EU Watch: Encouraging debate about the European Union and how it adheres to its values, principles and commitments
22 March 2021

West sanctions China over Uyghur treatment, Beijing hits back

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10 March 2021

Survey: EU’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic

Well done Brussels? 

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How did the EU handle the Corona crisis?

In the last weeks, EU Watch conducted a survey about the EU’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. We wanted to know what YOU think.

The online questionnaire was open from mid-March to mid-April 2021. Well over 100 people, among them both experts on European affairs, journalists, policy-makers in the European Parliament, but also ordinary citizens, participated and shared their views and insights with us. While this poll does not claim to be representative, it shows what we believe are some important trends. Following is a summary of the main findings.

  1. A majority of Europeans expect the EU to deliver a Europe-wide, coordinated response to the pandemic, instead of leaving key issues to member states or lower levels of government.
  2. While 53 percent of respondents in our survey were satisfied with the EU’s efforts of maintaining a free flow of goods in the Internal Market (20 percent weren’t), the opposite was true when it came to maintaining free movement: 29 percent were very dissatisfied and another 29 percent somewhat dissatisfied with the EU in that respect. The survey reflects the high value participants attribute to key aspects of the EU, notably freedom of movement of persons, goods and services, and the abolition of borders.
  3. On the vaccination campaign, a large majority (68 percent) said it was right that the negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies was handled by the European Commission. However, three out of five respondents said the EU should have invested more money into vaccine research and even more (65 percent) said the Commission acted too slowly in its negotiations with the companies.
  4. On the market authorisation of the vaccines, 50 percent agreed with the Commission’s approach and only 34 percent said they should have been approved faster.
  5. Opinion is divided over whether or not the EU should gain further powers to deal with future pandemics. In our survey, 43 percent said they agree with strengthening the EU vis-à-vis the national interests, 36 percent said they don’t. While 47 percent of respondents said the position of the European Parliament must be bolstered, 65 percent want the Commission to become stronger.
  6. In contrast, most respondents believe that national governments should have less of a say in comparison with the EU level. Furthermore, 58 percent said that the EU should gain more competences in the area of health policy in order to deal better with future pandemics.
  7. Two thirds of all respondents said that the criteria for lockdowns and the rules for quarantine should be harmonised at EU level, preventing a patchwork of different rules across the Union.

Summary of survey responses

 

Time frame: March/April 2021

Languages: English, French, German, Italian

Respondents: 110

Method: Online

1.    Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions at which political level have first and foremost affected your professional situation?

 

10% European level

37% national level

22% regional

23% all to the same extent

 

 

 

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2.    To what extent are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the EU’s handling of the following aspects of the pandemic?

 

Vaccine development

23 % very dissatisfied

24 % dissatisfied

23 % satisfied

21% very satisfied

 

Vaccine procurement/purchasing and distribution

37% very dissatisfied

32% dissatisfied

11% satisfied

1% very satisfied

 

Maintaining the free movement of goods within the EU:

11% very dissatisfied

9 % dissatisfied

41 % satisfied

12 % very satisfied

 

Maintaining the free movement of people within the EU

24% very dissatisfied

30% dissatisfied

19 % satisfied

13% very satisfied

 

Coordinating the free movement of people within the EU

29% very dissatisfied

29 % dissatisfied

15 % satisfied

2% very satisfied

 

Economic support for businesses in need

10% very dissatisfied

21% dissatisfied

25% satisfied

8% very satisfied

3.    Overall, the EU has been true to its values and principles during the pandemic. Do you agree or disagree?

10% not at all

23% By and large, no

36% By and large, yes

7% Absolutely

 

 

 

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4.    In the spring of 2020, the 27 EU member states decided to pool their efforts in developing and ordering vaccines against Covid-19. This may have been one of the reasons why the vaccines were delivered later than to other countries. With hindsight, how do you assess the EU’s vaccination drive?

