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Speech to the European Parliament Europe: a matter of the heart ����������������������� 5 Key figures for the EU 2014-2019 ������������� 17
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Speech to the European Parliament Europe:
Juncker Commission Juncker a matter of the heart
Jean-Claude Juncker President of the European Commission Strasbourg, 22 October 2019 6
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
Mr President,
President of the European Council,
Honourable Members,
It is exactly five years to the day since your Parliament placed its trust in my Commission and you have always maintained that trust. It is true that relations between us have sometimes been difficult, but they have always been courteous; tumultuous, but orderly. And I want to thank you for that with all my heart. Because to have the trust of this House and to be able to rely on the trust of European elected representatives reflecting European democracy is, for all those who receive that trust, an enduring honour. I see a lot of familiar faces here. I see many who have become friends — not just interinstitutional friends, but friends for life — and so I want to thank you with all my heart.
Just as I would like to thank President Tusk. We have been twin brothers. Even twin brothers can disagree sometimes. But we had the intelligence to hide our disagreements. So for you, it probably comes as a surprise that we did have disagreements. But I want to thank Donald for his unfailing cooperation, for a friendship that will last and that I am proud of. Friendships — a word used indiscriminately — are rare in politics. They are rarer still within the same political family, but without Donald I couldn’t have done what I’ve done. 7
Europe: a matter of the heart
And, since I’m addressing this House for the last time, I also wanted to wish Mrs. von der Leyen good luck. She is the person we need at the head of the Commission and she must have all our encouragement and good wishes. Godspeed, Ursula!
I also want to thank my Commissioners. Because without them, I couldn’t have done anything. They are men and women of whom, individually and collectively, Europe can be proud, and I thank you for that. Muchas gracias, obrigado, merci, vielen Dank!
When I took up my post in 2014, European solidarity was weakened by numerous rifts and ruptures. In 2014, Europe was unpopular, which is why I spoke of the ‘last chance Commission’. But I wasn’t speaking of the Commission per se, but of a Commission at the service of a Europe that wasn’t working properly, since in 2014 we were facing a crucial moment in Europe’s history. So it was up to all of us to make the most of the last chance that presented itself at the gates of Europe.
Together with my colleagues, I chose to create a political Commission. I wanted the Commissioners to be elected representatives, and this they were. Apart from the British Commissioner — and I’ve had two British Commissioners, each as talented as the next — all the Commissioners had been elected, either at national or European level. I wanted the Commissioners to be familiar faces, both in their own countries and in Europe. I asked them not to shut themselves up in Brussels, not to wall themselves up in the Berlaymont building, but to 8
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
travel, explain, talk with other elected representatives and engage with public opinion and, therefore, with citizens.
In the last five years we have held 1,815 citizens’ dialogues. And the Commissioners have been to national and regional parliaments 911 times.
At the start of my mandate I promised you that the Commission would focus on essentials, ‘be big on big’. I wanted — we wanted — to put an end to the legislative inflation that had been typical of the Commission’s work up to then. We have achieved that, since we presented 83 % fewer legislative initiatives than previous Commissions. We withdrew 142 legislative proposals and modernised 162 existing laws. Could anyone have done better than that? We have done everything possible to achieve what we set out to do, but this doesn’t stop people from continuing to play the old game of criticising the Commission for being present in too many areas and for concerning itself with everything. Prejudices have long lives in Europe. Everything has changed, but people act as if nothing has changed.
When I introduced myself to you, I had three leitmotifs that I wanted to guide the Commission’s work: growth, jobs and investment.
We are now experiencing the 25th consecutive quarter of growth. We have had seven years of growth in the European Union. We have created 14 million jobs. Unemployment is at its lowest since 2000. 241 million Europeans are in employment. That’s an employment rate of 73.9 %.
The Juncker Plan has generated investment to the tune of €439 billion. At the start, when this plan was expected to fail and prove to be nothing but empty 9
Europe: a matter of the heart
words, people spoke of the ‘Juncker Plan’. Now that it’s a success, people talk of the European Fund for Strategic Investments. That’s the way it goes. Over a million jobs have been created thanks to this plan.
