

29
22

31
20
27
26

22
16
34
37

27
37
31
18
11
17
26
37

29

34
25

35
31
30
27

21
34
29
36

41
38
28
27
26
25
24
36

106 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

e.  The European Union  

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

After  recovering  strongly  between  spring  2016  and  spring  2017,  and  remaining  stable  between 
spring  2017  and  autumn  2018,  trust  in  the  European  Union  has  decreased  by  five  percentage 
points to reach its lowest level since autumn 2016. 

QA3.6 I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the following media and institutions,

please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The European Union (% - EU)

80%

70%

60%

50

50%

48

44

45

40%

43

43

36

30%

20%

10%

14

13

12

13

14

0%

32

11

16

14

57

45

48

50

47

47

48

47

41

41

40

42

39

40

36

36

45

43

47

41

60

60

57

58

56

55

55

55

54

50

46

47

48

48

48

34

33

31

31

31

31

40

37

36

32

33

42

41

42

42

54

37

TEND NOT TO TRUST

TEND TO TRUST

12

12

12

11

12

12

11

9

10

9

11

13

13

14

13

12

10

11

11

10

10

9

DON'T KNOW

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A  majority  of  respondents  tend  to  trust  the  European  Union  in  12  EU  Member  States:  Lithuania 
(63%),  Denmark  (59%),  Sweden  (56%),  Finland  (53%),  the  Netherlands  (53%),  Bulgaria  (52%), 
Romania (51%), Estonia (50%), Ireland (48%), Latvia (46%), Malta (44%) and Luxembourg (44%). 

In contrast, only minorities of respondents say that they tend to trust the European Union in 16 EU 
Member States, with the lowest levels of trust in the UK (26%), in Greece and Czechia (both 27%), 
in France (30%), in Spain (31%) and in Italy (32%). 

107 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  autumn  2018, trust  in  the  European  Union  has  deteriorated  in  24  EU  Member  States,  most 
notably  in  Croatia  (35%,  -13  percentage  points),  Malta  (44%,  -12),  Belgium  (41%,  -11),  Germany 
(40%, -11) and Portugal (45%, -10). It has increased by one or two percentage points in the four 
other countries. 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who tend to trust the European Union are 
more likely to be: 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

15-24  year  olds  (48%  vs.  39%  among  25-39  year  olds,  36%  among  40-54  year  olds  and 
32% among respondents aged 55 and over); 

Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (46% vs. 31% among those 
who finished aged 16-19 and 25% among those left school aged 15 or under); 

Students  (54%)  and  managers  (49%),  particularly  when  compared  with  unemployed  people 
(29%), manual workers and house persons (both 31%), and retired people (32%); 

Those  who  never  or  almost  never have  difficulties  paying  bills  (40%),  compared  with  those 
who experience these difficulties most of the time (24%) or from time to time (32%); 

Respondents who place themselves in the upper or upper middle class (both 58%), compared 
with those who say they belong to the middle (41%), lower middle (32%) or working (27%) 
class. 

108 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA3.6

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have

in certain media and institutions. For each of the following media

and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to

trust it. 

The European Union (% - EU)

t
s
u
r
t

o
t

d
n
e
T

37

38
36

48
39
36
32

25
31
46
54

41
49
40
31
31
29
32
54

24
32
40

27
32
41
58
58

109 

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
s
u
r
t

o
t

t
o
n

d
n
e
T

54

54
53

41
53
55
57

64
59
46
37

52
43
51
60
58
64
57
37

66
59
51

61
60
51
37
37

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

9

8
11

11
8
9
11

11
10
8
9

7
8
9
9
11
7
11
9

10
9
9

12
8
8
5
5

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA3.6

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the 

following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The European Union
(% - TEND TO TRUST)
EU28

UK

DE

FR

ES

PL

IT

EL

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

37

38
36

48
39
36
32

25
31
46
54

Socio-professional category
41
49
40
31
31
29
32
54

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

40

40
40

52
44
30
41

27
31
55
55

45
51
41
24
41
29
41
55

31

34
28

42
35
32
26

27
27
36
47

41
44
36
28
26
27
24
47

30

31
29

44
28
32
25

20
19
38
57

28
45
24
21
24
34
26
57

32

35
29

39
34
35
27

23
30
38
47

40
52
30
30
24
20
24
47

41

39
43

56
40
42
36

26
38
44
66

41
47
44
35
44
38
36
66

26

27
25

35
28
30
18

6
24
39
37

43
37
34
20
18
20
18
37

27

28
25

39
29
22
25

22
20
32
44

27
46
29
17
21
22
26
44

PT

IE

CY

45

45
44

57
43
51
37

38
47
53
58

45
44
54
45
9
44
38
58

48

49
48

54
51
45
46

29
43
57
59

44
58
47
42
41
25
55
59

43

43
44

50
33
44
48

32
44
44
55

37
50
41
38
35
26
52
55

QA3.6

I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certain media and institutions. For each of the 

following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The European Union
(% - TEND NOT TO TRUST)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

54

54
53

41
53
55
57

64
59
46
37

Socio-professional category
52
43
51
60
58
64
57
37

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

50

50
50

36
48
59
50

65
57
37
35

49
40
48
64
55
65
49
35

61

59
63

51
61
62
63

62
68
59
43

59
52
59
66
57
68
65
43

46

49
44

28
51
46
50

53
51
44
15

42
45
44
55
44
49
49
15

61

65
58

48
57
60
71

84
62
50
53

49
50
45
66
61
72
71
53

69

69
69

52
68
74
71

74
78
64
45

73
49
66
79
76
74
70
45

48

48
48

39
54
45
50

51
47
44
37

48
53
41
49
76
53
49
37

40

41
39

32
42
44
38

49
45
35
27

51
35
41
47
48
46
32
27

51

53
50

41
63
53
45

62
52
52
35

63
50
54
58
55
68
39
35

62

61
63

50
64
61
65

62
73
55
37

62
49
70
71
73
58
63
37

58

57
60

48
59
55
63

66
63
51
43

54
43
61
61
63
72
64
43

110 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

III.  EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS CITIZENS 

1  What does the EU mean?  

The EU means freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU to slightly more 
than half of Europeans 

Over  half  of  Europeans  (52%,  -1  percentage  point  since  autumn  2018)  say  that  the  EU  means 
freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU to them personally26. It is by far the 
most mentioned item, 20 percentage points ahead of the euro (32%, -5). 

The three following items are cited by at least a quarter of respondents: peace (29%, -4), cultural 
diversity (27%, -3) and stronger say in the world (25%, -2). 

Democracy (23%, -3), bureaucracy (22%, -2) and waste of money (21%, -1) are mentioned by 
more than a fifth of respondents, ahead of not enough control at external borders (18%, -2) 
and economic prosperity (17%, -1). 

Lastly, at least one in ten respondents say that the EU means loss of our cultural identity (12%, 
-1), more crime (12%, -3), social protection (11%, -2) and unemployment (10%, unchanged) to 
them personally. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results compared 
to the EU28 figures: small differences (up to three percentage points) regard the “euro” (35% vs. 
32% at EU28 level), “freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU” (54% vs. 52%), “peace” 
(30% vs. 29%), “democracy” (24% vs. 23%), “bureaucracy” (23% vs. 22%), “not enough control at 
external borders” (19% vs. 18%), “more crime” (13% vs. 12%) and “unemployment” (11% vs. 10%). 

26 QA4. What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE) 

111 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The two most cited items at EU level are the only ones to be in first place in at least one of the 28 
EU Member States. 

In 27 EU Member States, this first place goes to freedom to travel, study and work anywhere 
in  the  EU  with  the  highest  proportions  in  Sweden  (79%),  Estonia  (76%)  and  Lithuania  (74%). 
Respondents in Italy (38%), the UK (42%) and Hungary (45%) are least likely to associate this item 
with the EU. 

The  euro  tops  the  list  in  only  one  country:  Austria  (57%).  However,  it  obtains  its  highest  score  in 
Finland (58%), and higher proportions in the Netherlands (51%) and Slovakia (50%). In contrast, its 
lowest scores are found in the UK (8%), in Bulgaria (10%) and in Poland (14%). 

No other item tops the list in any EU Member State. However, other points of note are: 

§  Peace is most likely to be mentioned by respondents in Sweden (52%), Denmark (51%) and 

Germany (48%); 

§  Cultural  diversity  receives  most  mentions  in  Cyprus  (39%),  and  in  Sweden  and  Germany 

(both 37%); 

§  Respondents  are  the  most  likely  to  associate  a  stronger  say  in  the  world  with  the 

European Union in Sweden (49%), in the Netherlands (43%) and in Austria (38%); 

§  Democracy  is  cited  much  more  than  average  in  Sweden  (41%),  Denmark  (36%),  Austria 

(35%) and Germany (34%); 

§  Bureaucracy  obtains  its  highest  scores  in  Sweden  (45%), and  in  Austria  and  Finland  (both 

38%); 

§  Waste of money is most likely to be mentioned in Austria and Czechia (both 33%), and in 

France (30%); 

§  Respondents are more likely than the European average to mention not enough control at 

external borders in Austria (41%), and in Czechia and Greece (both 33%); 

§  Economic  prosperity records its highest scores in the Netherlands (39%), Denmark (29%) 

and Romania (28%); 

§  Loss of our cultural identity obtains its highest scores in Austria (25%), Greece (24%) and 

Cyprus (23%); 

§  Respondents  in  Austria  (38%),  Slovakia  (27%)  and  Cyprus  (26%)  are  the  most  likely  to 

associate more crime with the European Union; 

§  Social  protection  is  the  most  likely  to  be  mentioned  in  Austria  (22%),  Cyprus  (19%)  and 

Malta (18%); 

§  Lastly,  unemployment  is  most  likely  to  be  associated  with  the  European  Union  by 

respondents in Greece (32%), Cyprus (28%) and Austria (22%). 

