An Ipsos survey of citizens in nine European countries finds a majority of respondents (73%) think things across the EU are headed in the wrong direction, and fewer than half agree that EU membership has improved their own standard of living. Attitudes are most negative among French respondents, with only 15% saying the union is on the right track, and of all countries surveyed only Spain responded more positively to this question than in 2014.

1. 1 © 2015 Ipsos.
Ipsos European Pulse
August 2015
Views on the EU

2. 2 © 2015 Ipsos.
ARE THINGS GOING IN RIGHT
DIRECTION OR WRONG
TRACK ACROSS THE EU?
Large - and increasing - majorities in most countries think the EU
is going in the wrong direction.
Indeed, a majority of EU citizens in all nine countries agree that
things across the EU are heading off on the wrong track.
The proportion thinking things are headed in the wrong
direction has increased in eight of nine countries since 2014.

3. 3 © 2015 Ipsos.
Are things across the European Union going in the right
direction or are they on the wrong track?
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
Generally speaking, would you say things across the European Union are
heading in the right direction or are they off on the wrong track?
Base: 7,096 respondents from nine countries (Belgium: 505, France, 1,016,
Germany, 1,015, Great Britain: 1,019, Hungary: 500, Italy: 1,015, Poland:
505, Spain: 1,016, Sweden: 505), July 24th - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
Country average: 27%
30% OR MORE
20% TO 29%
19% OR LESS
15%
32%
16%
29%
34%
32%
27%
36%
% saying ‘heading in right direction’
36%
25%

4. 4 © 2015 Ipsos.
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
Country average: 73%
80% OR MORE
71% TO 79%
70% OR LESS
% saying ‘off on the wrong track’
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WOULD YOU SAY THINGS ACROSS THE EUROPEAN
UNION ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR ARE THEY OFF ON THE
WRONG TRACK?
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505,
FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500,
ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016, SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH -
AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
85%
68%
84%
71%
66%
68%
73%
75%
64%
Are things across the European Union going in the right
direction or are they on the wrong track?

5. 5 © 2015 Ipsos.
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
Are things going in the right direction or are they on the
wrong track? TREND FROM 2014
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WOULD YOU SAY THINGS ACROSS THE EUROPEAN UNION
ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR ARE THEY OFF ON THE WRONG
TRACK?
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE,
1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015,
POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016, SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
INCREASE OF 7 POINTS OR MORE
INCREASE OF 4 – 6 POINTS
INCREASE OF 1 – 3 POINTS
NO CHANGE
DECREASE OF 1 – 3 POINTS
DECREASE OF 4 – 6 POINTS
DECREASE OF 7 POINTS OR MORE
% point change saying ‘heading in right direction’ since March 2014
Country average: 27%
(-5 from March 2014)
-8
-4
-5
-6
+8
-8
-7
-3
-9

6. 6 © 2015 Ipsos.
HAS EU MEMBERSHIP
SUPPORTED MEMBER
STATES’ LIVING
STANDARDS?
Six in ten in disagree that their personal standard of living is
higher now than if their country had not joined the EU.
However, this is a slight improvement in views of the living
standard benefits of EU membership since 2014.

7. 7 © 2015 Ipsos.
8%
27%
40%
25%
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY IS HIGHER NOW THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF
MY COUNTRY HAD NOT JOINED THE EUROPEAN UNION
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
10%
31%
37%
22%AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
March 2014 August 2015
35%
65%
41%
59%
Has EU membership helped support living
standards?

8. 8 © 2015 Ipsos.
11
7
13
13
14
8
10
7
11
8
8
10
9
9
9
8
3
4
39
32
36
31
30
29
31
26
30
24
30
28
28
26
27
21
29
24
37
46
39
29
29
34
38
46
37
41
40
41
38
42
27
34
49
50
12
15
13
27
27
29
21
22
22
27
23
21
26
23
36
37
18
21
Has EU membership helped support living
standards? COUNTRY TREND
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY IS HIGHER NOW THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF
MY COUNTRY HAD NOT JOINED THE EUROPEAN UNION
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
Great Britain
Poland
Hungary
Germany
Spain
Belgium
France
Italy
Sweden
2015
2014

9. 9 © 2015 Ipsos.
DOES THE EU UNFAIRLY
ADVANTAGE MORE
DEVELOPED MEMBER
STATES?
Large majorities of citizens in more economically challenged
EU countries feel that the EU gives an advantage to their more
economically developed neighbours.
Three quarters of Italian citizens agree, as do a similar
proportion of Spaniards. However, the majority disagree in
Germany and Sweden.

10. 10 © 2015 Ipsos.
Does the EU unfairly advantage the Union’s more
developed members?
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: THE EUROPEAN UNION GIVES AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO MORE ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
18%
39%
32%
11%
19%
40%
31%
11%
AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
March 2014 August 2015
57%
43%
59%
41%

11. 11 © 2015 Ipsos.
Does the EU unfairly advantage the Union’s more
developed members? COUNTRY TREND
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: THE EUROPEAN UNION GIVES AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO MORE ECONOMICALLY DEVELOPED
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
31
27
34
33
22
18
15
10
23
24
15
15
13
17
12
7
8
9
46
44
42
40
41
46
46
42
34
31
42
43
39
39
33
31
33
36
18
23
19
22
33
25
33
40
24
29
29
32
36
33
40
44
44
42
6
6
6
6
4
11
6
8
18
16
14
10
11
11
15
17
15
12
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
Italy
Spain
Poland
Great Britain
Hungary
France
Belgium
Germany
Sweden
2015
2014

12. 12 © 2015 Ipsos.
HAS EU PRESSURE TO
CUT SPENDING
DAMAGED MEMBER
STATES’ ECONOMIES?
Two thirds say that their country’s economy has been damaged
by EU pressure on their governments to cut spending.
Eight in ten Italians say their country’s economy has been
damaged by EU pressure to implement spending cuts.