And we have reinterpreted the Stability and Growth Pact by making some of its provisions more flexible. We have done so against the wishes of many Member States who have never formally approved of the flexible approach with which we have enriched the Stability and Growth Pact, but the result is there — deficits have fallen from 6.6 % to 0.7 %.
By adopting this judicious, well thought-out and intelligent approach to making the Stability and Growth Pact more flexible, we were able to play an active role when Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece asked us to support them.
Dear friends, during my term of office I have known disappointments and achievements. Disappointments because, despite our efforts, progress has not been made on the reunification of Cyprus. Once again, time has been wasted.
We have not been able to conclude a treaty with Switzerland, despite intense and numerous efforts.
We have not succeeded in completing the Banking Union. Not through any lack of proposals by the Commission, but due to the lack of effort by Member States. If we don’t complete the Banking Union, as we must, by making the Economic and Monetary Union into a Banking Union like monetary unions all over the world, we will not be ready to react to the next shock — be it internal or coming from outside. 10
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
Amongst the things we must do is our ardent obligation of setting up a deposit guarantee scheme. Without deposit guarantees there is no Banking Union and without a completed Banking Union there is no longer any Economic and Monetary Union. We must know how to react to these issues.
But despite the many crisis we have had to face in the last five years, we have also had achievements. I won’t venture as far as to say ‘successes’ as I don’t want to fall into complacency, much as I might like to. But we have had achievements.
I would first like to mention the social dimension of the European Union. We have succeeded in adopting the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was unpopular for decades. I remember talking about this already when I first appeared before this Parliament as a young minister of labour during a Luxembourg presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Even before the European Pillar of Social Rights was approved, we had made some improvements to the Directive on the Posting of Workers. And contrary to expectations, we succeeded in bringing Parliament and Council to an agreement. I think it can be regarded as a success of this Commission that we have established as a principle that everyone should be paid the same salary for doing the same job and the same work. It was the price that had to be paid if workers were to have dignity.
Besides, if we think we can build Europe and make it prosperous without the consent of its workers, we are sorely mistaken. Europe must also be the Europe of workers. 11
Europe: a matter of the heart
Another achievement, I think, is Greece. I mention Greece because it has greatly occupied and preoccupied me. We have given Greece its dignity back. Too often and for too long, the dignity of the Greek people has been trampled on. I wanted to restore to them all the dignity they deserve.
There were attempts to stop the Commission from acting in support of Greece. I remember the long nights with the governments of Samaras, Tsipras and now Mitsotakis — he was not yet in office — trying to resolve the problem of Greece. Many governments didn’t want the Commission to be involved. I will always remember the telephone calls from several prime ministers who said: ‘It’s not your business. It’s for the Member States to deal with the Greek problem.’ But I had this naive, but fair, idea that we had to comply with the Treaty. And the Treaty says that the Commission is responsible for the general interest of the Union. It was in the general interest to prevent the disintegration of the euro area, and therefore we were right to do what we did.
Africa — yes. As Europeans, we can’t forget our nearest neighbours: they are African. This is a continent that needs our solidarity. But not just our charity. Charity is a traditional reflex of Europeans, but what is needed today is to establish a genuinely equal partnership between Africa and Europe. Investing in Africa, creating jobs in Africa, that should be the mantra for our action, not viewing Africa solely in terms of the refugee crisis. To view our relations with Africa only in terms of refugees is disrespectful to Africans. But let us do what has to be done on the ground to avoid unfortunate people taking to the seas. 12
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
Refugees, yes — a success, or not? Our track record is better than one would think, but it could have been better still if (as Parliament has done) the Council had followed up all the proposals submitted by the Commission to the co- legislator. First in March 2015 on relocation and then in April 2016 on the reform of the Dublin system. But let us not forget that, thanks to Europe, we have been able to save 760 000 lives in the Mediterranean. 760 000 fewer deaths thanks to Europe’s efforts.
