The countdown to the 2024 European elections is on. On Tuesday 6 June, the European Parliament published the Eurobarometer for Spring 2023. The results are mixed: while interest in the EU is on the rise, optimism about the Union’s situation is less so.
Increased interest in the elections
56% of respondents said they were interested in the elections to be held on 8 June. 67% of them even said they would vote if the election were held during the week. This figure is up on 2018, when a figure of 58% of people who intended to vote translated into a turnout of 51% in 2019.
At the same time, 71% of those who were surveyed recognised the impact of the EU on their daily lives. Although they were not asked about their positive or negative perception of European action, a majority of respondents are satisfied with the way in which democracy works in the EU (54%) and the fact that they are a member of it (61%).
It should be noted that the figures, which were collected in March, do not show any impact on the European Parliament’s image as a result of the ‘Qatarargate’ scandal (see EUROPE 13189/22).
Low level of optimism
On the other hand, 62% of respondents are of the opinion that the general situation is getting worse in their own country, with France (at 61%) and Greece (at 62%) coming out on top. With regard to the level of the EU, 47% are pessimistic.
Although the questions in the barometer do not allow causal links to be established, the report emphasises that this result is linked to the “obvious deterioration in the standard of living” noted by half the respondents. At the same time, 65% of them are dissatisfied with national measures intended to deal with the succession of crises, compared with 57% in relation to European measures.
However, the report notes that citizens say they remain committed to the democratic process and support EU aid for Ukraine (69%) despite the consequences of the war on the continent.
Eurobarometer results: https://aeur.eu/f/795 (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)