European Parliament Eurobarometer : EU post-electoral survey 2024 : executive summary.
Date: 2024-11-06
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EU Member State, European Parliament, European election, democracy, image, opinion poll, public opinion, sample survey, vote

POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5 

DGCOMM | PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT

EU POST-ELECTORAL SURVEY 2024

EU POST-ELECTORAL SURVEY 2024 

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TOPICS THAT GOT OUT THE VOTE: 
RISING PRICES AND THE ECONOMY
Rising  prices  and  the  cost  of  living  (42%  of  voters)  as  well  as  the 
economic  situation  (41%  of  voters)  were  the  two  main  issues  that 
motivated citizens to vote in the European elections.

DOES VOTING MATTER? MORE THAN EVER 
THINK SO
56% of citizens agree that their voice counts in the EU–an increase of 
8 percentage points compared to spring 2024 (48%). 

BREAKING THROUGH - TRUST IN EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
42%  of  the  citizens  have  a  positive  or  very  positive  image  of  the 
European  Parliament  -  the  highest  ever  recorded  result  for  this 
indicator.

BEING A MEMBER OF THE EU IS IMPORTANT. 
AND USEFUL
The past years’ polycrisis sealed the fact: For 67% of citizens being a 
Member of the EU is important - and 70% say that their country has 
benefited from it. 

EUROPE’S MANY BENEFITS
There are four main reasons why Europeans feel that their country has 
benefited from being a member of the EU: The increased co-operation 
between  Member  States  (36%),  protecting  peace  and  strengthening 
security (32%), the EU’s contribution to economic growth (28%), and 
the creation of new work opportunities (24%). 

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.510 KEY TAKE-AWAYS6

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INCREASING OPTIMISM ABOUT THE FUTURE 
OF THE EU
65%  are  optimistic  about  the  future  of  the  EU,  up  four  percentage 
points since February/March. This is the highest result since 2021.

STANDARD OF LIVING EXPECTATIONS: 
PESSIMISM SLOWING DOWN
Since  February/March,  the  share  of  Europeans  who  expect  their 
standard  of  living  to  decrease  has  fallen  by  6  percentage  points  (to 
26%). A majority of 55% says their standard of living will not change.

EU SUPPORTERS VOTE, 
EU SCEPTICS NOT SO MUCH
Attitudes  towards  the  EU  correlate  with  voting  in  the  European 
elections:  67%  of  people  with  a  positive  image  of  the  EU  voted, 
compared to 42% with a neutral image and 36% with a negative image.

YES! WE VOTE!
Voting in European elections becomes a habit. When asked why they 
voted, 46% of voters say they always do, while 42% say it is their duty 
as citizens, and 20% say they want to support the political party they 
feel close to. Turnout in the 2024 European elections increased in 16 
out of 27 countries, with the aggregated EU turnout remaining stable 
at a historically high level. 

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EUROPEANS VOTED FOR EUROPEAN ISSUES
The reasons for the decision on whom to vote for in 2024 were mainly 
based on how close the proposals of the parties were to the ideas and 
values  of  the  voters.  Proposals  on  European  issues  were  the  most 
frequent reason, given by 47% (+4 pp since 2019) of the voters.

DG COMM
Public Opinion Monitoring Unit
EU Post-Electoral Survey 2024
EB 101.5 

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.510 KEY TAKE-AWAYSY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

From 6 to 9 June 2024, over 350 million European Union citizens had the chance to elect their 
representatives at the European Parliament. More than half of them took that opportunity and 
voted in the European elections. 

This  is  remarkable.  In  a  world  where  democracy  is  under  threat  -  from  the  outside,  when  a 
democratic  country  is  under  attack  by  its  authoritarian  neighbour,  or  from  within,  when  the 
term ‘democratic backsliding’ describes the recent resurgence of non-democratic regimes - 
Europeans resoundingly said ‘yes’ to democracy.

Interviews for the 2024 EU Post-Electoral Survey began only four days after the polls closed; 
the survey fieldwork took place from 13 June to 8 July 2024. With the election experience still 
fresh  in  people’s  minds,  the  survey  set  out  to  find  out  who  voted,  why  they  voted,  and  why 
they chose particular parties. It aimed to find links between people’s voting behaviour and their 
social background, political concerns and attitudes towards the EU. However, acknowledging 
the significant proportion of citizens who chose not to participate in these elections, the survey 
also looked at the concerns of non-voters and their motivations to abstain. 

