Europeans trust the EU more than their national governments. Polling by Eurobarometer has consistently recorded significantly higher levels of trust in the European Union than in national governments and parliaments. In the latest survey, 42% of citizens polled said they “tend to trust” the EU. Not bad, eh?
Not so fast. That just means the EU is doing well compared to national politics, which is really scraping rock bottom at the moment. It’s still the case that roughly half of Europeans (48%) say they “tend not to trust” the EU (with 10% saying they “don’t know”). Is there anything the EU can do to boost citizens’ trust?
What do our readers think? We had a comment from Hector, who says (citing Eurobarometer) that trust in the EU has still not recovered since the Eurozone crisis. Looking at the numbers, this does seem to be the case (average trust in the EU was indeed higher before 2012, though there have been signs of improvement in the last couple of years).
How can we get citizens to trust the EU more? We asked Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from all sides of the political spectrum to stake out their positions on this question, and it’s up to YOU to vote for the policies you favour. See what the different MEPs have to say, then vote at the bottom of this debate for the one you most agree with! Take part in the vote below and tell us who you support in the European Parliament!
IMAGE CREDITS: (c) / BigStock – melis
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57 comments Post a commentcomment
More financial oversight available too the common citizen (where the money comes from, where it goes) and more information difusion how too access such a database.
Ideally if a citizen donates 1 euro he can track exactly in which project that 1 euro ends up used. The idea is the end result is: this euro left the public sector (eu budget) when it was traded in for a screw bought from X private sector company for a machine at a hungarian recycling center.
The biggest problem is people are afraid the answer too that question (where is my euro) is it was traded for a screw with a hungarian prostitute and Vodka at the expensive EU research center. (while laughing at the stupid citizens)
If this could be solved, or atleast appear too be solved, i think a lot of people would really appreciate the EU
surely be more guarantors of the citizen and less of the markets.
To lead, unambiguosly, the fight for human rights and the reason over nationalisms and populisms. Can’t be proud when people dying in our borders while EU turns his eyes otherside.
Close the doors
Actually work?
Respect the principle of subsidiarity, which is currently being observed only nominally.
1) Stop being USA’s puppets, who collude to subvert democracies.
For example attempting to overthrow democratically elected presidents, like in Venezuela, support foreign sponsored coups, like in Ukraine, and sending military forces to assist rebel/Islamists, to overthrow the government Syria.
Existing europarties are nothing more than awkward marriages of convenience between national parties. There is thus no direct relationship between a Euro MP and a European citizen. It is mediated by the national party. EU institutions are trusted more than national precisely because they at least include agents more likely to be independent of national corruption schemes. There should be true European parties, ones not beholden to any specific national interests.
Likewise, EC is aloof, elite and unaccountable, and seen like a Politburo. It should be replaced by a directly elected body. Perhaps a senate with more directly accountable representatives.
The saccharine smiley face propaganda is received poorly. The EU would be better served by more serious communications. A willingness to engage in debate is more respected.
We also lack European media. There is no such thing as a European CNN. All news of Europe continues to be filtered through the lens of national media served by the same old vested interests. Brussels is a distant capital for most people.
Put a travel ban on dangerous criminals and their associates. We don’t want them. Allow member states deport people who commit crimes.
Be democratic
close😄
Just like any other institution – work to reduce regulation and prohibitive legislation, work to introduce legislation that protects and empowers individual liberty.
What should EU institutions do to boost your trust in them?
Stop bringing in millions of people from the rest of the world in order to deliberately change the demographic population and cultural make up of indigenous Europeans in order to comply with the Coudenhove-Kalergi plan, as they are presently doing. And have done so for many decades whilst hiding it from their citizens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WRszRZBfYw
Theresa May, British PM, recently signed up to this in Morocco without ever notifying the British public that she was doing this.
Is that a genuine & serious question?
There are only 3 “institutions” of consequence:
• EU Parliament.
• EU Council.
• EU Commission.
The EU to do list:
* disclose truthfully and without hesitation the FINAL EU blueprint cum “business
plan”-
* show transparency & democratic openness by taking all EU Members & citizen
FULLY into its confidence in planning the EU’s future structure-
* abandoning the secretive but dubious political war of sovereign attrition-
mischievously referred to as “step by step”-
* preempt the need by everybody from guessing, distrusting and applying personal
caution to seek ultimate certainty & safety in favor of an achievable extension of
a proven economic union, standardization & limited harmonization-
* preserving ones UN basic human right to a national identity, self determination
=sovereignty- in the meantime- until the political climate becomes more mature
and favorable here & globally to safely & democratically proceed-
* end the hidden push and uncertain gamble (experiment) by political & corporate
adventurer-ism who aim for a political USE super state- but denying its aim.
