Europe in Focus - The Image of Europe in Germany

Perception of Europe. Attitudes towards Europe. Evaluation of German European Policy

Topics: Personal situation/ satisfaction: general life satisfaction; assessment of the current and prospective economic situation in Germany; assessment of one´s own economic situation.

Identification with Europe: attachment to one´s place of residence, to Germany and to the EU; self-image (identification as a citizen of Germany, first as a citizen of Germany, then as a European, first as a European, then as a citizen of Germany, as a European); similarities with other people in the EU

Associations with the EU: associations related to the EU; positive or negative image of the EU; characteristics of the EU (semantic differential).

Germany in the EU: Germany benefits from EU membership; advantages or disadvantages of EU membership; characterization of Germany´s relationship with the EU; agreement with statements about Germany´s role in the EU.

Perception of the EU: characteristics of the EU; European values (current); values that should be more pronounced in the EU; elements of an ideal EU; concerns about changes in the country due to greater European integration (e.g. rising crime due to open borders, etc.); assessment of the influence of the EU on personal life; future expectations for Britain outside the EU.

Current situation - issues, tasks, challenges: Future significance of various policy issues; responsibility for relevant issues.

Performance of the EU: institutional trust; satisfaction with German European policy and European politics; opinion on the status quo of the EU (e.g. supports networking of knowledge in research, etc.); agreement on various statements about the EU.

Proximity to (EU) politics: influence of the EU on one´s own life, on one´s own region and on Germany as a whole; positive or negative influence of the EU on one´s own life, on one´s own region and on Germany as a whole; agreement with various statements on the influence of the EU; decision-makers of decisions important for Germany; opinion on the influence of the EU on decisions in Germany; opinion on Germany´s influence on the EU.

Expectations of the EU: approval of various measures in the EU; attitudes towards EU enlargement; approval of financial support in the EU in the event of economic difficulties of a member state; preferred measures of the EU for immigration to Europe; preferred measures for security in Europe; preferred measures for guaranteeing economic security; attitude towards agricultural subsidies.

Political interest, satisfaction with democracy: satisfaction with democracy in Germany and in the EU; interest in politics in general and in European policy.

Information behaviour: frequency of media consumption; assessment of the extent of coverage of the EU in German media; need for more information on various topics or policy issues; hypothetical decision in a referendum on Germany´s EU membership.

Demography: sex; age (grouped); German nationality; household size; number of children in the household; marital status; employment status; assessment of income situation; household income; educational qualifications.

Additionally coded was: respondent ID; educational qualifications (grouped); city size (BIK region); federal state; weighting factor.