This study follows a series of similar post-electoral surveys that began in 2009. It is also closely linked 
to the regular Eurobarometer surveys commissioned by the European Parliament, making it possible 
to see how a European election affects established trend indicators. Thus, the survey provides a 
unique source of information and perspective to explain political behaviour at the European level.

Economic issues remain citizens’ main concern

By the time they went to the polls, voters had a clear idea of the topics they considered important: 
economic issues were at the top of the list. Rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the 
economic situation (41%) were the two most important issues motivating their decision to vote. 
Rising prices topped the list in twelve of the Member States, the economic situation in five. 

QA4ab

Which of the following is the main topic that encouraged you to vote in the recent 
European elections? Firstly?And then?(EU 27) (%)

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThere are, of course, many other motivating factors: 34% say the international situation is an 
issue that encouraged them to vote, and 32% mention democracy and the rule of law. Migration 
and asylum, the EU’s defence and security, and the environment and climate change follow at 
28% each; social protection, welfare and access to healthcare comes next at 24%.

Non-voters  have  similar  main  preferences  to  voters.  When  asked  which  issues  would  have 
encouraged  them  to  vote,  respondents  who  did  not  vote  in  the  last  EP  elections  also  give 
rising  prices  and  the  cost  of  living  (46%)  as  their  most  frequent  answer,  followed  by  the 
economic  situation  (36%)  as  well.  Interestingly,  this  is  followed  by  a  different  issue:  non-
voters cite social protection, welfare and access to healthcare as the third most important 
motivation (25%) - among voters, this issue only ranks eighth. 

Attitudes towards EU and EP continue to improve

The EU Post-Electoral Survey 2024 included several questions identical to regular Eurobarometer 
studies, which made it possible to observe attitude trends towards the EU and the EP allowing 
studying voting behaviour in a broader context. At the time of the elections, people’s general 
perceptions on the image and the future role of the European Parliament, as well as of the EU as 
such, are positive and stable or improving, including their own economic outlook. 

People  have  an  increasingly  favourable  perception  of  the  European  Parliament.  42%  of  EU 
citizens say that they have a positive image of the EP, 39% have a neutral image, and only 18% 
state say they have a negative image. These figures are the most favourable ever; they even 
slightly exceed the previous high of 41% positive image in February-March 2024.

QA16

In general, do you have a very positive, fairly positive, neutral, fairly negative or 
very negative image of the European Parliament? (% - EU)

The EU, as a whole, is also seen in an increasingly positive light: almost half the respondents 
(48%,  +1  pp  since  Feb-Mar  2024)  have  a  positive  image  of  the  EU,  while  36%  (no  change 
since Feb-Mar 2024) have a neutral image and 16% (-1 pp) have a negative perception. EU 
appreciation  is  highest  in  Portugal  (75%),  Ireland  (71%),  Sweden  (62%)  and  Lithuania  (60%). 

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYMore than one in five citizens hold a negative image of the EU in Czechia (29%), France and 
Austria (both 27%) and Greece (24%).

The  perceived  importance  of  EU  membership  has  also  increased  slightly  since  before  the 
European Parliament elections. Two thirds of respondents (67, +2 pp compared to Feb-Mar 
2024) consider their country’s membership of the EU to be important, including 21% who 
consider membership to be ‘extremely important’.

The indicator with the highest level of agreement among Europeans is the question of whether 
their country has benefited from being a member of the EU: 70% agree (-1 pp since Feb-Mar 
2024). Even 26% of those who have a negative image of the EU agree with this assessment. 
Only 24% (+1 pp) of respondents say that their country has not benefited from EU membership.

While  a  clear  majority  of  Europeans  feel  that  their  country  has  benefited  from  being  a 
member of the EU, it is important to understand the reasons underpinning this view. In the EU 
overall, there are two main reasons, each given by around a third of respondents: increased 
co-operation  between  Member  States  (36%)  and  protecting  peace  and  strengthening 
security (32%). The EU’s contribution to economic growth (28%) and the creation of new work 
opportunities (24%) follow next.

