Citizenship and democracy : summary.
Date: 2023-12-06
Institutions: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
Subjects: EU Member State, European citizens' initiative, European citizenship, anti-discriminatory measure, decision-making, democracy, diplomatic protection, election, freedom of movement, fundamental rights, operation of the Institutions, petition, sample survey

Flash Eurobarometer 528 

Citizenship and democracy 

Summary 

Fieldwork: 
April-May 2023 
Publication: 
December 2023 

Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and 
Consumers and coordinated 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. 

Flash Eurobarometer 528 – Ipsos European Public Affairs 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528 

Citizenship and democracy 

Summary 

April-May 2023 

Survey conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs at the request of the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers  

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project title 

Linguistic version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 

© European Union, 2023 

Flash Eurobarometer 528 Citizenship and Democracy – 
April-May 2023 
Summary 
EN 
DS-03-23-161-EN-N 
 978-92-68-03272-5 
doi:10.2838/062 

https://europa.eu/eurobarometer 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Table of contents 

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Section 1. Awareness and understanding of EU citizenship .......................................................................................... 2 

1.1. 

Familiarity with the term “citizen of the European Union” ....................................................................... 2 

1.2.  Understanding of how citizenship is obtained ................................................................................................. 2 

Section 2. Awareness of rights associated with EU citizenship ................................................................................... 3 

2.1.  Overall awareness of rights as an EU citizen ................................................................................................... 3 

2.2. 

Awareness of specific rights conferred by EU citizenship ......................................................................... 4 

2.3. 

Awareness of what to do if rights are not respected .................................................................................. 5 

Section 3. Attitudes towards EU citizenship ............................................................................................................................ 6 

3.1. 

Self-identification as a citizen of the EU ............................................................................................................ 6 

3.2. 

Attitudes towards the free movement of citizens within the EU .......................................................... 6 

3.3. 

Views on means of supporting and protecting EU citizens outside of the EU ............................... 7 

Section 4. Attitudes towards electoral issues and foreign interference ................................................................. 8 

4.1. 

Electoral issues .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 

4.2. 

Attitudes towards foreign interference in democratic system ............................................................... 9 

Section 5. Views on the role of civil society ......................................................................................................................... 10 

5.1. 

Perceived importance of civil society in democratic debate ................................................................. 10 

5.2. 

Views on the future role of civil society & citizen engagement ......................................................... 11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Introduction 

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty, which 
established the citizenship of the European Union. EU citizenship and the rights it confers lie at 
the heart of the EU. Any person who holds the nationality of a Member State is automatically also an 
EU citizen. EU citizenship is additional to and does not replace national citizenship of a Member State. 
In line with Article 25 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, the European Commission 
reports every three years on progress towards effective EU citizenship. This year's report will take stock 
of developments in the area of EU citizenship since the last report was published in 2020.  

Securing free and fair elections and protecting democratic processes has also been a priority 
for  the  Commission’s  actions  for  years.  The  Commission  President’s  new  push  for  European 
democracy led in 2020 to the European Democracy Action Plan. In the 2022 State of the Union 
address, President von der Leyen announced a Defence of Democracy Package.  

The  Flash  Eurobarometer survey  on  EU  citizenship  and  democracy  builds  on  the  work  of  previous 
Eurobarometer surveys, such as Flash Eurobarometer 485 (conducted in 2020).1 On behalf of the 
European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, Ipsos European Public Affairs 
interviewed a representative sample of citizens, aged 15 and over, in each of the 27 Member States 
of the European Union. Between 24 April 2023 and 9 May 2023, 25 722 interviews were conducted 
over the telephone (landline and mobile phones).  

Survey  data  are  weighted  to  known  population  proportions.  The  EU27  averages  are  weighted 
according  to  the  size  of  the  15+  population  of  each  EU  Member  State.  Due  to  rounding,  the 
percentages shown in the charts and tables do not always exactly add up to the totals mentioned in 
the text. 

