Eurobarometer

Eurobarometer is a series of public opinion surveys conducted on behalf of the European Commission to measure Europeans' attitudes toward the European Union and related issues. Initiated in 1973, it has become the primary tool for monitoring public opinion across the European Union and its candidate and potential member states. The surveys are produced in two main strands: the Standard Eurobarometer, conducted roughly every three years with a large, representative sample across all member states, and the Flash Eurobarometer, a shorter, more frequent series used to gauge opinion on timely topics.

Methodology: Each wave uses a standardized questionnaire and multistage probability sampling to achieve representative samples. Typical fieldwork yields around 1,000 to 2,000 interviews per member state and about 27,000 interviews in total for a Standard wave. Interviews are usually conducted face-to-face in respondents' countries, with some waves employing telephone interviewing. Reports are published in multiple languages and cover topics such as satisfaction with democracy, economic expectations, trust in EU institutions, and support for European integration.

Output and impact: Eurobarometer findings inform European policy making, communications, and research. Data and reports are publicly accessible via the European Commission's portals, and extensive microdata are archived for research purposes by partner data archives. The series is widely cited as a benchmark for trends in public opinion on European issues.