Eurobarometer : Cost of living and economic situation, main preoccupations of Romanians who voted at European elections

The main topics that motivated Romanian citizens to vote in European elections in June are the economic situation (45%) and rising prices and the cost of living (44%), according to an Eurobarometer poll released on Thursday by the European Parliament, which ranks Romanians over the average of the 27, concerning optimism referring to the future EU (68% against 65%).   Other important topics that motivated the Romanians to vote are social protection, well being and access to medical care (32% versus 24% the EU average), the international situation (30%) democracy and the rule of law (27%), defense and security (27%, close to EU average of 28%).   As for the main motivations for participation in voting, the situation is about the same at EU level, where rising prices and the cost of living (42%) and situation economic (41%) were the main preoccupations. A third of electors in the 27 member states (34%) say the international situation was a topic which encouraged them to vote, while a similar proportion mentions defending democracy and the rule of law (32%).   Those who did not vote say that the economic situation (36% EU average, 41% in Romania) and the cost of living (46% both EU average and Romania) could have motivated them to parcitipate in elections. In case of Romanian respondents, social protection, well being and access to medical care represent for 35% of them a topic which could motivate them to vote, followed by defense and security (24%) and international situation (21%).   Support for EU is still high, despite economic problems. The number of Romanians who are optimistic that the EU future is igher than the European average (68%) and the increase by 7% against the previous opinion poll of February-March 2024. At UE27 level, citizens continue to have a pozitive impression about EU -48%, only 16% declare they had a negative image. In Romania, 52% of respondents say they have a positive image about EU, on the rise by 2% against the previous opinion poll, and only 11% have a negative image, on the drop by 5% against the previous poll.   EU accession is also considered in a favorable light. 70% of Romanian citizens participating in the poll consider their country had benefits from the status of EU member, on the rise by 5% against the poll made in February/March 2024, before European elections. In EU there are four main resons for which te quality of member is considered beneficial: intensification of cooperation among member states (36%), peace protection and consolidating security (32%), EU contricution to economic growth (28%) and creating new labour opportunities (24%).   For Romanian respondents, the first four reasons for which the status of EU member is considered beneficial are: setting up new labor opportunities(37%), protecting peace and consolidating security (26%), intensifying cooperation among member states (24%), EU contribution to economic growth (24%).   Confidence in European parliamentary democracy is very high at the beginning of the tent EP legislature, according to the press release of the community legislative. No less than 42% if European citizens (53% of Romanian citizens) have a positive image about the European Parliament – the best result ever recorded for this indicator.   Europeans confirmed their support for EU democracy in European elections of June, last year. The polling presence was 50.74% at EU level (52.40% in Romania), the largest in the last 30 years and similar to that of 2019. This grew in 16 of the 27 years, Romania included, compared to the 2019 European elections.   The fact that the vote counts is confirmed by 56% of EU citizens (50% in Romania) who agree that their voices count in EU – at EU level the result represents an 8% increase against February-March 2024 (48%).   Routine main criterium in electing party voted in European elections by Romanians   The analysis of this port election poll suggests that the vote in European elections becomes customary for many citizens. When asked why they voted 46% of European electors answered they always do it (35% in Romania), while 42% said their duty as citizens (31% in Romania), while 20% of EU respondents want to back the political party they feel close to (21% in Romania).   In case of respondents in Romania, the main reasons which lay at the basis of the decision to vote a certain party are the habit of voting the respective party (39%), suggestions about national problems (38%), suggestions about a problem considerdd important by respondents (37%) and suggestions about European problems (31%).   Post election Eurobarometer poll of the European Parliament was made by Verian research agency over June 13- July 8, 2024 in all 27 EU member states. The opinion poll was made face to face , video interviews being used in Czechia, Denmark, Finland and Malta. 26,349 interviews were made and results were according to the population in every country and according to the polling presence at national level.