112 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA4 What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)

(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

79

76

74 73

70

64 64 63 62 62

60 60 59

56

54 54 54 53 53 53 52

50 49 49 49

57

45

42

38

SE

EE

LT NL

FI

LV

SK

PT

LU BG DK DE CY

EL MT

PL

RO IE

SI HR EU28 FR

BE CZ

ES HU UK

IT

AT

Freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU

Euro

113 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA4

What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)

(%)

d
n
a

y
d
u
t
s

,
l

e
v
a
r
t

o
t

m
o
d
e
e
r
F

U
E

e
h
t

n

i

e
r
e
h
w
y
n
a

k
r
o
w

o
r
u
E

e
c
a
e
P

52

53
51

49
62
49
60
60
76
53
56
49
50
53
38
59
64
74
62
45
54
73
55
54
63
54
53
64
70
79
42

32

41
14

43
10
18
16
41
43
35
46
34
46
19
35
37
25
23
48
16
29
51
57
14
43
25
48
50
58
25
8

29

32
25

31
17
28
51
48
24
20
30
16
34
17
19
25
22
33
44
20
23
43
37
21
17
21
32
32
34
52
24

d
l
r
o
w
e
h
t

n

i

y
a
s

r
e
g
n
o
r
t
S

25

26
22

25
21
23
35
30
15
29
31
16
27
19
19
20
12
26
26
21
36
43
38
22
36
16
17
29
25
49
19

y
t
i
s
r
e
v
i
d

l

a
r
u
t
l
u
C

27

29
24

23
22
17
31
37
26
25
28
23
32
23
21
39
25
33
34
20
24
25
33
23
26
22
21
23
33
37
26

y
c
a
r
c
o
m
e
D

y
c
a
r
c
u
a
e
r
u
B

23

23
22

24
17
19
36
34
18
19
18
19
18
18
18
24
12
24
28
18
25
25
35
23
17
30
15
20
19
41
16

22

23
20

21
10
37
33
33
24
15
13
17
21
15
14
14
18
16
18
16
14
36
38
16
8
15
23
26
38
45
17

y
e
n
o
m

f
o
e
t
s
a
W

21

23
18

26
13
33
12
29
15
9
21
16
30
17
18
21
17
16
15
11
13
16
33
13
10
17
22
29
21
26
21

s
r
e
d
r
o
b

l

a
n
r
e
t
x
e

t
a

l

o
r
t
n
o
c

h
g
u
o
n
e

t
o
N

18

20
15

22
12
33
25
24
16
11
33
10
20
14
17
22
10
10
16
22
27
20
41
11
26
18
17
30
20
17
12

y
t
i
t
n
e
d

i

l

a
r
u
t
l
u
c

r
u
o
f
o

s
s
o
L

12

12
13

10
13
19
11
10
12
14
24
5
14
16
14
23
9
11
6
10
12
14
25
8
12
18
8
14
6
7
14

y
t
i
r
e
p
s
o
r
p
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
E

17

17
18

19
16
15
29
23
12
26
9
18
8
25
8
9
16
21
18
14
18
39
25
16
16
28
15
22
20
17
17

n
o
i
t
c
e
t
o
r
p

l

a
i
c
o
S

11

11
12

16
13
10
17
10
11
14
17
13
9
13
8
19
15
16
15
11
18
8
22
9
13
16
10
13
10
11
13

t
n
e
m
y
o
p
m
e
n
U

l

10

12
6

12
5
6
7
9
7
8
32
9
12
6
18
28
7
4
9
6
8
4
22
5
12
10
11
10
4
3
6

e
m

i
r
c

e
r
o
M

12

13
10

14
11
24
15
19
8
8
21
3
6
15
14
26
5
5
9
14
11
9
38
8
17
15
20
27
14
12
5

1st MOST FREQUENTLY

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY

MENTIONED ITEM

MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST 

FREQUENTLY

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

114 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  autumn  2018,  four  items  have  registered  national  evolutions  of  ten  percentage  points  or 
more. Scores for freedom to travel, study and work anywhere in the EU have increased in 13 
EU  Member  States,  led  by  Slovakia  (64%,  +8  percentage  points).  They  have  decreased  in  12 
countries, with the largest decrease in the UK (42%, -10). They have stayed the same in Lithuania, 
Germany and Poland. 

The proportion of respondents mentioning the euro has fallen in 24 EU Member States, led by the 
Netherlands (51%, -12 percentage points) and Ireland (35%, -10), while it has increased by at most 
three percentage points in four countries. 

Scores for cultural diversity have decreased in 25 EU Member States, in particular in Malta (24%, 
-14  percentage  points),  while  this  score  has  increased  only  in  Cyprus  (39%,  +8).  It  is  stable  in 
Germany and in Austria. 

Lastly, mentions of unemployment are down in 13 EU Member States, particularly in Cyprus (28%, 
-11  percentage  points).  They  are  up  by  at  most  two  percentage  points  in  nine  countries  and 
unchanged in six. 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

115 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA4

What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - FREEDOM TO TRAVEL, STUDY AND WORK ANYWHERE IN THE EU)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

52

53
51

64
56
54
45

32
48
64
68

Socio-professional category
55
64
58
51
44
47
43
68

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

60

63
57

67
65
55
58

44
56
69
70

51
67
71
59
52
52
53
70

49

49
50

60
53
53
42

39
51
56
59

51
63
56
48
38
57
41
59

50

51
49

60
56
52
41

29
39
63
70

65
63
63
47
27
47
39
70

38

37
39

57
45
41
29

22
37
53
57

49
54
35
37
41
44
22
57

54

58
50

68
56
55
46

33
53
59
72

55
48
56
55
61
48
48
72

42

45
40

54
40
51
32

16
36
64
59

45
58
50
42
29
29
34
59

QA4

What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - EURO)

56

56
55

76
66
58
43

34
53
68
80

60
78
66
56
50
46
39
80

63

63
63

77
70
72
48

51
71
73
81

75
71
83
63
41
60
43
81

53

53
54

55
61
53
45

31
49
62
62

64
62
53
51
45
48
45
62

59

56
61

67
62
59
51

45
54
63
75

41
64
63
61
58
58
48
75

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

32

33
31

34
34
34
29

30
29
36
36

Socio-professional category
34
36
36
31
29
32
28
36

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

41

45
36

48
41
40
39

34
37
48
42

40
46
50
41
29
36
37
42

34

35
34

38
31
40
32

37
34
31
35

42
33
37
29
41
45
30
35

46

48
44

46
60
47
37

36
41
52
54

56
53
59
45
42
46
38
54

35

34
35

32
35
33
36

39
36
31
31

37
35
35
37
33
33
34
31

14

15
12

17
15
15
11

15
14
12
17

15
17
15
13
10
21
10
17

8

9
7

3
10
11
6

2
6
15
5

15
15
8
5
2
6
6
5

46

45
48

51
49
41
46

40
49
46
57

45
44
51
43
47
42
44
57

43

43
43

51
44
45
38

37
49
41
46

51
45
50
45
45
18
38
46

35

38
33

41
32
41
31

28
36
35
45

35
29
39
37
34
46
29
45

37

42
33

32
39
40
37

34
31
44
40

32
49
36
40
18
31
38
40

116 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA4

What does the EU mean to you personally? (MULTIPLE ANSWERS POSSIBLE)
(% - PEACE)

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

29

31
28

31
25
28
32

23
26
35
35

Socio-professional category
29
38
27
24
21
19
34
35

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

48

50
45

46
46
40
54

45
41
57
53

57
57
41
37
28
33
54
53

16

17
15

13
14
15
18

19
16
12
14

12
13
12
16
15
14
21
14

34

40
29

29
23
33
43

39
27
41
34

29
44
28
25
24
20
45
34

19

19
19

20
18
22
18

15
19
25
19

20
26
17
21
18
13
19
19

21

20
22

31
16
19
21

17
22
17
43

17
14
21
15
23
25
23
43

24

25
23

31
13
25
28

11
24
30
37

23
28
23
19
17
14
28
37

30

33
26

30
29
32
29

24
28
35
33

33
35
37
27
24
19
29
33

17

16
17

18
16
15
18

19
16
12
20

16
12
13
18
6
18
19
20

20

21
19

14
18
24
19

14
17
24
19

32
28
19
15
14
9
21
19

25

27
23

30
15
27
31

21
24
26
32

23
29
18
19
25
30
31
32

117 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

2  Knowledge of the European Union  

a.  Knowledge of how the European Union works 

Close to six in ten Europeans say that they understand how the EU works 

Around  six  in  ten  Europeans  (59%,  +1  percentage  point  since  autumn  2018)  agree  with  the 
statement  “I  understand  how  the  EU  works”27.  In  contrast,  nearly  four  in  ten  respondents 
disagree with this statement (38%, -1). Just 3% (unchanged) express no opinion. 