The country abbreviations used in this report correspond to:  

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

ES 

  Belgium 
  Bulgaria 
  Czechia 
  Denmark 
  Germany 
Estonia 

Ireland 

  Greece 
  Spain 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

France 

  Croatia 
Italy 

  Rep. of Cyprus* 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

  Hungary 
  Malta 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

  Netherlands 
  Austria 
  Poland 
  Portugal 
  Romania 
  Slovenia 
  Slovakia 
Finland 

  Sweden 

* Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27 EU MS. However, the ‘acquis communautaire’ has been suspended in the 
part of the country not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, interviews 
are only carried out in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. 

1 See: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2260 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Section 1. Awareness and understanding of EU citizenship  

1.1.  Familiarity with the term “citizen of the European Union” 

Two-thirds (66%) of respondents have heard of the term “citizen of the European Union” 
and know what it means. A further 25% have heard of the term but are unsure what it means, 
while 9% have not heard of the term at all.  

There is considerable variation in familiarity with the term “citizen of the European Union” 
across the different EU Member States: The proportion saying they have heard of it and know 
what  it  means  ranges  from  fewer  than  50%  in  Croatia  (46%),  Sweden  (46%),  Latvia  (45%)  and 
Belgium (44%), to around the 80% mark in Spain (82%), Italy (80%), Ireland (76%) and Poland (76%).  

Q1 

Are you familiar with the term “citizen of the European Union”? (% by country) 

Yes, and you know what it means

Yes, you have heard of it, but you are not sure what it means

No, you have never heard the term “citizen of the European Union”

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

0

2

15

0

4

15

0

7

17

0

4

0

4

0

6

0

5

0

5

1

6

20

24

22

23

25

25

0

4

28

0

9

0

6

25

28

0

15

21

1

7

29

0

4

36

0

7

34

0

13

29

0

10

32

0

5

37

1

7

0

8

36

38

2

16

30

0

13

0

12

1

12

36

37

41

1

17

37

1

11

43

0

21

36

82

80

76

76

72

72

71

70

69

67

66

66

64

64

59

59

59

58

58

56

54

53

51

51

46

46

45

44

ES

IT

IE

PL

RO

AT

SI

FI

PT

BG EU27 DK

DE

SK

HU

LT

LU

EL

EE

NL

CY

MT

CZ

FR

HR

SE

LV

BE

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

1.2.  Understanding of how citizenship is obtained  

An  overwhelming  majority  (93%)  of  respondents  know  that  they  are  simultaneously 
citizens of the EU and their country of residence. Somewhat lower majorities are aware that 
citizens of Member States do not need to apply to become EU citizens (74%) or that they cannot opt 
out of being EU citizens (67%). 

Analysis by Member State reveals that awareness that they are simultaneously citizens of 
the EU and their country of residence holds at between 80% and 97% in all countries. Awareness 
that citizens of Member States do not need to apply to become EU citizens varies greatly by 
country. It is lowest in Romania (48%), Estonia (57%)  and Greece (58%), and highest in Denmark 
(85%), Austria (85%) and Poland (84%). Similar country-based variation emerges for awareness that 
citizens of Member States cannot opt out of being EU citizens. The figure falls short of 50% 
in Latvia (43%), Romania (45%), Estonia (41%) and Greece (46%), whilst being highest  in Austria 
(85%), Italy (84%) and Denmark (78%).  

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Section 2. Awareness of rights associated with EU citizenship  

2.1.  Overall awareness of rights as an EU citizen 

Exactly  half  of  respondents  (50%)  say  they  feel  well  informed  about  their  rights  as  a 
citizen of the EU, while a third (33%) say they do no feel very well informed and 16% do not feel 
at all informed.2 

At the Member State level, the proportion of respondents who feel well informed about 
their  rights  as  an  EU  citizen  ranges  from  a  low  of  26%  in  France,  to  just  over  60%  in 
Germany (61%), Estonia (63%) and Poland (64%)3 – though in the majority of countries it lies 
at between around a third and half.  

The average results show that just 10% of respondents feel very well informed about their rights 
as a citizen of the EU. In addition, the figure remains below the 20% mark in all Member States.  

