More pro-European and less nationalistic. This could be one of the most interesting results of the 2021/2022 winter standard Eurobarometer, whose fieldwork took place last January 19th to February 14th. Maybe because the scalded cat escaped. We Spaniards have suffered from chauvinism for almost half a century as much as we longed to join the European Union. Perhaps this is why we envy our lack of democratic freedoms for decades.
“Economic situation and future prospects” is the first part of Standard Eurobarometer 96. This is followed by “trust in European institutions, media and citizens”. Final chapter “Priorities of European institutions: Response to the epidemic and economic recovery; Foreign and Defense Policy”. According to the aforementioned Eurobarometer, Spain’s most important problem is health with 42%, followed by unemployment with 32%, unemployment concerns are significantly reduced compared to the previous year. The outlook for their own employment and financial situation of households is mostly positive at 73 and 62 percent, respectively. Compared to the European Union as a whole, Spanish healthcare stands out for building a high degree of trust among the Spanish population. In third place, the top concern was rising prices for 27% of Spaniards and the top ranking issue for all Europeans overall (21 points), making it the main issue for everyone in their home country. countries.
As for the media, Europeans trust all kinds of media more than Spaniards. Citizens of the Union have maximum confidence in radio, print media and television. We Spaniards have the greatest reliance on radio with 45% compared to 56% for the rest of the Union; This is followed by print media with 37% confidence of Spaniards compared to 49% of Europeans, followed by television and internet and networks in third place with 32%. All the media arouse more suspicion and distrust among Spaniards than any other European.
The institution that creates the greatest trust is the European Union with 45%. The rest of the institutions, especially political parties, Congress. and the Government are clearly achieving negative confidence balances, although they have improved somewhat.
81% of Spaniards consider themselves European citizens compared to 71% of the Union. 95% of Spanish respondents consider themselves to be from their city or town, their “small homeland”, only 87% feel attached to their country; In the case of the European average, the terms are reversed: 91 are accepted from their home country and only 89 from their own town or city. To finish confirming the Europeanness of Spaniards, 3% of respondents feel they are a member of the European Union more than the rest. It is a member of the European Union as a political organisation; rather than Europe as a geographical entity. The rest identify themselves as more European than European Union citizens
Probably for this reason, 81% of the European Union’s foreign policy, 81% in Security and Defense, 83% in immigration and 83% in energy are more positive than other Europeans towards their common policies; We are also in favor of the possibility of strengthening the Union’s external land and maritime borders. Spanish citizens are clearly in favor of more decision-making at the European Union level, and around three quarters support this idea (76%). By comparison, the Europeans group is slightly more reluctant than the Spaniards to make more decisions at EU level (57% agree, 35% disagree), although it has a positive balance.
The poll, conducted before the start of Putin’s War, expected economic recovery to happen this year, and more than half of Spaniards were confident that the Next Generation EU bailout would be effective. It probably won’t, at least. while driving. war.