More than seven out of ten Greeks and Europeans believe their country has benefited from EU membership and that EU actions have an impact on their daily lives, according to the European Parliament’s Eurobarometer survey, released today, six months before the European elections (6-9 June).

According to the Eurobarometer, 72% of EU citizens and 73% of Greek citizens believe that their country has benefited from joining the EU. The main reason for 50% of Greek respondents is the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security (34% in the EU). Also, for 34% of European respondents, the main reason is the improved cooperation between the countries of the Union.

87% of Greeks (the third highest percentage in the EU, after Cyprus and Malta), compared to 70% of Europeans, believe that EU actions have an impact on their daily lives.

45% of Europeans have a positive image of the EU and 43% of Greeks, while 38% of Europeans and Greeks have a neutral image and 16% of Europeans versus 19% of Greeks have a negative image. For 61% of Europeans, against 49% of Greeks, their country’s participation in the EU is “a good thing”.

In the question “on which issue would you like the European Parliament to give priority?”, both Greeks (59%) and more than a third of EU member countries (36%) put as first priority is the fight against poverty.

Second priority for the Greeks is supporting the economy and creating new jobs with 54% (fourth priority for EU citizens with 29%). Third priority for Greeks is public health (50%), while for other Europeans health is second priority (34%). Actions against climate change are the third priority for European citizens (29%, compared to 26% for Greeks).

To the question “which values ​​should the European Parliament defend as a priority?”, 38% of Greeks and Europeans answer first “democracy”. Equally important is for 38% of Greeks (22% of Europeans), “solidarity between EU member states and between its regions”, while for 36% of Greeks, and 25% of Europeans, a priority is also “the rule of law”.

Socio-economic difficulties continue to affect many Europeans, even if the indicators improved slightly during the last six months. 73% (down 6 percentage points from spring 2023) of EU respondents believe their standard of living will worsen in the coming year. Also, 47% of European citizens, against 70% of Greeks (second highest percentage after Cyprus) believe that their standard of living has already decreased and expect this to happen next year as well. The majority of respondents in 22 member states believe the same.

For the European elections in June 2024, 58% of Greek respondents say they are interested, compared to 57% of citizens in the EU (6 points higher than in autumn 2018).

77% of Greeks, against 53% of Europeans, want the European Parliament to play a more important role (majority opinion in 21 member states). Also, to the question “when will the next European elections be held?” 18% of Greeks, compared to 28% of Europeans, gave the correct answer. To the question, “if the next European elections were scheduled for next week, how likely would you be to vote?”, 75% of Greeks, compared to 68% of Europeans, answered that it is “likely” (nine points higher than in autumn 2018 ). “Neutral” answered 11% of Greeks and “not likely” 12%.

For 63% of Greeks, the first reason they think people vote in the European elections is “to support a political party” (37% in the EU), the second reason is because “it is their duty as citizens” with 42% (36% in the EU) and the third because they “want to support a certain candidate” with 39% (23% in the EU).

The Eurobarometer was conducted by the research organization Verian (formerly Kantar Public) between 25 September and 29 October in the 27 EU Member States. The survey was carried out by the method of face-to-face interviews via video links. A total of 26,523 interviews were conducted. EU results were weighted according to each country’s population size.