Q2 

How well informed do you feel about your rights as a citizen of the European Union?  
(% by country) 

Very well informed

Fairly well informed

Not very well informed

Not informed at all

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

1

9

26

2

10

26

1

10

30

0

19

20

1

19

20

1

10

31

0

6

35

2

11

29

0

9

0

11

1

13

2

14

35

34

33

32

1

8

39

1

19

28

1

14

1

14

34

33

1

10

39

1

16

33

0

11

40

0

15

36

2

19

30

1

13

42

0

20

0

17

38

42

3

20

36

51

57

46

50

52

51

52

45

43

38

46

45

41

45

44

40

39

40

42

38

37

36

33

34

36

0

32

1

21

1

30

44

33

42

30

30

23

14

6

15

11

7

7

6

12

12

16

7

8

12

7

8

11

12

10

11

12

8

9

9

7

5

6

4

3

PL

EE

DE

BG

SE

HU

FI

DK

IE

AT

SI

LT

PT

CZ

SK

NL

IT

EU27 RO

LU

MT

ES

EL

CY

LV

BE

HR

FR

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

2 This question was only asked to those familiar with the term “Citizen of the European Union”. In the analysis, 
those not familiar with the term are included in the group that is not informed at all about their rights. 
3 Due to rounding, percentages for separate response options shown in the charts do not always exactly add up 
to the totals shown in charts and tables, or mentioned in the text. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

2.2.  Awareness of specific rights conferred by EU citizenship  

Respondents were presented with a list of specific rights conferred by EU citizenship and 
asked whether or not they thought each of these applied to them. While the proportion 
aware of each right consistently reached a majority, there is notable variation in the size 
of the majority.  

Around eight in ten are aware that they have the right to make a complaint to the European Commission, 
the European Parliament or the European Ombudsman (84%), and the right to reside in any Member 
State subject to certain conditions being fulfilled (80%). A slightly lower proportion  (77%) recognise 
that, when in another EU Member State, they have the right to be treated in the same way as a national 
of that State. A lower proportion recognise that, when outside the EU, they have the right to seek help 
from the embassy of any other EU Member State (69%). More than six in ten respondents (64%) are 
aware of their right to participate in a European Citizens’ Initiative, which was introduced by the Lisbon 
Treaty and became operational in 2012. 

Q4 

In fact, all citizens of the EU Member States are “citizens of the European Union” since 
1993. Do you know if, as an EU citizen, you have the following rights? (% EU27) 

Yes, you have this right

No, you do not have this right

Don't know

The right to make a complaint to the European
Commission, European Parliament or European
Ombudsman, for example when your EU rights
have not been respected by your Member State

The right to reside in any Member State of the
European Union, subject to certain conditions
like having sufficient resources for yourself and
your family members

When in another Member State, the right to be
treated in the same way as a national of that
State

When outside the EU, the right to seek help
from the embassy of any other EU Member
State, if your country does not have an
embassy there

The right to participate in a Citizen’s Initiative, 
a request signed by at least one million EU 
citizens inviting the European Commission to 
propose a new policy measure

84

5

11

80

8

12

77

11

12

69

8

64

8

23

28

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

About  two-thirds  of  respondents  (67%)  correctly  identify  that  a  citizen  of  the  EU  living  in  their 
country  has  the  right  to  vote  or  stand  as  a  candidate  in  European  Parliament  elections.  An 
appreciably lower majority – 55% – correctly identify that such a citizen has the right to vote or 
stand as a candidate in municipal elections. Indeed, almost a third (30%) believe this to be untrue, 
while a further 15% are unsure.  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Q5 

I have two more statements to read out. Please tell me whether you think they are true or 
false. If you don't know, please say so. (% EU27) 

True

False

Don't know

A citizen of the EU living in [COUNTRY]
has the right to vote or stand as a
candidate in European Parliament
elections

A citizen of the EU living in [COUNTRY]
has the right to vote or stand as a
candidate in municipal elections

67

16

18

55

30

15

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

2.3.  Awareness of what to do if rights are not respected 

Approaching  two-thirds  of  respondents  in  total  (64%)  do  not  feel  well  informed  about 
what to do if their rights as an EU citizen are not respected. Meanwhile, just over a third feel 
either fairly well informed (31%) or very well informed (4%). 