In March 2015 I said what we were going to do about refugees. And Parliament gave me a standing ovation. I said then: ‘You’re applauding me now; are you sure that you’ll still be applauding me two years from now?’ The applause was less enthusiastic in the years after that, because in many countries domestic politics took precedence over the basic solidarity we should have shown.
I concerned myself a lot — something I didn’t expect when I started out as head of the Commission — with international trade. It’s a difficult subject and highly controversial in all our countries. There are often good arguments against trade agreements concluded hastily.
But we changed that. We concluded 15 international trade agreements. Today we have trade agreements with 72 countries, which represents 40 % of the world’s wealth. Trade agreements help us to be present on the international stage at a time when the US is turning its back on multilateralism and therefore on organised solidarity with others.
We also need to talk about Europe’s role in the world. Our greatest success and finest achievement remains the fact that we have been able to preserve peace in Europe. 13
Europe: a matter of the heart
It sounds so self-evident — but it is not. There are 60 wars being waged around the world today. None of them is being fought on the territory of the European Union, which has been the scene of the bloodiest military conflicts in recent centuries, even the last one.
Peace is not something to be taken for granted. We should be proud of this achievement!
Now, I am aware of the difficulty we imagine there to be in getting young people enthusiastic about the fact that Europe maintains peace. But when talking to young people it is also important to talk about this eternal dilemma on the European continent between war and peace. You simply have to look at the European Union’s immediate neighbourhood to see how dangerous the international situation is and, as a result, how fragile the European Union’s position is.
Young people must be told about war and peace. In 20 years, no Europeans will be left whose grandfathers or great-grandfathers experienced war. So we have to talk about it, otherwise people will forget what war means. That is why time and again I also talk to young people about war and peace.
Explaining the past is one thing, but young people must also be told about Europe from a future perspective.
So what is the future of Europe? We are the smallest continent. Most Europeans are unware of this. As a continent, Europe is tiny. Policy is what must substantially bind demography and geography together. No policy can consider one without the other. 14
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
We are dying out. We will not vanish, but there will be fewer and fewer of us. At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe was home to 20 % of the world’s population. By the end of this century, Europeans will account for just 4 % of 10 billion people.
Economically, we will hold less sway. A few years from now, not a single European Member State will still be a member of the G7 group.
Anyone who, in the face of these irreversible developments, still thinks that now would be the time for us to put less Europe on the agenda and retreat back into our national shells is making a fundamental mistake.
Europe means peace. But Europe, in view of our waning global influence, also denotes strength.
That is why we also need to consolidate our rules and decision-making on foreign policy issues. Once again, I make the case for us to have qualified majority voting in the Council on foreign policy issues too. Not on every single one, but on those where it is important for Europe to nail its colours to the mast.
I had a unique experience as President Trump’s guest on 25 July last year in Washington, there to discuss — as we duly managed to — how to avert the unfolding trade war. How did we manage that? Trump, in one of his trademark lengthy introductions, described to me everyone who had already sat in that office and what he had said to them: chancellors (several of them), prime ministers, presidents. 15
Europe: a matter of the heart
And he said: ‘I have already explained everything to them.’
I said: ‘That isn’t enough. You must also explain it to Europe.’
And then he said: ‘How come?’
And I told him: ‘Because the Commission alone is responsible for trade issues. Everything the others say — however ably they say it — counts for nothing. What matters here is what the President of the Commission conveys on behalf of the European Union.’
This left a deep impression on him, but an even deeper one on me. Because when you sit there, as a citizen of Luxembourg in Washington, and you say: ‘I am the man!’ — it’s unprecedented. 16
2014-2019 | Juncker Commission
Conclusion
So, to sum up:
I’m leaving office — not sad, but not bursting with happiness either — with the feeling that I have given it my all.
And if everyone gave it their all, things would be better.
I am proud to have been for so long — but especially over the last five years — a small part of something much bigger than all of us.
Take care of Europe. And fight stupid, narrow-minded forms of nationalism with all your might!