* allow a “pedigreed” anti EU political party into the EU parliament- not prevent it-
* the EU planners must end their fear and agitate to reduce the choices between
the seven EU parties- who have many similar agendas- but are in fact all copies of
pro EU parties and pose no real democratic alternative opposition- just bickering-
* produce, nominate & elect honorable and respectable EU statesman- leaders-
from within a select political or private sphere- avoiding bad choices from the
many dishonorable, unsuitable & eager apparatchiks floating around-
* have ONE separate, transparent but accessible EU planning/ think tank- instead
all these hidden lobbyists, paid opinion makers cum friendly Friends, paid
researchers, analytic’s AI toolmakers and sponsored Universities like the EUI
cadre factory to “populate” the ECB and all its other “institutions” with “safe
bets” etc..
That would signal for me a promising beginning to see a new trend being set in motion & in the right direction! Or- is it another waste of time?
Shutdown the bureaucratic institutions!
Eh, like GO AWAY……
They should stop humiliting Greece!!!!!We paid for pur mistakes more than we should have…whereas Germans never did !We are still waiting for the gold and money they took from the Greek National bank.We are still.waiting to be paid for the horros and destructions of wwII!Moreover nobody should think they are the best student in this classroom called EU.Greece is the mother and birthplace of the values of democracy,free spirit and speech, research of truth and progress.We have excellent scientists and a huge brain drain.Stop humiliating countries such as Greece or Italy!Stop protecting the banks.Be honest!Do not interfere with dangerous issues such as ” Prespes agreement”.Respect and you will be respected or else …αντε και γ…
Where were Greeks with their protests when they were living WAAAY above their means for decades thanks to their own government’s reckless spending?
First of all, EU – issues must gain Salience in domestic Politics. These issues seem to appear to people who are less interested in politics as something far away, not as part of the politics that come to their mind easily. Sara Hobolt conducted many interesting studies to that question and especially when it comes to the EP elections, which are the second order elections after national elections Salience and media coverage must be increased. An increased voter turnout and increased trust into the european project are definitely correlated with awareness. One thing that could easily be done is to promote what already happened in the local broadcasting services. Although the “citizens App” is fulfilling this job already, this App is mainly used by people who are already more or less informed and interested. I guess many people would have some interest and trust if they would know the local projects next door are EU projects and they are not taking place in brussel. However Salience is the key
Close immediately.
I wouldn t say close but definetely change!Hope Italy can bargain this change because I believe Italy can do it
the main question about €U today is to understand if it’s more usefull to close and rebuild the structure or to cancel at all.
Stop cheating.
DISAPPEAR??? 🤔
How about reducing the technocratic apparatus with 80%,it costs us too much:8 billion euro.
thats an easy one…
Work for the people more than the money…
Dissolve?
Yeah..read this and then try to defend the European Central bank. Go on…try bitches. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/18/truth-money-iou-bank-of-england-austerity?fbclid=IwAR19-JLquQ4E2dJVeTwwLMbPg9aspDBYC06h9vRePG5f-G1rMDCBYTlf1EI
agreements being made behind closed doors (council of ministers), allow elected officials to draft legislation (commission) and make a MUCH bigger deal of all the good things they do.
which of them?
Fight unemployment is too much high
No able bodied person should be unemployed. An agency should provide everyone with gainful employment. Someone hanging around with no qualifications can be employed in construction lifting and carrying. It is work.
At the moment because of Fiscal dumping between European Countries we have countries with too much low unemployment and other with a too much high unemployment
For esemple:
a) to attribute the legislative initiative to European Parliament too;
b) to create a true european fiscal (and of balance) policy to finally complete the Economic and Monetary Union and to stop the austerity;
c) to harmonize the national policy of immigrazion and support the repatriations;
d) not to interfere with the family and matrimonial law of the country of the European Union.
Crawl back under there rocks
To me, EU should encourage investment bank in each member countries. The main problem in EU countries the tense between centres and fractured cities and towns in periphery. The investment banks and governments collaborated with private sectors can decrease the inequality and empower the fractured cities in peripheries. The market oriented capitalism cannot succeed in. If we cannot tackle this severe inequality, the populist parties will continue to gain more ground.