The  proportion  not  feeling  well informed  rises  to two-thirds  or  higher  in  nearly  half of 
Member  States,  namely  Romania  (66%),  Portugal  (68%),  Greece  (69%),  Sweden  (69%),  Cyprus 
(70%), the Netherlands (70%), Spain (70%), Latvia (71%), Belgium (72%), Croatia (75%) and France 
(85%). In contrast, Ireland and Poland stand out as the only Member States where a (slim) majority 
of respondents feel well informed (57% and 52% respectively) – though even in these countries, only 
relatively small minorities feel very well informed (11% and 7% respectively).  

Q6 

How well informed do you feel about what you can do when your rights as an EU citizen are 
not respected? (% by country) 

Very well informed

Fairly well informed

Not very well informed

Not informed at all

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

1

8

1

11

1

9

34

36

45

2

14

41

1

11

45

2

14

42

1

10

48

1

12

46

3

12

1

13

44

47

1

11

50

1

14

1

13

1

13

47

48

49

5

15

1

8

56

2

16

0

11

1

8

0

19

0

18

1

17

1

17

2

23

2

23

55

59

45

48

51

52

52

52

46

49

3

19

52

1

17

58

46

45

32

38

41

35

38

38

38

33

36

34

34

34

33

31

31

29

29

25

25

26

28

26

24

24

22

11

7

13

6

3

8

3

3

2

6

2

4

4

3

2

4

4

5

2

5

5

4

2

2

3

2

3

2

30

55

12

1

IE

PL

MT

LU

IT

DE

HU

BG

EE

AT

LT

CZ

SI

SK

FI

DK EU27 RO

PT

EL

CY

ES

SE

NL

BE

LV

HR

FR

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Section 3. Attitudes towards EU citizenship 

3.1.  Self-identification as a citizen of the EU 

Almost  nine  in  ten  respondents  (87%)  agree  that  they  feel  they  are  citizens  of  the 
European Union, with over six in ten (63%) totally agreeing. Just 12% disagree with the statement.  

The  proportion  who feel  they  are  citizens  of the  EU  holds at  least  80% in  all  Members 
States and, indeed, rises to 90% or higher in seven – Germany (90%), Hungary (90%), Poland (91%), 
Estonia (92%), Spain (93%), Lithuania (94%) and Slovenia (94%).  

Q8 

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements: 
You feel that you are a citizen of the European Union (% by country) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

1

2

3

1

2

4

0

3

4

1

4

3

1

5

4

1

3

6

1

3

6

2

3

6

0

4

7

2

5

4

1

6

7

3

5

5

2

6

5

1

6

7

1

5

8

1

6

8

26

17

18

22

24

19

21

24

28

12

2

9

4

0

6

9

1

9

6

0

7

9

3

7

7

1

9

7

3

6

8

3

9

5

0

10

1

8

1

9

1

9

8

10

10

10

23

15

16

17

35

15

11

28

28

25

23

24

29

15

27

39

37

32

77

75

68

70

67

71

69

76

65

61

63

72

71

70

74

71

51

57

56

59

60

59

54

55

68

42

43

48

LT

SI

ES

EE

PL

HU

DE

SE

FI

PT EU27 AT

MT

IT

BE

LU

IE

SK

RO

EL

DK

BG

LV

NL

CY

HR

FR

CZ

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

3.2.  Attitudes towards the free movement of citizens within the EU 

A large majority of respondents hold positive attitudes towards the free movement of EU 
citizens within the EU. About nine in ten (89%) agree that the policy personally benefits them, with 
about seven in ten (69%) strongly agreeing. Similarly, over eight in ten (83%) agree that the free 
movement of EU citizens benefits the economy, with about half (51%) strongly agreeing.  

Again, this predominantly positive picture is reflected in virtually all Member States. The 
proportion agreeing that they personally benefit from the free movement of EU citizens stands 
at over 80% in all but one country (Cyprus, where it stands at 78%), and rises to over 90% in nine 
countries. The proportion agreeing that the free movement of EU citizens benefits the economy 
exceeds 80% in all but four Member States – Belgium (80%), Czechia (78%), Latvia (77%) and France 
(73%) – and reaches 90% in Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

3.3.  Views on means of supporting and protecting EU citizens outside 

of the EU 

A large majority of respondents – 93% – agree that EU Member States should cooperate 
closely  to  help  EU  citizens  who  need  consular  protection  outside  the  EU.  A  similar 
proportion  (91%)  agree  that,  if  they  were  in  a  non-EU  country  where  their  national 
government had no consulate or embassy and they needed help, they would seek support 
from an EU Delegation instead. 

