Plenary Insights – October II 2024 

Each plenary session, DG COMM assembles public opinion data on key agenda topics:

• Managing migration: Two thirds of EU citizens (67%) support a common migration policy. In 25 Member States, a majority of respondents support a common European policy on migration. The highest levels of support can be seen among respondents in Spain and the Netherlands (both 83%) and Luxembourg (81%). In two Member States, a minority support a common European policy on migration: Czechia (40% “for” vs 50% “against”) and Hungary (43% vs 52%). Three in four respondents (75%) support “a reinforcement of EU external borders with more European border guards and coast guards.” Three-quarters of Europeans (75%) consider that their country should help refugees and more than half of respondents (56%) agree that immigrants contribute positively to their country. (Standard Eurobarometer - Spring 2024)
• EU Budget 2025: 27% of EU citizens put competitiveness, economy and industry among the top aspects the EU should focus on, in order to reinforce its position in the world - the forth rank in list, after defence and security (37%), energy issues, resources and infrastructure (30%) and food security and agriculture (30%). (EP Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey)
• Financial assistance to Ukraine: 70% of citizens in the EU support financial assistance to Ukraine, with more than 90% support in Sweden, Finland and Denmark. (Standard Eurobarometer - Spring 2024)
• Closing the EU skills gap: Companies in the EU Member States report difficulties in finding employees with the right skills as the most serious problem they are currently facing. The difficulty is increasing with company size, ranging from 53% in micro-companies to 72% in large companies. Technicians is the job profile that is most difficult to fill. (Eurobarometer survey on SMEs and skills shortages)
• Animal health and sanitary crises: Only 15% of Europeans think an animal or plant disease outbreak is among the risks their country is currently most exposed to, according to findings of the Eurobarometer survey on disaster risk awareness and preparedness.