QA7.1 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

I understand how the EU works (% - EU)

52

50

51

50

51

46

46

43

43

40

47

44

51

41

48

48

47

47

52

52

52

51

44

44

46

46

45

46

46

42

50

47

54

55

54

56

57

52

52

58

59

58

59

TOTAL 'AGREE'

44

44

42

42

42

41

41

39

39

39

38

TOTAL 'DISAGREE'

70%

60%

50%

47

40%

44

43

41

30%

20%

9

10%

8

7

8

7

7

9

9

8

8

8

7

7

6

0%

3

2

3

3

4

4

4

3

4

3

2

3

2

3

3

DON'T KNOW

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
60% of respondents understand how the EU works, while 38% disagree with this statement and 2% 
don’t know. 

27 QA7.1. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. I understand how the EU works 

118 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A majority of respondents in 25 EU Member States think that they understand how the European 
Union works. The proportion of respondents who agree with this statement is the highest in Sweden 
(81%), Poland (76%) and Finland (72%). 

Only  a  minority  of  respondents  say  that  they  understand  how  the  EU  works  in  two  EU  Member 
States: France (52% disagree vs. 47% agree) and Czechia (49% vs. 48%). Finally, respondents are 
evenly divided in Italy (49% vs. 49%). 

Since autumn 2018, respondents have become more likely to agree that they understand how the 
EU  works  in  15  EU  Member  States,  led  by  Slovenia  (66%,  +7  percentage  points).  In  contrast, 
respondents are less likely to share this opinion in nine countries, mostly in the UK (56%, -5), while 
there has been no change in four countries. 

119 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA7.1

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. 

I understand how the EU works (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

12

15
10

13
12
15
11

8
11
16
12

17
17
12
12
8
10
10
12

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

47

51
44

49
52
49
43

30
47
55
52

52
60
56
46
36
41
40
52

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

9

7
11

7
7
7
13

22
9
4
6

5
2
4
9
16
14
15
6

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

3

2
3

3
2
2
2

3
3
1
3

2
1
2
2
3
4
3
3

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

59

66
54

62
64
64
54

38
58
71
64

69
77
68
58
44
51
50
64

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

38

32
43

35
34
34
44

59
39
28
33

29
22
30
40
53
45
47
33

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

29

25
32

28
27
27
31

37
30
24
27

24
20
26
31
37
31
32
27

120 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA7.1

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
I understand how the EU works
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

59

66
54

62
64
64
54

38
58
71
64

Socio-professional category
69
77
68
58
44
51
50
64

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

69

76
61

65
69
71
67

58
66
75
75

84
78
75
62
61
42
65
75

50

53
45

53
60
57
36

30
48
71
55

57
78
70
54
23
54
32
55

47

53
41

49
50
52
41

32
44
53
50

59
54
53
45
44
52
41
50

49

55
44

48
63
54
39

28
55
63
52

67
79
58
42
34
45
34
52

76

80
71

79
80
85
66

51
74
85
75

79
89
87
77
76
80
62
75

56

60
51

60
55
58
54

30
55
71
61

59
80
57
54
39
46
49
61

61

69
54

70
70
68
48

33
63
76
76

77
90
74
56
41
57
43
76

57

61
53

62
62
66
46

46
58
77
72

61
81
68
54
26
57
41
72

68

79
59

58
73
73
66

51
63
81
59

77
81
78
66
53
52
68
59

68

71
65

65
70
68
67

57
63
76
73

77
89
75
54
60
57
68
73

121 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  Objective knowledge of the European Parliament elections  

Nearly six in ten Europeans know that the members of the European Parliament are 
directly elected by the citizens of each Member State 

A  large  majority  of  respondents  (58%,  -1  percentage  point  since  autumn  2018)  know  that  the 
statement “the  members  of  the  European  Parliament  are  directly  elected  by  the  citizens 
of  each  Member  State”  is  true28.  On  the  other  hand,  slightly  more  than  a  quarter  (26%, 
unchanged) wrongly believe that this statement is false, while over one in ten respondents (16%, 
+1) say that they “don’t know”. 

D84.1 For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false.

The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State (% - EU)

90%

80%

70%

59

60%

57

56

58

52

52

52

54

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

23

18

26

27

17

17

28

14

30

30

29

29

18

18

19

17

71

15

14

62

62

58

58

56

55

55

55

59

58

TRUE

21

17

21

17

25

25

28

28

30

29

26

26

FALSE

17

17

16

17

15

16

15

16

DON'T KNOW

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
60% know that MEPs are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State, while 25% say that 
this is false, and 15% express no opinion. 

28 D84.1. For each of the following statements about the EU could you please tell me whether you think it is true or false. The members 
of the European Parliament are directly elected by the citizens of each Member State 

122 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

In 27 EU Member States, a majority of respondents know how MEPs are elected, with the highest 
scores  in  Malta  (92%),  Cyprus  (89%)  and  Greece  (84%).  The  Netherlands  is  the  only  EU  Member 
State  where  respondents  are  most  likely  not  to  know  how  MEPs  are  elected  (50%  false  vs.  38% 
true). However, only relative majorities of respondents give the correct answer in the UK (43% true 
vs. 28% false) and France (45% vs. 35%). 

Since  autumn  2018,  the  level  of  knowledge  of  how  MEPs  are  elected  has  increased  in  15  EU 
Member States, particularly in Sweden (72%, +10 percentage points). However, it has decreased in 
nine countries, most notably in the UK (43%, -8), and it has stayed the same in four countries. 

123 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

D84.1

For each of the following statements about the EU could you

please tell me whether you think it is true or false. 

The members of

the European Parliament are directly

elected by the citizens of each Member State (% - 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

e
s
l
a
F

26

25
26

28
30
26
22

24
27
24
28

23
26
26
28
24
31
22
28

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

16

12
20

20
16
13
18

25
16
11
19

12
10
10
16
26
20
20
19

e
u
r
T

58

63
54

52
54
61
60

51
57
65
53

65
64
64
56
50
49
58
53

124 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

3  The European citizenship 

a.  Understanding of today’s world  

Two-thirds of Europeans feel they have understood what is going on in today’s world 

Nearly  seven  in  ten  respondents  (67%,  -3  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018)  agree  with  the 
statement “you understand well what is going on in today’s world”29, while nearly a third of 
Europeans  feel  that  they  do  not  understand  today’s  world  (31%,  +3)  and  just  2%  (unchanged) 
express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
66%  of  respondents  say  they  understand  well  what  is  going  on  in  today’s  world,  while  32% 
disagree with this statement, and 2% answer “don’t know”. 

More than half of respondents in 27 EU Member States feel that they have a good grasp of what is 
going on in today’s world. This is particularly true in the Netherlands and Sweden (both 90%), and in 
Cyprus  (89%).  Czechia  is  the  only  country  where  a  minority  of  respondents  share  this  view  (45% 
agree vs. 53% disagree). 

29 QA12.3.  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 

125 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents who agree that they understand what is going 
on  in  today’s  world  has  increased  in  15  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in  Slovakia  (61%,  +9 
percentage  points).  It  has  decreased  in  12  countries,  in  particular  in  Germany  (72%,  -8),  Greece 
(68%, -8) and Italy (56%, -8), while it is stable in Spain. 

QA12.3

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 (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

31

33
26

35
53
10
10
34
25
29
31
42
30
27
11
25
31
42
43
16
24
24
28
14
22
34
25
19
26
32
42

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

3

5
1

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

2

1
3

4
2
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
1
6
0
0
2
2
2
0
1
1
4
2
6
1
2
1
2
0
2

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

67

66
71

61
45
90
90
64
74
71
68
57
69
67
89
75
67
56
55
84
75
75
68
84
72
65
73
80
72
68
56

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

3

4
1

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

126 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA12.3

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

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

7

5
8

6
5
6
9

13
7
3
5

5
2
4
7
10
9
9
5

12
8
5

10
7
5
2
2

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

2

2
2

2
1
2
2

2
2
1
2

1
1
1
2
3
1
2
2

1
1
2

2
2
2
1
2

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

67

72
63

68
71
71
62

52
65
78
72

75
82
72
65
58
63
62
72

56
62
71

60
61
72
83
84

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

31

26
35

30
28
27
36

46
33
21
26

24
17
27
33
39
36
36
26

43
37
27

38
37
26
16
14

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

17

20
14

17
18
19
16

11
16
22
18

20
25
16
17
11
18
16
18

16
12
19

14
15
18
30
52

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

50

52
49

51
53
52
46

41
49
56
54

55
57
56
48
47
45
46
54

40
50
52

46
46
54
53
32

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

24

21
27

24
23
21
27

33
26
18
21

19
15
23
26
29
27
27
21

31
29
22

28
30
21
14
12

127 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

b.  The feeling of European citizenship  

Close to seven in ten Europeans feel they are citizens of the EU 

More  than  two-thirds  of  respondents  (69%,  -2  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018)  agree  with 
the statement “you feel you are a citizen of the EU”30. Moreover, close to three in ten (29%, -1) 
answer  “yes,  definitely”.  However,  three  in  ten  Europeans  do  not  share  this  feeling  of  citizenship 
(+2), while 1% (unchanged) express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly the same results 
as in the EU 28: 71% of respondents feel they are citizens of the EU, while 28% disagree, and just 
1% “don’t know”. 

