The State of the European Union. The European Parliament faces its most important elections yet

MORE JUST. MORE SOCIAL. LESS UNEQUAL. WHAT GERMANS EXPECT FROM EUROPE 29 Social issues are most important In the autumn of 2018, socio-political issues are most relevant to German citizens. Four out of the five most important issues address social issues and issues regarding equal living conditions (pen- sions and pensions planning, health care, educa- tion, housing and rents) ( Chart 6 ). The perception of the most important issues is different on the European level. “Immigration from the outside of the EU” (70 percent), “na- tional debts of EU member states” (67 percent), “EU member states disagreeing politically” (63 percent) and “protecting the environment and the climate” (62 percent) are perceived as the four most important challenges for the EU at the timeof the surveybeingconducted. Unsurprisingly, citizens see challenges that cannot be addressed by a single country alone (e.g. climate protec- tion, migration) as well as issues that relate to the interaction of the EU member states (e.g. national debts, international collaboration) as crucial for the EU as a supranational institution. However, citizens recognize the need for ac- tion regarding socio-political issues on the European level as well. More than half of the surveyed Germans think that each of the fol- lowing issues represents a great challenge for the EU: Disparate living conditions (55 percent), disparate social security systems (57 percent) and economic differences between the EU member states (58 percent). In which policy areas do citizens expect the EU to provide problem resolutions – and in which policy areas do expectations towards national institutions prevail? Citizens clearly attribute In your view, which of these values does the EU currently represent? Please select up to five values. And which of these values does the EU currently not represent? Please select up to five values. Which of these values do you wish the EU would currently represent more to a higher extent? Please select up to five values. Prosperity and economic success Intercultural understanding Stability and reliability The rule of law Protection against crime and terror Solidarity Political strength on the global stage Tolerance Individual freedom Justice Equal living conditions / livelihood opportunities Shared culture Religion None of these values Don‘t know Peace Democracy Human rights 7% 10% 20% 12% 22% 19% 11% 19% 30% 11% 14% 11% 9% 16% 25% 20% 13% 12% 44% 23% 13% 27% 19% 40% 20% 13% 25% 18% 14% 33% 19% 9% 24% 15% 32% 21% 33% 21% 23% 25% 38% 28% 17% 21% 25% 21% 6% 33% 18% 6% What the EU represents What the EU does not represent What the EU should represent 2% 4% 2% 3% Basic population: eligible voters in Germany, sample size: n = 2010 Source: YouGov 2018. Chart 5. Values of the EU