Economic crisis

Recently released results of a Eurobarometer survey, The Europeans in 2009, carried out between January and February 2009 have revealed Europeans seem to be more and more directly affected by the current economic crisis, with personal concerns about unemployment intensifying.

According to the survey nearly all Europeans gave a negative evaluation of the economic situation, with eight out of 10 rating their economic and employment situation as bad. Results varied between the economic gap that divides Northern and Western Europe and Southern and Eastern Europe, with the perceived risk of poverty increasing in the South and East.

Despite more than half of Europeans stating they believe they have not seen the worst of the economic crisis, support for EU membership remained stable, with a majority of Europeans continuing to believe that their country's membership of the EU was a good thing. They also remained convinced that their country had benefited from being a member of the Union. But close to a quarter of Europeans felt the EU's role in the national economy was negative. Confidence in the European Parliament also suffered a blow with a drop of 6%.

Europeans involved in the survey called for action in particular urging the European institutions to emphasise economic affairs in the coming years in order to strengthen the European Union.

To see the survey in full, please click here.

Last Updated: 2009. 08. 27. 10:52:09 By Katherine Hitchcock