Special Eurobarometer 509

Special Eurobarometer 509
Survey requested by the European Commission,
Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication
This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors.
Special Eurobarometer 509 – Wave EB94.2 – Kantar
Social Issues
Report
Fieldwork
November - December 2020

Report
Social Issues
Survey conducted by Kantar on behalf of Kantar Belgium at the request
of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Survey co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication
(DG COMM “Media monitoring and Eurobarometer” Unit)

Project title Special Eurobarometer 509 – November - December 2020
“Social Issues”
Report
Linguistic version EN
Catalogue number KE-02-21-136-EN-N
ISBN 978-92-76-29820-5
doi:10.2767/14984
© European Union, 2021
http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
KEY FINDINGS 4
I. VIEWS OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL ISSUES AT EU LEVEL 6
1. Importance of a social Europe 6
2. Decision-making on social issues at EU level 21
II. AWARNESS AND VIEWS ON EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS 32
III. VIEWS OF PEOPLE ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL EUROPE 41
1. Importance of social rights for the future of Europe 41
2. Actions to be taken by national governments for building the future of Europe 52
3. Actions to be taken by the EU for building the future of Europe 59
4. Europeans’ predictions for the future of Social Europe 69
CONCLUSIONS 73
ANNEXES
Technical specifications
Questionnaire
Tables

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INTRODUCTION
Social justice is the foundation of the European Social market economy and is at the heart of our
Union.1
It underpins the idea that social fairness and prosperity are the cornerstones for building a
resilient society with the highest standards of well-being in the world. All Europeans should have the
same opportunities to thrive. Many still struggle to make ends meet or face barriers due to
inequalities. Many children and young people, often from disadvantaged socio-economic
backgrounds, do not have access to quality education or healthcare. There are still many elderly
without access to care services. Inequality is a brake on growth and threatens social cohesion.
To address these challenges, the EU institutions jointly proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights
in November 20172
. The Pillar is about delivering new and more effective rights for citizens. It builds
upon 20 key principles, structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the
labour market; fair working conditions; and social protection and inclusion.
Three years after the launch of the European Pillar of Social Rights, it is relevant to explore Europeans’
attitudes towards social issues in the European Union as a whole also in the context of the announced
action plan to further implement the Pillar.
This survey was commissioned by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and
Inclusion to explore public opinion about social issues in the European Union. It covers the following
topics:
 The importance of a social Europe to Europeans personally;
 The most important elements for the EU’s economic and social development;
 Assessment of a lack of social rights as a serious problem;
 More or less decision-making at European level regarding 15 key principles of the European
Pillar of Social Rights;
 Europeans’ awareness of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
 Views on the impact of the European Pillar of Social Rights on employment and social inclusion
in the EU and on its chances of success;
 Opinions about the possibility of a more social Europe in 2030;
 Key principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights which are the most important for the
future of Europe;
 On which of these principles should national governments and the European Union take action
to prepare the future of Europe;
 The role of social rights issues in building a stronger European Union in the future.
Almost all of the questions in this survey are new questions. However, where possible, the results of
this survey are compared with those of a previous survey on Future of Europe – Social Issues
conducted in September-October 20173
.
This survey was carried out by the Kantar network in the 27 Member States of the European Union
between 20 November and 21 December 2020. 27,213 EU citizens from different social and
demographic categories were interviewed face-to-face, by telephone or online in their native
language on behalf of the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
1 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_20_49
2
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/deeper-and-fairer-economic-and-monetary-union/european-pillar-social-rights/european-
pillar-social-rights-20-principles_en
3
https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2179

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The methodology used is that of Eurobarometer surveys as carried out for the Directorate-General
for Communication (“Media monitoring and analysis” Unit). A technical note on the way the interviews
were conducted by the institutes within the Kantar network is appended as an annex to this report.
Also included are the interview methods and the confidence intervals.
Note: In this report, countries are referred to by their official abbreviation. The abbreviations used in
this report correspond to:
Belgium BE Lithuania LT
Bulgaria BG Luxembourg LU
Czechia CZ Hungary HU
Denmark DK Malta MT
Germany DE The Netherlands NL
Estonia EE Austria AT
Ireland IE Poland PL
Greece EL Portugal PT
Spain ES Romania RO
France FR Slovenia SI
Croatia HR Slovakia SK
Italy IT Finland FI
Republic of Cyprus CY * Sweden SE
Latvia LV
European Union – weighted average for the 27 Member States EU27
BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK, LV, LT Euro area
BG, CZ, DK, HR, HU, PL, RO, SE Non-euro area
* Cyprus as a whole is one of the 27 European Union Member States. However, the “acquis communautaire” has been suspended in the
part of the country which is not controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only the interviews carried
out in the part of the country controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus are included in the “CY” category and in the EU27
average.
We wish to thank the people throughout the European Union
who have given their time to take part in this survey.
Without their active participation, this study would not have been possible.

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KEY FINDINGS
Close to nine in ten Europeans say that a social Europe is important to them personally,
particularly equal opportunities and access to the labour market, just ahead of fair
working conditions
 Nearly nine in ten Europeans (88%) say that a social Europe is important to them personally;
 Over two-thirds of respondents share this opinion in every Member State of the European
Union;
 More than four in ten Europeans consider that four elements are among the most important
for the EU’s economic and social development: equal opportunities and access to the labour
market (46%), fair working conditions (45%), access to quality health care and the standard of
living of people in the EU (41% for both elements);
 Just over seven in ten respondents (71%) believe that a lack of social rights is a serious problem
right now;
 Large majorities of Europeans believe that there should be more decision-making at European
level for eight areas tested: around three-quarters hold this view as regards protecting the
environment and reducing climate change (76%), and promoting decent working conditions in
the EU and abroad (74%);
 In all 27 EU Member States, more than half of respondents think that promoting decent working
conditions in the EU and abroad, protecting the environment and reducing climate change, and
promoting equal treatment of women and men need more decision-making at European level.
Nearly three in ten respondents had heard of the European Pillar of Social Rights before
the interview
 Close to three in ten respondents (29%) say that they had heard, read or seen something about
the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview;
 Greece is the only EU Member State where a majority of respondents (53%) had been aware
of the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview;
 Nearly eight in ten Europeans who had heard about the European Pillar of Social Rights (79%)
agree that this initiative will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the EU as a whole;
 More than six in ten respondents hold this view in the 27 EU Member States;
 More than three-quarters of respondents who were aware of the European Pillar of Social
Rights before the interview (76%) agree that the success of the European Pillar of Social Rights
will depend on the implementation of these rights in their country;
 In all 27 EU Member States, more than six in ten respondents agree with this statement.

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More than six in ten Europeans think there will be a more social Europe in 2030; and
health care is by far the most important area for this future, where both their national
government and the EU should take action
 Just over half of Europeans (51%) think that social rights issues will play a more important
role in building a stronger EU in the future;
 Health care (36%) is by far the most important issue for the future of Europe according to
Europeans, largely ahead of social protection (26%), wages, education, training and lifelong
learning, and old age income and pensions (25% for all three items);
 Similarly, a third of Europeans think that health care (33%) is an area where their national
government should take action to prepare the future of Europe, largely ahead of wages (28%),
old age income and pensions (27%), and social protection (26%);
 Finally, health care (34%) is also the most frequently mentioned area where Europeans think
that the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe, ahead of social
protection (27%), active support to employment and wages (25% for both areas);
 Over six in ten respondents (62%) believe there will be a more social Europe in 2030;
 France is the only EU Member State where only a minority of respondents consider that there
will be a more social Europe in 2030.

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I. VIEWS OF PEOPLE ON SOCIAL ISSUES AT EU LEVEL
This chapter examines Europeans’ views on social issues at European level. It explores whether or not
respondents consider that a social Europe – i.e. a Europe that is committed to equal opportunities and
access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion – is important
to them personally. It also looks at the elements that Europeans see as the most important for the
EU’s economic and social development, before assessing whether or not a lack of social rights is a
serious problem right now for respondents. This chapter concludes by analysing respondents’ views
on whether there should be more or less decision-making at European level in eight areas related to
social issues.
1 Importance of a social Europe
Nearly nine in ten Europeans say that a social Europe is important to them personally
Close to nine in ten respondents (88%) say that a social Europe (i.e. a Europe that is committed to
equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection
and inclusion) is important to them personally4
, including around four in ten (42%) who say a social
Europe is ‘very important’ to them personally. On the other hand, just over one in ten respondents
have the opposite view (11%).
Base: all respondents (n.= 27,213)
4
QB1. How important or not is a social Europe to you personally (that is to say, a Europe that cares for equal opportunities, access to the
labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion)?

