Brussels, 30/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to the Eurobarometer results carried out after the tragic events of 11 September 2001 released by the European Commission to the public on Tuesday, 86% of European citizens say that they are personally afraid of terrorism (12% more than a year ago), 79% are scared of a proliferation in nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction and 64% are frightened of a nuclear war starting. Confidence in the Community institutions and European integration has, however, increased over the year.
On average, 54% of those interviewed are pleased with their country belonging to the EU (6% more than in spring 2001), with 81% of those in Luxembourg and Ireland, 74% in the Netherlands, 68% in Greece, 64% in Italy, 63% in Portugal, 62% in Denmark, 58% in Belgium, 57% in Spain, 55% in Germany, 50% in France, 44% in Austria, 43% in Sweden, 37% in Finland and 33% in the United Kingdom. 52% of those questioned consider that their country benefits from belonging to the EU (+7% compared to spring 2001), especially in Ireland (90%) and Greece (78%).
On average 53% of citizens trust the EU (especially in Luxembourg, Greece and Portugal, as opposed to the British) compared to 41% a few months ago, 32% don't trust the EU (compared to 52% in spring 2001). The European Parliament enjoys the highest level of confidence with 58%, followed by the Court of Justice, the European Commission and the European Central Bank (50% for each of them). 30% of people have confidence in the Committee of the Regions. 81% of the public think that the role played by Parliament is the most important in the EU (this opinion varies from 75% of those in the United Kingdom to 92% in Luxembourg). Next in line are the Commission and the European Central Bank (72% each), followed by the Court of Justice (66%) and the Council of Ministers (61%). The European Ombudsman (38%) and the Committee of the Regions (39%) are, according to public opinion, the institutions that play the least important roles.