This week the 19th European Elections of the last 40 years will take place: 751 members of the European Parliament will represent over 500 million citizens from 28 different states (yes, there is still the United Kingdom).
A survey conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) shows a strong fear on the part of citizens: many even believe that these could be among the last elections of an institution destined to demobilize to be replaced by other political structures.
Two thirds of Europeans have positive feelings towards the European Parliament: it is a figure that concerns voters and non-voters, and is the highest since 1983.
If the poll is restricted to "voters" only, however, the majority of them believe that the EU could collapse within the next 20 years, while more than a third of voters French and Polish and over a quarter of Germans surveyed believe in a possible “war between member states” as a realistic possibility in the next decade.
The survey then reveals how 92% of respondents believe that a collapse of the EU would be harmful: in top of your worries the ability to travel, exchange and travel to other European nations.
“The challenge for pro-EU citizens is to exploit this fear of loss and disadvantage to mobilize the 'silent majority' that does not want the victory of the anti-system parties,” says Mark Leonard, Co-author and director of the ECFR.
Contrary to stereotypes on the optimism of young people, the highest percentage of concerned citizens falls within the age range of 18 to 24 and 25 to 34: unemployment and the pre-eminence of financial power over citizens' needs are the main concerns expressed.
And the environment?
In first place among European citizens worried that the European collapse will not allow the continent of offering a unified fight against climate change are included Italians (74%), followed by Hungarians, Austrians and French. Other fears concern the growth of nationalist impulses.
Editor's Notes
The most important task for candidates and future elected members of the European Parliament will be that of finding a connection with citizens who believe in the goodness of the European project but not they have more confidence in the system's ability to achieve it.
In my opinion, it is the only present measure that in the near future will avoid transforming the fears expressed in this survey into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Source: ECFR extension