Long live Europe! 17
Key figures for the EU 2014-2019
October 2019
3 18
‘I will always closely follow the development of what always was and will remain my life’s greatest love affair: Europe. I am proud to have been able to contribute even in small part to this great journey, which allowed us to achieve what seemed impossible some 60 years ago. And I know that the generations to come, those that have only ever known a united and peaceful Europe, will succeed in achieving tomorrow what appears impossible for us today.’ European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
When the Juncker Commission took office five years ago, Europe had been weakened by the worst economic and social crisis since the Second World War. With waning support from citizens, President Juncker felt it was the ‘last chance’ for the European Union to regain trust. That is why the President was determined to take a different approach, and to build a political Commission that pays close attention to people’s concerns and provides solutions.
In the past five years, the European Commission has worked tirelessly to drive the European Union forward and improve citizens’ lives. The Juncker Commission has strived to make Europe more social, more united, more relatable to its citizens, and more influential on the world stage. As a political Commission, it was ‘big on the big things’ and more modest in other areas, where it left responsibility to national and local authorities. Throughout different crises, the Commission stayed true to its values, its principles and its priorities. Today, we pass on a healthier European economy than the one we inherited. Trust in our Union and in the EU institutions is the highest it has been in 10 years. And around the world, the European Union continues to be seen as a beacon of hope, a guardian of peace, and a source of stability. 19 SHAPING EUROPE
In the course of his political career, Jean-Claude Juncker attended close to 600 meetings at European level. At times, he was in charge of several national portfolios and sat in different Councils.
29 Budget Council meetings 147 European Council meetings
197 596 Economic and Financial 21 meetings Euro Summits Affairs Council meetings
164 38 Eurogroup meetings Employment and Social Policy Council meetings
BETTER REGULATION
Key initiatives Proposals for withdrawal
142 2015-2019
196 83 % Repealed laws 146 reduction
130 117 per year 108 (on average) 84 2015-2019 79
Initiatives for regulatory simplification 26 23 23 21 15
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 (from February) (until October) 162 Barroso II Commission Juncker Commission 2015-2019
Source: European Commission. 20 INFRINGEMENT CASES
Infringement cases open Infringement cases closed before going to at year-end 2014-11 October 2019 the Court of Justice
800 772 699 663 700 657 646 1 800 600 1 657 564 1 571 1 581 1 600 500
1 559 400 1 400 300 1 368 1 347 200 1 200 100
1 100 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 11 Oct 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 11 Oct 2019 2019 The Juncker Commission takes office The Juncker Commission takes office
Source: European Commission. Source: European Commission.
DELIVERING THE POSITIVE AGENDA
Legislative proposals made by the Juncker Commission or carried over from previous Commissions.*
A new boost for jobs, growth and investment An area of justice and fundamental 116 rights based on mutual trust 63 31 1 20 A connected digital single market Towards a new policy on migration 28 21 2 17
A resilient energy union with a forward-looking climate A stronger global actor change policy 4 32 7 15 A Union of democratic change A deeper and fairer internal market with a strengthened industrial base 7 4 87 33 Proposed by the European Commission A deeper and fairer Economic and Monetary Union and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council 18 11 Proposed by the European Commission 1 and pending adoption by the European Parliament and the Council Open and fair trade in a rules-based global system Rejected by the European Parliament 14 3 * This refers to 535 proposals, 488 made under the Juncker Commission + 47 carried over from previous Commissions
Source: European Commission. 21 PROGRESS ON THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION
Robust growth: from recovery to expansion
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE in the EU and euro area Growth has been around The EU and euro area 2 % have now grown for in the EU and the euro area in recent years. 25 consecutive quarters.
The ratio of government debt 49 % in the EU has fallen from of Europeans have a Public deficit in the EU has decreased 88.3 % positive opinion of the (2014) to current situation of from (2009) the European economy. 6.6 % to (2018). 81.9 % 0.7 % (2018).
Source: European Commission.