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In all 27 EU Member States, over two-thirds of respondents say that a social Europe is important to
them personally, with the highest scores being recorded in Portugal (98%), Spain (95%) and Ireland
(94%), and the lowest in Finland (69%), Estonia (78%), Czechia and Romania (79% in both countries).
In ten EU Member States, over half of respondents state that a social Europe is ‘very important’ to
them personally, most notably in Ireland (61%), Malta (59%) and Slovenia (57%).

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that more than eight in ten respondents in all
socio-demographic categories say that a social Europe is important to them personally:
 Respondents who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond are more likely
to share this opinion (90%, compared with 83% of those who finished their education aged 15
or earlier);
 Students (91%), managers and other white collars (90% in both categories) are the most likely
to say that a social Europe is important to them (compared with 84% of house persons);
 Respondents who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills are the most likely
to hold this view (90%, compared with 81% of those who have such difficulties most of the
time).
In addition, Europeans who agree that their voice counts in the European Union (93%) or in their
country (91%) are more likely than those who do not agree that their voice counts in the EU or in
their country (83% in both categories) to consider that a social Europe is important to them.
Europeans who have a positive image of the EU (96%) are much more likely than those having a
negative (66%) or neutral (86%) image of the EU to share this opinion.
Finally, respondents who consider that a lack of social rights is a serious problem (90%) are more
likely to hold this view than those who think that a lack of social rights is not a serious problem (83%).

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More than four in ten Europeans think that equal opportunities and access to the labour
market, fair working conditions, access to quality health care and the standard of living
of people in the EU are the most important elements for the EU’s economic and social
development
When asked to identify the most important elements for the EU’s economic and social development,
by choosing up to four items from a list of eleven5
, respondents provided the following answers:
 Over four in ten respondents mention ‘equal opportunities and access to the labour
market’ (46%) as one of the most important elements for the EU’s economic and social
development, just ahead of ‘fair working conditions’ (45%);
 A similar proportion mention ‘access to quality health care’ and ’the standard of living
of people in the EU’ (41% for both items);
 Close to a third of respondents mention ‘social protection and inclusion’ (32%);
 Around a quarter of Europeans think that ‘environmental responsibility and climate
action' (27%) and ’freedom of movement of workers and learners’ (23%) are among the
most important elements for the EU’s economic and social development;
 One in five respondents mention ‘the EU’s capacity for research and innovation’ (20%),
and a similar proportion mention ’the quality of infrastructure in the EU’ (18%);
 Finally, more than one in ten Europeans mention ‘rights of minorities and protection
against discrimination’ (15%) and ’the skills and talents of people in the EU’ (14%).
5
QB2T. In your opinion, which elements are the most important for the EU’s economic and social development? Firstly? And then? Equal
opportunities and access to the labour market; Fair working conditions; Social protection and inclusion; Access to quality health care;
Freedom of movement of workers and learners; The standard of living of people in the EU; The quality of infrastructure in the EU; The EUs
capacity for research and innovation; The skills and talents of people in the EU; Environmental responsibility and climate action; Rights of
minorities and protection against discrimination; Other (SPONTANEOUS); None (SPONTANEOUS); Don’t know

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The ranking order is almost the same when, instead of taking into account all the elements mentioned
(maximum four answers per respondent), we analyse the first element described as the most
important for the EU’s economic and social development (“firstly” answer).
The main difference is that ‘the standard of living of people in the EU’ is in joint second place along
with ‘fair working conditions’ (16% for both items), largely ahead of ‘access to quality health care’
(11%, in fourth position), while ‘the standard of living of people in the EU’ is in joint third place with
‘access to quality health care’ in the general ranking order.
In addition, ‘freedom of movement of workers and learners’ (7%, in sixth place) is ranked slightly
ahead of ‘environmental responsibility and climate action’ (6%, in seventh position), while
‘environmental responsibility and climate action’ is largely ahead of ‘freedom of movement of
workers and learners’ in the general ranking order.
In this analysis, only four items are mentioned by at least one in ten respondents: ‘equal opportunities
and access to the labour market’ (20%) is largely ahead of ‘fair working conditions’ and ‘the standard
of living of people in the EU’ (16% for both items), before ‘access to quality health care’ (11%).

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A national analysis highlights that, in seven EU Member States, respondents place ‘equal
opportunities and access to the labour market’ in first position among the most important
elements for the EU’s economic and social development, with the highest scores being recorded in
Greece (62%), Czechia and Cyprus (58% in both countries). More than six in ten respondents in
Portugal also mention this item (62%).
In five countries, ‘fair working conditions’ tops the ranking order: in Spain (58%), Slovakia (54%),
Sweden (47%), Luxembourg and Denmark (both 45%). More than half of respondents also mention
this item in Portugal (63%) and Cyprus (53%).
Respondents in Portugal (69%) place ‘access to quality health care’ in first position. More than
half of respondents also mention this element in Bulgaria (53%).
In addition, ‘access to quality health care’ is ranked in joint first place with ‘equal opportunities and
access to the labour market’ in France (49%), and with ‘fair working conditions’ in Italy (41%).
A majority of respondents in ten EU Member States think that ‘the standard of living of people
in the EU’ is one of the most important elements for the EU’s economic and social development,
with at least six in ten respondents sharing this opinion in Latvia (62%), Lithuania (61%) and Bulgaria
(60%).
However, the ‘standard of living’ and ‘equal opportunities and access to the labour market’ are
mentioned in equal first place by respondents in Slovenia (58% for both items); and the standard of
living and fair working conditions are in joint first place in Austria (46%).
None of the seven other items is ranked in first place among the most important elements for the
EU’s economic and social development in any EU Member State. However:
 Over four in ten respondents mention ‘social protection and inclusion’ in Latvia and
Portugal (both 42%), and Cyprus (41%);
 Over four in ten respondents mention ‘environmental responsibility and climate action’
in Sweden (46%), the Netherlands (45%) and Denmark (42%);
 Nearly four in ten respondents mention ‘freedom of movement of workers and learners’
in Bulgaria and Czechia (38% in both countries);
 ‘The EU’s capacity for research and innovation’ obtains its highest scores in Estonia (30%)
and Italy (29%);
 A third of respondents mention ‘the quality of infrastructure in the EU’ in Austria and
Romania (33% in both countries);
 More than one in five respondents mention ‘rights of minorities and protection against
discrimination’ in the Netherlands (31%), largely ahead of Portugal (24%) and Malta (21%);
 Finally, ‘the skills and talents of people in the EU’ obtains its highest scores in Austria and
Czechia (23% in both countries).

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that:
 Women are more likely than men to mention access to quality health care (44% compared with
37%). Meanwhile, men are more likely to mention the EU’s capacity for research and innovation
(22%, compared with 17%) and the quality of infrastructure in the EU (21% compared with
16%);
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are less likely than those aged 55 and over to mention the
standard of living of people in the EU (35% compared with 41%), but more likely to mention
rights of minorities and protection against discrimination (22% compared with 15%);
 Respondents who finished their education aged 15 or earlier are more likely than those who
remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond to mention access to quality health
care (48% compared with 36%), but less likely to mention environmental responsibility and
climate action (18% compared with 31%), the EU’s capacity for research and innovation (12%,
compared with 24%), the skills and talents of people in the EU (10% compared with 16%) and
the quality of infrastructure in the EU (14% compared with 19%);
 Unemployed people are far more likely than managers to mention fair working conditions (54%
compared with 40%) and equal opportunities and access to the labour market (57% compared
with 45%), but less likely to mention the EU’s capacity for research and innovation (16%
compared with 27%) and environmental responsibility and climate action (22% compared with
31%);
 Respondents who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time are the most likely to
mention access to quality health care (47%, compared with 38% of those who never or almost
never have such difficulties), but the least likely to mention environmental responsibility and
climate action (20%, compared with 29%);
 Respondents who consider themselves working class are much more likely than those who see
themselves as upper class to mention fair working conditions (52% compared with 30%), equal
opportunities and access to the labour market (52% compared with 40%) and access to quality
health care (46% compared with 36%), but less likely to mention the skills and talents of people
in the EU (9% compared with 25%), the quality of infrastructure in the EU (15% compared with
27%), the EU’s capacity for research and innovation (13% compared with 25%) and
environmental responsibility and climate action (19% compared with 29%).
Moreover, respondents who have a positive image of the EU (49%) are more likely than those having
a negative (39%) image of the EU to mention equal opportunities and access to the labour market.

