Brussels, 22/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Europeans continue to see the European Union as the most effective actor - ahead of national governments - in tackling the effects of the economic crisis.
According to the results of a Eurobarometer opinion poll conducted in the autumn of this year and published on Thursday 22 December, the EU remains in first place (23%, +1) and is followed by national governments (20%, unchanged). The G20 (16%, +2) ranks third ahead of the International Monetary Fund (14%, -1).
A clear majority of Europeans (61%, -4) say that the current financial situation of their household is good. However, there remain wide differences between countries - from 24% in Greece and Hungary to 85% in Netherlands, 88% in Finland, 89% in Denmark and 90% in Sweden.
As in previous Eurobarometer polls, responses about the situation of national economies differ widely between member states. While over three-quarters of people in Sweden, Luxembourg and Germany say the economic situation is good, fewer than 5% share this view in Greece, Ireland and Spain. Overall, in the last 6 months, there has been a slight decline in those saying the current situation of the national economy is good to 28% (-2) and a slight rise in those who think it is bad to 71% (+3).
There is growing public realisation that the solution to the crisis will be a marathon rather than a sprint. Only 23% of Europeans feel that its impact on jobs has reached its peak while 68% think the opposite. Overall, Europeans continue to trust the European Union (34%) more than their national governments (24%). (EH/transl.fl)