On the occasion of the European Year of Citizens 2013, the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit has turned the spotlight on the issue of European citizenship and fundamental rights.  

This analysis draws on the results of the EB/EP survey 'Two years to go to the European elections' (EB77.4), which was published on 6 September 2012.  

You will find the synthesis in all languages on the EP Eurobarometer webpage:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00191b53ff/Eurobarometer.html

In view of the International Women's Day on March 8, please find attached the analytical synthesis (EN /FR) of the main results related to our survey EB/EP: "Women and gender Inequalities in the context of the Crisis"

The global results are available on the following link:

ftp://sop_ext:CopA5g9D@ftpeps01.europarl.europa.eu/sop/Eurobarometer%20by%20the%20European%20Parliament/2013%2003%20-%20Gender%20Inequalities%20-%20EB%20Flash%20371/

The questions focused on women and gender inequalities in the context of the crisis. Among the other subjects addressed: recruitment selection criteria and priority measures to be promoted with a view to the 2014 European elections.  

Ø When asked about the major gender inequalities, Europeans rank the pay gap (38%) as the most important gender inequality, followed jointly by violence against women (34%) and the greater difficulties for women in reconciling their private and working lives (34%).

Ø Almost one in three Europeans say that the crisis has in particular worsened the pay gap (30%) and made it more difficult for women to reconcile their private and working lives (30%).

Ø When asked which areas have been most affected by the crisis, respondents mentioned: the later entrance of young graduates into the job market (46%), the increase in insecure work (42%)  and the fact that some people work in jobs that do not correspond to their level of qualifications (37%).


Ø Two out of three respondents (66%) consider that jobs and combating unemployment, especially youth unemployment should be the top priority

Ø Europeans were asked about the most important aspects which an employer takes into account when recruiting a man or a woman. It is very surprising to note that the criteria highlighted differ radically depending on whether the recruitment concerns a man or a woman.

Ø For almost half of women "increasing the availability of child care facilities" would be the most effective measure for getting or keeping a job.


Ø The respondents consider that the candidates in the next European elections in 2014 should give priority to tackling the pay gap (21%) followed jointly by violence against women (16%) and  the greater difficulties women have in reconciling their private and working lives (16%).

Eurobarometer on the European Parliament website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00191b53ff/Eurobarom%FDtre.html?tab=2013_2

In view of the International Women's Day on March 8, please find attached the analytical synthesis (EN /FR) of the main results related to our survey EB/EP: "Women and gender Inequalities in the context of the Crisis"

The global results are available on the following link:

ftp://sop_ext:CopA5g9D@ftpeps01.europarl.europa.eu/sop/Eurobarometer%20by%20the%20European%20Parliament/2013%2003%20-%20Gender%20Inequalities%20-%20EB%20Flash%20371/

The questions focused on women and gender inequalities in the context of the crisis. Among the other subjects addressed: recruitment selection criteria and priority measures to be promoted with a view to the 2014 European elections.

Ø When asked about the major gender inequalities, Europeans rank the pay gap (38%) as the most important gender inequality, followed jointly by violence against women (34%) and the greater difficulties for women in reconciling their private and working lives (34%).

Ø Almost one in three Europeans say that the crisis has in particular worsened the pay gap (30%) and made it more difficult for women to reconcile their private and working lives (30%).

Ø When asked which areas have been most affected by the crisis, respondents mentioned: the later entrance of young graduates into the job market (46%), the increase in insecure work (42%)  and the fact that some people work in jobs that do not correspond to their level of qualifications (37%).

Ø Two out of three respondents (66%) consider that jobs and combating unemployment, especially youth unemployment should be the top priority

Ø Europeans were asked about the most important aspects which an employer takes into account when recruiting a man or a woman. It is very surprising to note that the criteria highlighted differ radically depending on whether the recruitment concerns a man or a woman.

Ø For almost half of women "increasing the availability of child care facilities" would be the most effective measure for getting or keeping a job.

Ø The respondents consider that the candidates in the next European elections in 2014 should give priority to tackling the pay gap (21%) followed jointly by violence against women (16%) and  the greater difficulties women have in reconciling their private and working lives (16%).