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Over seven in ten Europeans consider that a lack of social rights is a serious problem
right now
Respondents were asked to say how serious a problem they think a lack of social rights is right now6
.
In order to answer this question, they were requested to use a scale from one to ten, with '1' meaning
it is ‘not at all a serious problem’ and '10' meaning it is ‘an extremely serious problem’. The answers
have been divided into two groups: respondents who think that a lack of social rights is ‘a serious
problem’ (answers 6 to 10), and those who think it is ‘not a serious problem (answers 1 to 5).
Just over seven in ten respondents (71%) believe that a lack of social rights is a serious problem right
now, while more than a quarter think that it is not a serious problem (27%). Finally, only 2% answered
‘don’t know’.
6
QB3. And how serious a problem do you think a lack of social rights is right now? Please use a scale from 1 to 10 with '1' meaning it is
"not at all a serious problem" and '10' meaning it is "an extremely serious problem"

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A national analysis highlights that a majority of respondents in 25 EU Member States think that a
lack of social rights is a serious problem, with more than eight in ten respondents sharing this opinion
in Cyprus (89%), Portugal (87%), Croatia and Italy (86% in both countries), Greece (85%), Bulgaria
(84%) and Spain (81%). This proportion is the lowest in Germany (52%), Ireland (53%), Malta and
Sweden (54% in both countries).
At least one in five respondents answered '10', meaning it is ‘an extremely serious problem’, in seven
EU Member States: in Bulgaria (35%), Cyprus (33%), Croatia (26%), Greece (25%), France, Romania
and Hungary (20% in the three countries).
Conversely, only a minority of respondents consider that a lack of social rights is a serious problem
right now in Czechia (34%) and Estonia (48%).

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that over six in ten respondents in every socio-
demographic category think that a lack of social rights is a serious problem right now:
 Women are slightly more likely than men to consider a lack of social rights as a serious problem
(73% compared with 69%);
 Respondents aged 15-24 years (69%) and those aged 55 and over (70%) are less likely to
share this opinion (compared with 72-73% of those aged 25-54 years);
 Europeans who finished their education aged 19 or earlier are more likely to consider that a
lack of social rights is a serious problem right now (73%, compared with 68% of those who
remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond);
 Unemployed people (77%) and house persons (76%) are the most likely to hold this view
(compared with 65% of managers);
 Respondents who have difficulties paying their bills most of the time or from time to time are
the most likely to consider a lack of social rights as a serious problem (77%, compared with
68% of those who never or almost never have such difficulties);
 Respondents who see themselves as working class are more likely to share this opinion (76%,
compared with 64-65% of those who see themselves as upper middle or upper class);
 Respondents living in a large town are more likely to see a lack of social rights as a serious
problem than those living in a rural village (73% compared with 68%).
Moreover, respondents who think that their voice does not count in their country are more likely to
think that a lack of social rights is a serious problem (76%, compared with 67% of those who think
that their voice counts in their country).
Finally, respondents who say a social Europe is important to them personally are more likely to share
this opinion (72%, compared with 58% of those who say that a social Europe is not important to
them personally).

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2 Decision-making on social issues at EU level
Large majorities of Europeans believe that there should be more decision-making at
European level for each of the eight areas tested
When asked whether they believe that there should be more or less decision-making at European
level in eight areas7
, respondents provided the following answers:
 Just over three-quarters of respondents (76%, unchanged since 201789
) want more decision-
making at EU level when it comes to ‘protecting the environment and reducing climate
change’10
, while less than one in five (18%, =) want less decision-making at EU level;
 Close to three-quarters of Europeans (74%) believe that more decisions should be taken at
European level with regard to ‘promoting decent working conditions in the EU and
abroad’. Conversely, nearly one in five (19%) consider that there should be less decision-
making at European level in this area;
 For seven in ten Europeans (70%, -1 percentage points), more decisions should be taken at
European level with regard to ‘promoting equal treatment of women and men’, while a
quarter of them (23%, +3) want less decision-making at EU level;
 Close to two-thirds of respondents (65%, unchanged) want more decision-making at EU level
with regard to ‘stimulating sustainable investment and job creation’11
, while nearly three
in ten (28%, =) would like less decision-making at EU level in this area;
 Over six in ten Europeans (63%) are in favour of more decision-making at EU level when it
comes to ‘supporting education, training and skills’, compared with 30% who want less
decision-making at EU level;
 Just over six in ten respondents (61%) believe that more decisions should be taken at European
level when ‘dealing with health issues’, while close to a third (32%) advocate less decision-
making at European level in this area;
 Six in ten Europeans (60%) would like more decisions to be taken at European level when it
comes to ‘promoting digitalisation and automation’, while close to three in ten (29%)
would like less decision-making at EU level in this area;
 Finally, close to six in ten respondents (59%) want more decision-making at EU level when it
comes to ‘dealing with social security issues’, while a third (33%) want less decision-
making at EU level.
It is interesting to note that, for each of the eight areas tested, the proportion of respondents who
spontaneously answered ‘no change is needed/as it is now’ never exceeds 4%.
7
QB4. For each of the following areas, please indicate if you believe that more decision-making should take place at European level or on
the contrary, that less decision-making should take place at European level. 1. Dealing with health issues; 2. Dealing with social security
issues; b. Dealing with health issues and social security; 3. Supporting education, training and skills; 4. Promoting equal treatment of women
and men; 5. Protecting the environment and reducing climate change; 6. Stimulating sustainable investment and job creation; 7. Promoting
digitalisation and automation; 8. Promoting decent working conditions in the EU and abroad. More decision-making at European level; Less
decision-making at European level; No change is needed/as it is now; Don’t know.
8
Special Eurobarometer 467 on ‘Future of Europe’ (September-October 2017):
https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2179
9
In 2017, the United Kingdom was an EU Member State, which is no longer the case. This might have an impact on the changes registered
at EU level.
10
In 2017, this item was slightly different: ‘Protecting the environment’
11
In 2017, this item was slightly different: ‘Stimulating investment and job creation’

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A national analysis shows that a large majority of respondents in each EU Member State believe
that there should be more decision-making at European level for ‘promoting decent working
conditions in the EU and abroad’. At least nine in ten respondents share this opinion in Slovenia
(91%), Greece and Cyprus (90% in both countries). At the other end of the scale, less than two-thirds
of respondents hold this view in Slovakia (59%), Poland (61%) and Romania (63%).
In Portugal, more than one in ten respondents (13%) spontaneously answered ‘no change is
needed/as it is now’.
In all 27 EU Member States (as in 2017), more than half of respondents think that ‘protecting the
environment and reducing climate change’ needs more decision-making at European level, with
the highest scores being recorded in Slovenia and Greece (89% in both countries), and Cyprus (87%),
and the lowest in Poland (56%), Slovakia (58%) and Romania (61%).
Over one in ten respondents (13%) in Portugal spontaneously answered, ‘no change is needed/as it
is now’.

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In terms of changes since 2017, the proportion of respondents who believe that more decisions
should be taken at European level when it comes to protecting the environment and reducing climate
change has decreased in 15 EU Member States, most notably in Poland (56%, -13 percentage points)
and Slovakia (58%, -10). On the other hand, it has increased in 12 countries, particularly in Lithuania
(82%, +15), Estonia (73%, +13), Latvia (73%, +12), Greece and Slovenia (89%, +10 in both countries).
More than half of respondents in each EU Member State (as in 2017) believe that there should be
more decision-making at European level when it comes to ‘promoting equal treatment of women
and men’. Over eight in ten respondents share this opinion in Cyprus (87%), Belgium (84%), Spain
and Greece (82% in both countries). This majority is narrower in Slovakia (52%), Bulgaria and Estonia
(55% in both countries).
More than one in ten respondents spontaneously answered ‘no change is needed/as it is now’ in
Portugal (13%) and Austria (11%). Finally, one in ten respondents answered ‘don’t know’ in Malta
(10%).

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In terms of changes since 2017, the proportion of respondents who believe that more decisions
should be taken at European level with regard to promoting the equal treatment of women and men
has risen in 14 EU Member States, most notably in Slovenia (80%, +14 percentage points), Greece
(82%, +13) and Estonia (55%, +11). It has however fallen in 11 countries, particularly in Poland (56%,
-7). Finally, it is unchanged in Hungary and Austria.
In 26 EU Member States (compared with 27 in 2017), a majority of respondents think that
‘stimulating sustainable investment and job creation’ needs more decision-making at European
level. More than eight in ten respondents share this opinion in Slovenia and Cyprus (85% in both
countries), and Lithuania (81%). This majority is narrower in Austria and Poland (52% in both
countries), and Slovakia (55%).
Respondents in Sweden are divided on this question (48% for both ‘more’ and ‘less’).
Over one in ten respondents (12%) in Portugal spontaneously answered ‘no change is needed/as it is
now’, while one in ten respondents answered ‘don’t know’ in Malta (10%).

