Two-thirds of European Union citizens say they are dissatisfied with the policies adopted to counter inflation and are alarmed by a deterioration in their standard of living, according to a Eurobarometer poll published on Tuesday, one year before the next European elections. 65% of respondents are dissatisfied with the measures taken by their national government to respond to soaring consumer prices, and 57% are dissatisfied with measures at EU level, according to Kantar Public's survey of 26,376 people by Kantar Public for the European Parliament. "Half of respondents consider that their standard of living has recently deteriorated and expect it to deteriorate further," according to the study.
The rate of respondents ( 52%) predicting the deterioration of their country's economy within a year has however fallen by 8 points in six months. "The cost of living weighs heavily on people. The logical conclusion would be that they lose confidence in the European level. This is not what we see (...) there is hope, optimism is growing, it is expected that the EU can keep its promises," said Philipp Schulmeister, director of campaigns at the Parliament.
Although 47% of respondents (61% in France) believe that the overall situation is moving in the wrong direction at EU level, this proportion is declining, while a third (32%, +1 point over one year) believe that the EU is moving in the right direction. 54% say they are "satisfied" with the way European democracy works, with large variations between Ireland (82%), France (only 42%) or Greece (34%).
"Fighting poverty and social exclusion" is a priority for Europeans
This survey, carried out in March, offers a state of opinion one year before the election on 6-9 June 2024 to renew the European Parliament, shaken by the alleged corruption scandal of Qatargate. 56% of Europeans say they are interested in these elections (40% in France) and two-thirds (67%) say they would "probably" vote if these elections were held next week, up 9 points compared to the poll conducted a year before the previous elections in 2019, with actual turnout standing at 51%.
For those surveyed, "the fight against poverty and social exclusion" tops the list of topics they want the European Parliament to address as a priority, followed by public health, climate and support for the economy, far ahead of migration and asylum in 11th place. Less than half say they are satisfied with the EU Green Deal (47%) and the EU's asylum and migration policy (43%).
In contrast, 76% of Europeans continue to approve of the EU's support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