More and better jobs
JOBS The employment rate 14 was at a record high in the million jobs second quarter of 2019, at created in the EU since the start of the Juncker Commission. 73.9 %.
Record high number While still too high, of people — youth unemployment has decreased from a peak of 241.4 24 % in January 2013 to million Unemployment is declining in employment. % of active population 14.2 %.
The Juncker Commission takes office 14
12 11.5
10 10.0 8 euro area
6 EU 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Source: European Commission. 22
Spotlight on Greece
Greece has received €20.4 billion from EU funds, equivalent to around 11 % of its GDP, since July 2015.
Between January and July 2015, 4 Euro Summit and 16 Eurogroup meetings discussed the economic situation in Greece. President Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Brussels, 3 June 2015
Economic growth Unemployment in (%) in (%) The Juncker Commission takes office The Juncker Commission takes office forecast 30 3 2.1 1.5 1.9 2.2 26 5 3 2 1 0.7 1 4 1 9 2 2 27 5 24 9 0 7 0 25 – 0.4 – 0.2 24 5 23 6 0 -0 4 -0 2 21 5 – 3 – 3.2 -3 20 19 3 -3 2 – 5.5 -5 5 – 6 17 9 17 0 -6 (June 2019) – 7.3 15 -7 3 -9 – 9 -9 1 – 9.1 12 7 -12 – 12 10 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Source: Eurostat.
The Juncker Plan delivered
Investment in the EU has returned As of October 2019 the Juncker Plan is set to pre-crisis levels and is steadily to trigger €439.4 billion in additional increasing. investment across the EU.
The Juncker Plan has played a key role More than one million startups in boosting jobs and growth in and small businesses are now expected to the EU. benefit from improved access to finance.
By 2019 the By 2022 the
Juncker Plan had 2 0 Juncker Plan will increased GDP increase GDP by 1 5 by 0.9 % 1.8 % I E T IMPA T and added 1 0 and add
GDP rowth in % 1.1 0 5 T U TU A IMPA T 1.7 million jobs. million jobs. 0
2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Source: European Commission. 23
Trade Policy to support jobs and growth
41 trade agreements the number of countries with 15 with countries 36 million EU jobs supported trade deals with the EU that have 72 by trade with non-EU countries. entered into force since 2014. 5 million more than in 2014.
15 % increase in EU €6.1 billion of additional exports 2014-2018. export opportunities through barriers removed. EU-Japan agreement TRADE creates an open trade area 15 % increase in EU exports covering almost NETWORK to Canada in 2018 — the first full year of application 30 % of global GDP. of EU-Canada Agreement.
Source: European Commission. EU-US Trade
US LNG Exports to the EU are on the rise in billion cubic meters — cumulative (last updated October 2019)
Meeting between President 18 Jean-Claude Juncker and + 479 % President Donald Trump 16
14
President Jean-Claude Juncker and President Donald 12 Trump, Washington, 25 July 2018 10
JOINT 8 STATEMENT The United States and the European Union have a $1 trillion bilateral trade 6 relationship. With their Joint Statement of 25 July 2018, President Juncker 4 and President Trump expressed their commitment to further strengthen this 2 trade relationship to the benefit of all American and European citizens. 0 2016 2017 2018 2019
EU imports of soya beans of US origin Imports of soya beans by origin cumulative volume (last updated October 2019) (last updated October 2019) Average of the previous 5 years 2019/2020 6
5 25 % 26 % 44 % s 4 e 8 % n + 93 % o n t
3 o n
i 2019 20 l l i 2 5-year trimmed average 1 35 % 47 % 0 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49 53 week of the marketing year United States Brazil Canada Uruguay Ukraine Other
Source: European Commission. 24
A Europe that protects
51 new anti- defending additional dumping and anti- 128 000 subsidy measures in 190 000 of these jobs are in place, of which 26 are direct jobs the steel sector in the steel sector
Source: European Commission.
