Europeans Like “Europe”
- January 3rd, 2008
- Posted by EUEditor
An-end-of year survey of citizens showed that support for being in the European Union is at its highest level in a decade.
The Eurobarometer study consulted 30 000 people in the 27 EU member countries, the three candidate states — Croatia, Former Yugoslav Macedonia and Turkey – and the Turkish side of Cyprus.
Overall 58% said they wanted their countries to be in the European Union, a little up on a similar survey mid-year, and twice the percentage of people against membership.
The keenest Europeans were in Luxembourg, 82% in support and the doubters as usual were in Britain at 34% — actually 5% less than last time.
Europeans while seeing advantages in staying within a union of countries, had some trepidation about prospects for the economy, especially inflation, and
wanted to be reassured the EU continued to be active dealing with crime, immigration issues and the environment.
Support from citizens is important to European leaders this year preparing toe ratify the so-called reform treaty that will consolidate European laws and extend the powers of the European Council and Parliament. The treaty takes over from the planned European constitution that was dropped in 2005 after being rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands. (See EUAustralia; “Lisbon Summit: Europe’s Latest Treaty” – 19.10.07; “Gatherings: EU Treaty” … – 19.12.07).
Eurobarometer 68: First results. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/ …, December 2007, (3.1.08).
New Europe, “Now everyone wants to be in the exclusive EU club”, 3.1.08. http://www.neurope.eu, (3.1.08).