The elections to the European Parliament will be held between June 6 and 9 and the Eurochamber has published the latest opinion poll, in which an increase in citizens’ interest in these elections is perceived and predicts an increase in participation compared to 2019.
71% of respondents say that, if the elections were held next week, they would “probably” vote in the election of the 720 MEPs who will make up the European Parliament. In almost all countries, including Spain, there is an increase in interest in participating by 10 percentage points compared to the same period in 2019. Also, 53% of Europeans believe that it is of “great importance” to vote in these elections, with an increase of 6 percentage points compared to the autumn of 2023.
81% of respondents believe that, given the international context, it is important to vote in these elections. And 60% declare themselves “interested” in the elections. In Spain this interest is 58%, with an increase of 19 percentage points compared to the same period five years ago. The age group most predisposed to vote is that which goes from 40 to over 55 years old, with people who identify more with the left of the parliamentary arch. 78% of European respondents who say they would vote are left-wing.
When respondents were asked what they believe should be the main priorities of EU policy, 33% of Europeans believe it should be the fight against poverty and social exclusion, followed by public health ( 32%). In third place, and this is radically new, appears the defense and security of the European Union, tied with the economy and employment (31%).
The differences between countries are remarkable. While in the Baltic countries security and defense are among the most important points, in Spain they are the fight against poverty and the improvement of public health. The Baltics’ interest in security and defense policies is explained by the geographical proximity to the scene of the war in Ukraine, and also by the proximity to the aggressor country, Russia.
Spain and Greece, on the contrary, are two countries at the forefront of unemployment in the European Union, and they give more importance to the fight against poverty and unemployment. Both were hit hard by the 2010 recession and both suffered cuts to public healthcare.
There is also an increase in interest in immigration, by 23%, with particular relevance in Malta, and in agriculture, also by 23%, a sector that has played the role of protests throughout Europe in recent months.
The survey also reveals that citizens’ perception of the European Union has improved in recent years, in line with the successive crises that have affected it, the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine. 73% of Europeans say that the decisions made in the European Union have an impact on their day-to-day life. This is the highest number since records have been kept. In most European countries, respondents say they are “optimistic” about the future of the EU, with an average of 61%, while in Spain, traditionally more pro-European, it is 63%.