Eurobarometer on the European Parliament website: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00191b53ff/Eurobarom%FDtre.html?tab=2013_2

Ενόψει των ευρωπαϊκών εκλογών του 2014, βρίσκομαι στην ευχάριστη θέση
να σας αποστείλω τα αποτελέσματα δύο συμπληρωματικών αναλύσεων
αφιερωμένων στην εκλογική συμπεριφορά κατά τις ευρωπαϊκές εκλογές
του 2009.
Στο πρώτο παράρτημα επισυνάπτεται η δευτερογενής έρευνα σχετικά με την
εκλογική συμπεριφορά το 2009 που διενεργήθηκε σε συνεργασία με την TNS
Opinion. Στόχος της είναι η καλύτερη κατανόηση των αποτελεσμάτων της
μετεκλογικής έρευνας του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου που πραγματοποιήθηκε
τον Ιούνιο του 2009 (μέσω προσωπικών συνεντεύξεων με 26 830 ευρωπαίους
πολίτες), στις οποίες εντοπίστηκαν τέσσερα προφίλ ψηφισάντων και
απεχόντων.
Στο δεύτερο προσάρτημα περιλαμβάνονται τα αποτελέσματα ποιοτικής
μελέτης που διενεργήθηκε στα 27 κράτη μέλη τον Μάρτιο του 2012 από την
TNS Opinion και βασίστηκε σε ομάδες εστίασης (3 ομάδες εστίασης ανά
κράτος μέλος, με δώδεκα συμμετέχοντες στην καθεμία εξ αυτών). Η εν λόγω
μελέτη αφορούσε ειδικότερα τα κίνητρα δύο κατηγοριών αποχής το 2009:
της «αυθόρμητης» και της «αδιευκρίνιστης».
Εφιστούμε την προσοχή σας στο γεγονός ότι οι δύο αυτές αναλύσεις
βασίζονται σε δύο διαφορετικές μεθοδολογικές προσεγγίσεις και ότι μεταξύ
τους μεσολάβησε χρονικό διάστημα τριών ετών.
Μπορείτε να βρείτε όλα τα έγγραφα στον σύνδεσμο:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00191b53ff/Eurobaro

In the view of the 2014 European elections, the results of two complementary analyses dedicated to the electoral behaviour in the 2009 European elections can be found below.

On the basis of the results of the EP's last Eurobarometer survey "Two years to go to the European elections" (EB/EP77.4), various focus analyses were made out of these results.

See the attachments below.

To enable Europeans to reconcile their private and working lives, childcare outside the home is regarded as the most effective measure.

Following the joint conference of the European Parliament and of national parliaments on gender equality issues which took place the 3 October 2012 and in preparation for the 2014 European elections, the Directorate-General for Communication (the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit) has carried out a desk research on gender equality issues. The analysis covers the majority of Eurobarometer surveys (European Parliament and European Commission) conducted since the 2009 European election have been analysed.


The first part of the study is devoted to changes over time: what issues were at stake for women in the European elections of 2009? Against a background of an even deeper crisis than previously, what do European women now see as the priority policies to be defended in the EU?

The second part of the desk Research turns to the practical measures which could be implemented to bridge the gender gap, first in political institutions and in positions of responsibility in the public services, and then in every other sector of society.

Now that the 2014 European elections are within sight, it seemed appropriate to carry out a large-scale survey of Europeans' perceptions of the European Union, their knowledge of the institutions and their expectations in this time of crisis.

The fieldwork for this Eurobarometer/European Parliament survey was carried out between 2 and 17 June 2012. The survey was carried out face to face with 26 622 citizens by TNS opinion in 27 EU countries.

General trends over time

We note an increasing polarisation of public opinion. More and more European citizens have an opinion on the EU.
An examination of the results in the eurozone and the non-eurozone confirms that on certain topics there is a real divide, up to 30 percentage points in the case of key subjects such as the euro as an element of European identity.
There are a certain number of sociodemographic constants in the various surveys aver time.