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Since 2017, the proportion of respondents who believe that there should be more decision-making at
EU level when it comes to stimulating sustainable investment and job creation has decreased in 14
EU Member States, most notably in Bulgaria (59%, -12 percentage points), Malta (65%, -10) and
Poland (52%, -10). Conversely, it has increased in 12 countries, and by two digits in seven EU Member
States, particularly in Latvia (75%, +14), Estonia (67%, +14) and Denmark (61%, +13). It is unchanged
in Luxembourg.
A majority of respondents in 25 EU Member States want more decision-making at EU level when it
comes to ‘supporting education, training and skills’. In these countries, this proportion is the
highest in Cyprus (86%), Greece (80%) and Slovenia (79%), and the lowest in Poland (48%), Austria
and Slovakia (49% in both countries).
Conversely, only a minority of respondents in Estonia (48%) share this opinion, while respondents in
Denmark are split down the middle (47% for both ‘more’ and ‘less’).
Finally, at least one in ten respondents spontaneously answered ‘no change is needed/as it is now’ in
Portugal (13%), Austria (11%) and the Netherlands (10%).

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A majority of respondents in 23 EU Member State believe that there should be more decision-making
at European level when it comes to ‘dealing with health issues’. Over eight in ten respondents
share this opinion in Cyprus (87%), Greece and Slovenia (81% in both countries). This majority is
narrower in Austria (49%), Poland (51%) and Slovakia (52%).
On the other hand, only a minority of respondents share this opinion in four EU Member States: in
Finland (35%), Denmark (36%), Sweden (38%) and Czechia (46%).
Portugal (12%) and the Netherlands (10%).
In 23 EU Member States, a majority of respondents think that ‘dealing with social security issues’
needs more decision-making at European level. More than three-quarters of respondents share this
opinion in Cyprus (86%), Slovenia (82%), Greece (78%) and Lithuania (76%). This majority is smaller
in France (48%), Austria and Poland (50% in both countries).
Conversely, only a minority of respondents believe that there should be more decision-making at
European level when it comes to dealing with social security issues in four countries: in Finland (32%),
Czechia (43%), Denmark (44%) and Sweden (48%).
Over one in ten respondents (13%) in Portugal spontaneously answered ‘no change is needed/as it is
now’.

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A majority of respondents in 26 EU Member States want more decision-making at EU level when it
comes to ‘promoting digitalisation and automation’. Within this group of countries, around three-
quarters of respondents hold this view in Cyprus (77%), Slovenia and Spain (74% in both countries),
compared with less than one in two in the Netherlands (44%) and France (48%).
Sweden is the only country where a minority of respondents (41%) believe that there should be more
decision-making at European level with regard to promoting digitalisation and automation.
the Netherlands (15%), Portugal (13%) and Austria (10%), while more than one in ten answered ‘don’t
know’ in Bulgaria (17%), Malta (16%), France (13%), Spain and Portugal (11% in both countries).

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In 2017, respondents were asked whether they believe that there should be more or less decision-
making at European level in ‘dealing with health issues and social security’. In order to analyse
the changes since 2017, it is possible to combine the answers given in this survey for ‘dealing with
health issues’ and ‘dealing with social security issues’. In this case, over seven in ten Europeans (71%,
+11 percentage points since 2017) want more decisions to be taken at European level when it comes
to ‘dealing with health issues and social security’, while less than a quarter (24%, -8) would like less
decision-making at EU level.
A national analysis shows that, since 2017, the proportion of respondents who believe that there
should be more decision-making at European level when dealing with health issues and social security
has increased in 24 EU Member States, and by two digits in 14 countries, most notably in Greece
(90%, +29 percentage points), the Netherlands (79%, +25), Lithuania (87%, +23), Estonia (76%, +23),
Latvia (82%, +22), Slovenia (91%, +21) and Sweden (58%, +20). Conversely, it has decreased in
Poland (62%, -3), Portugal (75%, -1) and Bulgaria (66%, -1).
 Men are more likely than women to believe that there should be more decision-making at
European level with regard to promoting digitalisation and automation (62% compared with
57%);
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are more likely than those aged 55 and over to think there
should be more decision-making at European level in each of these areas. For instance, 69%
of respondents aged 15-24 years think there should be more decision-making at European
level when it comes to supporting education, training and skills, compared with 59% of those
aged 55 and over;
 Respondents who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond are generally the
most likely to believe that there should be more decision-making at European level in all these
areas. This is particularly the case as regards protecting the environment and reducing climate
change (82%, compared with 65% of those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier),
promoting decent working conditions in the EU and abroad (80% compared with 67%) and
promoting equal treatment of women and men (73% compared with 62%);
 Managers are more likely than house persons to think there should be more decision-making
at European level in each of these areas. For example, managers are more likely to believe
there should be more decision-making at European level when it comes to protecting the
environment and reducing climate change (82%, compared with 68% of house persons) and
promoting digitalisation and automation (64% compared with 52%);
to think there should be more decision-making at European level in each of these areas,
particularly as regards protecting the environment and reducing climate change (79%,
compared with 68% of those who have such difficulties most of the time) and promoting
digitalisation and automation (61% compared with 50%);
 Respondents who see themselves as upper class are much more likely than those who see
themselves as working class to believe that there should be more decision-making at European
level when it comes to dealing with social security issues (70% compared with 58%) and
protecting the environment and reducing climate change (82% compared with 72%).
In addition, Europeans who agree that their voice counts in the European Union or in their country are
more likely than those who do not agree that their voice counts in the EU or in their country to consider
that there should be more decision-making at European level in each of these areas. For instance, 66
of those who agree that their voice counts in the EU think that there should be more decision-making

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at European level when it comes to dealing with social security issues, compared with 53% of those
who do not agree that their voice counts in the EU.
Finally, respondents who have a positive image of the European Union are the most likely to believe
that there should be more decision-making at European level in all these areas. This is particularly
the case as regards dealing with promoting digitalisation and automation (70% compared with 37%)
and dealing with social security issues (68% compared with 35%).

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II. AWARENESS AND VIEWS ON THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS
This chapter examines how Europeans perceive the European Pillar of Social Rights. First, it looks at
Europeans’ awareness of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Then, respondents who had heard, read
or seen something about the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview were asked to say
to what extent they agree or disagree with two statements about the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Just under three in ten Europeans had heard, read or seen something about the European
Pillar of Social Rights before the interview, and less than one in ten knew what it is
Nearly three in ten respondents (29%) said they had heard, read or seen something about the
European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview12
, including less than one in ten (8%) who said
that they ‘know what it is’ and just over one in five (21%) who ‘don’t really know what it is’. Conversely,
a large majority of Europeans had never heard of the European Pillar of Social Rights (71%).
12
QB5. In 2017 the EU proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights, which sets out 20 key principles and rights to support fair and well-
functioning labour markets and welfare systems in the EU. Have you ever heard, read, or seen anything about the European Pillar of Social
Rights before this interview?

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A national analysis reveals that, in 26 EU Member States, only a minority of respondents had heard,
read or seen something about the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview. Within these
countries, this proportion is the highest among respondents in Croatia (48% total ‘yes’), Malta (47%)
and Luxembourg (43%), and the lowest in Spain (16%), France (21%), Denmark and Romania (26%
in both countries).
In nine EU Member States, at least one in ten respondents answered ‘yes, and you know what it is’,
with the highest levels in Poland (18%), Croatia (16%), Greece, Malta and Cyprus (14% in the three
countries).
However, Greece is the only country where a majority of respondents (53%) had heard, read or seen
something about the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview, including 14% who ‘know
what it is’ and 39% who ‘don’t really know what it is’.

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that a minority of respondents in every socio-
demographic category had heard, read or seen something about the European Pillar of Social Rights
before the interview:
 Men are slightly more likely than women to have been aware of the European Pillar of Social
Rights before the interview (31%, compared with 27%);
 Respondents aged 25-39 years are more likely to be aware of the European Pillar of Social
Rights (33%, compared with 27% of those aged 55 and over);
 Europeans who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond are much more
likely to have been aware of the European Pillar of Social Rights (35%, compared with 16% of
those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier and 27% of those who finished their
education between 16 and 19 years of age);
 Managers (39%) and self-employed people (38%) are the most likely to have been aware of
the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview (compared with 20% of house persons
and 22% of unemployed people);
 Respondents who see themselves as upper class are far more likely to have heard about the
European Pillar of Social Rights (41%, compared with 21% of those who see themselves as
working class);
 Respondents living in a large town are more likely to be aware of the European Pillar of Social
Rights than those living in a rural village (32% compared with 28%).
In addition, Europeans who agree that their voice counts in the European Union (35%) or in their
country (33%) are more likely than those who do not agree that their voice counts in the EU or in
their country (25% in both categories) to have heard, read or seen something about the European
Pillar of Social Rights before this interview.
More than a third of respondents for whom the European Union conjures up a positive image (35%)
were aware of the European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview, compared with close to a
quarter of those for whom the EU has a neutral or negative image (24% in both categories).
Finally, respondents who say a social Europe is important to them personally are slightly more likely
to have heard about the European Pillar of Social Rights (30%, compared with 26% of those who say
that a social Europe is not important to them personally).