MIGRATION
Opening safe pathways
Almost 63 000 100 % In 2015, 2016 and 2017 EU operations people resettled from of eligible contributed to: outside the EU candidates relocated Over 760 000 lives saved since 2015 Almost 35 000 relocated within 160 traffickers and over the EU 21 000 smugglers apprehended relocated from Greece by Operation Sophia
over 12 700 551 vessels removed relocated from Italy
Source: European Commission.
The situation today: irregular border crossing on the three main routes
250 000 20 October 2015 10 000 arrivals Arrivals along all routes 200 000 are 90 % lower than in 150 000 September 2015 per month Arrivals 100 000 Eastern Mediterranean Central Mediterranean 50 000 Western Mediterranean
0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Source: European Commission. 25
Scaling up the EU’s border agency
EU Border Guards Investing in border currently deployed management € 21.3 billion
€5.6 < 300 1 300 €2.4 billion billion Reserve pool: 1 500 2014 2019 2006-2013 2014-2020 2021-2027
Source: European Commission.
GENDER DIVERSE EU CIVIL PROTECTION MANAGEMENT MECHANISM
The EU Civil Protection 128 Mechanism has been activated 128 times since 2014 to deliver 41 % emergency assistance following natural disasters such as forest fires, floods, earthquakes and other crises in Europe and 2014-2019 of management positions in the European worldwide. Commission are now occupied by women, in In 2019 the rescEU civil protection system was comparison to 30 % in November 2014; an established to provide stronger crisis response within increase of 37 %. the EU.
Source: European Commission. Source: European Commission.
EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS
over 172 000 young people have registered, since President Juncker announced the creation of the European Solidarity Corps in September 2016.
Placements in projects all over Europe More than 30 000 young people have been participating
in projects all over Europe. x11.7 The Commission proposed a €1.26 billion budget to at least strengthen and expand the European Solidarity Corps in 30 000 350 000 the EU’s next long-term budget 2021-2027, with the aim of providing at least 350 000 opportunities for young Europeans.
Sep 2016-2019 2021-2027
Source: European Commission. 26 ERASMUS
In the past 32 years more than 10 million young people have benefited from Erasmus. 2014-2020, the Erasmus+ programme is projected to exceed million million its target of reaching 4 million people in the 1987 2019 2014-2020 EU.
Record EU investment of €2.8 billion in Erasmus+, resulting in grants for 853 000 people to study, train, teach, work or volunteer abroad.
2018 Erasmus Budget
The Commission proposed a stronger youth focus x2 €30 billion in the next EU budget for 2021-2027 by doubling €15 . the Erasmus budget to €30 billion billion 2014-2020 2021-2027
Source: European Commission. ENGAGING WITH CITIZENS
Citizens’ Dialogues in numbers since 2015 (including 25 Facebook live Citizens’ Dialogues) Visits to national parliaments
Over 911 1 815 dialogues 214 500 visits and meetings total participants of Members of the in 642 towns Commission with national Parliaments have taken place.
1.6 million Source: European Commission. viewers via web streaming
More European Citizens’ Initiatives registered Participants 73 000 per year registered not 54 700 registered 50 800 + 41 %
290 million 18 600 17 400 - 70 % Europeans total potential media outreach 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 29 41 20 6 20120144 20120199 20120144 20120199
Source: European Commission. Source: European Commission. 27 INVESTING IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA
The External Investment Plan External Investment Plan 2017-2020 (EIP) was adopted in September Total expected 2017 to help boost investment investments by 2020 in partner countries in Africa and the European Neighbourhood. €44 billion With a contribution of €4.5 billion from the European Union, the EIP Commitment: is expected to leverage up to EU grants used for blending and €4 billion €44 billion of investments by guarantees €4.5 billion 2020. €4 billion have already €40 billion been committed. Already committed
*EU financial input and expected investments
Source: European Commission.
EMERGENCY TRUST FUND FOR AFRICA
With over €4.5 billion, the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa benefits 26 African countries among the most fragile and affected by instability, forced displacement and irregular migration.