Main findings
The image of the EU is improving :
      The image of the EU is improving in the eyes of the majority of Europeans: 40% (+9) have a positive opinion about the EU.
      Sense of belonging to the EU slightly greater, but the feeling that 'my voice does not count in the EU' is still held by the majority :
      For the first time, an absolute majority says that membership of the EU is 'a good thing' (50%, +3).
      The majority of the people questioned still think that their voice 'does not count in the EU' (54%, -7), although there is a marked increase in those who think, on the contrary, that their voice does matter in the EU (42%, +7).
      Voting in European elections as the best way of making one's voice heard by the EU decision-makers
      An encouraging sign is that almost three fifths (57%) believe that the best way to make their voice heard is to vote in the European elections.
      A growing sense of national identity, a European identity based on values and the euro, and European citizenship based on material considerations
      When questioned about European identity, Europeans believe that the 'values of democracy and freedom' and 'the single currency, the euro' are its main components, far ahead of all the others.
      In terms of the sense of identity felt by those questioned, over a one-year period there has been an increase in the number of Europeans who feel rooted in a 'national identity only' (44%, +5) and a decrease in those who see their identity as both 'national and European' (43%, -6).
     2013 will be the Year of European citizenship. In the view of Europeans, the factors that would most strengthen their sense of European citizenship are: a harmonised European social welfare system (44%), freedom to take up residence in the country of their choice on retirement and to receive their pension there (33%), and recognition of national qualifications without further examinations (33%).
     The consequences of the crisis at the heart of priority policies
     As in previous surveys, the fight against poverty and social exclusion is easily first in the list of priorities that Europeans would like to see defended by the European Parliament (50%, +1). And, more specifically on action to fight the crisis, they cite employment and combating unemployment more than anything else (72%).
     A lack of knowledge about the institutions
On the basis of the results, it is certainly not putting it too strongly to speak of ignorance of the institutions. 33% of Europeans cannot name three of the European institutions.
     The European Parliament is the best-known institution:
     Against this background of ignorance, however, it is noteworthy that the European Parliament is the institution most often mentioned by respondents (53%), followed by the European Central Bank (27%) and the European Commission (25%).
     To this can be added the fact that more than an absolute majority of Europeans believe that the European Parliament is the institution that 'best represents the European Union' (52%), with 15% for the Commission and 14% for the European Council.
     One European in four already knows the date of the next European elections, in June 2014:
     Surprisingly, 25% of Europeans already know the date of the next European elections - June 2014.
     Election of the President of the European Commission: The majority of Europeans would be interested in participating, if only indirectly, in the election of the President of the EC
     In this connection, a fundamental innovation made by the Lisbon Treaty was tested in the survey - the new way of electing the President of the European Commission.
     Would Europeans be more inclined to vote than they are today if the 'major European political groupings put forward, on the basis of a common programme, one candidate each for the post of President of the European Commission'?

More than one in two respondents (54%) would indeed feel more inclined to vote in June 2014 if this were the case. It would give them a sense of being involved, if only indirectly, in electing the President of the European Commission.

This Eurobarometer survey on 'The crisis and the economic governance in Europe is the fifth carried out by the European Parliament. It was conducted by TNS opinion between 10 and 25 March 2012, in face-to-face interviews with 26 593 Europeans aged 15 and over.

Prior to key meetings of heads of state and government on the theme of the crisis, most Europeans think that the EU has to take action to reduce public spending and boost economic growth at the same time (47%) 25 % of Europeans consider that priority must be given to measures that stimulate the economy, and 23 % are in favour of measures to reduce public spending.

The survey's findings confirm a known trend which shows a polarisation of public opinion. Indeed, the number of people who do not have any opinion decreases from survey to survey.

Although the primary focus of the current debate between the Member States is whether or not to they should take action together, 55 % of Europeans (=) would feel better protected by measures adopted in a coordinated way with the other EU countries, while 38% (+3) of them are in favour of individual measures.

As far as the ways of tackling the crisis are concerned, there are clear differences between those inside the euro zone (61% in favour of coordination) and those outside it (43%).

Although they are in favour of solidarity, most Europeans consider that financial help for Member States in economic or financial difficulties must be made conditional on compliance with common rules (80%). They also believe that penalties should be imposed when these rules are broken (72%).

Concerning budgetary issues, some 65 % (-2) of those surveyed are in favour of preliminary consultations between European and national institutions whilst national budgets are being drawn up. Once again, there is a very big difference between those inside the euro zone (70%) and those outside it (56%) .

On the financial transaction tax (FTT) we observe, as for the other questions, a clear change in the opinion between the two surveys. Henceforth 66% of Europeans (+5) are in favour of the principle of a financial transaction tax, 73% in the euro zone and 53% in the non euro zone, a difference of 20 percentage points.

Always during these six months, we note a growing awareness of Eurobonds. Today, nearly one European in two (49 %; +7) has heard of Eurobonds. This awareness is greater inside the euro zone (53 %) than outside it (42 %).

Although most of Europeans are in favour of pooling part of the public debt of Member States, their analysis differs on the impact that this may have.

Awareness of the credit rating agencies (CRA) has also increased: 13 countries had their ratings downgraded by CRAs in the last six months. It is therefore no surprise to discover that 61 % (+11) of Europeans have heard of CRAs. Asked whether an independent European CRA should be created to counterbalance the power of the existing agencies, 67 % (+2) of Europeans were in favour. Finally, 54 % of Europeans think that in serious crisis, the CRAs should not rate countries which have been helped by other EU Member States.

Below you can find specific data on Cyprus in English and Greek.