13. 13 © 2015 Ipsos.
21%
42%
29%
8%
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: MY COUNTRY’S ECONOMY HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY EU PRESSURE ON EUROZONE MEMBER
GOVERNMENTS TO CUT THEIR SPENDING
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
24%
39%
29%
9%
AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
March 2014 August 2015
62%
38%
63%
38%
Has EU pressure to cut spending damaged
member states’ economies?

14. 14 © 2015 Ipsos.
42
30
34
27
37
39
28
25
17
13
15
11
19
17
14
17
7
9
39
40
44
48
40
36
48
43
42
51
38
40
32
37
33
38
36
40
14
22
17
20
17
22
20
27
34
30
38
41
31
31
43
29
42
43
5
8
5
5
5
4
4
5
7
6
10
9
17
16
10
16
14
8
Has EU pressure to cut spending damaged
member states’ economies? COUNTRY TREND
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: MY COUNTRY’S ECONOMY HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY EU PRESSURE ON EUROZONE MEMBER
GOVERNMENTS TO CUT THEIR SPENDING
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
AGREE VERY MUCH
AGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE VERY MUCH
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
Italy
France
Spain
Belgium
Great Britain
Germany
Hungary
Poland
Sweden
2015
2014

15. 15 © 2015 Ipsos.
MORE OR LESS POWER
FOR THE EU?
Despite the concerns seen, there has been no increase in
support for leaving the EU since 2014 – and in Britain the
proportion who want to leave has slightly fallen.
France is more in favour of greater integration than in 2014,
although both Italy and Spain are now less in favour.

16. 16 © 2015 Ipsos.
19%
19%
11%
32%
18% 19%
21%
15%
29%
17%
More or less power for the EU?
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
WORK FOR THE FORMATION OF A
SINGLE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT
STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
TRY TO INCREASE THE EUROPEAN
UNION’S POWERS
LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE
STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
TRY TO REDUCE THE EUROPEAN
UNION’S POWERS
LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
March 2014 August 2015
PLEASE INDICATE WHAT YOU THINK THE LONG-TERM POLICY OF YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE:
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.

17. 17 © 2015 Ipsos.
More or less power for the EU? COUNTRY TREND
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE WHAT YOU THINK THE LONG-TERM POLICY OF YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE:
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
WORK FOR THE FORMATION OF A
SINGLE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT
STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
TRY TO INCREASE THE EUROPEAN
UNION’S POWERS
LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE
STAY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
TRY TO REDUCE THE EUROPEAN
UNION’S POWERS
LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION
27
23
24
21
31
27
19
25
24
28
21
22
11
17
9
5
3
5
37
31
30
17
18
13
23
23
17
21
20
26
21
24
13
12
8
8
7
4
7
7
16
16
17
11
6
4
12
7
20
15
25
14
21
18
18
25
17
36
22
29
25
27
30
25
35
33
38
34
30
43
45
40
11
17
22
19
14
16
15
14
23
21
11
12
10
11
23
26
24
28
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
Hungary
France
Belgium
Germany
Italy
Spain
Poland
Sweden
Great Britain
2015
2014

18. 18 © 2015 Ipsos.
Support for integration stable on average, but
shifts at country-level, with big increase in France
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
PLEASE INDICATE WHAT YOU THINK THE LONG-TERM POLICY OF YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE:
BASE: 7,096 RESPONDENTS FROM NINE COUNTRIES (BELGIUM: 505, FRANCE, 1,016, GERMANY, 1,015, GREAT BRITAIN: 1,019, HUNGARY: 500, ITALY: 1,015, POLAND: 505, SPAIN: 1,016,
SWEDEN: 505), JULY 24TH - AUGUST 7TH, 2015.
40
64
54
49
42 41 41
32 22
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Average HU FR BE DE IT ES PL SE GB
Mar-14
Aug-15
% of those saying ‘work towards the formation of a single European government’ or ‘stay in
the European Union and increase the European Union’s powers’

19. 19 © 2015 Ipsos.
Technical note
IPSOS EUROPEAN PULSE: AUGUST 2015
THESE ARE FINDINGS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE GLOBAL RESEARCH COMPANY IPSOS.
RESPONDENTS AGED 16-64 WERE INTERVIEWED VIA THE IPSOS GLOBAL @DVISOR ONLINE
PANEL IN BELGIUM, FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY, POLAND, SPAIN AND
SWEDEN BETWEEN JULY 24 - AUGUST 7, 2015. APPROXIMATELY 1000+ INDIVIDUALS
PARTICIPATED ON A COUNTRY BY COUNTRY BASIS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BELGIUM,
HUNGARY, POLAND AND SWEDEN WHERE EACH HAVE A SAMPLE APPROXIMATELY 500+.

20. 20 © 2015 Ipsos.
Contacts
Bobby Duffy
Managing Director, Ipsos
Social Research Instititue
Bobby.duffy@ipsos.com
Michael Clemence
Senior Research Executive,
Ipsos Social Research Institute
Michael.clemence@ipsos.com
+44 20 3473 3484
Mike Wheeler
Senior Research Executive,
Ipsos Social Research Institute
Michael.wheeler@ipsos.com
+44 20 3473 3125

21. 21 © 2015 Ipsos.
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