Ahead of the decisive elections on June 6-9, the 6th edition of our Allianz Pulse survey reveals significant divisions in views on the EU. We surveyed 6,000 people across major member countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland—as well as Austria, asking about their political and economic perspectives and future outlooks. The results show that only respondents in Spain (net percentage: +25.8%) and Austria (+21.5%) are largely satisfied with EU membership. In Germany, Italy, and Austria, opinions are nearly evenly split, while French respondents remain decidedly “anti-European” (-22.3%).
The most pressing concerns are inflation and the cost of living, jobs and the economy, and healthcare. Economic growth is by far the most important issue, with 50.5% of the total sample prioritizing it; it tops the list in all countries except Austria. Overall, respondents are pessimistic about the economy, though to varying degrees. French (net percentage: -45%) and German (-32.3%) respondents are very pessimistic about the current economic situation, while Polish respondents are the most optimistic, though pessimists still prevail (-2.8%). In Italy, improved economic performance in recent years has led to a somewhat better sentiment, though it remains rather gloomy (-17.6%). Inequality is a distant second concern (37.4%), followed by the education system (33.5%). However, the green transformation remains a low priority for most respondents (20.2%), and another favoured topic in Brussels—common debt—also fails to capture interest, with only 16.5% considering it important.
Learn more here: https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/insights/publications/specials_fmo/2024_05_29-Allianz-Pulse-AZ.html