30 QA10.1. 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 

128 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  see  themselves  as  citizens  of  the  European  Union  in  26  EU  Member 
States,  with  the  highest  levels  in  Luxembourg  (90%),  and  in  Finland,  Sweden  and  Germany  (all 
83%), and the lowest in the UK (54%), and in Czechia and Italy (both 56%). Bulgaria is the only EU 
Member  State  where  a  minority  of  respondents  feel  they  are  EU  citizens  (47%  yes  vs.  49%  no). 
Lastly, respondents in Greece are evenly divided (50% vs. 50%). 

Respondents in Luxembourg (61%) are by far the most likely to answer “yes, definitely” when asked 
if  they  feel  they  are  citizens  of  the  European  Union,  followed  by  those  in  Germany  (46%)  and 
Sweden  (45%).  On  the  other  hand,  respondents  in  Greece  (11%),  and  in  Bulgaria  and  Italy  (both 
14%) are the least likely to do so. 

Since autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents who feel they are citizens of the EU has declined 
in  20  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in  Hungary  (72%,  -8  percentage  points)  and  in  Slovakia 
(69%, -8). However, it has risen in six countries, in particular in Slovenia (78%, +6). It is unchanged 
in Portugal and Czechia. 

129 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  that  more  than  half  of  respondents  in  every  socio-
demographic category feel they are citizens of the European Union, with one exception: those who 
have difficulties paying bills most of the time (47% yes vs. 52% no). 

QA10.1

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)

y
l
e
t
i
n
i
f
e
d

,
s
e
Y

29

31
27

37
30
31
25

19
24
38
39

30
41
30
26
22
24
25
39

16
19
34

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

t
n
e
t
x
e

e
m
o
s

o
t

,
s
e
Y

40

40
40

41
43
41
37

34
41
41
42

43
41
42
43
41
36
35
42

31
43
40

t
o
n

y
l
e
t
i
n
i
f
e
d

,

o
N

10

10
10

6
7
10
14

19
11
6
5

6
4
7
10
11
17
16
5

24
11
9

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

1

1
2

1
1
1
1

2
2
1
1

2
1
1
1
2
2
2
1

1
1
1

'
s
e
Y

'

l

a
t
o
T

69

71
67

78
73
72
62

53
65
79
81

73
82
72
69
63
60
60
81

47
62
74

'

o
N

'

l

a
t
o
T

30

28
31

21
26
27
37

45
33
20
18

25
17
27
30
35
38
38
18

52
37
25

y
l
l

a
e
r

t
o
n

,

o
N

20

18
21

15
19
17
23

26
22
14
13

19
13
20
20
24
21
22
13

28
26
16

130 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

c.  The feeling of having things in common 

Nearly three-quarters of Europeans feel that people in their country have a lot of things 
in common, and half think the same about people in the European Union 

Slightly more than seven in ten respondents (71%, -5 percentage points since autumn 2018) agree 
that  “people  in  (OUR  COUNTRY)  have  a  lot  of  things  in  common”31.  However,  more  than  a 
quarter disagree with this statement (27%, +6), and 2% (-1) answer “don’t know”. 

In parallel, over half of Europeans (51%) believe that “people in the European Union have a lot 
of things in common”32, while more than four in ten disagree (43%) and 6% express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results to the 
EU28  figures:  72%  of  respondents  agree  that  people  in  their  country  have  a  lot  of  things  in 
common  (vs.  26%  who  disagree  and  2%  who  “don’t  know”),  and  50%  agree  that  people  in  the 
European Union have a lot of things in common (vs. 44% disagree and 6% “don’t know”). 

1.  At the national level 

Over half of respondents in the 28 EU Member States agree that “people in (OUR COUNTRY) have a 
lot  of  things  in  common”.  This  view  is  the  most  widespread  in  Sweden  (91%),  Ireland  (88%)  and 
Malta (87%). It is the least prevalent in Slovenia (56%), France (59%) and Luxembourg (62%). 

31 QA12.  To  what  extent  do  you  agree  or  disagree  with  each  of  the  following  statements?  1.  People  in  (OUR  COUNTRY)  have  a  lot  of 
things in common; 2. People in the European Union have a lot of things in common 
32 This is the first time this question was asked. 

131 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since autumn 2018, the proportion of respondents who agree that people in their country have a lot 
of things in common has decreased in 25 EU Member States, most notably in Slovenia (56%, -11 
percentage  points)  and  Germany  (72%,  -10).  It  has  increased  by  just  one  percentage  point  in 
Bulgaria and Austria (both 81%, +1). It is stable in Luxembourg. 

QA12.1

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 (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

27

28
24

15
17
34
8
13
25
29
21
32
38
15
25
27
29
13
16
19
19
24
8
15
11
23
23
34
30
25
43

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

6

6
6

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

2

2
3

4
2
4
1
1
2
2
4
0
3
3
1
3
2
2
0
1
4
2
5
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
1

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

71

70
73

81
81
62
91
86
73
69
75
68
59
82
74
70
69
85
84
80
77
74
87
84
88
76
74
63
67
72
56

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

5

6
6

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

132 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA12.1

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

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

16

17
15

16
16
16
15

14
15
18
18

18
17
17
15
14
13
15
18

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

55

55
54

55
57
55
54

53
54
57
55

56
61
57
54
57
51
53
55

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

5

5
5

5
5
6
5

5
6
4
4

4
3
4
7
6
8
5
4

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

2

2
3

2
2
2
3

3
2
2
1

2
2
2
2
2
3
3
1

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

71

72
69

71
73
71
69

67
69
75
73

74
78
74
69
71
64
68
73

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

27

26
28

27
25
27
28

30
29
23
26

24
20
24
29
27
33
29
26

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

22

21
23

22
20
21
23

25
23
19
22

20
17
20
22
21
25
24
22

133 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

2.  In the European Union  

A majority of respondents think that people in the European Union have a lot of things in common 
in  18  EU  Member  States,  with  the  highest  levels  in  Sweden  (77%),  Ireland  (69%)  and  Romania 
(64%).  However,  a  minority  of  respondents  agree  in  ten  countries:  Slovenia  (39%  agree  vs.  57% 
disagree),  the  Netherlands  (40%  vs.  58%),  Italy  (40%  vs.  54%),  Estonia  (40%  vs.  51%),  France 
(41%  vs.  53%),  Greece  (44%  vs.  52%),  Cyprus  (45%  vs.  50%),  Czechia  (45%  vs.  48%),  Belgium 
(46% vs. 53%) and Luxembourg (46% vs. 49%). 

134 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  that  respondents  who  agree  that  people  in  the  European 
Union have a lot of things in common are more likely to be: 

§ 

§ 

15-39 year olds (56% vs. 52% among 40-54 year olds and 46% among respondents aged 
55 and over); 

Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (56% vs. 49% among those 
who finished aged 16-19 and 42% among those who left school aged 15 or under); 

§  Managers  (60%),  particularly  when  compared  with  unemployed  (44%)  and  retired  (45%) 

people. 

135 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

IV.  EUROPE TODAY AND TOMORROW 

1  More decisions at EU level  

More than half of Europeans say that more decisions should be taken at EU level 

Over  one  in  two  respondents  (54%,  -2  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018)  agree  that  more 
decisions  should  be  taken  at  EU  level33,  including  nearly  a  fifth  (17%,  +2)  who  totally  agree 
with  this  statement.  However,  nearly  four  in  ten  respondents  (37%,  +3)  take  the  opposite  view. 
Finally, close to one in ten (9%, -1) answer that they “don’t know”. 

QA7.2 Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

More decisions should be taken at EU level (% - EU)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

46

45

9

10%

0%

48

40

12

53

52

51

53

53

55

55

56

36

37

38

38

37

36

35

34

11

11

11

9

10

9

10

10

54

37

9

TOTAL 'AGREE'

TOTAL 'DISAGREE'

DON'T KNOW

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results compared 
to the EU28 EU figures: 57% of respondents say that more decisions should be taken at EU level 
(including 19% who “totally agree”), while 35% think the opposite way, and 8% express no opinion. 

33 QA7.2. Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. More decisions should be taken at 
EU level 

136 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  in  21  EU  Member  States  want  more  decisions  to  be  taken  at  EU  level. 
Support is the strongest in Cyprus (81%), Spain (72%) and Portugal (71%). 

In contrast, minorities of respondents in seven EU Member States share this opinion, with the lowest 
proportions  in  Czechia  (32%  agree  vs.  60%  disagree),  Denmark  (33%  vs.  58%),  the  UK  (33%  vs. 
52%), Finland (37% vs. 59%), Sweden (38% vs. 58%), Estonia (40% vs. 48%) and Austria (43% vs. 
53%). 

Since autumn 2018, support for more decision-taking at EU level has decreased in 17 EU Member 
States, most sharply in Malta (52%, -9 percentage points). It has increased in nine countries, most 
markedly in Cyprus (81%, +8). It is unchanged in Latvia and Greece. 