This year, on International Women's Day (8 March), the European Parliament will be focusing on the pay gap between women and men. In this connection, Parliament asked TNS Opinion to carry out a Flash telephone survey, which was conducted on 19 and 20 January 2012 among 25 539 European citizens in the 27 EU Member States.

The questions focused on the pay gap, as well as a number of other topics. TNS Opinion's report gives a detailed account of the survey's findings, which mainly concern child-minding responsibilities and gender issues at work.

Before outlining the main trends highlighted by the survey, it is worth pointing out the following:

• When asked about the seriousness of gender inequalities in their country, 52% of Europeans (W 58%; M 46%) viewed them as a 'serious' problem, while 45% thought the opposite. An absolute majority of respondents in 10 of the Member States considered them to be a serious problem.

• 60% of Europeans think that gender inequalities have tended to decrease over the last 10 years. However, almost a quarter of them (24%) think that they have increased, while 12% say spontaneously that there has not been any change.

• Europeans consider the most important gender inequality to be violence against women (48%), closely followed by the pay gap (43%). Trafficking in women and prostitution comes in third place with 36%.

• Europeans were asked more specifically about their view of the pay gap: 69% (W 76% and M 62%) see it as a 'serious' problem. This is the majority view in 25 of the 27 Member States. Only 28% say that it is not a serious problem.

• As regards the best level at which to tackle the pay gap, 47% of Europeans are in favour of action at EU level, 38% of action at national level and 11% of action at local or regional level.

• Respondents were also asked about the measures which would do the most to reduce the pay gap between women and men. On this point, Europeans are divided on whether incentives or penalties would be more effective, with very similar scores being recorded for 'facilitating access for women and men to any type of employment' (27%), 'imposing financial penalties on companies that do not respect gender equality' (26%) and 'transparent pay scales in companies' (24%).

Στα μέσα της περιόδου μεταξύ των ετών 2009 και 2014, η νέα δημοσκόπηση Parlemeter εξετάζει την αντίληψη των ευρωπαίων πολιτών για το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο, τις πολιτικές και τις αξίες που οφείλει να προωθεί και να προασπίζει.

Την έρευνα διεξήγαγε η TNS opinion από τις 3 έως τις 20 Νοεμβρίου 2011, στο πλαίσιο μιας εξαιρετικά δύσκολης περιόδου για την Ευρώπη: ας θυμηθούμε, μεταξύ άλλων, το παρ' ολίγον δημοψήφισμα στην Ελλάδα, την αλλαγή του Έλληνα καθώς και του Ιταλού πρωθυπουργού, την αύξηση των επιτοκίων του δημοσίου χρέους αρκετών χωρών της ευρωζώνης, τις βουλευτικές εκλογές στην Ισπανία, τη διάσκεψη κορυφής της G-20.

Τα κυριότερα συμπεράσματα της ανάλυσης έχουν ως εξής:

o Η καταπολέμηση της φτώχειας και του κοινωνικού αποκλεισμού εξακολουθεί να αποτελεί το κορυφαίο ζήτημα για τους Ευρωπαίους πολίτες (49%) σε σχέση με τις πολιτικές προτεραιότητας τις οποίες θεωρούν ότι οφείλει να προωθήσει το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο.  

Δεδομένης της σημερινής κρίσης, το δεύτερο ζήτημα είναι ο συντονισμός οικονομικών, δημοσιονομικών και φορολογικών πολιτικών, όπου σημειώνεται ραγδαία αύξηση στις απαντήσεις εντός της ευρωζώνης (37%).

Ωστόσο, σημαντική πτώση παρατηρείται στις πολιτικές που δεν συνδέονται άμεσα με την τρέχουσα κρίση, όπως η καταπολέμηση της κλιματικής αλλαγής, η γεωργική πολιτική, η καταπολέμηση της τρομοκρατίας και η πολιτική μετανάστευσης.

o Στις απαντήσεις των ερωτηθέντων, η αναφορά στις αξίες παρουσιάζει μείωση. Επικρατεί η διαφύλαξη των δικαιωμάτων του ανθρώπου (56%), ενώ ακολουθούν η ισότιμη μεταχείριση των δύο φύλων (33%) και η ελευθερία έκφρασης (32%).

o Όσο για το ρόλο που απέδωσαν στο Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο οι ερωτηθέντες, αξίζει να σημειωθεί η μεγάλη αύξηση του αριθμού των ατόμων που θέλουν να διαδραματίζει ρόλο παρεμφερή με τον τρέχοντα. Αντιθέτως, μειώνεται το ποσοστό των ατόμων που επιθυμούν ένα ρόλο περισσότερο ή λιγότερο σημαντικό για το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο.