More and more EU citizens have a positive image of the European Union. December’s Eurobarometer provides the proof. The political guidelines of the new European Commission have met with broad approval. Seventy-four per cent of Germans feel that they are citizens of the European Union.
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There has been an increase in the number of citizens expressing their trust in the European Union. In November 2014 a total of 39 per cent of respondents stated that they trusted the EU as compared to 35 per cent in June this year. Of those surveyed, 56 per cent were optimistic about the future and only 37 per cent were pessimistic.
More and more people see themselves as citizens of the European Union, including 74 per cent of Germans.
Six Europeans in ten believe that the economic situation will not deteriorate. The positive attitude to the euro remains unchanged (56 per cent in the EU as a whole, and 67 per cent in the euro zone).
Support for the common currency has increased in 18 member states, most markedly in Lithuania (up 13 per cent at 63 per cent), which will join the euro zone on 1 January 2015, and in Latvia (up 6 per cent at 74 per cent).
A majority of Europeans (58 per cent) are in favour of a transatlantic free trade deal. Austria, Luxembourg and Germany are the exceptions, with just 39 per cent in favour while 41 per cent reject such an agreement.
The survey indicates that Europeans are in favour of the focuses of the new Commission under Jean-Claude Juncker:
The Eurobarometer survey was conducted between 8 and 17 November 2014 in the form of direct surveys. A total of 32,598 people in all EU member states and in candidate states participated.