42% tending to trust the EU represents a very small amount of citizens! What a weak target. As ways for improvement let’s start with the Commission which should get rid of its schlerotic and neurotic management and working methods and its sheer ignorance of Member States identity and problems
Vanishing in the air.
a 5:1 wage policy, whereby CEOs and directors can only earn 5x more than any other employee.
Shutdown!!!
Send the immigrants and the paupers away. Stop plebs
Not specifically related to the institutions, but the idea of an european federation is disgusting. If the EU could take a clear position against that, that would be a good step forward
Nothing they could possibly do to gain my trust, and unless we leave we no deal I dont trust our politicians either. They are forcing us to forever after forced integration with a 3rd world who does not share our traditional values, and subserviency to dictatorship
1. change polity – Decentralize the institutions! Why most of the institutions are placed in Belgium, France, Nederland? Place some bodies in South-European countries.
2. Budget Revision- do more with less money, be more efficient.
3. stop saying more democracy and start explaining how things actually work. Opinions are not stabilizing economy or politics.
France is the EU’s profligate “South”
1. Fight tax evasion! It is not tolerable that big companies are still paying nearly no taxes. If countries like Ireland are not following, lower the EU funds/payments for these countries. Like in Hungary, were constant Article 2 violations take place, one could argue that “tax paradises” like Ireland also violate Art. 2 principles.
2. Get done with the European Financial transaction tax finally! Stock market players have to pay a fair share when using the European financial market to raise their profits. Since they are responsible for financial crisis, it is not acceptable that they are not paying their part to the European citizens.
3. Stop building a fortress! The EU’s migration and refugee policy is a shame! Bearer of the Peace Noble prize and denier of Fundamental rights. All of the reform plans of the CEAS are unacceptable and a shame for Europ (centres in third countries, disembarkation platforms, fast proceedures etc.).
4. Stop giving in to populists! A clear position against fascists like Orban and rightextremists like Kaczyński has to be taken. There is no deal-making with destructive minds like they are. In the worst case, let them go and be on their own but don’t let them use the Union of freedom and peace to blackmail the latter with their positions of nationalism.
Create jobs and well being.
Provide services to citizens.
Protect human health and environment.
Invest to education, innovation and R&D.
Enable more young people to study in other EU Member States.
Communicate openly and transparently.
Be present in people’s everyday lives.
Show some impact.
Make it known that these are achieved by EU. Now-a-days local politicians gladly take the glory of things that are actually products of the EU cooperation and blame EU for all problems.
How can people trust the EU more than national governments when it has no responsibilities?
National governments have to tax the electorate, and they have to justify why they need these taxes to have any chance of being elected into power
Where as the EU has none of these pressures , it gets it’s money with very little effort
It’s easy to see National governments as the “bad guy” when they are in the front line facing the taxpayers
Do more real things for the benefit of Europe rather than wasting time and money to make the America Great again.
1. Defend the borders and take robust measures against nations which participate in or tolerate human trafficking.
2. One citizen – one vote — otherwise it is no democracy. I can’t be that 11 Mio Greeks get 22 MEPs and 81 Mio Germans less than 100 Members of Parliament.
3. A Commission of, by and for the people.
4. Get Parliament TV into the cable channels.
Stop immigration
Stop importing junk food and junk products
Stop editing rules for everything which are enforced only for European citizens
Build a tax and social policy to avoid tax dumping in Europe and allow to tax Gafa
Be less open to lobbyes
D
Stop enlarging Europe and say no to Turkey
Stop being an autocracy might help.
Not being leftists ruling, and we dont want to supprt all the burocrats
Time to start the end of plutocracy.
If you fear “populism” (the foundation of democracy) you will know what it means.
Stop humiliating people and governments who are not in the best position to defend themselves after that you f****d them with all the shoes with your nazi policies might be a good start for example, especially if those countries are net contributors.
Scale back the EU instead of turning it into EUSSR. Any effort to create a “union” from above will end up in bitter tears.
USSR was a projection of Russian imperialism. “Federal” EU (in fact centralist, dirigist, interventionist superstate) is a projection of French delusions of grandeur, paid for by German guilt money.
you speak of a debate, but then you provide a boutique of opinions to chose from….what if the consumerist view of political markets is part of the problem?