A majority of Europeans interviewed in the poll believes that being a member of the EU is a good thing for their country (53%, -2 compared to 2015). The share of respondents who believe EU membership is a good thing for their country varies widely, from 74% in Ireland to only 31% in Greece. In Croatia, it stands at 46%, while 16% believe that membership is a bad thing.
Polls show that this EU support indicator has remained roughly stable since 2009, when it was also 53%.
This survey focuses on how Europeans view the European Parliament, its image and its role, how much they know about the institution, as well as questions about membership of the European Union, identity, citizenship, political priorities and values.
As in 2015, 60% of respondents overall, including in Croatia, said their country benefits from being part of the Union. This percentage has remained stable in “Parlemeter” surveys, from 56% in 2009, down to 52% in 2011 and up again up to 60% in the past two years. For Croats, the EU provides citizens with new employment opportunities, contributes to economic growth and in improves standard of living.
Among the elements of European identity, democracy and freedom remain key values for 50% of those interviewed (37% in Croatia), while the euro declined significantly to 33% (down 6 points from 2015), particularly in the eurozone. Nearly one in two Europeans feels that a harmonised social welfare system would reinforce their sense of being a European citizen (46%, +1).
History and culture are seen as key elements of European identity by 29% of Croats (28% and 32% respectively at EU level).
Europeans feel that their voices count less and less, in particular at national level. Only 53% of respondents said that their voice is heard in their own country (-10 compared with 2015). Croats are far above the EU average (37%), with 55% believing their voice is heard at EU level.
People do not have a positive view of the future, both in the EU, where 54% of respondents (48% in Croatia) said "things are going in the wrong direction" (+13 compared with 2015), and in their own country (58%, +14 compared to 2015 and 66% in Croatia).
Fifty percent of Europeans (60% in Croatia) believe the European Parliament should give priority to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, while 42% (34% in Croatia) believe the priority should be the fight against terrorism and respect for individual freedoms.
Also, 57% of Europeans (56% in Croatia) believe the protection of human rights remains a fundamental value for the European Parliament to defend as one of its priorities, while 30% (37% in Croatia) believe priority should be given to solidarity between EU member states.
The European Parliament has a neutral image for 44% of Europeans (-2 compared to 2015) and 49% of Croats, while 46% (45% in Croatia) want it to play a more significant role (+2 compared to 2015). Sixty percent of respondents (57% in Croatia) said they had heard about the European Parliament in the media and only 32% (35% in Croatia) considered themselves informed about its activities.
The survey was conducted between September 24 and October 3, with 27,768 respondents participating, including 1,007 in Croatia.