27 July - 2 August 2000

Enlargement not a priority for EU citizens

by David Kelleher

Enlargement of the European Union is not a priority for nearly two thirds of EU citizens, the latest opinion poll among EU citizens shows.

According to Eurobarometer, 60 per cent of those surveyed still do not feel enlargement is a priority, a one per cent increase over the past six months. Only 27 per cent of Europeans (end of 1999: 28 per cent) regard the accession of new member States as a priority. Those most in favour of enlargement are the Danes (57 per cent) and the Greeks (53 per cent), the poll found.

The results also show that public opinion on European integration has remained largely unchanged over the last six months: those in Europe who support EU membership and believe that their country benefits from it still greatly outnumber those who have opposing views. There is also strong support for the single currency. For the first time, those interviewed said they were in favour of a European constitution

The survey was carried out in April and May and more than 16,000 people were interviewed.

The main findings are:

Forty-nine per cent (end of 1999: 51 per cent) of those surveyed took a favourable view of their country's membership of the EU, with 14 per cent opposed to membership and 28 per cent regarding it as neither a good nor a bad thing.

The member States in which support for EU membership is strongest are Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The lowest levels of support were found in the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden.

There is a general downward trend in levels of support for the EU in most member States, including Germany and Austria. On the other hand, 47 per cent (end of 1999: 46 per cent) consider that their country is benefiting from belonging to the EU.

The level of confidence in the Commission remains the same: 45 per cent of Europeans trust the Commission, with 30 per cent expressing mistrust in the institution.

In nine of the 15 member States, more than 50 per cent of the people have confidence in the European Commission. At the other end of scale, the Commission enjoys the confidence of only 25 per cent of the UK population. Since the last six-month survey period, the level of confidence in the Commission has increased in 10 member States, decreased in four others, and remained unchanged in one member State. Fifty-eight per cent (end of 1999: 60 per cent) of Europeans support the introduction of the single currency, the euro, while 33 per cent (one per cent up on the preceding six months) are against it. The euro enjoys 81 per cent support in Italy, 76 per cent in Luxembourg and Belgium and 75 per cent in Spain; this contrasts with only 22 per cent in the United Kingdom and 38 per cent in Sweden. Among the countries in the euro zone, the level of support is well above the average for all 15 member States.

Europeans continue to support the idea of a joint foreign policy (64 per cent) and joint security and defence policy (73 per cent). The figures show no change on the previous six months.