21 st November 2008 Dominique Reynié 35th anniversary of Eurobarometer Understanding European public opinion Workshop : Getting the European citizens on board

Dominique Reynié Professor in Political Science, Sciences Po European People and the European Parliament: what kind of story ?

1. The European Public Opinion and the European Parliament: A love story?

Have you ever heard of…

For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it (in %)

For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it (in %)

For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it (in %)

For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it (in %)

The European Public Opinion and the European Parliament: A platonic love story?

Turnout for European elections (in %)

Turnout for European elections (in %)

For each of the following institutions, please tell me if you tend to trust it or tend not to trust it. The (NATIONALITY PARLIAMENT) in %

Average confidence rating ( ) The European Parliament54.4 The [NATIONALITY] Parliament36

Trust average gap between the European Parliament and the [NATIONALITY] Parliament points in favour of the European Parliament

Turnout for national elections (in %)

Turnout at the European elections (in %) Turnout at national elections (in %)

2. Boring Elections? What is missing in the European elections?

Reif, K. and H. Schmitt (1980), « Nine Second-order National Elections. A Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of European Election Results ». European Journal of Political Research 8: 3-44.

3. An unfair competition. European elections versus national referendum

Average turnout for European elections ( ) : 58,23% for national elections ( ) : 70% Average turnout for the 20 referenda 67,4%

Since 1972: 20 referenda held by European Union member States 13 approved 7 rejected

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