137 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who agree that more decisions should be 
taken at EU level are more likely to be: 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

15-24 year olds (61% vs. 49% among respondents aged 55 and over); 

Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (56% vs. 46% among those 
who finished aged 15 or under); 

Students (64%), particularly when compared with retired people (47%); 

Respondents  who  place  themselves  in  the  upper  middle  or  upper  class  (62%  in  both 
categories), compared with those who say they belong to the working class (48%). 

138 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA7.2

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
More decisions should be taken at EU level
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

54

54
53

61
58
53
49

46
53
56
64

Socio-professional category
58
58
56
53
51
53
47
64

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

56

56
55

58
61
53
54

50
57
54
65

60
61
49
49
57
57
56
65

72

74
70

74
76
77
64

60
76
80
78

85
78
84
73
62
70
61
78

56

57
56

64
63
50
55

52
56
56
66

45
56
61
56
61
63
53
66

59

62
56

64
65
61
53

45
62
68
67

69
85
61
56
42
47
51
67

53

51
55

63
61
57
42

40
52
56
69

49
62
62
57
55
66
37
69

33

34
32

49
39
28
24

20
31
38
50

44
36
23
35
29
33
23
50

52

58
47

64
59
48
47

37
50
59
74

57
76
61
43
39
35
47
74

71

73
69

79
74
74
65

68
75
78
78

73
76
70
75
50
78
63
78

50

53
46

49
58
45
47

43
49
51
50

47
50
54
51
49
35
48
50

81

79
81

77
82
79
82

71
87
81
71

82
84
79
82
87
89
79
71

139 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

2  The impact of technology in Europe  

More than a third of Europeans think that the impact of technology in Europe will be 
greatest on employment/ work, health and education 

Over  four  in  ten  respondents  (43%)  believe  that  employment/  work  is  the  area  that  will  be  the 
most impacted by technology in Europe34. It is followed by health (38%) and education (37%). 

A  quarter  of  Europeans  cite  finance  (25%),  while  at  least  a  fifth  mention  social  life  (22%)  and 
crime (20%). 

Lastly, more than one in ten say that technology will mainly impact social protection (14%) and 
migration (12%) in Europe. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly the same results: 
the only slight differences (up to two percentage points) regard crime (18% vs. 20% at EU28 level), 
employment/ work (44% vs. 43%) and social protection (15% vs. 14%). 

34 D86. In which of the following areas do you think technology will have the biggest impact in Europe? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS) 

140 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Four of these eight items lead the list of areas in which technology will have the biggest impact in 
Europe in at least one of the 28 EU Member States. 

Employment/  work  is  the  most  mentioned  area  in  16  EU  Member  States,  with  the  highest 
proportions  in  Finland  (64%),  Sweden  (61%)  and  the  Netherlands  (58%),  and  the  lowest  in  Italy 
(26%), Romania (28%), and in Bulgaria and Poland (both 33%). 

Health  comes  in  first  position  in  four  EU  Member  States:  Lithuania  and  Estonia  (both  45%), 
Romania (42%) and Poland (41%). However, it obtains its highest scores in the Netherlands (49%), 
France  (46%),  and  Greece  (45%).  Respondents  in  Hungary  (29%),  Slovenia  (31%)  and  Germany 
(32%) are the least likely to mention this area. 

Education  tops  the  list  in  seven  EU  Member  States,  including  Ireland,  Cyprus  and  Denmark  (all 
48%),  Croatia  (47%)  and  Latvia  (43%).  This  area  obtains  its  highest  scores  in  Finland  (55%)  and 
Sweden (51%), and its lowest in Italy and Lithuania (both 29%), and in Hungary (30%). 

Finance ranks first in Italy (35%). However, it obtains its highest levels in Greece (42%) and Cyprus 
(41%), and in Latvia and Denmark (both 35%). In contrast, it is mentioned least in Malta (15%), in 
Portugal (17%), and in Estonia and Ireland (both 19%). 

Although no other item comes in first position among the areas in which technology will have the 
biggest impact in Europe in any EU Member State, other points of note are: 

§  Social  life  is  mentioned  by  at  least  three  in  ten  respondents  in  Austria  (33%),  the 

Netherlands (32%) and Sweden (30%); 

§  Crime is cited by more than three in ten respondents in the Netherlands (36%), the UK (32%) 

and Sweden (31%); 

§  Social  protection  obtains  its  highest  levels  in  Austria  (25%),  and  in  Germany  and  Latvia 

(both 21%); 

§  Lastly,  migration  is  most  likely  to  be  mentioned  in  Malta  (20%),  Slovakia  (19%)  and  Italy 

(17%). 

D86 In which of the following areas do you think technology will have the biggest impact in Europe? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

64

61

58

53 52 51 51 51

49 48 47 47 46 45

43

40

37

45 45

42 41

48 48 48 47

43

39 38

35

FI

SE NL

ES

FR DE

EL

AT

BE

LU MT

PT

SI

SK EU28 HU CZ

EE

LT RO PL DK

IE

CY HR LV UK BG IT

Employment/ work

Health

Education

Finance

141 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

D86

In which of the following areas do you think technology will have the biggest

impact in Europe? (MAX. 3 ANSWERS)

(%)

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

k
r
o
w
/
t
n
e
m
y
o
p
m
E

l

43

47
36

49
33
37
35
51
43
45
51
53
52
34
26
46
35
36
48
40
47
58
51
33
47
28
46
45
64
61
38

h
t
l
a
e
H

38

38
39

43
35
33
43
32
45
40
45
38
46
35
33
41
36
45
35
29
37
49
35
41
43
42
31
33
40
42
38

n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
E

37

37
37

33
38
31
48
38
41
48
42
42
38
47
29
48
43
29
36
30
43
40
36
33
32
37
36
35
55
51
39

e
c
n
a
n
F

i

25

24
25

21
22
20
35
20
19
19
42
20
22
30
35
41
35
29
27
23
15
26
23
28
17
24
20
29
20
25
24

e
f
i
l

l

a
i
c
o
S

22

23
19

25
17
12
18
24
17
21
17
22
21
22
22
17
17
23
24
19
23
32
33
20
23
22
26
19
27
30
17

e
m

i
r
C

20

18
22

24
8
16
28
17
10
27
23
10
20
20
18
19
8
9
19
15
22
36
24
12
19
17
14
19
17
31
32

n
o
i
t
c
e
t
o
r
p

l

a
i
c
o
S

14

15
12

18
17
16
20
21
13
17
12
11
13
14
14
10
21
20
14
16
9
9
25
11
10
17
14
16
14
7
9

n
o
i
t
a
r
g
M

i

12

12
11

15
10
16
9
14
9
13
12
6
10
10
17
10
15
14
7
16
20
8
14
13
6
13
9
19
8
5
8

1st MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

2nd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

3rd MOST FREQUENTLY MENTIONED ITEM

142 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average. 

143 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

3  What would be most helpful for the future of Europe?  

More than half of Europeans think that comparable living standards would be most 
helpful for the future of Europe, well ahead of comparable education standards 

Over half of respondents (52%, -5 percentage points since October-November 2018) consider that 
comparable living standards would be most helpful for the future of Europe35. 

The  five  other  items  tested  are  mentioned  much  less:  indeed,  in  second  place,  comparable 
education standards is mentioned by more than a third of respondents (37%, -2). 

In  third  position,  nearly  a  quarter  of  respondents  (23%,  -4)  say  that  well  defined  external 
borders of the EU would be most helpful.  

The three remaining policies are cited by less than a fifth of respondents but more than one in ten: 
an  economic  government  for  the  EU  (17%,  -3)  is  slightly  ahead  of  the  introduction  of  the 
euro in all EU countries (13%, -1) and a common army (13%, +1). 

QA15 Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

 (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Sept.-Oct. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

Nov.-Dec. 2012

Dec. 2011

COMPARABLE LIVING STANDARDS

COMPARABLE EDUCATION STANDARDS

23

WELL DEFINED EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE EU

15
16

27

24

26

57

52

52
53
52
51

37

39

35
35

39
38

AN ECONOMIC GOVERNMENT FOR THE EU

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO
IN ALL EU COUNTRIES

A COMMON ARMY

OTHER (SPONTANEOUS)

NONE (SPONTANEOUS)

DON'T KNOW

17

20

18

21

29

33

13
14

12

14
13
14

13
12
13
12

8
7

5

2
2
2
3

1

1

3

3

3
3
3
2

3

5
4

4

6

35 QA15. Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 

144 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK gives results quite similar to 
the EU28 figures: comparable living standards (53% vs. 52% at EU28 level), well defined external 
borders of the EU (24% vs. 23%), the introduction of the Euro in all EU countries and a common 
army (14% vs. 13% for both items). 

Between 2011 and 2019, the proportion of respondents citing well defined external borders of 
the  EU has experienced the largest increase, up from 16% to 23% (+7 percentage points, with a 
jump  of  11  points  between  2012  and  2016).  The  share  of  respondents  mentioning  a  common 
army has also gained ground, up from 7% in 2011 to 13% in 2019 (+6). 

In contrast, the proportion of respondents mentioning an economic government for the EU has 
decreased by 16 percentage points, down from 33% in 2011 to 17% in 2019. 