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More than three-quarters of respondents having heard of the European Pillar of Social
Rights before the interview agree that it will strengthen employment and social inclusion
in the EU, although its success will depend on the implementation of these rights in their
country
The respondents who had heard, read or seen something about the European Pillar of Social Rights
before the interview were then asked to say to what extent they agree or disagree with two
statements about the European Pillar of Social Rights13
. They provided the following answers:
 Close to eight in ten Europeans who had heard about the European Pillar of Social Rights (79%)
agree that ‘this initiative will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the EU
as a whole’, with nearly a quarter (22%) who ‘totally agree’ and nearly six in ten (57%) who
‘tend to agree’. Conversely, more than one in ten Europeans (15%) disagree with this statement,
including just 3% who ‘totally disagree’, while 6% answered ‘don’t know’;
 Just over three-quarters of respondents (76%) agree that ‘the success of the European
Pillar of Social Rights will depend on the implementation of these rights in (OUR
COUNTRY)’, including more than a quarter (27%) who ‘totally agree’ and close to a half of
respondents (49%) who ‘tend to agree’. On the other hand, nearly one in five respondents (19%)
disagree with this statement, with 4% who ‘totally disagree’. Finally, just 5% of respondents
answered ‘don’t know’.
Respondents who had heard, read or seen something about the European Pillar of Social Rights (n.=7891)
13
QB6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the European Pillar of Social Rights? 1. This initiative
will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the EU as a whole; 2. The success of the European Pillar of Social Rights will depend on
the implementation of these rights in (OUR COUNTRY). Totally agree; Tend to agree; Tend to disagree; Totally disagree; Don’t know.

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A national analysis shows that more than six in ten respondents in the 27 EU Member States agree
with the statement ‘this initiative will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the EU
as a whole’, with the highest proportions among respondents in Portugal (94%), Ireland (93%) and
Hungary (89%). At the other end of the scale, less than three-quarters of respondents hold this view
in France (63%), Romania (69%) and the Netherlands (72%).
In 15 countries, at least one in five respondents ‘totally agree’ that the European Pillar of Social Rights
will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the European Union, most notably in Portugal
(47%), Hungary (41%) and Cyprus (39%).
At least one in ten respondents answered ‘don’t know’ in four EU Member States: in France (18%),
the Netherlands (13%), Spain and Malta (10% in both countries).

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In all 27 EU Member States, more than six in ten respondents agree with the statement that ‘the
success of the European Pillar of Social Rights will depend on the implementation of these
rights in (OUR COUNTRY)’. Respondents in Portugal (96%), Ireland (90%) and Lithuania (86%) are
the most likely to share this opinion, while those in Luxembourg and the Netherlands (62% in both
countries), and Romania (66%) are less likely to do so.
Over one in five respondents ‘totally agree’ with this statement in 23 EU Member States, most notably
in Portugal (51%), largely ahead of Bulgaria (44%), Cyprus and Spain (42% in both countries). On the
other hand, less than one in five respondents ‘totally agree’ with it in Sweden (13%), Finland and
Luxembourg (15% in both countries), and Denmark (16%).
Finally, at least one in ten respondents answered ‘don’t know’ in France (15%), Malta (12%) and the
Netherlands (10%).

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that more than two-thirds of respondents in
all socio-demographic categories agree with both statements about the European Pillar of Social
Rights:
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are less likely to agree with the statement ‘the success of the
European Pillar of Social Rights will depend on the implementation of these rights in (OUR
COUNTRY)’ (72%, compared with 78% of those aged 40-54 years);
 Respondents who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond are the most
likely to agree with both statements: 82% agree that ‘this initiative will strengthen employment
and social inclusion in the EU as a whole’ and 79% that its success will depend on national
implementation (compared with 73% of those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier);
 Managers are the most likely to agree with both statements: 84% agree that it will strengthen
employment and social inclusion and 82% that it will depend on national implementation
(compared with 74% and 71% respectively of unemployed people);
to agree with both statements: 81% agree that it will strengthen employment and social
inclusion and 78% that it will depend on national implementation (compared with 69% and
67% respectively of those who have such difficulties most of the time);
 Respondents who consider themselves upper middle and upper class are more likely to agree
that the European Pillar of Social Rights will strengthen employment and social inclusion in the
EU as a whole (both 83%, compared with 75% of those who see themselves as working class);
 Europeans living in a large town are the most likely to agree with both statements: 84% agree
that it will strengthen employment and social inclusion and 81% that it will depend on national
implementation (compared with 75% and 72% respectively of those living in a rural village).
Finally, Europeans who agree that their voice counts in their country or in the European Union, and
those who have a positive image of the EU are the most likely to agree with both statements. For
instance, 90% of those having a positive image of the EU agree that this initiative will strengthen
employment and social inclusion in the EU as a whole (compared with 51% of those having a negative
image of the EU).

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III. VIEWS OF PEOPLE ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL EUROPE
This chapter focuses on Europeans’ views on the future of social Europe. It looks at respondents’
attitudes towards the role that social rights issues will play in building a stronger European Union in
the future. It also explores Europeans’ opinions on the most important elements of social rights for
the future of Europe. It then examines their perceptions of the areas in which both their national
government and the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe. Finally, it
focuses on whether or not Europeans believe there will be a more social Europe in 2030.
1 Importance of social rights for the future of Europe
Just over half of Europeans think that in the future social rights issues will play a more
important role in building a stronger EU
A majority of respondents consider that, generally speaking, in the future social rights issues will play
a more important role in building a stronger European Union (51%)14
. On the other hand, a third (33%)
believe that they will play about the same role, and more than one in ten (13%) think that social
rights will play a less important role. Finally, just 3% of respondents answer ‘don’t know’.
14
QB7. Generally speaking, do you think that in the future social rights issues will play a more important, less important or about the same
role in building a stronger EU?

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A national analysis shows that, in 23 EU Member States, a majority of respondents think that in
the future social rights issues will play a more important role in building a stronger European Union.
More than six in ten respondents share this opinion in Cyprus (75%), largely ahead of Portugal (66%),
the Netherlands (65%), Ireland (64%) and Germany (62%).
In four countries, the feeling that in the future social rights issues will play about the same role in
building a stronger EU is the majority view: in Latvia (51%), Finland (46%), Austria (43%) and Slovakia
(37%). However, a minority of more than four in ten respondents also share this opinion in Denmark
and Estonia (44% in both countries), and Czechia (41%).
Finally, at least a quarter of respondents in Romania (27%) and Slovakia (25%) consider that in the
future social rights issues will play a less important role in building a stronger EU.

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that a majority of respondents in all socio-
demographic categories think that in the future social rights issues will play a more important role in
building a stronger EU:
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are more likely to share this opinion (55%, compared with 50%
of those aged 40 and over);
 Europeans who continued their education up to 20 years old or beyond are more likely to hold
this view (57%, compared with 42% of those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier);
 Students (58%) and managers (57%) are the most likely to think this way (compared with 42%
of house persons);
 Respondents who have never or almost never difficulties paying their bills are the most likely
to think that in the future social rights issues will play a more important role in building a
stronger EU (54%, compared with 44% of those who have such difficulties from time to time);
 Respondents who consider themselves upper class (61%) are more likely to share this opinion
than those who see themselves as lower middle (48%) or working (49%) class;
 Respondents living in a large town (54%) are more likely to hold this view than those living in
a small/mid-size town or a rural village (50% in both categories).
In addition, more than half of Europeans who agree that their voice counts in the European Union
(59%) or in their country (56%) think that social rights issues will play a more important role in
building a stronger EU in the future, compared with a narrower majority among those who do not
agree that their voice counts in the EU (45%) or in their country (44%).
A majority of Europeans who have a positive image of the EU (63%) hold this view, compared with a
minority of those having a negative image of the EU (32%).
The same goes for a majority of respondents who say that a social Europe is important to them
personally (56%), compared with a minority of those who say that a social Europe is not important
to them personally (18%).

