Flash Eurobarometer FL550 : EU Challenges and Priorities

Europeans identify respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law (38%) and economic, industrial and trading power (34%) as the main strengths of the EU, followed by the good relationships and solidarity between the EU Member States (28%). Europeans most frequently mention the environment and climate change (33%) and irregular migration (also 33%), followed by security and defence (29%) and the war in Ukraine (25%) as areas the EU should address as a priority. At the same time, the war in Ukraine ranks first in terms of challenges that the EU is facing, mentioned by 50% of the respondents. Irregular migration (41%) and environmental issues and climate change (35%) follow in second and third place.
When asked about the values that are best embodied by the EU compared to other countries in the world, Europeans clearly indicate respect for fundamental rights and values as well as freedom of speech and expression (each at 53%). 58% of Europeans tend to be optimistic about the future of the EU. 55% of them say they are very or somewhat confident in the strength of EU's democracy in the next five years. Yet, at the same time, 64% of EU citizens tend to be concerned about the EU's security in the next five years.

Processed data

Processed data files for the Eurobarometer surveys are published in .xlsx format.

• Volume A "Countries/EU"
  The file contains frequencies and means or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of (weighted) replies for each country or territory and for (weighted) EU results.
• Volume AP "Previous survey trends"
  The file compares to the previous poll in (weighted) frequencies and means (or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies); shifts for each country or territory foreseen in Volume A and for (weighted) results.
• Volume AA "Groups of countries"
  The file contains (labelled) frequencies and means or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of (weighted) replies for groups of countries specified by the managing unit on the part of the EC.
• Volume AAP "Trends of groups of countries"
  The file contains shifts compared to the previous poll in (weighted) frequencies and means (or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies); shifts for each groups of countries foreseen in Volume AA and for (weighted) results.
• Volume B "EU/socio-demographics"
  The file contains (labelled) frequencies and means or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies for the EU as a whole (weighted) and cross-tabulated by some 20 sociodemographic, socio-political or other variables, depending on the request from the managing unit on the part of the EC or the managing department of the other contracting authorities.
• Volume BP "Trends of EU/socio-demographics"
  The file contains shifts compared to the previous poll in (weighted) frequencies and means (or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies); shifts for each country or territory foreseen in Volume B above)and for (weighted) results.
• Volume C "Country/socio-demographics"
  The file contains (labelled) weighted frequencies and means or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies for each country or territory surveyed separately and cross-tabulated by some 20 socio-demographic, socio-political or other variables (including a regional breakdown).
• Volume D "Trends""
  The file compares to previous polls in (weighted) frequencies and means (or other synthetic indicators including elementary bivariate statistics describing distribution patterns of replies); shifts for each country or territory foreseen in Volume A and for (weighted) results.

For SPSS files and questionnaires, please contact GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences: https://www.gesis.org/eurobarometer