QA15 Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
 (% - EU)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

51

38

33

20%

16

10%

14

7

0%

53

35

26

21

14

12

52

35

24

18

13

12

57

39

27

20

14

12

52

39

29

15

13

8

52

37

23

17

13

13

COMPARABLE LIVING STANDARDS

COMPARABLE EDUCATION STANDARDS

WELL DEFINED EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE EU
AN ECONOMIC GOVERNMENT FOR THE EU
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO
IN ALL EU COUNTRIES
A COMMON ARMY

2011

2012

2016

2017

2018

2019

145 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Two of the six policies tested are in first position in at least one EU Member State. 

Comparable  living  standards is the most cited policy in 23 EU Member States, with its highest 
scores  in  Lithuania  (77%),  Bulgaria  (69%)  and  Portugal  (68%),  and  its  lowest  in  Denmark  (37%), 
Finland (39%) and Italy (42%). 

Comparable education standards comes in first position in the five EU Member States where it 
obtains its highest scores: Spain (60%), Sweden (56%), Germany (53%), Malta (52%) and Denmark 
(46%). However, respondents in Hungary (16%), in Italy (21%), and in Romania and Czechia (both 
23%) are less likely to consider this policy as most helpful for the future of Europe. 

Although no other item comes in first position among the policies that would be most helpful for 
the future of Europe, other points of note are: 

§  Well defined external borders of the EU is cited by more than a third of respondents in 

Austria (41%), Hungary (40%), Greece (38%) and Finland (35%); 

§  An economic government for the EU is most likely to be mentioned in the Netherlands, in 

France and Cyprus (all 22%), and in Italy (21%); 

§  The  introduction  of  the  euro  in  all  EU  countries is mentioned by at least a quarter of 

respondents in Romania and Finland (both 26%), and in Belgium (25%); 

§  Lastly, respondents in the Netherlands (29%), in Cyprus (23%) and in France (19%) are most 

likely to believe that a common army would be most helpful for the future of Europe. 

QA15 Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - THE MOST MENTIONED ANSWER BY COUNTRY)

77

69 68 67 66 65 65 64

59 58

53 52 52 52

50 50 50 50

60

56

53 52

46

48

46 46 45

42

39

LT

BG PT

SK

EL

PL

SI

CZ RO HR NL EU28 EE

CY

BE

FR

LV AT HU LU UK

IE

IT

FI

ES

SE DE MT DK

Comparable living standards

Comparable education standards

146 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA15

Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful

if

anything, for the future of Europe? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

U
E

e
h
t

f
o

s
r
e
d
r
o
b

l

a
n
r
e
t
x
e

d
e
n
i
f
e
d

l
l

e
W

23

23
23

28
19
32
29
25
25
22
38
10
21
24
28
21
27
11
22
40
22
22
41
20
19
22
19
30
35
21
20

U
E

e
h
t

r
o
f

t
n
e
m
n
r
e
v
o
g
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

n
A

17

18
14

20
19
9
14
15
12
19
12
20
22
15
21
22
19
16
20
15
13
22
8
11
17
14
15
9
13
10
17

o
r
u
E

e
h
t

f
o
n
o
i
t
c
u
d
o
r
t
n

i

e
h
T

s
e
i
r
t
n
u
o
c
U
E

l
l

a

n

i

13

15
10

25
9
6
8
12
20
22
8
8
15
17
18
12
15
11
14
23
12
18
22
9
14
26
19
18
26
8
5

y
m
r
a

n
o
m
m
o
c
A

13

14
12

18
7
14
10
11
11
7
11
5
19
10
17
23
15
18
16
12
2
29
14
18
7
16
11
7
12
11
7

s
d
r
a
d
n
a
t
s

n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e

l

e
b
a
r
a
p
m
o
C

37

40
32

33
28
23
46
53
29
41
33
60
35
30
21
41
29
28
40
16
52
35
35
24
44
23
27
26
35
56
40

s
d
r
a
d
n
a
t
s

g
n
i
v
i
l

l

e
b
a
r
a
p
m
o
C

52

51
55

50
69
64
37
49
52
45
66
55
50
58
42
52
50
77
46
48
49
53
50
65
68
59
65
67
39
52
46

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

Highest percentage per country

Lowest percentage per country

Highest percentage per item

Lowest percentage per item

147 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  four  policies  have  undergone  national  evolutions  of  ten  or  more 
percentage  points.  The  proportion  of  respondents  mentioning  comparable  living  standards  has 
decreased  in  19  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in  Croatia  (58%,  -11  percentage  points).  This 
proportion  has  increased  in  five  countries  and  is  unchanged  in  Portugal,  Greece,  Slovenia  and 
Austria. 

Mentions of comparable education standards are down in 14 EU Member States, in particular in 
Finland (35%, -16 percentage points since October-November 2018), in the Netherlands (35%, -13), 
in  Sweden  (56%,  -12)  and  in  Ireland  (41%,  -12).  They  have  increased  in  12  countries  and  have 
remained unchanged in Malta and Cyprus. 

Proportions of respondents mentioning well defined external borders of the EU have decreased 
in 21 EU Member States, with the largest fall in Czechia (32%, -10 percentage points since October-
November  2018).  These  proportions  are  up  in  five  countries  and  unchanged  in  Denmark  and 
Luxembourg. 

Lastly, in 13 EU Member States, respondents are less likely to mention the  introduction  of  the 
euro in all EU countries than they were in October-November 2018, with the largest decrease in 
Romania (26%, -14 percentage points). They are more likely to do so in 12 countries, and opinion is 
stable in Hungary, Bulgaria and the UK. 

148 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA15

Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

(%)

s
d
r
a
d
n
a
t
s

n
o
i
t
a
c
u
d
e

l

e
b
a
r
a
p
m
o
C

37

40
32

33
28
23
46
53
29
41
33
60
35
30
21
41
29
28
40
16
52
35
35
24
44
23
27
26
35
56
40

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

5

5
4

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

s
d
r
a
d
n
a
t
s

g
n
i
v
i
l

l

e
b
a
r
a
p
m
o
C

52

51
55

50
69
64
37
49
52
45
66
55
50
58
42
52
50
77
46
48
49
53
50
65
68
59
65
67
39
52
46

U
E

e
h
t

f
o

s
r
e
d
r
o
b

l

a
n
r
e
t
x
e

d
e
n
i
f
e
d

l
l

e
W

23

23
23

28
19
32
29
25
25
22
38
10
21
24
28
21
27
11
22
40
22
22
41
20
19
22
19
30
35
21
20

U
E

e
h
t

r
o
f

t
n
e
m
n
r
e
v
o
g
c
i
m
o
n
o
c
e

n
A

17

18
14

20
19
9
14
15
12
19
12
20
22
15
21
22
19
16
20
15
13
22
8
11
17
14
15
9
13
10
17

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

4

3
5

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

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

2
=
3

1
3
3
3
1
4
12
2
3
2
2
1
=
3
2
1
5
=
13
2
1
3
1
1
5
16
12
5

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

o
r
u
E

e
h
t

f
o
n
o
i
t
c
u
d
o
r
t
n

i

e
h
T

s
e
i
r
t
n
u
o
c
U
E

l
l

a

n

i

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

3

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

13

15
10

25
9
6
8
12
20
22
8
8
15
17
18
12
15
11
14
23
12
18
22
9
14
26
19
18
26
8
5

1
=
3

1
=
1
3
3
5
1
3
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
4
=
7
4
1
4
1
14
2
3
3
1
=

y
m
r
a

n
o
m
m
o
c
A

13

14
12

18
7
14
10
11
11
7
11
5
19
10
17
23
15
18
16
12
2
29
14
18
7
16
11
7
12
11
7

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

1

2
1

1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
=
1
2
3
3
3
=
3
3
7
1
=
2
2
2
2
4
4
1

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

149 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

150 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA15

Which two of the following would you consider to be most helpful if anything, for the future of Europe?

(MAX. 2 ANSWERS)
(% - COMPARABLE LIVING STANDARDS)
EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

52

52
52

52
53
54
50

45
53
55
49

Socio-professional category
52
55
56
53
50
53
49
49

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

49

49
50

53
51
44
50

50
46
53
47

50
53
52
46
52
37
50
47

55

55
55

51
60
54
53

50
58
59
49

52
57
70
57
47
59
50
49

50

51
48

45
53
53
47

43
53
52
35

42
50
58
54
48
60
47
35

42

45
38

47
43
47
36

34
44
46
45

42
53
46
51
33
45
32
45

65

65
66

69
56
69
69

57
65
71
57

64
72
62
63
66
64
70
57

46

47
45

47
45
53
41

33
50
46
52

54
54
50
42
47
48
39
52

66

68
65

71
72
63
63

57
64
76
71

69
85
67
62
65
72
62
71

68

67
69

67
69
74
63

62
74
70
67

73
73
71
70
78
56
61
67

45

44
46

41
46
43
47

43
48
43
36

45
45
46
41
56
52
47
36

52

46
57

32
61
60
48

48
55
56
38

41
52
60
54
67
63
45
38

151 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

4  Europeans’ confidence in the future  

Close to two-thirds of Europeans say that they have confidence in the future 

Nearly  seven  in  ten  respondents  (65%,  -2  percentage  points  since  autumn  2018)  agree  with  the 
statement  “you  have  confidence  in  the  future”36,  including  15%  (-3)  who  “totally  agree”.  In 
contrast, close to a third of Europeans (32%, +2) take the opposite view. Finally, 3% (unchanged) 
say that they “don’t know”. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows almost the same results: 
67%  of  respondents  have  confidence  in  the  future  (including  16%  who  “totally  agree”  with  the 
statement), while 31% disagree and 2% say they “don’t know”. 

