Peilingen suggereren hogere opkomstpercentages voor EP-verkiezingen dan 5 jaar geleden (en)

EUOBSERVER/ BRUSSELS - A new poll released today (27 May) by the European Parliament says that 45% of Europeans are 'certain' to vote in the upcoming European elections - suggesting a higher turnout than earlier polls had projected.

The turnout rate as predicted by the "Flash Eurobarometer" launched by the European Parliament in collaboration with the European Commission, is significantly higher than the figure in the Commission's 'Spring Eurobarometer' published earlier this month (7 May).

This Commission poll projected that only one third (34%) of Europeans would 'definitely' cast their vote.

The difference in results could be explained by the different periods in which people were interviewed (4-15 May as compared to 20 February - 28 March), but the latest poll for the Parliament was also carried out by another company (Gallup instead of INRA).

Rather encouraging

The Gallup researchers themselves claim their projected turnout rate of 45% is "rather encouraging".

"We could assume that the intention of voting in the election evolves in a positive manner as the election campaign evolves and D-day draws closer", they state in their report.

However, the President of the European Parliament Pat Cox reacted more warily.

"This poll is a wake-up call and an invitation to people to take some time and focus on the election: their vote counts and their representative can make a difference", Mr Cox said.

Large differences between countries

According to the European Parliament poll, the Belgians feel the most certain about voting (76%), followed by Cyprus (67%), Greece (66%) and Malta (64%).

Of the traditionally euro-apathetic British, 32% say they will surely vote this time, which suggests a larger turnout than in the 1999 elections (23.3%).

The survey shows that the turn-out may be particularly low in the Czech Republic (20%), Estonia (26%), Slovakia (27%) and Sweden (31%).

In 1999, the turnout at the European elections was 49.8%.

Ignorance about elections date

But one particularly worrying figure in the report is the percentage of respondents that actually knows that the elections will take place during the month of June. EU-wide, this percentage lies at only 37%.

Half of the respondents admit their 'complete ignorance' about the election date, the researchers state.

Regarding themes that should be covered in the election campaign, 51% of the voters across Europe mention unemployment, followed by terrorism (34%), economic growth (31%), insecurity (29%) and also the future of pension funds (29%).