Eurobarometer says EU citizens are badly informed on enlargement

According to a Eurobarometer poll carried out in January/February 2002 by the European Commission in the fifteen Member States, most EU citizens expect benefits from the enlargement of the EU, but want information about it.

According to the results:

• 61% of respondents feel favourable towards EU integration, Italy being the most favourable country and UK the least. The euro is the most frequently mentioned example of positive aspects of the EU. However, 57% recognised that they do not understand "how the European Union works".
• 83% respondents feel less than well-informed on enlargement. A vast majority of EU citizens do not know which countries are official candidates. Television is perceived as the preferred source for information, followed by daily newspapers.
• 67% of citizens believe enlargement will unite the continent and 63% think that enlargement will make the EU stronger politically. 60% also see enlargement as bringing peace to Europe. On the other hand, 48% of respondents disagreed with the statement that enlargement will help to create more jobs in their country.
• Respect of human rights and the principles of democracy, and a commitment to actively fight organised crime and drug trafficking, are perceived by EU citizens as the most important criteria for accepting new Member States into the EU.
• Almost 90% said that the maintenance of peace and security in Europe and the fight against unemployment were priorities for EU action. Respectively 70% and 43% of respondents felt that action taken by the EU is effective in these matters.
• The fight against illegal immigration is seen as a priority by 80% of the citizens, but only 45% consider that EU action is effective in that field.