More than half of respondents in 26 EU Member States have confidence in the future. Respondents 
in the Nordic countries (87% in both Denmark and Finland, and 86% in Sweden), the Netherlands 
(84%) and Ireland (82%) are the most optimistic. Only minority of respondents have confidence in 
the future in Greece (28% agree vs. 71% disagree) and Cyprus (36% vs. 64%). 

36 QA12.4. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? You have confidence in the future 

152 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  autumn  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  who  have  confidence  in  the  future  has 
decreased  in  15  EU  Member  States,  most  notably  in Ireland  (82%,  -7  percentage  points),  while  it 
has  increased  in  nine  countries,  led  by  Lithuania  (53%,  +13),  and  remains  unchanged  in  four 
countries. 

QA12.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

You have confidence in the future (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

32

33
31

46
37
25
26
31
47
71
25
33
12
14
24
33
12
19
23
29
36
39
64
15
24
13
24
23
40
26
16

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

2

2
3

11
6
1
1
=
1
2
1
=
1
=
2
1
3
2
2
1
4
3
3
3
1
3
4
4
8
6
8

3

2
4

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

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

65

65
65

53
61
74
70
67
52
28
72
67
87
86
74
66
87
78
75
64
62
58
36
84
71
79
74
74
56
72
82

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2
.
t
u
A

2

2
3

13
6
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
=
=
=
=
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
4
5
5
5
6
7

153 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows results by socio-demographic criteria across the whole European Union 
(EU28) on average.  

QA12.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

You have confidence in the future (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

15

17
14

18
15
16
14

10
13
20
19

18
20
15
14
11
13
14
19

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

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

50

50
50

52
53
50
48

44
49
54
55

50
57
56
49
49
38
47
55

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

7

6
7

8
6
7
7

10
8
4
6

5
3
5
7
8
13
8
6

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

3

2
3

2
2
2
3

4
2
2
1

2
2
3
2
4
3
3
1

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

65

67
64

70
68
66
62

54
62
74
74

68
77
71
63
60
51
61
74

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

32

31
33

28
30
32
35

42
36
24
25

30
21
26
35
36
46
36
25

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

25

25
26

20
24
25
28

32
28
20
19

25
18
21
28
28
33
28
19

154 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

5  Europeans’ opinion of the future of the EU  

Over half of Europeans are optimistic about the future of the European Union 

More  than  half  the  respondents  are  optimistic  about  the  future  of  the  European  Union    
(55%, -6 percentage points since October-November 2018)37. However, four in ten respondents (+6) 
say they are pessimistic about the EU’s future. Finally, 5% (unchanged) express no opinion. 

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows nearly the same results: 
57%  of  respondents  are  “optimistic”  about  the  future  of  the  European  Union,  while  38%  are 
“pessimistic” and 5% “don’t know”. 

A longer-term analysis reveals that the proportion of respondents who are optimistic about the 
future of the EU has decreased for the first time since 2016. However, at 55%%, it remains above 
the lowest levels recorded between 2011 and 2013 and in 2016 (between 48% and 50%). 

QA9 Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU?

 (% - EU)

80%

69

70%

66

60%

50%

40%

30%

26

8

20%

24

10%

7

0%

63

64

66

57

59

58

37

36

34

28

29

27

48

46

49

46

50

45

49

46

51

43

56

56

58

38

37

36

53

41

50

50

44

44

56

57

58

61

38

37

36

34

55

40

TOTAL 'OPTIMISTIC'

TOTAL 'PESSIMISTIC'

9

7

7

6

7

6

6

5

5

5

6

6

7

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

5

5

DON'T KNOW

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

The optimism index regarding the future of the European Union38 has decreased by 12 index points 
since October-November 2018, declining to +15, its lowest level since 2016. 

QA9 Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU?

(EU - OPTIMISM INDEX (TOTAL 'OPTIMISTIC' - TOTAL 'PESSIMISTIC'))

+40

+39

+35

+35

60%

50%

+45

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

-10%

+25

+22

+20

+22

+18

+19

+8

+12

+6

+6

+27

+22

+20

+18

+15

OPTIMISM INDEX

+5

+3

+2

+3

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

37 QA9. Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU? 
38 Difference between responses “optimistic” and responses “pessimistic” 

155 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A majority of respondents are optimistic about the future of the European Union in 25 EU Member 
States, with the highest scores in Ireland (77%), Denmark (75%) and Lithuania (73%). In contrast, 
optimism about the future of the EU is the minority view in three countries: the UK (40% optimistic 
vs. 51% pessimistic), France (42% vs. 54%) and Greece (42% vs. 55%). 

156 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since October-November 2018, optimism about the future of the European Union has decreased in 
26  EU  Member  States,  particularly  in  Belgium  (59%,  -12  percentage  points),  Bulgaria  (56%,  -12), 
Ireland (77%, -11), the UK (40%, -11) and Estonia (61%, -10). Optimism has slightly increased in 
Greece (42%, +1) and has remained the same in Slovenia. 

QA9

Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or

very pessimistic about the future of the EU?

(%)

'

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
t
p
O

'

l

a
t
o
T

55

55
54

42
65
56
75
64
53
73
68
62
62
53
68
67
64
58
65
61
50
42
69
56
67
63
61
77
40
59
56

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
s
s
e
P

'

l

a
t
o
T

40

41
38

55
33
41
23
32
44
22
31
29
32
42
30
31
34
37
24
34
44
54
30
39
24
33
33
17
51
40
33

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

6

6
5

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

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

5

4
8

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

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

6

6
8

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

157 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A socio-demographic analysis shows that respondents who are optimistic about the future of the 
EU are more likely to be: 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

§ 

15-24 year olds (64% vs. 31%), compared with 25-39 year olds (58% vs. 37%), 40-54 year 
olds (54% vs. 41%) and respondents aged 55 and over (50% vs. 44%); 

Those  who  completed  their  full-time  education  aged  20  or  over  (62%  vs.  35%),  compared 
with those who finished aged 16-19 (50% vs. 44%) and 15 or under (44% vs. 48%); 

Students  (68%  vs.  27%),  managers  (67%  vs.  30%)  and  other  white  collars  (61%  vs.  35%), 
particularly  when  compared  with  unemployed  (45%  vs.  50%)  and  retired  people  (48%  vs. 
45%); 

Those who never or almost never have difficulties paying bills (59% vs. 36%), compared with 
those who have these difficulties from time to time (47% vs. 47%) or most of the time (34% 
vs. 57%); 

Respondents who place themselves in the upper (75% vs. 22%), upper middle (69% vs. 29%) 
or  middle  (61%  vs.  36%)  class,  compared  with  those  who  say  they  belong  to  the  working 
(45% vs. 47%) or lower middle (49% vs. 46%) class; 

Finally, respondents with a positive image of the EU (82% vs. 15%), compared with 16% vs. 
81% among those with a negative image of the EU. 

158 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA9

Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future

of the EU? 

(% - EU)

'

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
s
s
e
P

'

l

a
t
o
T

40

40
40

31
37
41
44

48
44
35
27

39
30
35
43
40
50
45
27

57
47
36

47
46
36
29
22

15
42
81

'

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
t
p
O

'

l

a
t
o
T

55

56
53

64
58
54
50

44
50
62
68

56
67
61
51
51
45
48
68

34
47
59

45
49
61
69
75

82
49
16

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
t
p
o

y
r
e
V

6

6
5

9
6
5
5

3
5
6
10

5
7
5
6
6
5
4
10

5
3
6

5
4
6
8
13

11
2
1

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

Image of EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
t
p
o

y

l
r
i
a
F

49

50
48

55
52
49
45

41
45
56
58

51
60
56
45
45
40
44
58

29
44
53

40
45
55
61
62

71
47
15

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
s
s
e
p

y
r
e
V

8

8
8

5
8
9
9

12
10
6
3

6
6
6
9
10
13
9
3

17
10
7

11
9
7
4
6

1
4
28

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

5

4
7

5
5
5
6

8
6
3
5

5
3
4
6
9
5
7
5

9
6
5

8
5
3
2
3

3
9
3

c
i
t
s
i

m

i
s
s
e
p

y

l
r
i
a
F

32

32
32

26
29
32
35

36
34
29
24

33
24
29
34
30
37
36
24

40
37
29

36
37
29
25
16

14
38
53

159 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

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

QA9

Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU?
(% - TOTAL 'OPTIMISTIC')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