Two  indicators  that  measure  people’s  confidence  have  improved  since  February-March. 
Optimism about the future of the EU has increased: 65% (+4 pp) now say they are optimistic 
about  the  future  of  the  EU,  including  7%  (-1  pp)  who  are  ‘very  optimistic’.  In  addition,  the 
proportion of people who think their standard of living will get worse in the next five years fell 
by 6 pp to 26%. 55% (+6 pp) expect their standard of living to remain the same over the next 
five years, while 16% (+1 pp) think it will increase.

There is one indicator that is particularly important in the context of the European elections:  
agreement with the statement ‘My voice counts in the EU’. This figure has increased by 8 
pp  from  48%  in  February-March  to  56%  in  June-July.  This  is  a  remarkable  improvement  in 
just five months and shows the importance of the European elections - including the various 
communication and campaigns activities in the run-up to these elections - as a motivating 
and mobilising factor for the European project. A similar, while slightly lower, increase was 
seen in 2019, with agreement rising from 49% to 56% in the months leading up to the elections. 

D72.1

To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements:  
My voice counts in the EU (% - EU)

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYSocio-demographic characteristics strongly influence likelihood to vote

While the aggregated EU turnout in the 2024 European elections remained stable around the 
already high level of 2019, even slightly exceeding it at 50,74%, national turnout increased in 16 EU 
Member States compared to 2019. There was a considerable variation in turnout between Member 
States, ranging from 89% in Belgium to 21% in Croatia, with significant swings in both directions 
compared to 2019, such as a 16 pp increase in Hungary and a 25 pp decrease in Lithuania. 

Due  to  the  secrecy  of  the  ballot,  official  election  results  cannot  provide  detailed  statistics 
on voter demographics at the EU level. This EU post-electoral study is therefore a primary 
source  of  information  for  those  who  want  to  get  an  idea  regarding  which  segments  of  the 
population  voted  and  which  did  not.  Some  socio-demographic  characteristics  of  citizens 
make them more likely to exercise their right to vote.

QA1R

Turnout European elections 2024 in country of residence (% - Voted)

Age  is  a  determining  factor  in  voter  turnout,  as  older  people  are  more  likely  to  vote  than 
younger ones. 58% of citizens aged 55 and over voted, followed by 51% of those aged 40-54, 
46% of those aged 25-39 and 36% of those aged 15-24 (if eligible). The participation rate of 
young voters has decreased by 6 pp since 2019, partially offsetting the 14 pp increase that 
took place between 2014 and 2019.

There are also differences in turnout according to the household’s financial situation, with 
the  socio-economic  divide  widening  since  2019.  Those  who  encounter  difficulties  paying 
bills most of the time (35%, -3 pp since 2019) are much less likely to have voted than those 
who never or almost never do (57%, +3 pp). Another factor influencing turnout is the level of 
education: 59% of respondents who finished their formal education at the age of 20 or older 
voted in the elections, while the turnout was 49% for those who finished at the age of 16-19, 
and 44% for those who finished at the age of 15 or younger.

Pro-EU attitudes translate directly into voting in the European elections. 67% of people with 
a  positive  image  of  the  EU  voted,  compared  to  42%  with  a  neutral  image  and  36%  with  a 
negative image. Similarly, turnout was higher among citizens who say that their voice counts 

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYin the EU (66%) than among those who disagree with this statement (36%), and it is also higher 
among people who are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU (60%) than among 
those who are not satisfied (43%).

Most voters show consistent voting behaviour

Voting in the European elections can be a conscious choice or an expression of civic duty, but 
it can also become a matter of course that is no longer questioned. When asked when they 
decided to vote in the European elections, 76% of voters said that they always vote. Only a 
small number of voters decided to vote a few months ago (9%), a few weeks ago (8%), a few 
days before the election (5%) or on election day itself (2%).

When voters were asked why they voted, 46% simply repeated that they just always vote - an 
act that is neither questioned nor discussed. This was the most common answer in 15 Member 
States. The second most popular reason for voting is that it is a duty as a citizen (42%) - this 
was the top answer in 12 countries. The order of these two answers is reversed compared to 
2019, when 35% said they always vote and 52% said it was their duty. Other main reasons for 
voting were to support the political party they feel close to (20%, -2 pp), because voting can 
make things change (18%, =), because they feel European or a citizen of the EU (18%, +6 pp) 
and because they are in favour of the EU (17%, -8 pp).  