 

The EU should have left it to the member states to negotiate contracts with vaccine producers

11% fully agree

12% agree somewhat

28% disagree somewhat

40% disagree completely

The EU should have spent more money for research into vaccines:

35% fully agree

24% agree somewhat

19% disagree somewhat

3% disagree completely

 

The EU should have negotiated faster even if that meant paying more for vaccines

44% fully agree

21% agree somewhat

21% disagree somewhat

11% disagree completely

The EU should have cut the approval process for new vaccines

16% fully agree

18% agree somewhat

23% disagree somewhat

27% disagree completely

The EU should have put more pressure on vaccine manufacturers to deliver the doses that were ordered

50% fully agree

27% agree somewhat

9% disagree somewhat

5% disagree completely

The procurement negotiations should not have been handled by the European Commission, but by more experienced persons

29% fully agree

31% agree somewhat

7% disagree somewhat

17% disagree completely

The EU should have put in place an export ban for vaccines produced in Europe 

13% fully agree

16% agree somewhat

32% disagree somewhat

19% disagree completely

 

5.    State to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements.

The position of European Union must be strengthened vis-à-vis national interests

15% fully agree

28% agree somewhat

19% disagree somewhat

17% disagree completely

The position of the directly elected European Parliament must be strengthened

22% fully agree

25% agree somewhat

25% disagree somewhat

10% disagree completely

The position of the European Commission (executive) must be strengthened to better prepare for future crises 

28% fully agree

37% agree somewhat

19% disagree somewhat

9% disagree completely

 

Scientific bodies should have more of a say in decision-making on health-related matters at EU level

24% fully agree

34% agree somewhat

21% disagree somewhat

6% disagree completely

The position of national parliaments must be strengthened vis-à-vis the EU level

23% fully agree

22% agree somewhat

30% disagree somewhat

8% disagree completely

The position of national governments must be strengthened vis-à-vis the EU institutions

14% fully agree

17% agree somewhat

36% disagree somewhat

13% disagree completely

 

The right institutional framework is already in place at EU level, let’s leave it like it is

3% fully agree

25% agree somewhat

38% disagree somewhat

12% disagree completely

The whole EU is a waste of taxpayers’ money

9% fully agree

8% agree somewhat

17% disagree somewhat

59% disagree completely

6.    To what extent do you disagree or agree with the following statement? “In light of the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU should get more competences in the health area in order to deal with future pandemics.”

15% fully disagree

21% disagree somewhat

35% agree somewhat

23% agree completely

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7.    To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “Decisions related to travel restrictions within the EU and quarantine requirements must in the future be taken at EU level.”

24% fully disagree

11% disagree somewhat

24% agree somewhat

29% agree completely

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8.    Do you agree or disagree that the role of the EU should be strengthened in any the following areas?

Internal border closures (between EU member states) 

16% fully disagree

10% disagree

37% agree

21% agree completely

External border closures (with non-EU member states)

7% fully disagree

7% disagree somewhat

36% agree somewhat

33% agree completely

Clear criteria for lockdowns and quarantine 

8% fully disagree

19% disagree somewhat

40% agree somewhat

29% agree completely

Procurement of drugs and vaccines to fight diseases and pandemics

9% fully disagree

18% disagree somewhat

30% agree somewhat

37% agree completely

Distribution of vaccines in Europe

10% fully disagree

11% disagree somewhat

40% agree somewhat

30% agree completely

Special rights for those who are fully vaccinated (“vaccination passport”)

10% fully disagree

14% disagree somewhat

39% agree somewhat

30% agree completely

9.    On a more general level, to what extent do you think that the EU upholds and defends the following principles in its day-to-day operations?

Human dignity

8% fully disagree

9% disagree somewhat

52% agree somewhat

30% agree completely

Free movement of people:

6% fully disagree

8% disagree somewhat

51% agree somewhat

29% agree completely

Free movement of goods

5% fully disagree

3% disagree somewhat

41% agree somewhat

45% agree completely

Democracy and citizens’ participation

19% fully disagree

11% disagree somewhat

42% agree somewhat

12% agree completely

Rule of law 

10% fully disagree

13% disagree somewhat

43% agree somewhat

17% agree completely

Fundamental rights of EU citizens

12% fully disagree

11% disagree somewhat

43% agree somewhat

13% agree completely

Human rights in non-EU countries

13% fully disagree

22% disagree somewhat

24% agree somewhat

16% agree completely

Solidarity between European countries

4% fully disagree

21% disagree somewhat

35% agree somewhat

15% agree completely

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