“Europe” polarises opinion. As results of an online survey commissioned by the Association of German Banks show, a good half of the respondents (52%) think “favourably” of the EU; just under four out of ten (39%), on the other hand, say they think “unfavourably” of it. This is just one of many views on the European Union from our recent survey on European affairs.

1. EUROPE
Results of an online survey
commissioned by the Association of German Banks
KANTAR TNS, Bielefeld
December 2018

2. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
“Europe” polarises opinion: views on the European Union are divided
 Over half of the respondents (55%) are “strongly” or “very strongly” interested in European politics. This
means that, six months ahead of the next elections to the European Parliament in May 2019, broad
sections of the population are already focusing attention on European issues and the European Union.
 Views on the European Union vary widely: a good half of the respondents (52%) think “favourably” or
“very favourably” of the EU; just under four out of ten (39%), on the other hand, say they think “fairly
unfavourably” or “unfavourably” of it.
 The higher their interest in European politics, the more positively respondents view the EU.
 The majority of respondents have a positive view of the work and importance of the European Parliament.
60% find the Parliament makes an “important” or “very important” contribution to European policy. A
good quarter (27%), however, take the opposite view and 13% hold no view.
 A good third of the respondents (36%) assume that EU membership is mainly advantageous for Germany,
a further third (32%) assume that advantages and disadvantages more or less balance each other out.
One fifth (22%) think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
 A relative majority (41%) of respondents would like to see even closer cooperation between EU member
states in the future. A good third (36%) would like to see member states become more independent
again. One in ten thinks things should stay as they are.
 To improve the European Union’s ability to act, 54% of those questioned support the proposal that the EU
should be able to take action in important policy areas with a smaller number of countries. A quarter
(26%) do not consider “variable integration” of this kind a good idea, and a fifth of the respondents have
no view on the matter.
2

3. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
“I am … interested in European politics”
3
13
42
34
8 3
very strongly
strongly
not very
not at all
don't know
Question: “How interested are you in European politics, meaning issues relating to Europe, European countries and the
European Union?”
More than half of the respondents (55%) are “strongly” or “very strongly” interested
in European politics. This means that, six months ahead of the next elections to the European
Parliament in May 2019, broad sections of the population are already focusing on European
issues and the European Union.

4. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
“ I think … of the European Union”
4
11
41
29
10
9
very favourably
favourably
fairly unfavourably
unfavourably
don't know
Question: “What do you think in general of the European Union? Do you think …?”
Views on the European Union vary widely: a good half of respondents (52%) think
“favourably” or “very favourably” of the EU; just under four out of ten (39%), on the other
hand, say their attitude is “fairly unfavourable” or “unfavourable”.

5. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018 5
1 1
11
29
9 6
11
32
19 25
41
23
36
55
34
13
35
12
4 3 very favourably
favourably
fairly unfavourably
unfavourably
don't know
“I think … of the European Union”
The higher their interest in European politics, the more positively respondents view the
EU. Of the respondents with a strong interest in European politics, 71% think “favourably” or
“very favourably” of the EU; the figure is only 16% among those with no interest.
Interest in very strong strong not strong no interest
European politics

6. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018 6
“The European Parliament makes … to European policy”
15
45
18
9
13
a very important
contribution
an important
contribution
a fairly unimportant
contribution
no important
contribution
don't know
Question: Elections to the European Parliament will be held next May. How do you rate the importance for European policy
of the European elections and the European Parliament as a whole? Does the European Parliament make …?”
The majority of respondents take a positive view of the work and importance of the
European Parliament. 60% find the Parliament makes an “important” or “very important”
contribution to European policy. A good quarter (27%), however, take the opposite view and
13% are “don’t knows”.

7. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018 7
“Membership of the European Union brings Germany …”
36
32
22
10
mainly advantages
advantages and disadvantages
mainly disadvantages
don't know
Question: “Do you think that, on balance, membership of the European Union brings Germany …?”
A good third of respondents (36%) assume EU membership is mainly advantageous for
Germany. A further third (32%) assume that advantages and disadvantages more or less
balance each other out. One fifth (22%) believe there are mainly disadvantages.

8. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
“Cooperation between countries in the EU should …?”
8
41
36
11 12
become even closer
become less close
stay as it is
don't know
Question: “Should cooperation between the countries in the European Union be even closer in future, or should countries
become more independent again, or should things stay as they are?
A relative majority (41%) of respondents would like to see even closer cooperation
between EU member states in the future. A good third (36%) would like to see member
states become more independent again. One in ten thinks things should stay as they are.

9. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
“In important areas, the EU should be able to take action
even with a smaller number of member states.”
9
12
42
17
9
20
very good
quite good
not so good
not good at all
don't know
“I think this would be …”
Question: “In the EU, the 28 – soon to be 27 – member states are often unable to agree on a course of action. It has
therefore been suggested that, in certain important policy areas (such as foreign and security policy or internal security),
a smaller number of member states should be able to take joint action even if the others do not (yet) want to join in. Do
you think this proposal is …?”
To improve the European Union’s ability to act, 54% of those questioned support the proposal to
allow the EU to take action in important policy areas with a smaller number of countries. A
quarter (26%) do not consider “variable integration” of this kind a good idea and a fifth of
respondents have no view on the matter.

10. Source: Association of German Banks/Kantar TNS; November 2018
Survey design
10
Survey period: November 2018
Sample: 1,004 interviewees in Germany aged over 16
Methodology: Ad-hoc CAWI (computer-assisted web interview)
Commissioned by: Association of German Banks, Berlin
Conducted by: KANTAR TNS, Bielefeld