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

55

56
53

64
58
54
50

44
50
62
68

56
67
61
51
51
45
48
68

61

62
61

68
68
54
61

58
55
68
69

56
69
65
52
64
50
62
69

56

56
56

61
55
57
54

53
50
64
63

54
69
65
53
54
51
52
63

42

48
37

51
39
45
37

35
32
50
64

42
52
48
36
33
39
36
64

50

52
48

61
56
51
43

39
50
58
65

59
67
53
44
45
36
39
65

67

65
69

80
68
67
60

58
62
71
92

68
78
71
61
75
61
59
92

40

40
39

48
47
38
33

25
37
51
46

43
53
46
35
32
36
35
46

42

42
40

64
49
40
31

27
42
47
61

52
64
53
35
31
27
28
61

62

64
60

79
67
63
51

49
67
75
81

63
73
74
61
34
56
49
81

77

82
73

76
80
73
78

71
70
86
81

81
87
77
76
72
58
77
81

53

56
51

54
52
55
53

40
52
57
58

42
64
54
48
54
53
54
58

QA9

Would you say that you are very optimistic, fairly optimistic, fairly pessimistic or very pessimistic about the future of the EU?
(% - TOTAL 'PESSIMISTIC')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

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

40
40

31
37
41
44

48
44
35
27

39
30
35
43
40
50
45
27

34

34
33

28
27
40
34

33
39
28
29

36
28
32
40
30
42
33
29

39

40
39

37
42
38
40

41
46
32
34

41
30
34
43
37
44
42
34

54

49
58

45
58
50
59

55
66
47
30

56
42
48
61
64
59
59
30

44

42
47

30
40
43
51

54
44
40
27

39
32
41
44
48
60
56
27

24

28
20

18
26
23
25

28
26
23
8

20
20
25
29
19
38
24
8

51

56
47

39
43
56
57

66
51
44
44

52
43
40
55
41
56
56
44

55

55
56

29
49
58
66

69
57
50
29

47
35
47
61
64
69
69
29

29

28
29

12
22
29
39

42
25
17
8

32
16
16
29
47
41
42
8

17

15
19

12
16
24
15

20
22
12
9

17
12
16
17
21
40
17
9

44

43
44

41
47
43
43

56
44
42
40

56
34
46
49
42
45
40
40

160 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

6  Prospects for young Europeans  

Close to two-thirds of Europeans say that the European Union project offers future 
prospects for Europe’s youth 

More than six in ten respondents (65%, -4 percentage points since October-November 2018) agree 
that  “the  European  Union  project  offers  a  future  perspective  for  Europe’s  youth”39, 
including over a fifth (22%, unchanged) who “totally agree”. However a quarter of respondents (+3) 
disagree with this statement, while a one in ten (+1) answer that they “don’t know”. 

QA8.4 To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The European Union project offers a future perspective for Europe's youth (% - EU)

Mar. 2019

Oct.-Nov. 2018

Sept.-Oct. 2017

Sept.-Oct. 2016

43

47

45

43

TOTALLY AGREE

TEND TO AGREE

TEND TO DISAGREE

TOTALLY DISAGREE

DON'T KNOW

22
22
21

17

18
17
16

23

7

5
6

8

10
9

12

9

A focus on the average of the 27 EU Member States without the UK shows similar results compared 
to  the  EU28  :  67%  of  respondents  agree  that  “the  European  Union  project  offers  a  future 
perspective  for  Europe’s  youth”  (including  23%  who  “totally  agree”),  while  24%  disagree  and  9% 
don’t know. 

39 QA8.4. To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? The European Union project offers a future 
perspective for Europe’s youth 

161 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
																																																								
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Majorities  of  respondents  in  the  28  EU  Member  States  agree  that  “the  European  Union  project 
offers a future perspective for Europe’s youth”. The proportion of respondents sharing this opinion is 
the  highest  in  Lithuania  (87%),  in  Malta  (83%), and  in  Denmark  and  Estonia  (both  82%),  and  the 
lowest in Greece (49% agree vs. 44% disagree), in the UK (50% vs. 28%) and in Spain (53%). 

Over  a  third  of  respondents  “totally  agree”  that  “the  European  Union  project  offers  a  future 
perspective for Europe’s youth” in six EU Member States: Lithuania (44%), Latvia (40%), Denmark 
(36%), Germany and Malta (both 35%), and Estonia (34%). 

162 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

Since  October-November  2018,  the  proportion  of  respondents  thinking  that  “the  European  Union 
project offers a future perspective for Europe’s youth” has decreased in 21 EU Member States, most 
notably in the UK (50%, -12 percentage points) and in Greece (49%, -10). However, respondents are 
more likely to share this opinion in the seven other countries, led by Finland (78%, +6). 

QA8.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

The European Union project offers a future perspective for Europe's

youth (%)

EU28

EURO AREA
NON-EURO AREA

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

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

25

26
22

15
8
15
26
7
13
10
24
17
27
18
14
19
38
2
18
13
26
28
18
17
24
19
14
26
34
44
28

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

3

3
5

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

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

10

8
14

7
10
9
11
6
5
10
3
11
3
11
11
8
9
15
9
20
8
6
7
8
3
5
12
12
7
7
22

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

65

66
64

78
82
76
63
87
82
80
73
72
70
71
75
73
53
83
73
67
66
66
75
75
73
76
74
62
59
49
50

-

9
1
0
2

.
r
a
M

8
1
0
2

.

v
o
N
-
.
t
c
O

4

3
7

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

163 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

A  socio-demographic  analysis  shows  that  at  least  half  of  respondents  in  every  socio-
demographic  category  agree  that  “the  European  Union  project  offers  a  future  perspective  for 
Europe’s youth”. In details, respondents sharing this opinion are more likely to be: 

§ 

Those who completed their full-time education aged 20 or over (73%), compared with those 
who finished aged 16-19 (63%) and aged 15 or under (50%); 

§  Managers (76%) and students (73%), particularly when compared with house persons (56%) 

and unemployed people (57%); 

§ 

§ 

§ 

Those  who  never  or  almost  never have  difficulties  paying  bills  (68%),  compared  with  those 
who do so from time to time (60%) or most of the time (50%); 

Respondents who place themselves in the upper middle (81%), upper (76%) or middle (71%) 
class, compared with those who say they belong to the working (55%) or lower middle (61%) 
class; 

Lastly, respondents with a positive image of the European Union (84%), compared with those 
with a neutral (62%) or negative image of the EU (39%) 

164 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

QA8.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

The European Union project offers a future perspective for Europe’s youth (% - EU)

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

7

7
6

5
5
8
7

10
7
5
5

5
4
6
8
8
8
8
5

16
7
6

10
7
5
4
9

2
5
19

w
o
n
k

t
'
n
o
D

10

9
12

9
9
9
12

16
11
7
7

8
6
9
9
15
10
14
7

11
10
10

14
10
7
6
3

6
12
11

'

e
e
r
g
A

'

l

a
t
o
T

65

66
64

70
68
65
62

50
63
73
73

68
76
68
64
56
57
60
73

50
60
68

55
61
71
81
76

84
62
39

'

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
D

'

l

a
t
o
T

25

25
24

21
23
26
26

34
26
20
20

24
18
23
27
29
33
26
20

39
30
22

31
29
22
13
21

10
26
50

e
e
r
g
a

y
l
l

a
t
o
T

22

23
21

26
21
23
21

14
20
28
29

25
29
21
20
18
17
20
29

16
16
25

17
19
25
36
39

37
16
9

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

Image of EU

Positive
Neutral
Negative

e
e
r
g
a

o
t

d
n
e
T

43

43
43

44
47
42
41

36
43
45
44

43
47
47
44
38
40
40
44

34
44
43

38
42
46
45
37

47
46
30

e
e
r
g
a
s
i
d

o
t

d
n
e
T

18

18
18

16
18
18
19

24
19
15
15

19
14
17
19
21
25
18
15

23
23
16

21
22
17
9
12

8
21
31

165 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans in 2019 

March 2019 

Special Eurobarometer 486 

Report 

The following table shows the average results by socio-demographic criteria in the European Union 
as a whole (EU28), in the six largest EU countries and in the countries that receive or have received 
European aid to help them cope with the economic and financial crisis. 

QA8.4

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?
The European Union project offers a future perspective for Europe's youth
(% - TOTAL 'AGREE')

EU28

DE

ES

FR

IT

PL

UK

EL

PT

IE

CY

TOTAL

Gender

Male
Female

Age

15-24
25-39
40-54
55 +

Education (End of)

15-
16-19
20+
Still studying

65

66
64

70
68
65
62

50
63
73
73

Socio-professional category
68
76
68
64
56
57
60
73

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

75

75
76

67
75
71
81

70
71
84
74

72
81
71
73
70
56
81
74

53

56
50

61
56
54
48

45
51
61
63

57
63
64
51
48
51
47
63

63

67
60

64
66
58
64

58
59
69
71

52
69
66
64
35
59
63
71

59

62
56

63
69
62
51

45
62
67
68

75
87
61
55
53
48
44
68

73

68
77

82
76
76
66

59
72
77
85

69
77
74
73
85
83
65
85

50

52
49

63
55
54
39

22
47
69
65

65
68
60
47
41
50
35
65

49

52
46

68
50
52
43

39
40
58
71

52
74
59
42
34
37
43
71

66

69
64

78
65
73
60

60
71
76
79

66
72
69
69
35
72
59
79

75

76
72

72
76
75
74

52
74
82
69

82
79
78
78
75
44
71
69

73

71
75

77
62
77
77

68
71
75
79

76
78
66
62
75
83
78
79

166