NORTH € 659.2 OF AFRICA MILLION
COUNTRIES Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and To date, 210 actions have been approved Egypt. across the three regions for a total amount of approximately €4 billion, divided as follows:
Horn of Africa €1,406.1 million, SAHEL / € 1,953.2 North of Africa €659.2 million, LAKE CHAD MILLION Sahel/Lake Chad €1,953.2 million. COUNTRIES Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte Actions are implemented by EU Member States’ d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, development agencies, international and local Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and NGOs and international or UN agencies. Senegal.
HORN € 1,406.1 OF AFRICA MILLION
COUNTRIES Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Source: European Commission. 28 THE EU’S PUBLIC OPINION 2014-2019
Compared to 2014, public opinion in 2019 is more positive towards the European Union. Eurobarometer surveys demonstrate broad overall support for the European project and its achievements.
EU Membership
Generally speaking, do you think that (our country’s) membership of the EU is ... ? Trend from 2014 to 2019 (%)
70 A good thing 0 5 Neither a good 60 5 5 nor a bad thing 55 5 5 59 % A bad thing 50 Don’t know
40
30 5 5 26 % 20 1 1 15 1 1 1 11 1 13 % 10 0 2 % Nov.-Dec.Nov.-Dec. Sept.Sep. Sept.-Oct.Sep.-Oct. MarchMar. Sept.-Oct.Sep.-Oct. AprilApr. Sept.Sep. Feb.-Mar.March JuneJun. 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 20172017 2018 2018 20192019 20192019
1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 2 4 5 3 2 0 3 1 0 0 2 1 4 5 4 5 8 4 3 10 5 4 7 8 8 10 8 10 15 8 12 18 17 13 6 19 15 28 20 8 6 12 13 16 17 22 24 23 24 16 22 23 34 37 18 22 25 32 35 45 33 44 26 35 31 40 46 41 83 81 24 79 78 75 73 20 72 72 71 71 70 69 68 65 59 58 58 55 54 54 54 52 50 49 46 44 42 37 36
LU IE DE NL DK EE LT SE HU PT FI ES PL BE EU28 CY SI LV BG MT RO FR AT UK SK HR EL IT CZ
+ 1 + 9 + 8 + 8 + 10 + 11 + 5 + 13 + 25 + 22 + 14 + 11 + 6 – 3 + 4 + 22 + 14 + 7 + 7 – 9 – 10 = 0 + 14 + 2 – 2 – 4 – 3 – 3 + 2 Comparison with the latest pre-Brexit survey (September 2015)
A good thing A bad thing Neither a good nor a bad thing Don’t know
Source: Parlemeter, June 2019. 29
Trust in the European Union
Trend from 2014 to 2019 (%) 60
50
0 1 44 % 40 5 34 % 30 1 1
20
10 Trust in the European Union Trust in the national Government 0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 8a 14 I would like to ask you a question about how much trust you have in certainSource: mediaStandard andEurobarometer, June 2019. institutions For each of the following media and institutions, please tell me if you tend to For trusteach ofit orthe tend following, not to pleasetrust it tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it.
The TheEuropean European Union Union (%)
12 8 17 10 12 10 24 7 17 5 13 6 8 11 6 7 4 18 10 7 6 5 10 10 8 9 11 2 15
66 40 45 50 37 40 42 41 46 48 24 38 42 46 46 55 55 16 31 30 33 35 56 33 56 23 28 31 20
72 68 60 59 58 57 56 56 55 55 54 54 54 54 52 52 51 51 48 47 46 45 44 44 37 36 33 32 29
LT DK EE LU FI PT MT SE BG HU IE CY NL PL AT RO BE LV DE ES HR SI EU28 SK IT CZ FR EL UK
Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don’t know Tend to trust Tend not to trust Don t know Source: Standard Eurobarometer, June 2019.
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Print ISBN 978-92-76-12444-3 doi:10.2775/42586 NA-03-19-816-EN-C PDF ISBN 978-92-76-12485-6 doi:10.2775/344640 NA-03-19-816-EN-N 32