Six months ahead of the European elections, scheduled for June 6 to 9, 2024, public interest in the vote is rising. A recent Eurobarometer poll shows that 57% of citizens are paying close attention to the next poll, a rise of six percentage points since five years ago. If elections were held next week, 68% say they would vote, and 61% view EU membership as an obligation. A solid 72% feel their country has benefited from joining the union. These data were newly collected and presented in the current Eurobarometer report, underscoring the message from the president of the European Parliament that Europe matters even in challenging geopolitical and socioeconomic times. Meanwhile, 73% of respondents expect their quality of life to worsen in the coming year.
The survey captured opinions in the lead-up to the elections, highlighting a generally favorable view of the European Parliament’s role. Across the bloc, 61% believe that EU membership is beneficial, with notably high approval in Luxembourg (86%), Ireland (81%), Denmark (80%), Lithuania and Portugal (both 79%). Spain exceeds the European average by about 10 points in this regard. At the other end of the spectrum, a smaller share of respondents in Austria (42%), Italy (43%), and the Czech Republic (44%) express a positive view of EU membership’s value. These perceptions reflect diverse national experiences with integration, economic performance, and governance.
In some member states, optimism about the EU’s impact is more cautious. Austria and Italy report that only 55% and 57% respectively feel their country has benefited from EU membership, whereas Lithuania reports a striking 94% agreement and Ireland and Luxembourg both at 93% (Spain stands at 78%). The most commonly cited benefits cited by many respondents center on peace and stability, greater cooperation among member states, and contributions to growth. For several nations, including Spain, Portugal, Malta, Luxembourg, and Ireland, “growth” is a central value in this assessment. A broad majority also agrees that key democratic principles should be defended by the Parliament, with many prioritizing democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.
Little influence on decisions
Turning to perceived drawbacks, the most frequently mentioned concern is citizens’ limited influence over decision-making at the European level. This is a sentiment echoed in sixteen countries, with many respondents believing that better decisions are achievable at the national level. Yet, even with this scepticism, a large portion of Europeans—70%—still feel that European-level measures affect their daily lives. Malta, Cyprus, and Greece report this perception most strongly. In Spain, 67% say European decisions matter in daily life, while 30% disagree. The report suggests a nuanced view: while some citizens feel distant from EU decision-making, they still recognize the real impact of EU actions on everyday conditions.
The survey anticipates continued tracking in the spring and notes that 73% of European citizens expect living standards to decline next year, with 47% feeling that their situation has already worsened. After Portugal, Malta, France, Greece, and Cyprus, Spain shows a notably more negative outlook, with 55% believing conditions have already deteriorated. Poland, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark appear as outliers with more positive sentiments. Despite these cautious signals, more than half of the population still looks to the future with renewed optimism. A European Parliament communications official is quoted as saying that there is encouraging support for European elections and rising interest among voters compared with five years ago. In this electoral year, about 720 Members of Parliament from 27 member states face the ballot, with the broader context noting that in a global landscape of global elections, comparable processes occur in other major regions as well.