Flash Eurobarometer 175 (The Euro, 4 Years After the Introduction of the Banknotes and Coins)

Attitudes towards the euro four years after its introduction.

Topics: Ongoing difficulties in handling the euro; tendency to count in euros or the countries former currency in special of everyday acquisitions; desire for further continual or more detailed dual price displays of products as well as judging its advantages; assessment of the difficulty in dealing with cash in the form of coins as well as notes; satisfaction with the division of the euro coins; preferred value of the euro coins that could be eliminated from circulation: assessment of one’s own purchasing behaviour in comparison the times before the introduction of the euro (excessive spending); assessment of the probability of prices being rounded up of down due to the disappearance of low-value euro coins; personal perception of the rapid increase of prices since the introduction of the euro; emergence of transaction fees charged by foreign banks in the euro zone when bank cards are used; rating of the euro as an international currency; judgement of the effect of the euro on differences in prices within the euro zone; used main currency (euro or dollar) on one’s own trips in countries outside the euro zone in 2003; advantageousness of the introduction of the euro as well as the most important advantages and disadvantages; assessment of the probability of the entrance of the ten newest member states in May 2004; opinion on the expansion of the euro zone to the new member states; judgement of the integrative function of the euro for the interviewee; knowledge of the market value of the euro in comparison to the dollar as well as personal importance of the exchange rate; knowledge of and assessment of the importance of the coordination of the economic policy of the EU-Member states; perception of the economic situation of one’s own country in comparison to other EU countries; knowledge of the income-expenditure-rate of the national budget in one’s own country (plus, negative or stability) knowledge of the stability pact; attitude towards the stability pact: approval of exceptions in difficult financial situations, guarantee for a stable and strong currency, inconsistencies in the sanctioning of countries that do not keep to the stability pact, knowledge of the efforts of one’s own country, compliance with the stability pact.

Demography: Sex; age; age on completion of education; professional status; region; degree of urbanisation.