Concerns over European Union in Oxford EU-wide survey

Just two in ten older Europeans think the EU has handled the COVID-19 vaccine programme well, according to an eupinions poll conducted for an Oxford research team led by Professor Timothy Garton Ash.

According to the report, Europe Today and Tomorrow: What Europeans Want, based on a March 2021 poll of 13,601 people, conducted in the 27 member states and the UK, it provides ‘mixed reading’ for the EU. It states, ‘Respondents generally support greater integration of the Union and are in favour of the EU taking action on issues such as employment and economic redistribution.’

45% of those surveyed say they believe the vaccine roll out has been handled badly and only 25% say it has been handled well. But...more than half of those aged 50-69 say it has been fairly or very badly handled

In total, 45% of those surveyed say they believe the vaccine roll out has been handled badly and only 25% say it has been handled well. But concerns increase in line with age and more than half of those aged 50-69 say it has been fairly or very badly handled.

The report states, ‘There is clear dissatisfaction with the EU's distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and many respondents agree that freedom of movement has brought more costs than benefits for their country.’

Some 44% of those surveyed, report not having personally benefited from freedom of movement. And 37% of all those surveyed say it has brought more costs than benefits for their country, with just 32% disagreeing. But there were wide national differences, with almost half of French respondents thinking that freedom of movement has had more costs than benefits.  This compared with 40% in Germany, 39% in the Netherlands and just 28% of respondents from Poland. The report comments, ‘Perhaps not a surprising finding, given so many Poles have benefitted from free movement.’

Seven in ten say they identify as Europeans (as well as having other identities). But here again national differences are revealed, with some 86% of Polish and 84% of Spanish agreeing with this, compared with 60% of French and 63% of Italians.

More than 60% thought the EU should take more decisions about employment and social protection because of the threat posed by automation to jobs

Participants were also asked if taxpayers in richer states should contribute more to the EU budget than currently – ‘to ensure a minimum standards of living across all member states’. Some 66% of Spanish support such measures, while 40% of Germans back more taxes.  But more than 60% thought the EU should take more decisions about employment and social protection because of the threat posed by automation to jobs.

Although there was significant support for greater integration, with 28% backing this, there was just 13% support for a single European government. This was only slightly ahead of the percentage who said the EU should no longer exist. But more over 50s thought it should no longer exist compared with the number who thought there should be a single government.  As with many questions, French respondents were more hardline – with 15% saying they would like the EU no longer to exist.

Although there was significant support for greater integration, with 28% backing this, there was just 13% support for a single European government

Meanwhile, the top priority for new border guards, according to those survey, should be to, ‘Prevent unlawful entry to the EU.

’The second priority should be to fight cross border crime and terrorism and just 12% of older respondents thought new border guards should ensure the safety of those attempting to enter the EU.

This is the fourth in a series of eupinions polls conducted for the Europe's Stories project of the Dahrendorf Programme, based at the European Studies Centre at St Antony's College, Oxford.

An interim report, with recommendations to the EU written by young Europeans based at Oxford, will be published later this year.