Brussels, 24/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Forty-seven per cent of Europeans believe the EU and its member states must take action to reduce public spending and, at the same time, boost economic growth, according to a Eurobarometer report published on 22 May.
More than half of those surveyed (55%) would feel better protected by measures coordinated with other EU member states, but 38% (up three percentage points on the previous Eurobarometer in September 2011) would prefer their countries to go it alone. Within the eurozone, 61% favoured coordination, compared with only 43% outside it.
Most Europeans (80%) say that financial help for member states in difficulty must be conditional on compliance with common rules, such as those agreed together on deficits. They also say that penalties should be imposed when these rules are broken (72%). Most Europeans (66%) feel that pooling part of the public debt would benefit only those member states that are in dire straits, but 64% (up three percentage points) feel that it should nevertheless be done in the name of solidarity. Sixty-six per cent of respondents - up five points - now favour a financial transaction tax (73% in the eurozone and 53% outside it). (LC/transl.rt)