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THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
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– countries in which this topic scarcely plays a
role – also prefer national control. In Germany
and Slovakia, on the other hand – both scarcely
affected by youth unemployment – common ef-
forts would find support. Thus, Germans seem
aware that their own economic strength cannot
last if important partner states are suffering.
Agreement to an expansion of EU compe-
tencies is rejected in some areas, however, espe-
cially with budget sovereignty and social sys-
tems. There is no majority in favour of an
integration of financial policy in any of the eight
countries. Reservations are greatest in the Czech
Republic (80 %), Slovakia, Germany and France
(each with over 70 %). Willingness to shift com-
petencies is relatively strong in Italy (36 %) and
above all in Spain (44 %). EU competencies re-
garding unemployment benefits would also
meet with little support. In Spain only, a narrow
majority can imagine a European solution for
unemployment insurance.
There are similar findings with regard to pen-
sion policy. A clear majority are in favour of na-
tional control in six countries (between 58 and
67 %). Only majorities in Spain and Italy (at
53 %, respectively) can conceive of a transfer of
competencies to the EU in this area.
Even in the area of budgetary and social
policy, however, the willingness to seek
European solutions has grown slightly in most
countries. This explicitly does not apply to
Germany, however, where opposition is greater
and undiminished. Financial and social policy
appear to still form Germany’s borderlines when
it comes to preserving one’s own prosperity.
Acceptance of EU rules
Cohesion of the EU is not least based on various
common rules. At the heart of these are democ-
racy, rule of law and adherence to human rights,
but also the free movement of capital, services,
goods and labour. The latter has repeatedly
been at focus in debates that have taken on a
new importance with Brexit. After all, freedom
of labour was a reason for many British to vote
“Leave”.
Reassuringly, this example did not have a cop-
ycat effect elsewhere: at 57 %, the percentage
of citizens in favour of worker mobility remains
constant compared to 2015. Still, one-third state
that EU Member States should be allowed to re-
strict the influx of workers from other EU states.
Opinions differed significantly between countries
here, however, although not precisely between
countries of origin and countries of destination.
Free movement of workers meets with majority
support in Spain and Italy, Slovakia and the Czech
Republic, but also in Germany, the main destina-
tion for EU jobseekers.
The high level of agreement with the free
movement of workers does not include free ac-
cess to social services in the country of destina-
tion, however. A majority across all countries
(56 %) is in favour of benefits made contingent
upon whether beneficiaries have worked for a
longer period of time in the respective country.
A clear majority in Italy (71 %) is, however, in
favour of universal social benefits regardless of
an individual’s work history. Over half of all
Spaniards surveyed (53 %) also share this view.
In the other six countries, clear majorities are
in favour of linking social benefits to regular
work. This attitude is particularly prevalent in
Germany and the Netherlands.
Public demands for a common minimum so-
cial standard to apply throughout the EU
2
are
2
This demand was most recently tabled by federal minister
of Labour Andrea Nahles in an article for the FAZ.