Plenary Insights – June 2021 

Each plenary session, DG Communication provides public opinion data on key topics on the agenda. For the plenary session of June 2021, relevant survey data is available on:

• EU Digital COVID Certificate: In the latest EP Eurobarometer survey, published on 3 June, around half of European citizens (48%) said they were satisfied with measures taken to fight the pandemic by the EU. The top priority for the EU (mentioned by 39% of respondents) should be to ensure rapid access to safe and effective vaccines to all EU citizens.
• Rule of law situation in the EU: While the latest EP Eurobarometer survey finds an absolute majority (52%) of respondents satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU, the country analysis shows considerable variation in assessments of how the domestic democratic system is functioning.
• Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security: In the latest Parlemeter survey, the protection of human rights worldwide turned out again as the value that citizens give the highest priority to be defended by the European Parliament, chosen by around half of respondents (51%).
• State of the SME Union: While public health (49%) is clearly the top priority in the eyes of European citizens, it is followed by measures to fight poverty and social exclusion (39%), measures to support the economy and create new jobs (39%) and action against climate change (34%), according to the latest EP Eurobarometer survey.
• Follow-up of the Porto Social Summit: According to the European Commission’s latest Special Eurobarometer on Social Issues from December 2020, more than four in ten Europeans think that equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, access to quality health care and the standard of living of people in the EU are the most important elements for the EU’s economic and social development.
• Cyberattacks in the EU: According to a Special Eurobarometer on Europeans’ attitudes towards cybercrime (October 2019), just over half (52%) say they feel well informed about the issue, with 11% saying they feel very well informed. Almost half (47%) say they are not well informed about these risks, with 17% saying they are not at all informed.
• Women in politics - combatting online abuse: 24% of internet-using respondents to a Eurobarometer survey on Democracy consider they have personally witnessed ‘intimidation of politicians through threats or hateful messages.’
• European Citizens' Initiative "End the cage age": A Special Eurobarometer on the Future of Europe found that joining a European Citizens’ Initiative is seen by only 9% of respondents as an efficient way to make their voices heard at EU level.