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Our European Identity | 120 comments (120 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 3)
See it for yourself here:

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb67/eb67_en.htm

There are separate country reports as well.

Support for a (not the) European Constitution is at 66% vs. 20%
Support for an EU Foreign Minister is at 69% vs. 18%
Support for an EU Foreign policy independent from the US is at 80% vs. 10%

See also

Public opinion analysis - EB special reports

EB67.1 European cultural values
Full report
EB66.3 European social reality
EB65.4The role of the European Union in Justice, Freedom and Security policy areas
Full report
EB65.1 The future of Europe


We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 02:52:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 2)
I checked question 40, "which are the issues that most create a feeling of community among European Union citizens?", where religion was way back with 13% in the EU-27. Members and candidates with significantly higher figures:

Turkish Cprus: 49% (most frequent choice)
Turkey: 41% (most frequent choice)
Romania 28% (2nd most frequent choice)
Malta 26% (4th most frequent choice)
Cyprus 25% (3rd most frequent choice)
Slovakia 25% (3rd most frequent choice)
Croatia 21% (3rd most frequent choice)

So, interestingly, religion matters most just in the candidate country that might be resented for that, and is high in some new members least sceptical of Turkey's accession. (BTW the question is not nuanced enough to know whether Turkish citizens thinking so are Eurosceptics or those who would join and think religion is why they get rejection.)

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 03:40:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 2)
Same question: I see with sadness that the welfare state is only picked by 12% as answer (same as religion), and it seems the French (here generalising well deserved) think the welfare state is not European (most presumably think it is French?): ojly 1% pick it. But I am just as startled that 25% of Hungary is right behind Spain's 26% on this question.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 03:52:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 3)
On the other hand, 32% of respondents think that "a European social welfare system" would strengthen their feeling about being a European citizen (see my comment on a parallel thread).

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 03:56:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 4)


We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 04:03:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 4)
I find lots of interesting tidbits.

  • Recognition that sports give a feeling of community is highest in Ireland and Britain.

  • 62% of those above 55, only 54% of the 19-24 year old think peace is the most positive result of Eropean integration. So those born into it recognise it less, but fortunately the majority still does. (Also, the overall figure increased over the last poll.) Among countries, the Iberian peninsula is least thinking so.

  • The EU is least seen as democratic not in Britain, not in Sweden, but in Finland (50%).

  • Attachment to the European flag is very strong -- even in Britain (more identify with it that in France!).

  • Attachment to the EU itself is less strong, with Finland again "outdoing" Britain at 30% -- will there be a Finnish Euroscepticism outbreak?

  • On the harder question on membership, countries where "good thing" is not an absolute majority: Czech Republic (46%), Cyprus (44%), Finland (42%), UK (39%), Hungary and Latvia (37%), Austria (36%). (However, for those who aren't merely indifferent but think it's a "bad thing", Britain's 30% leads, followed by now usual suspects Austria, Finland, Sweden and France.)

  • An outstanding 79% of Danes think EU membership benefitted their country -- maybe that's why Rasmussen waged a referendum on the Euro? The sceptics are led by Hungary (52%), which I ain't surprised about (I suspect most blame the government for failing to make much of it, failure to withdraw EU funds was an issue recently).

*Where the UK stands reall apart is trust in European institutions: always dead last and at least ten percentage points behind the second-last.

*52% of Slovenes consider themselves well-informed about the EU -- a startling and outstanding result (Luxemburg's second place with 50% doesn't surprise me).

* The UK is co-last along with Romania in correct answers for three questions about the EU (40%), but Europhile Italy's 43% is not much better... Startingly, Greece leads all the way (74%). The question with least correct answers is a whopper: that on direct election of members of the most popular and known EU institution, the EP (45%, -4% compared to last time).

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Sat Dec 15th, 2007 at 04:44:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Our European Identity | 120 comments (120 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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