QA3

What are the main reasons why you decided to vote in the European elections? 
(MAX. 3 ANSWERS)(%)

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe  decision  to  vote  for  a  particular  party  or  candidate  was  usually  taken  at  least  a  few 
months before the EP elections. 45% of the voters say that they have always voted for the 
same  party  or  candidate  (+2  pp  since  2019),  while  23%  (=)  say  they  decided  a  few  months 
before. One in six (16%, =) say they decided a few weeks earlier, while a similar proportion 
(16%, -1 pp) only decided in the days before the election (11%, no change) or on the day itself 
(5%, -1 pp).

The  reasons  for  selecting  a  particular  party  in  2024  were  mainly  based  on  how  close  the 
proposals of the parties were to the ideas and values of voters. European issues were given as 
crucial for 47% (+4 pp since 2019), national issues for 42% (no change). Again, a large proportion 
of voters showed consistent behaviour and said they usually vote for that party (41%, +1 pp).

Non-voters show a different pattern. When asked about the time they decided not to vote, 
27% say they never vote. 18% of them only decided to stay at home only on election day, the 
same share of respondents decided it few months before (18%), 17% made the decision a few 
days before, and 15% a few weeks before.  

The two main reasons for not voting in the last EP elections are a lack of trust or dissatisfaction 
with politics in general (21%, -1 pp since 2019) and a lack of interest in politics (20%, +2 pp). 
Other reasons include the belief that voting has no consequences or does not change anything 
(17%, +3 pp). This means that genuine political reasons best explain non-participation. More 
practical  reasons  such  as  lack  of  time  (12%,  +1  pp),  being  on  holidays  or  away  from  home 
on  election  day  (12%,  +2  pp)  or  health  problems  (10%,  +1  pp)  play  a  less  important  role  in 
explaining  abstention.  Anti-European  attitudes  were  even  less  influential  in  explaining 
abstention: dissatisfaction with the European Parliament was cited by 8% of abstainers and 
opposition to the European Union by 4%. 

All survey respondents were asked if they recall seeing or hearing of a campaign by the EP 
encouraging people to vote in the European elections. 44% said they do recall this type of 
campaign,  the  same  proportion  as  in  2019.  Recall  was  highest  in  Luxembourg  (73%),  Malta 
(72%) and Finland (67%); the largest increases were recorded in Belgium (52%, +19 pp) and 
Spain (53%, +14 pp).

The full report, including national factsheets, data annexes and results volumes is available 
online at https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3292

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POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARY11

POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOver 350 million citizens of the European Union had the chance to choose their representatives 
for the European Parliament. More than half of them took that opportunity and voted in the 
2024 European elections. 

The EU Post-Electoral Eurobarometer’s fieldwork took place few days after the polls closed: 
from  June  13  to  July  8,  2024.  The  survey  set  out  to  discover  who  voted  in  these  elections 
and  why.  It  aimed  at  exploring  links  between  citizens’  voting  behaviour  and  their  political 
priorities and attitudes towards the EU. European respondents were asked about topics that 
encouraged them to vote as well as about their reasons to participate in European elections 
2024, among other questions.

The study follows a series of similar post-electoral surveys, initiated in 2009, but also refers 
to the regular Eurobarometers, allowing for analysing the impact of the European elections on 
the established trend indicators. 

The EU Post-Electoral Survey 2024 was conducted for the European Parliament by Verian. 
26,349  respondents  were  interviewed  and  EU  results  were  weighted  according  to  the  size 
of the population in each country. Additional weights, based on the official national turnouts 
on the European elections 2024, were applied to the results on questions related to voting 
behaviour.

For more information on the full survey, scan the QR-code: 

A PUBLICATION OF THE
PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR COMMUNICATION
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

dgcomm-pom@ep.europa.eu
europa.eu/eurobarometer

POST-ELECTORAL 2024 | EB 101.5
CATALOGUE NUMBER: QA-01-24-034-EN-N
ISBN: 978-92-848-2294-2
DOI: 10.2861/4458145

© European Union, 2024