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Health care is by far the most important issue for the future of Europe according to
Europeans
When asked to specify the most important issues for the future of Europe, by choosing up to three
items from a list of 1515
, Europeans rank the issues as follows:
 More than a third of respondents (36%) mention ‘health care' as one of the most important
issues for the future of Europe;
 At least a quarter of Europeans mention ‘social protection’ (26%), slightly ahead of ‘wages’,
‘education, training and lifelong learning’ and ‘old age income and pensions’ (25% for
the three items);
 A similar proportion of respondents mention ‘active support to employment’ (23%);
 Nearly one in five respondents think that ‘health and safety at work’ (18%) is among the
most important issues for the future of Europe;
 Similar proportions mention ‘equal opportunities’ (16%) and ‘gender equality’ (15%);
 At least one in ten respondents also mention ‘minimum income’ (13%), ‘work-life balance’
(12%), ‘housing and assistance for the homeless’ (11%) and ‘childcare and support for
children’ (10%);
 Finally, less than one in ten Europeans mention ‘inclusion of persons with disabilities’ (8%),
ahead of ‘social dialogue and involvement of workers’ (7%).
15
QB8. Which of the following would you consider to be the most important for the future of Europe? Education, training and lifelong
learning; Gender equality; Equal opportunities; Active support to employment; Wages; Social dialogue and involvement of workers; Work-
life balance; Health and safety at work; Childcare and support for children; Social protection; Minimum income; Old age income and pensions;
Health care; Inclusion of persons with disabilities; Housing and assistance for the homeless; Other (SPONTANEOUS); None (SPONTANEOUS);
Don’t know.

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A national analysis reveals that, in ten EU Member States, ‘health care’ is the item most
frequently identified as one of the most important issues for the future of Europe, with the highest
scores being recorded in Spain (53%), Portugal (47%), Bulgaria and Slovakia (43% in both countries).
‘Social protection’ is the most frequently mentioned item in Luxembourg (37%). Moreover, more
than a third of respondents mention it in the Netherlands (37%).
However, social protection and health care are ranked in joint first place by respondents in Austria
(33% for both items) and France (29%).
‘Wages’ is the most frequently mentioned item in two countries: in Hungary (42%) and Croatia (41%).
Moreover, more than four in ten respondents also mention this item in Portugal (42%) and Slovakia
(41%).
However, wages are ranked in joint first place along with health care in Cyprus (35% for both items).
‘Education, training and lifelong learning’ is the most frequently mentioned item in five EU
Member States: Czechia (45%), Finland (42%), Belgium and the Netherlands (38% in both countries),
and Denmark (33%). It is also frequently mentioned by respondents in Sweden (38%).
‘Old age income and pensions’ tops the ranking order in three EU Member States: in Estonia (40%),
Germany and Lithuania (36% in both countries).
‘Active support to employment’ comes top in Italy (38%). Over a third of respondents also mention
this issue in Portugal (38%) and Spain (34%).
‘Minimum income’ is the most frequently mentioned item in Greece (37%). More than a quarter of
respondents also mention it in Belgium and Luxembourg (28% in both countries).
‘Work-life balance’ tops the ranking order of the most important issues for the future of Europe in
Malta (36%). Over a quarter of respondents also mention it in Czechia (28%) and Ireland (27%).
None of the other seven items tops the ranking order of the most important issues for the future of
Europe in any of the 27 EU Member States. However:
 Over a quarter of respondents mention ‘health and safety at work’ in Italy (26%);
 More than three in ten respondents mention ‘equal opportunities’ in Finland (34%), Sweden
(32%), Ireland and Denmark (31% in both countries);
 At least one in five respondents mention ’gender equality’ in Sweden (30%), largely ahead
of Denmark (23%) and France (22%);
 ‘Housing and assistance for the homeless’ obtains its highest scores in Ireland (23%) and
France (20%);
 ‘Childcare and support for children’ is mentioned by nearly a quarter of respondents in
Czechia (24%) and Slovakia (23%);
 At least one in ten respondents mention ‘inclusion of persons with disabilities’ in France
(13%) and the Netherlands (10%);
 Finally, one in five respondents in Slovenia (20%) mention ‘social dialogue and involvement
of workers’.

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 Women are slightly more likely than men to consider health care (37% compared with 34%)
and gender equality (17% compared with 13%) as among the most important issues for the
future of Europe;
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are much more likely than those aged 55 and over to mention
gender equality and equal opportunities (23% compared with 13% for both items), but far less
likely to mention old age income and pensions (15% compared with 34%);
remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond to mention old age income and
pensions (37% compared with 21%), but less likely to mention education, training and lifelong
learning (15% compared with 33%) and equal opportunities (8% compared with 21%);
 Unemployed people are far more likely than managers to mention wages (31% compared with
19%) and active support to employment (30% compared with 21%), but less likely to mention
education, training and lifelong learning (19% compared with 33%);
to mention education, training and lifelong learning (28%, compared with 18% of those who
have such difficulties most of the time) and equal opportunities (18% compared with 11%),
but the least likely to mention wages (23% compared with 30%);
 Respondents who consider themselves working class are much more likely than those who see
themselves as upper class to mention wages (30% compared with 17%), active support to
employment (26% compared with 13%) and health care (39% compared with 30%), but less
likely to mention education, training and lifelong learning (18% compared with 39%).
In addition, respondents who have a positive image of the EU (30%) are more likely than those having
a negative image of the EU (20%) to mention education, training and lifelong learning.
Finally, respondents who say that a social Europe is important to them personally are more likely
than those who say that a social Europe is not important to them personally to mention social
protection (27% compared with 19%) and equal opportunities (17% compared with 9%).

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2 Actions to be taken by national governments for building the
future of Europe
A third of Europeans think that health care is an area where their national government
should take action to prepare the future of Europe, strongly ahead of any other item
Respondents were asked in which areas they think that their national government should take action
to prepare the future of Europe, by choosing up to three items from the same list of 15 items as the
one used in previous question16
:
 A third of respondents (33%) mention ‘health care’ as one of the areas where their national
government should take action to prepare the future of Europe;
 At least a quarter of Europeans mention ‘wages’ (28%), ‘old age income and pensions’
(27%) and ‘social protection’ (26%);
 Close to a quarter of respondents mention ‘active support to employment’ and ‘education,
training and lifelong learning’ (24% for both items);
 Nearly one in five respondents mention ‘health and safety at work’ (17%);
 Over one in ten Europeans mention ‘equal opportunities’, ‘gender equality’ and ‘minimum
income’ (13% for the three items), just ahead of ‘housing and assistance for the
homeless’ (12%), ‘work-life balance’ and ‘childcare and support for children’ (11% for
both items);
 Finally, less than one in ten Europeans think that ‘social dialogue and involvement of
workers’ (8%) and ‘inclusion of persons with disabilities’ (7%) are among the main areas
where their national government should take action to prepare the future of Europe.
16
QB9. In which of the following areas do you think the (NATIONALITY) government should take action to prepare the future of Europe?
Education, training and lifelong learning; Gender equality; Equal opportunities; Active support to employment; Wages; Social dialogue and
involvement of workers; Work-life balance; Health and safety at work; Childcare and support for children; Social protection; Minimum income;
Old age income and pensions; Health care; Inclusion of persons with disabilities; Housing and assistance for the homeless; Other
(SPONTANEOUS); None (SPONTANEOUS); Don’t know.

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A national analysis shows that ’health care’ is the most frequently mentioned area where
respondents think their national government should take action to prepare the future of Europe in ten
EU Member States, with the highest scores being recorded in Spain (53%), Portugal (51%) and Latvia
(47%).
‘Wages’ is the most frequently mentioned item in seven countries: Hungary (50%), Croatia (47%),
Lithuania (39%), Poland (38%), Cyprus (36%), Malta (35%) and France (29%). More than four in ten
respondents also mention this item in Portugal (48%), Bulgaria (42%), Latvia and Slovakia (41% in
both countries).
‘Old age income and pensions’ tops the ranking order of the areas where respondents consider
that their national government should take action to prepare the future of Europe in two EU Member
States: in Estonia (46%) and Germany (34%). It is also frequently mentioned by respondents in Latvia
and Slovenia (38% in both countries).
‘Social protection’ is the most frequently mentioned item in two countries: in the Netherlands (39%)
and Austria (33%). It is also mentioned by more than three in ten respondents in Germany (32%),
Cyprus, Slovakia and Bulgaria (31% in all three countries).
‘Active support to employment’ is the most frequently mentioned item in Italy (35%). More than
three in ten respondents also mention it in Portugal and Finland (35% in both countries), and Spain
(34%).
‘Education, training and lifelong learning’ is the most frequently mentioned item in four EU
Member States: Finland (38%), Denmark and Luxembourg (37% for both countries), and Belgium
(35%). Moreover, more than a third of respondents also mention this item in the Netherlands (36%).
However, ‘education, training and lifelong learning’ and ‘old age income and pensions’ are ranked in
joint first place by respondents in Czechia (42%).
None of the other nine items tops the ranking order of the areas where respondents think that their
national government should take action to prepare the future of Europe in any of the 27 EU Member
States. However:

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 ‘Health and safety at work’ obtains its highest scores in Italy (26%), Denmark (24%) and
Cyprus (23%);
 Over a quarter of respondents mention ’equal opportunities’ in Finland (27%), the
Netherlands and Sweden (26% in both countries);
 A third of respondents mention ‘gender equality’ in Sweden (33%), largely ahead of Denmark
(22%);
 More than a quarter of respondents mention ’minimum income in Greece (32%), Slovenia
(31%) and Estonia (26%);
 ‘Housing and assistance for the homeless’ obtains its highest score in Ireland (38%), far
ahead of France (22%);
 More than one in five respondents mention ’work-life balance’ in Malta (29%), far ahead of
Luxembourg and Ireland (22% in both countries), and Czechia (21%);
 At least one in five respondents mention ‘childcare and support for children’ in Czechia
(24%), Slovakia (22%) and Ireland (20%);
 Nearly a quarter of respondents in Slovenia (23%) mention ‘social dialogue and
involvement of workers’;
 Finally, at least one in ten respondents mention ‘inclusion of persons with disabilities’ in
France and the Netherlands (11% in both countries), and Ireland (10%).

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 Respondents aged 15-24 years are more likely than those aged 55 and over to mention gender
equality (21% compared with 11%) and equal opportunities (19% compared with 11%), but
less likely to mention old age income and pensions (17% compared with 35%), health care
(29% compared with 36%) and social protection (22% compared with 28%);
 Respondents who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond are more likely
than those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier to mention education, training and
lifelong learning (30% compared with 15%) and equal opportunities (16% compared with 6%),
but less likely to mention old age income and pensions (24% compared with 37%), health care
(30% compared with 41%) and wages (23% compared with 31%);
 Managers are far more likely than unemployed people to mention education, training and
lifelong learning (30% compared with 19%), but less likely to mention wages (22% compared
with 35%) and active support to employment (21% compared with 29%);
 Respondents who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills are more likely than
those who have such difficulties most of the time to mention education, training and lifelong
learning (26% compared with 17%), but less likely to mention wages (25% compared with
34%);
 Respondents who consider themselves upper class are more likely than those who see
themselves as working class to mention education, training and lifelong learning (37%
compared with 18%), equal opportunities (22% compared with 9%) and gender equality (19%
compared with 10%), but less likely to mention health care (22% compared with 37%), old age
income and pensions (22% compared with 31%), wages (25% compared with 33%), active
support to employment (20% compared with 27%).
Moreover, Europeans who do not agree that their voice counts in the European Union or in their
country are more likely than those who agree that their voice counts in the EU or in their country to
mention wages (30% and 31% respectively, compared with 24% and 25%) and health care (36%
and 38% respectively, compared with 31% and 30%).
Respondents who have a positive image of the EU are more likely than those having a negative image
of the EU to mention education, training and lifelong learning (28% compared with 20%), but less
likely to mention old age income and pensions (25% compared with 31%).
than those who say that a social Europe is not important to them personally to mention social
protection (27% compared with 19%).

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3 Actions to be taken by the EU for building the future of Europe
Health care is by far the most frequently mentioned area where Europeans think that
the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe
Using the same list of 15 items as previously, respondents were then asked in which areas they think
that the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe17
. The following ranking
order is based on their choice of up to three items:
 Just over a third of Europeans (34%) mention ‘health care' as one of the areas where the
European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe, largely ahead of any other
item;
 At least a quarter of respondents mention ‘social protection’ (27%), ‘active support to
employment’ and ‘wages’ (25% for both items);
 More than one in five Europeans mention ‘education, training and lifelong learning’ (24%),
just ahead of ‘old age income and pensions’ (23%);
 Nearly one in five respondents think that ‘health and safety at work’ (17%) and ‘equal
opportunities’ (16%) are one of the three areas in which the European Union should take
action to prepare the future of Europe;
 At least one in ten Europeans mention ‘gender equality’ (14%), ‘minimum income’ (12%),
‘work-life balance’ and ‘housing and assistance for the homeless’ (10% for both items);
 Finally, less than one in ten respondents mention ‘childcare and support for children’ (9%),
‘social dialogue and involvement of workers’ (8%) and ‘inclusion of persons with
disabilities’ (7%).
17
QB10. In which of the following areas do you think the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe? Education,
training and lifelong learning; Gender equality; Equal opportunities; Active support to employment; Wages; Social dialogue and involvement
of workers; Work-life balance; Health and safety at work; Childcare and support for children; Social protection; Minimum income; Old age
income and pensions; Health care; Inclusion of persons with disabilities; Housing and assistance for the homeless; Other (SPONTANEOUS);
None (SPONTANEOUS); Don’t know.

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A national analysis reveals that, in 12 EU Member States, a majority of respondents consider that
’health care’ should be one of the three areas where the European Union should take action to
prepare the future of Europe. More than four in ten respondents share this opinion in Spain (53%),
Portugal (47%), Slovakia (44%) and Latvia (41%).
‘Social protection’ is the most frequently mentioned item in four countries: in the Netherlands
(43%), Belgium (35%), Austria and Luxembourg (34% in both countries). More than a third of
respondents also mention it in Bulgaria (35%), Sweden and Cyprus (34% in both countries).
‘Active support to employment’ is the most frequently mentioned item in Italy (38%). More than
three in ten respondents also mention this item in Portugal (39%), Spain (35%), Croatia and Finland
(32% in both countries).
‘Wages’ is the most frequently mentioned item in three EU Member States: in Hungary (41%), Croatia
(39%) and Lithuania (35%). Moreover, over a third of respondents mention it in Slovakia (39%) and
Portugal (37%).
In addition, ‘wages’ is in joint first place with ‘health care’ in Poland (36%), and with ‘social protection’
in France (29%).
‘Education, training and lifelong learning’ tops the ranking order of the areas where the
European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe in Czechia (40%) and Denmark
(33%). At least a third of respondents also mention this item in Sweden (34%), the Netherlands and
Luxembourg (33% in both countries).
‘Old age income and pensions’ and ‘education, training and lifelong learning’ are ranked in joint
first place by respondents in Germany (30% for both items). More than three in ten respondents also
mention ‘old age income and pensions’ in six EU Member States: in Czechia and Slovakia (36% in both
countries), Estonia (35%), Croatia (34%), Lithuania (32%) and Slovenia (31%).
‘Equal opportunities’ is in joint first place with ‘education, training and lifelong learning’ in Finland
(36%). This item is also frequently mentioned by respondents in Denmark (32%), Luxembourg (31%)
and Sweden (30%).
Respondents in Malta place ‘work-life balance’ in first position (31%). Over one in five respondents
also mention this item in Ireland (22%) and Czechia (21%).
None of the other seven items tops the ranking order of the areas where the European Union should
take action to prepare the future of Europe in any of the 27 EU Member States. However:
 Over one in five respondents mention ’health and safety at work’ in Italy (26%), Romania
(25%), France, Denmark and Cyprus (21% in all three countries);
 Close to a third of respondents mention ‘gender equality’ in Sweden (32%), far ahead of
Denmark (22%);
 At least a quarter of respondents mention ‘minimum income’ in Greece (35%), largely ahead
of Slovenia (27%), Estonia and Luxembourg (26% in both countries), and Belgium (25%);
 Close to a quarter of respondents mention ‘housing and assistance for the homeless’ in
Ireland (24%);
 At least one in five respondents mention ‘childcare and support for children’ in Czechia
(23%) and Slovakia (20%);
 ‘Social dialogue and involvement of workers’ is mentioned by just over one in five
respondents in Slovenia (21%);
 Finally, ’inclusion of persons with disabilities’ obtains its highest scores in Ireland and
Cyprus (11% in both countries), Romania and Bulgaria (10% in both countries).

