Kenntnis Der Deutschen Ratspräsidentschaft
Standard Eurobarometer
European
Commission
EUROBAROMETER 66
PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
AUTUMN 2006
NATIONAL REPORT
i
al
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
GERMANY
This survey was requested and coordinated by Directorate-General Communication.
This report was produced for the European Commission’s Representation in Germany.
This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.
Standard Eurobarometer 66 / Autumn 2006 – TNS Opinion & Soc
Knowledge of the German Presidency
59% of Germans know nothing about Germany's Presidency of the Council of
the European Union during the first half of 2007.
Asked whether they think the presidency is important – independently of
whether they had heard of it or not - a majority of 70% said it was very
important.
The development towards a political union
In Germany (59%, -2 points) and Europe (54%, -1 point) the majority of
respondents still supports the development of the EU towards a political union.
Image
42% (-1 point) of Germans and 46% (-4 points) of Europeans have a good
image of the EU. In Germany, students (57%), managers (52%), the self-
employed and white-collar occupational groups (both 47%) have the best
image of the EU. The image of Europe is comparatively worse among blue
collar workers (35%) and the unemployed (27%).
Evaluation of individual and general effects of EU membership
59% (+1 point) of Germans and 53% (-2 points) of Europeans think that their
country’s membership of the EU is a good thing. A relative majority (49%, +3
points) of Germans believes that Germany has profited from membership. In
Europe overall, 54% of respondents agree.
Common Foreign and Security Policy
From the German perspective, one priority of the EU should be European and
international security. 84% (-2 points) of the Germans want a common
European defence and security policy and 77% (-4 points) want a common EU
foreign policy.
Fight against unemployment, poverty and social exclusion
53% (-3 points) of Germans and 40% (-3 points) of Europeans expect the EU
to do more about unemployment, and 41% (-3 points) of Germans and 43% of
Europeans want the EU to fight against poverty and social exclusion.
European Constitution
40% (+8 points) of Germans expect a European Constitution to be helpful for
further European integration.
73% (+2 points) of Germans are in favour of a European Constitution. Against
it are 17% (-2 points). Undecided are 10% (+1 point).
63% (+2 Pp) of Europeans are in favour of an European Constitution.
48% (+1 points) of Europeans and 51% (+1 points) of Germans favour new
negotiations about the constitution. Only 10% (-2 points) of Germans and 13%
of Europeans think that the constitution should be abolished altogether.
In the two countries that caused the ‘constitution crisis’ with their ‘No’ to the
proposed text, a majority now is in favour of the European Constitution. In
France, 16% (+2 points) of all respondents want to drop the constitution
completely while 66% (-3 points) think that the text should be renegotiated. In
the Netherlands, there are also 16% (-2 points) who want to drop the
constitution while 65% (+5 points) of respondents think that the text should be
renegotiated
QA37: The future of the European Constitution /Germany
10%
10%
51%
29%
The European Constitution should be renegotiated
The Member States should continue the ratification process
The European Constitution should be dropped
DN
Sustainability of the European economic and social model
Europeans still see the USA ahead in the technical and scientific realm and in
economic organisation and capability. Concerning social matters, the
protection of the environment and the health care system, both Europeans
and Germans see the EU as better organised and more capable than the
USA.
Possible improvements of the European economy
It is most reasonable in the view of Europeans (65%, +3 points) and Germans
(75%, +5 points) to invest in education.
Of equal importance is increasing investment in research and development.
47% (+/-0 points) of Europeans and 65% (+/- 0 points) of Germans take this
view.
43% (+/-0 points) of Europeans and 51% (+1 points) of Germans think that
deregulation and simpler rules for start-ups are appropriate measures to foster
the European economy.
Energy efficiency is also of growing importance in times of rising energy prices
for Europeans (36%, +4 points) and Germans (35% +4 points).
Ongoing investment in infrastructure is considered fundamental by 27% (+4
points) of Europeans and 17% (+2 points) of Germans.
A rise in legal working hours is only supported by a small minority of Germans
(8%, +/-0 points) and Europeans (10%, +/-0 points).
Globalization
Compared with the previous survey, more Germans see the process of
globalization as an opportunity for enterprises to open up new markets (41%,
+7 points). In Europe, 40% (+3 points) share this perspective.
Only 47% (-12 points) of Germans and 41% (-6 points) of Europeans believe
that globalization poses a danger to enterprises and jobs.
Only 36% of Germans and 41% of Europeans understand the EU to offer
protection against the negative consequences of globalization.
46% of the Germans and 48% of the Europeans believe that the EU enables
them to profit from the positive effects of globalization.
Enlargement – what countries should join the EU?
78% (+1 point) of all Europeans and 87% (+3 points) of all Germans could
imagine Switzerland as a member of the EU immediately. The same was true
for Norway (Europe: 78%, +1 point, Germany 86%, +3 points) or Iceland
(Europe 69%, +1 point, Germany 74%, +3 points).
There are more provisos against poorer or bigger countries: Turkey, a country
with official candidate status, is considered as a feasible potential member of
the EU by 28% (-3 points) of Europeans and 16% (-5 points) of Germans.
Only 39% of Europeans and 39% (-2 points) of Germans are in favour of the
accession of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The opinion is somewhat less clear in the
case of Croatia. 44% of Germans could imagine its accession, while 48%
oppose such a possibility and 8% are undecided. In Europe, 50% (-1 point)
want Croatia to join the EU. A relative majority of Europeans supports the
joining of Bulgaria next year. 56% (+2 points) of Germans are still against the
accession. 46% (+4 points) of Europeans and 64% (+2 points) of Germans are
against the accession of Romania.
