Brussels, 17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - As we briefly indicated in EUROPE 15-16 April on page 7, the Barometer 56 results generally confirm a positive attitude of European citizens to the European integration process. This edition, of which the initial elements were made public on Monday, provides us with a number of additional indications onh the European people's attitude to the future of Europe and the current objectives of the Convention. These include:
The desire for faster European integration. Those surveyed are regularly invited to indicate which speed is closest to what they would like. Eurobarometer 56 reveals a speeding up, with the perceived speed now at an average of 4.1, the highest level recorded since 1986. At the same time Europeans' desired speed averages out at 4.8, which has remained unchanged over recent years. The Commission interprets this as Europeans wanting Europe to be constructed faster, which is currently not the case, but the gap between perceived speed and desired speed is tending to narrow.
National and European decision-making. As regards the level at which decisions should be taken, the Commission tested 26 themes. The majority was in favour of decisions being made by national governments on eight of the themes (particularly in terms of policing, education, health and social security and justice). On the other hand, a majority desired joint decision-making within the EU as far as the other 18 themes were concerned (including international terrorism, foreign policy, organised crime and drug trafficking, research, poverty and social exclusion and the environment).
What decision-making method? Questioned as to how decisions should be taken in the post-enlargement EU, 46% thought there should be majority voting on the part of Member States, while 39% favoured unanimity. Wide differences of approach were revealed from country to country. 65% in the Netherlands wanted decisions to be reached by majority voting, followed by only 33% of Greeks, 35% of Portuguese and 39% of Austrians.
European Constitution. Two thirds of the population think that the EU should have a Constitution of its own. Only one in ten reject the idea outright, but almost a quarter of people have no opinion.
Making the Union more active and effective, according to Barometer 56, with only 44% of citizens declaring themselves satisfied about democracy in the EU. The Commission concludes that, "This is one of the challenges that reform of the institutions will have to take up".