EU trust levels, on the rise

60% of the Romanians have a positive image of the EU, as against a 45% European average.

Daniela Budu, 06.08.2019, 13:00

Romania ranks second, alongside Portugal, in terms of having a positive image of the European Union. According to the Spring 2019 Standard Eurobarometer, released on Monday, the number of Romanians having a positive image of the EU is growing, and is well above the EU average (60% as against 45%).

The survey indicates a strong improvement of citizens positive perceptions of the Union across the board, from economy to the state of democracy. More than half of the Romanians trust the European bloc and are optimistic about the labour market, as compared to a 44% EU average. Confidence in the Union has strengthened in 20 Member States and remains higher than trust levels for national governments and parliaments.

The highest figures have been reported in Lithuania, Denmark and Estonia. More than half of the respondents in 15 countries, including Romania, also tend to trust the EU. A majority of the Europeans (61%) are now optimistic about the future of the bloc, and only 34% are pessimistic. Optimism is at its highest in Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania, and Poland. The lowest levels are reported in the UK and France.

More than half of the Europeans also feel their voice is heard in the EU, which is more than last autumn and more than in June 2014. A similar percentage of citizens are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU, accounting for the highest results since June 2004.

EU citizenship and freedom of movement are seen as the main achievements of the EU by over half of the respondents. In all 28 member states, more than half of the interviewees say they feel they are citizens of the EU. At both European and national level, the biggest concern remains immigration, mentioned by 34% of the respondents, a lower percentage than last autumn.

The main findings of the survey include the record-high support for the single currency and the fact that climate change has grown into the second-biggest concern for EU citizens.

These are the best results since the June 2014 Eurobarometer, conducted right before the Juncker Commission took office. The poll was run after the European Parliament election, between June 7 and July 1, 2019, in all the 28 Member States and in the 5 candidate countries (North Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania).

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)