European citizens are most concerned about the cost of living

Rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and the economic situation (41%) were the main reasons that motivated European citizens to vote in the June elections. In addition, a third of those who voted (34%) said that the international situation prompted them to vote, while 32% cited the defence of democracy and the rule of law. Respondents who did not vote also say that if they had voted, they would have done so because of the cost of living (46%) and the economic situation (36%).

En el caso de los ciudadanos españoles, la situación económica (46%) y la subida de precios y el coste de vida (35%) fueron los principales motivos para acudir a las urnas, seguidos de la protección social, el bienestar y el acceso a la sanidad (32%), y la democracia y el Estado de derecho (31%). Los españoles que no votaron en junio de 2024 afirman que los principales asuntos que les habrían animado a votar también son la situación económica (41%) y la subida de precios y el coste de vida (35%).

La presidenta del Parlamento Europeo, Roberta Metsola, ha afirmado sobre los resultados: «El pasado mes de junio, los ciudadanos de toda Europa hicieron oír su voz al registrarse la mayor participación en las elecciones al Parlamento Europeo de los últimos 30 años. Nos dieron un mandato para actuar, ofrecer respuestas y soluciones y marcar una diferencia positiva en sus vidas cotidianas. Cumpliremos. En las próximas semanas, el Parlamento Europeo examinará a la nueva Comisión Europea para asegurarse de que aborda las cuestiones prioritarias para los ciudadanos: el coste de la vida, la situación de nuestra economía, la democracia, el Estado de derecho, la migración y la seguridad. El Parlamento Europeo seguirá trabajando para que la opinión de los ciudadanos se tenga en cuenta en la UE».

Alto apoyo a la UE y confianza en la democracia parlamentaria

El apoyo a la UE sigue siendo alto, a pesar de los problemas económicos. Los resultados de la encuesta indican que los ciudadanos europeos son optimistas sobre el futuro de la UE (65%) y que siguen teniendo una impresión positiva de la Unión (48%; solo un 16% dice tener una imagen negativa). La pertenencia a la UE también se ve de forma positiva. Siete de cada diez europeos (70%) piensan que su país se ha beneficiado de pertenecer a la Unión, cifra que se ha mantenido estable en los últimos años. En el conjunto de la UE, hay cuatro razones principales por las que se considera beneficiosa dicha pertenencia: el aumento de la cooperación entre los Estados miembros (36%), la protección de la paz y el refuerzo de la seguridad (32%), la contribución de la UE al crecimiento económico (28%) y la creación de nuevas oportunidades de trabajo (24%).

For their part, the majority of Spanish citizens are optimistic about the future of the EU (72%), a figure seven points above the European average. Moreover, 45% have a positive image of the EU, compared to only 12% who have a negative image. In Spain, almost 80% of citizens believe that EU membership has benefited the country (79%, nine percentage points higher than the European average). Furthermore, the four main reasons why Spain’s membership of the EU is considered beneficial are the contribution to economic growth (38%), the generation of new job opportunities (28%), the improvement of cooperation between Spain and the other Member States (27%) and the improvement of citizens’ standard of living (25%).

A stronger role for the European Parliament

Confidence in European parliamentary democracy is particularly high at the start of the EP’s tenth parliamentary term: 42% of European citizens have a positive image of the European Parliament, the highest figure ever.

In Spain, 38% of citizens consider the image of the European Parliament to be positive, six points more than in February/March 2024. When asked whether they would like the European Parliament to play a more important role, 70% of Spaniards say yes (compared to 43% for the EU).

Europeans confirmed their support for EU democracy in the June elections. Turnout was 50.74%, the highest in 30 years and similar to 2019. It increased in 16 out of 27 member states, compared to the previous elections (2019). 56% of citizens think their voice counts in the EU, an increase of eight points compared to February/March 2024 (48%).

The turnout in Spain was 46.39% in last June’s elections. In the 2019 elections, which coincided with municipal and regional elections in most of the country, the turnout was 60.73%. Compared to 2014, when only European elections were held, turnout in 2024 has increased by almost three points (2014: 43.81%). Moreover, according to 52% of Spanish respondents, their voice counts in the EU, an increase of 14 percentage points compared to this year’s Spring Eurobarometer.

Analysis of this post-election survey suggests that voting in European elections has become a habit for many citizens. Asked why they vote, 46% of European voters say they always vote, while 42% say it is their duty as citizens and 20% say they want to support the political party they sympathise with. The decision on who to vote for in the 2024 European elections was mainly based on the closeness of the parties’ proposals to voters’ ideas and values. Forty-seven per cent of voters said that the reason they chose a particular party was because of its proposals on European issues, four percentage points more than in 2019.

Asked why they voted, Spanish respondents answered that they always vote (57%) as the first reason, 16 percentage points more than in the June 2019 survey. As a second reason, Spaniards say that it is their obligation as citizens (41%) and, in third place, because they believe that by voting in the European elections they can change things (20%). Also, the decision on who to vote for in the last elections was mainly based on the tradition of voting for the same party (53%); followed by the closeness of the party’s proposals on Europe to the voters’ ideas (37%) and the closeness of the party’s proposals on national issues to the ideology of its voters (36%).

The full results can be found here.

Methodology

The European Parliament 2024 Post-Election Eurobarometer survey was conducted by research agency Verian (formerly Kantar Public) between 13 June and 8 July 2024 in the 27 EU Member States. The survey was conducted face-to-face, with video interviews (CAVI) used additionally in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland and Malta. In total 26,349 interviews were conducted. The EU results were weighted according to the size of each country’s population. In addition to weighting based on socio-demographic variables (post-stratification weights according to gender and age, region and urbanisation), the results of all questions related to the European elections in this survey were weighted according to national voter turnout.

Further information: European Parliament