Q8 

Please tell me to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements:  
(% EU27) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

EU Member States should cooperate closely
to help EU citizens who need consular
protection outside the EU

If you were in a country outside the EU with
no [NATIONALITY] consulate or embassy and
needed help, you would like to seek support
from an EU Delegation instead

73

20

3

2

2

66

25

3

3

3

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

Agreement with  the statement that EU Member  States  should  cooperate  closely  to  help  EU 
citizens who need consular protection outside the EU holds at over 90% in all but two Members 
States, Denmark and France, where it is only marginally lower at 88%.  

For the statement that, if they were in a non-EU country where their national government 
had no consulate or embassy and they needed help, they would seek support from an EU 
Delegation instead, slightly more varying levels of agreement are found across the Member States, 
ranging from 81% (in Latvia) to 98% (in Spain). Still, in more than half of the countries the figure 
remains above the 90% mark.  

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Section 4. Attitudes towards electoral issues and foreign 

interference 

4.1.  Concerns about electoral issues 

The  survey  uncovers  a  high  level  of  concern  about  various  forms  of  interference  in  EU 
elections.  Indeed,  almost  eight  in  ten  respondents  (78%)  are  concerned  about  disinformation 
influencing people’s voting decisions, with almost half (47%) very concerned about this. Around seven 
in  ten  are  concerned  about  elections  being  manipulated  through  cyberattacks  (72%)  and  about 
foreign countries influencing elections covertly (70%). Alongside these concerns, more than six in ten 
respondents are also worried about being pressured into voting a particular way (65%), and about 
the final results of an election being manipulated (63%). A slimmer majority (53%) express concern 
about people voting when they are not entitled to.  

Q9 

In the context of elections in Europe, how concerned or not are you about the possibility of 
each of the following events? (% EU27) 

Very concerned

Somewhat concerned

Not very concerned

Not at all concerned

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

People basing their voting decision
on disinformation

Elections being manipulated
through cyberattacks

Foreign countries influencing
elections covertly

People being pressured into voting
in a particular way

The final result of an election being
manipulated

People voting although they are
not entitled to vote

47

44

41

41

31

11

8

3

27

16

10

3

29

16

11

2

24

18

15

2

43

20

19

16

2

32

21

21

23

4

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

Concern  about  people  basing  their  vote  on  disinformation,  about  elections  being 
manipulated though cyberattacks, and about covert foreign influence holds at a majority 
level in all countries. For the other forms of interference, more widely varying levels of concern are 
found. For example, the proportion of respondents concerned about the manipulation of final election 
results ranges from 31% to 79%. Similarly, the proportion concerned about people voting when they 
are not entitled to do so ranges from 17% to 70%.    

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

4.2.  Attitudes towards foreign interference in democratic system 

About eight in ten respondents (81%) agree that foreign interference in our democratic 
system is a serious problem that should be addressed, and over seven in ten (74%) agree that 
such interference can affect citizens’ voting behaviour. Views are somewhat more divided on the 
question  of  whether  foreign  countries  are  justified  in  aiming  to  influence  EU  election 
outcomes to defend their interests: 42% agree that they are justified, while 55% disagree.   

Still,  there  is  strong  majority  support  for  tackling  such  covert  interference  in  our 
democratic systems. About eight in ten respondents (81%) agree that entities representing foreign 
governments should be registered to prevent the problem. 

