Brussels, 17 February 2004

EU Constitution: a large majority of people want their government to make concessions to secure agreement

A new EU survey shows that 77% of people in the 25 countries are in favour of the EU adopting a Constitution, with 15% opposed to the idea. Support has increased from 67% just before the launch of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). More than 2/3 of people expect a paralysis of European institutions in the absence of a Constitution. 62% want their country to make concessions to secure an agreement. 59% agree that Member States who wish to deepen their cooperation can do so without waiting for all other Member States.

Survey interviews were conducted by Eurobarometer in 25 countries between 14 and 23 January 2004.

A large majority in the 25 countries (77%) agree that the EU must adopt a
Constitution. This support is higher than in the previous survey conducted in September-October 2003, when support stood at 67%. Very large support for a Constitution (more than 80%) can be found in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Cyprus, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovenia. Only Swedish and UK public opinion score lower than 60%, with respectively 58 and 51% supporting a European Constitution. In 16 countries, less than 15% of the population oppose a Constitution. Opposition is somewhat higher in Austria, Sweden, Denmark and UK, ranging from 23 to 30%. Survey results also confirm large support for an EU Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The survey was conducted shortly after the breakdown of the Brussels IGC
negotiations in December. A majority of public opinion think that their country must be ready to make concessions to allow a Constitution to be adopted. On average, 62% of citizens in the EU 25 think this way, while 28% are opposed to national concessions. Support for national concessions is widespread. In 18 countries there is an absolute majority of more than 50% in favour. In six countries, a relative majority in favour of concessions outweighs the opposition. Slovenia is the only one of the 25 countries where opposition to national concessions outweighs support.

Readiness to make concessions is present in all age groups, and varies little according to educational levels, profession or whether one lives in the city or the countryside. 67% of public opinion in the EU 25 feel that the work of the EU institutions may be blocked in the absence of a Constitution. Most people agree with a multi-speed Europe. 59% want Member States who wish to strengthen their cooperation to do so without having to wait for other Member States. Support for this is, on average, higher in acceding countries than in the current 15 Member States. Opposition to a multi-speed Europe is around 32%, with a relatively
lower opposition in Spain and all candidate countries, and a relatively higher opposition in the Netherlands (46%). Survey results confirm that most people do not feel well informed on the draft Constitution, while a quarter of current and future EU citizens declare that they are well informed. Respondents were confronted with two false statements on the
contents of the Constitution, namely the direct election of the European Council President and the creation of a European army. In each case, around 40% of respondents declared the statement to be true, while roughly another 40% declared the statement to be false. People mostly look to national television channels or radio stations for their information (65%). 43% would like to be informed through the
national written press.

The full report is available at (in pdf):
http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/flash/fl159_fut_const.pdf