Geographies in Depth

What’s really keeping Europeans up at night? These 4 charts shed some light

European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels June 15, 2005. The EU budget battle and salvaging the proposed constitution will top the summit agenda for the 25-nation bloc when it meets on June 16-17 at its Brussels headquarters. UNICS REUTERS/Thierry Roge  THR/CCK - RTREFSU

Immigration and terrorism top the list of concerns for Europeans Image: REUTERS/Thierry Roge

Joe Myers
Writer, Forum Agenda
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Watch our session on the Post-EU Era from the Annual Meeting 2017 here.

Europeans are most concerned about immigration and terrorism at a continental level, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey (download).

But, at a country level, Europeans have a different concern at the top of their list: unemployment.

The latest survey, conducted in May, sees the first fall in mentions of immigration in nearly three years. Terrorism sees a fourth successive increase.

European fears
 What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment?
Image: Eurobarometer

Despite a fall of 10 percentage points, Europeans still see immigration as the most important issue facing the EU. The survey found that 67% of Europeans support a ‘common European policy on migration’.

Terrorism has risen steeply as a concern. The current survey was first conducted after November 2015’s attacks in Paris, and March 2016’s attacks in Brussels.

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The economic situation remains in the top three, though the percentage of people mentioning it has declined significantly since 2011. Back then, nearly three in five Europeans named it in their top two.

 What do you think are the two most important issues facing the EU at the moment?
Image: Eurobarometer
What about at home?

A similar picture emerges at the national level, although unemployment jumps to the top. A third of Europeans see it as one of the two most important issues facing their country.

 What do you think are the two most important issues (OUR COUNTRY) at the moment?
Image: Eurobarometer

Unemployment took first place in 11 countries. Spain leads the way, with 71%, followed by Cyprus (67%) and Portugal (62%).

Immigration came first in nine EU member states. Interestingly, though, the free movement of people, goods and services within the EU was seen as the most positive result of the union. 56% of Europeans named it as the most positive – an increase of one percentage point.

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Trust in politicians

The survey also looks at trust in national governments and parliaments. The results indicate a clear lack of trust in institutions.

While a third of Europeans trust the EU, just 28% and 27% trust their national parliaments and governments, respectively.

 Trust in European political institutions
Image: Eurobarometer

As the chart highlights, there has been a decline in trust over the past 12 years. Trust in the EU peaked at 57% in 2007, with trust at a national level also at its highest in the same year.

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