Research reveals heightened attachment to the European Union.

The community is reeling from a recent turn of events. - Research reveals heightened attachment to the European Union.

Crises like the Eurozone turmoil, the Coronavirus pandemic, and the Ukraine War have intensified EU citizens' devotion to the European Union, contrary to assumptions that these events would weaken their feelings of attachment, a recent study by the Universities of Saarland and Marburg discovered.

Researchers assessed the sentiments of 600,000 Europeans in 27 different countries from 1991 to 2023 from the "Eurobarometer" survey, where respondents rate their affiliation to the EU on a 1-4 scale. The study uncovered that the sense of jointness within the union has escalated, regardless of age and generation. It appears that younger EU citizens, who are used to a more interconnected state, experience the same level of connection as their older counterparts.

While the financial crises of the Euro and state debt formerly dampened peoples' sentiments, the uptrend in positive feelings has been ongoing since 2013. The scientists speculate that the European countries were united during these crises against an "external enemy" instead of being divided. This theory was put forth in the study published in the "Journal of European Public Policy."

News Release by Saarland University

Link to the Study

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1. Despite the ongoing Ukraine War and the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, people in Saarland, a region in Germany closely connected with neighboring France, maintain a strong commitment to the European Union, as revealed in a study conducted by Saarland University in collaboration with Marburg University.
2. The study, published in the "Journal of European Public Policy," challenges assumptions that major crises like the Euro crisis and global health emergcies would erode EU citizens' attachment to the union, instead finding a significant increase in feelings of connection since 2013.
3. The researchers analyzed responses from over 600,000 Europeans in 27 countries spanning from 1991 to 2023, using data from the "Eurobarometer" survey, where respondents rate their European Union affiliation on a 1-4 scale.
4. Surprisingly, the study showed that younger generations in EU countries, known for their deepening interconnectedness, demonstrate the same level of devotion to the union as older generations.
5. This sustained commitment in the face of crises might be attributed to the collective unity experienced during these trying times, as suggested by the authors of the study.
6. Recent events, such as the Ukraine War and the Coronavirus pandemic, have only solidified the belief in the importance of the European Union among its citizens, underscoring the importance of research and understanding in shaping public opinion and policy.

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