Parlemeter 2018 (Eurobarometer 90): visuals on EU membership, European Elections 2019, EP priorities and Brexit

Eurobarometer (T)

More than ever, European citizens see their country&rsquo;s membership to the EU as a good thing. Not since the peak recorded between the fall of the Berlin Wall 1989 and the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty 1992 has this indicator reached as high a level as in the present survey: 62% of respondents on EU average believe that their country&rsquo;s membership to the EU is a good thing.

A majority of respondents in all 28 Member States also considers that their country has benefitted from its EU membership. This opinion grew since the last survey in April 2018 by one percentage point and now registers at 68%, the highest result ever measured since 1983. Asked for the reasons why their country had benefited, on EU average economic factors top the list, together with the belief that the EU helps to maintain secure relationships with other countries

The 2018 Parlemeter also takes a closer look at citizens&rsquo; views on the upcoming European Parliament elections, showing an overall increased awareness about the next ballot while painting a multi-coloured picture of opinions and attitudes about the elections. In September 2018, 41% of Europeans could call the correct date for the European elections in 2019, an unprecedented 9 point-increase over the last six months on EU average. It must be noted - and seen as wake-up call, that at the same time on average 44% (-6 pp) of Europeans could still not say when the next European elections would take place.

In September 2018, 51% of the citizens declare to be interested in the forthcoming European elections, overall stable in a majority of Member States yet within a very wide range of expressed levels of interest. Citizens&rsquo; campaign priorities, on the other hand, have evolved over the past six-month period. Today, immigration (50%), economy and growth (47%) as well as combatting youth unemployment (47%) top the list of Europeans&rsquo; most salient campaign topics.

Asked about policy topics citizens would want the European Parliament to give priority to, economic and social issues come out top, together with the fight against terrorism. With a stable 41% of citations, combating poverty and social exclusion is the first most cited item, followed by youth unemployment (33%, +2). The results are thus quite in line with the campaign priority topics as expressed by respondents.

The Parlemeter 2018 takes stock of citizens&rsquo; opinions should a similar referendum to leave the EU be held in their own country. The positive attitude towards the European Union is clearly reflected there: With a convincingly broad majority of 66% Europeans would vote for their country to remain a member of the EU. Only 17% would vote to leave, with 17 % showing as undecided.