Q10 

The following statements are about interference by foreign countries in the politics and 
democracy of the European Union and its Member States. To what extent do you agree or 
disagree with each of the statements? (% EU27) 

Strongly agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

Foreign interference in our
democratic systems is a serious
problem that should be addressed

Entities representing foreign
governments on EU territory
should be registered to prevent
covert interference in our
democratic systems

Foreign interference can affect 
citizens’ voting behaviour

It is justified that foreign countries
aim to influence the outcome of
elections in the EU to defend their
interests

52

29

10

6

2

54

28

8

6

5

40

33

13

10

3

22

20

18

37

4

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

The  proportion  agreeing  that  foreign  interference  in  our  democratic  system  is  a  serious 
problem  holds  at  over  eight  in  ten  in  all  Member  States  with  the  exception  of  the  Scandinavian 
countries, and Hungary and Romania, where it ranges from 69% (in Finland) to 75% (in Sweden). The 
proportion agreeing that foreign interference can affect citizens’ voting behaviour similarly 
holds at a majority level in all countries and, indeed, is notably higher than average in Slovakia (80%), 
Croatia (82%), Slovenia (83%), Sweden (83%) Cyprus (84%) and Czechia (85%).  

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

Section 5. Views on the role of civil society  

5.1.  Perceived importance of civil society in democratic debate 

Almost nine in ten respondents (87%) think the role of civil society (associations, NGOs) 
is important in promoting and protecting democracy and common values, including in terms 
of fostering a well-informed and pluralistic democratic debate. Almost six in ten (57%) think the role 
of civil society in this regard is very important. 

The proportion who see the role of civil society as important remains above the 80% level 
in all but three Member States – Greece (71%), Slovenia (77%) and Slovakia (79%), where it is 
only a little lower. In nine Member States, the proportion rises to 90% or higher, those being Cyprus 
(90%),  Luxembourg  (90%),  Poland  (90%),  Finland  (90%),  Bulgaria  (91%),  Portugal  (91%),  Ireland 
(92%), Malta (92%) and Sweden (94%).  

Q11  How important is the role of civil society (associations, NGOs) in promoting and protecting 
democracy and common values, including in terms of fostering a well-informed and 
pluralistic democratic debate? (% by country) 

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not at all important

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

2

1

4

0

5

3

0

2

6

23

23

27

2

4

4

6

1

3

2

2

6

4

0

6

2

3

5

1

4

6

5

1

5

4

2

6

3

3

5

0

4

7

4

2

7

2

4

6

3

3

7

4

2

8

3

4

6

3

4

7

2

4

8

1

6

9

4

3

10

6

3

9

2

4

3

4

13

11

21

21

46

23

26

28

26

24

24

25

49

41

30

29

32

45

30

26

38

42

34

40

3

8

2

7

11

14

35

39

71

70

70

70

65

68

64

62

63

65

65

64

45

57

58

55

59

56

46

39

41

45

41

48

42

44

39

1

14

14

25

46

SE

IE

MT

BG

PT

FI

LU

PL

CY

DK

NL

IT

AT

EE

FR EU27 DE

HU

BE

ES

RO

LT

LV

HR

CZ

SK

SI

EL

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 528  
Citizenship and democracy 

5.2.  Views on the future role of civil society & citizen engagement 

More than half of respondents think there is a need to increase the engagement of civil 
society organisations in the decision-making process at the national level (56%) and the 
European  level  (54%).  Meanwhile,  around  a third  feel  the  extent  of  organisations’  engagement 
should remain the same as at present (30% for the national level, and 32% for the EU level), and 
around one in ten think it should decrease (8% in each case).  

There is a greater appetite still for the increased engagement of citizens in the decision-
making process at the national and European level. Around two-thirds of respondents are in 
favour of this (68% for the national level, 66% for the EU level), while around a quarter favour a 
continuation of the status quo (24% for the national level, 26% for the EU level). Only a small minority 
feel citizen engagement should be decreased at either level (4% in each case).    

Q12  Do you think there is a need to increase or decrease each of the following? (% EU27) 

Increase

Stay the same

Decrease

Don't know [NOT READ OUT]

Engagement of citizens in the
decision-making process at
national level

Engagement of citizens in the
decision-making process at
European level

Engagement of civil society
organisations in the decision-
making process at national level

Engagement of civil society
organisations in the decision-
making process at European level

68

24

4

4

66

26

4

4

56

54

30

32

8

8

6

6

Base: all respondents (n=25 722) 

11