Defence and foreign affairs
Two-thirds of Europeans and Germans (64%, +1 point / 69% +1 point) believe
that cooperation between the EU and the national member countries would be
the best way towards a coherent and effective foreign policy in a globalized
world. In general, 77% (-4 points) of Germans and 68% (+1 point) of
Europeans think that a common foreign policy would make sense while 84% (-
2 points) of Germans and 75% of Europeans are in favour of a common
defence and security policy.
Fight against terrorism
International terrorism can only be fought internationally, says a majority of
Germans (88%, +6 points) and Europeans (79%, +1 point).
Energy policy and the protection of the environment
A majority of Europeans (60%, +1 points) and Germans (66%, + 10 points) is
convinced that a successful, sustainable and geopolitical sound energy policy
is only feasible if the EU and the member countries cooperate.
Concerning environmental protection, a majority of Europeans (64%, -2
points) and Germans (76%, +8 points) believes that international problems
should be dealt with internationally and that therefore the member states
should cooperate with the EU.
Satisfaction with their own life
70 % of all East Germans (-3 points) and 85% (+2 points) of West Germans
are satisfied with the life they lead. In East Germany, young people aged
between 15 and 24 years (76%, -3 points) and those between 25 and 39 years
(75%, +8 points), in particular, are satisfied with the life they lead while older
respondents have grown more dissatisfied. Of those aged between 40 and 54,
only 63%, (-2 points) are satisfied with their personal life, although the figure
reaches 71% for those aged 55 or older.
In West Germany, all four age groups record figures of over 80% satisfaction
concerning their personal life.
Germans are sceptical about the general and economic development
Neither East nor West Germans believe that fundamental changes or
improvements will occur during the next twelve months.
53% (-5 points) of East Germans and 61% (-2 points) of West Germans
believe that their own lives will not change.
A majority of East (54%, +8 points) and West Germans (44%, +3 points)
expect that Germany’s economic situation will further deteriorate.
In the course of the next twelve months, 41% (+11 points) of East Germans
and 30% (+2 points) of West Germans expect that their financial situation will
worsen.
Germans do not view the development of the unemployment situation quite as
dramatically as half a year ago. 19% (+2 points) of West Germans and 13%
(+2 points) of East Germans believe that the situation will get better in the
course of the next twelve months. However, 55% (-3 points) of East Germans
and 43% (-7 points) of West Germans still expect a further deterioration of the
situation.
Trust in European institutions
Europeans and Germans alike trust the European Union slightly less (Europe
45%, -3 points, Germany 38%, -3 points).
The level of trust in the European institutions corresponds with the knowledge
Europeans have of these institutions and with the experiences citizens have
had with them. 90% (+1 point) of Europeans know the European Parliament
and 52% trust this institution. 92% (-1 point) of all Germans know the
Parliament and 52% (+3 points) trust it. 82% (+1 point) of Europeans know the
European Commission and 48% (-1 point) trust it. The corresponding figures
for Germany are 79% and 42%.
Trust in the European institutions diminishes the less these institutions are
known. Only 40% (+3 points) of all Europeans and 22% of all Germans know
the European Ombudsman and only every third European (35%, +3 points)
and 27% of Germans trust this institution specifically responsible for defending
the interests of European citizens.
Involvement in European affairs
38% of West Germans and 29% of East Germans believe that their voice
counts in the European Union. Over an extended period of time, it appears
that in East Germany the feeling of involvement in European affairs is not only
less than in the West but also more volatile.
QA12: My voice counts in the European Union (positive answers)
45%
42%
40%
40%
39%
39%
38%
37%
35%
35%
32%
31%
30%
29%
26%
25%
West Germany
24%
East Germany
20%
Spring
Autumn
Spring
Autumn
Spring
Autumn
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2006
Values of the Europeans
The dominant value in Europe is still peace (Europe 52%, -8 points, Germany
65%, -1 point), followed by respect for human life in general (Europe 43%, -3
points, Germany 37%, -1 point) and human rights (Europe 41%, +4 points,
Germany 46%, + 10 points). Democracy is for 24% (-1 point) of Europeans
and 30% (+5 points) of Germans a very important value. Individual values are
less important than three years ago. In Europe, only 11% (-5 points) think that
self-fulfilment is important. In Germany, the drop is even more striking (10%, -
6 points). Individual freedom dropped also significantly in importance. Only
22% (-8 points) of Europeans and 20% of Germans (-24 points) consider this
value to be important.
Values attributed to the European Union
For European respondents, the European Union stands mainly for the
protection of human rights (38%, +2 points), democracy (38%, +8 points) and
peace (36%, -2 points). In Germany, the European Union stands foremost for
democracy (46%, +12 points), peace (46%) and human rights (41%, +2
points). These value attributes contrast significantly with what Europeans want
the EU to stand for: social issues, energy security and environmental
protection.
Identification with Europe
57% of Germans feel sometimes or often European.
Knowledge about the EU
Only 36% (-10 points) of Germans know that the EU currently has more than
fifteen member states. 44% (+4 points) of respondents thought this to be
correct. In the EU on average, the number of those not knowing the exact
number of member states is much lower (35%).
Only a
few Europeans have ever heard of the right to request access to non-
published documents of European Union institutions (Europe 16%, Germany
12%).
Only 42% (-11 points) of respondents in West Germany know that the
Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by citizens. In East
Germany, the picture is almost reversed. 52% (+6 points) of the respondents
give the correct answer to this question. In Europe, 49% (-3 points) give the
right answer.
Most Europeans (27%, -4 points) and Germans (39%, -4 point) suspect that
the main part of the European budget is spent on administration and
personnel costs. In fact, the EU only spends a minor part of its budget on
these items.
