A new Eurobarometer survey reveals the skepticism – but also the expectations – of large parts of the population towards the EU.
Every second Austrian is of the opinion that things are going in the wrong direction both in Austria and in the EU, according to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament. In contrast, only 24 and 17 percent respectively have a positive impression of the situation in the country and in the Union. This continues the long-term trend according to which Austrians are much more skeptical of the EU than the average of all EU citizens. Only 37 percent of all Europeans currently see the situation in the EU as negative, while 24 percent see it as positive (the rest say that neither one nor the other applies).
Climate policy most important
On the occasion of next Wednesday’s speech on the State of the Union by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg between 17 and 25 August, almost 27,000 citizens in all member states (1000 in Austria) were interviewed. It also showed, among other things, that for most other Europeans migration and asylum are on average less important political issues than for Austrians. 39 percent of these said that the European Parliament should deal with it as a matter of priority, but only 27 percent of all EU citizens. With 45 percent for Austrians and 43 percent on average for all Europeans, measures against climate change are clearly the most important concern.
The image of the EU is more positive outside Austria than in the republic: 53 percent of EU citizens say it is very or fairly positive for them, but only 41 percent of Austrians think so. Conversely, only 19 percent of Europeans have a fairly or very much negative image of the EU, but 28 percent of Austrians.