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 Respondents aged 15-24 years are more likely than those aged 55 and over to mention gender
equality (22% compared with 12%), equal opportunities (21% compared with 14%) and
education, training and lifelong learning (28% compared with 22%), but far less likely to
mention old age income and pensions (13% compared with 30%);
remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond to mention old age income and
pensions (34% compared with 21%), health care (39% compared with 29%), active support to
employment (31% compared with 24%) and wages (27% compared with 21%), but less likely
to mention education, training and lifelong learning (16% compared with 29%), equal
opportunities (8% compared with 21%) and minimum income (7% compared with 16%);
 Unemployed people are more likely than managers to mention wages (31% compared with
19%), health and safety at work (21% compared with 14%) and health care (35% compared
with 29%), but less likely to mention education, training and lifelong learning (19% compared
with 30%) and social dialogue and involvement of workers (5% compared with 11%);
to mention education, training and lifelong learning (27%, compared with 18% of those who
have such difficulties most of the time), but the least likely to mention wages (23% compared
with 31%);
 Respondents who consider themselves working class are more likely than those who see
themselves as upper class to mention active support to employment (28% compared with
14%), health care (38% compared with 28%), old age income and pensions (27% compared
with 18%) and wages (31% compared with 24%), but less likely to mention equal opportunities
(11% compared with 28%), education, training and lifelong learning (18% compared with 30%),
minimum income (10% compared with 19%), work-life balance (8% compared with 15%),
social dialogue and involvement of workers (5% compared with 12%) and social protection
(28% compared with 34%).
In addition, Europeans who disagree that their voice counts in their country are more likely than those
who agree that their voice counts in their country to mention health care (38% compared with 32%)
and wages (29% compared with 23%).
Respondents who have a positive image of the European Union are more likely than those having a
negative image of the EU to mention education, training and lifelong learning (28% compared with
20%) and equal opportunities (19% compared with 12%).
than those who say that a social Europe is not important to them personally to mention equal
opportunities (17% compared with 8%), health care (35% compared with 28%), social protection
(28% compared with 21%) and education, training and lifelong learning (25% compared with 18%).

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Respondents do not rank the 15 items in exactly the same way when it comes to the areas in which
their national government should take action to prepare the future of Europe and in which the
European Union should take action.
Six of the 15 areas are slightly more frequently mentioned as areas where the national government
should take action than as areas where the EU should take action: ‘old age income and pensions’
(27% for the national government and 23% for the EU, a difference of 4 percentage points), ‘wages’
(28% and 25%, 3), ‘childcare and support for children’ (11% and 9%, 2), ‘housing and assistance for
the homeless’ (12% and 10%, 2), ‘minimum income’ (13% and 12%, 1) and ‘work-life balance’ (11%
and 10%, 1).
The opposite is true for five areas, which are more frequently mentioned as areas where the EU
should take action than as areas where the national government should take action: ‘equal
opportunities’ (16% for the EU and 13% for the national government, a difference of 3 percentage
points) and, to a lesser extent, ‘health care’ (34% and 33%, 1), ‘social protection’ (27% and 26%, 1)
‘active support to employment’ (25% and 24%, 1) and ‘gender equality’ (14% and 13%, 1).
These variations result in differences between the ranking order of areas where the national
government should take action and that of areas where the EU should take action. For instance,
‘wages’ is ranked in second place for the national government and in joint third place for the EU, ‘old
age income and pensions’ in third and sixth places respectively, ‘social protection’ in fourth and second
places respectively and ‘active support to employment’ in fifth and third places respectively.

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4 Europeans’ predictions for the future of Social Europe
More than six in ten Europeans consider that there will be a more social Europe in 2030
Looking ahead to 2030, over six in ten respondents (62%) believe that there will be a more social
Europe (that is to say, a Europe that is committed to equal opportunities, access to the labour market,
fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion)18
. Just over one in ten respondents (11%)
answered ‘yes, definitely’ and more than half of them (51%) ‘yes, to some extent’. On the other hand,
a third of Europeans (33%) had the opposite view, including 27% who answered ‘no, not really’ and
6% ‘no, not at all’. Finally, 5% of respondents answered ‘don’t know’.
18
QB11. Thinking forward to 2030, do you believe there will be a more social Europe (that is to say, a Europe that takes care of equal
opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion)?

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A national analysis highlights that more than half of respondents in 26 EU Member States believe
that there will be a more social Europe in 2030. Within this group of countries, more than three-
quarters of respondents share this opinion in Ireland (86%), Lithuania (79%) and Poland (78%), while
this proportion is the lowest in Greece (55%), Luxembourg and Austria (58% in both countries).
At least one in five respondents answered ‘yes, definitely’ in three EU Member States: in Lithuania
(23%), Cyprus (21%) and Ireland (20%).
Conversely, France is the only country where only a minority of respondents consider that there will
be a more social Europe in 2030 (43%).

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An analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that a majority of respondents in every socio-
demographic category believe there will be a more social Europe in 2030:
 Respondents aged 15-24 years are far more likely to share this opinion (71%, compared with
58% of those aged 55 and over);
 Europeans who remained in education up to the age of 20 years or beyond (64%) or finished
their education between 16 and 19 years of age (62%) are more likely to hold this view
(compared with 52% of those who finished their education aged 15 or earlier);
 Students are the most likely to think this way (74%, compared with 50% of house persons);
 Nearly two-thirds of respondents who never or almost never have difficulties paying their bills
(64%) believe that there will be a more social Europe in 2030, compared with a narrower
majority of those who have such difficulties most of the time (48%);
 Respondents who see themselves as upper middle (68%) or middle (67%) class are more likely
than those who see themselves as working (54%) or lower middle (56%) class to share this
opinion;
 Respondents living in a large town are more likely to hold this view than those living in a rural
village (67% compared with 60%).
Moreover, respondents who think that their voice counts in the European Union are much more likely
to consider that there will be a more social Europe in 2030 (75%, compared with 51% of those who
think that their voice does not count in the EU). Similarly, Europeans who agree with the statement
that their voice counts in their country are more likely to share this opinion (70%, compared with 51%
of those who think that their voice does not count in their country).
A majority of Europeans who have a positive (78%) or neutral (55%) image of the European Union
believe that there will be a more social Europe in 2030, compared with less than a quarter of those
with a negative image of the EU (24%).
Finally, respondents who say that a social Europe is important to them personally are far more likely
than those who say that a social Europe is not important to them personally to share this opinion
(67% compared with 30%).

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CONCLUSION
In the first part of this report, we examined Europeans’ views on social issues at European level.
Nearly nine in ten Europeans say that a social Europe is important to them personally, with over two-
thirds of respondents sharing this opinion in all 27 EU Member States. In addition, over seven in ten
respondents believe that a lack of social rights is a serious problem right now, with a majority of
respondents holding this view in 25 EU Member States. But how do Europeans define a social Europe?
More than four in ten respondents mention four items when asked to identify the most important
elements for the EU’s economic and social development: equal opportunities and access to the labour
market; fair working conditions; access to quality health care; and the standard of living of people in
the EU. Moreover, in ten Member States of the European Union, the standard of living of people in the
EU is the most frequently mentioned element.
In addition, large majorities of Europeans believe that there should be more decision-making at
European level in eight social-related areas. At least seven in ten respondents hold this view when it
comes to: protecting the environment and reducing climate change; promoting decent working
conditions in the EU and abroad; dealing with health issues and social security; and promoting equal
treatment of women and men.
The second part of this report explored Europeans’ perceptions of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Close to three in ten Europeans had heard, read or seen something about the European Pillar of Social
Rights before the interview, but less than one in ten knew what it is. This is an interesting result as
the European Pillar of Social Rights was only launched in November 2017.
Moreover, close to eight in ten respondents who had heard, read or seen something about the
European Pillar of Social Rights before the interview agree that this initiative will strengthen
employment and social inclusion in the European Union as a whole. On the other hand, just over three-
quarters of respondents also agree that the success of the European Pillar of Social Rights will depend
on the implementation of these rights in their country. In all 27 EU Member States, over six in ten
respondents agree with both statements.
The third part of this report focused on how Europeans perceive the future of social Europe. A majority
of respondents consider that, generally speaking, in the future social rights issues will play a more
important role in building a stronger European Union. But what are the key elements of social rights
in the future of Europe according to Europeans? Health care is by far the most important element,
mentioned by over a third of respondents. In addition, more than one in five Europeans also mention
five elements: social protection; wages; education, training and lifelong learning; old age income and
pensions; and active support to employment.
Similarly, around a third of Europeans consider that health care is an area where not only their
national government but also the European Union should take action to prepare the future of Europe,
significantly ahead of any other area. More than one in five respondents also think that both their
national government and the European Union should take action in five additional areas, i.e. the ones
previously identified as the key elements of social rights in the future of Europe: wages; old age
income and pensions; social protection; active support to employment; and education, training and
lifelong learning.
Finally, more than six in ten Europeans consider that there will be a more social Europe in 2030.

Special Eurobarometer 509

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Special Eurobarometer 509